h, Shadrach, and to Mishael,
Meshach, and to Azariah, Abednego.

But Daniel made up his mind not to injure himself with the rich food of
the king nor with the wine which he drank. So he asked the chief of the
king's servants not to make him injure himself. And God helped Daniel to
win the kindness and favor of the chief of the king's servants.

But the chief of the king's servants said to Daniel, "I fear that my
lord, the king, who has given you your food and your drink will see that
your faces are sadder than those of young men who are your own age, and
so you will endanger my head with the king."

Daniel said to the guardian whom the chief of the king's servants had
put over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, "Try your servants ten
days; and let us have vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare
the way we look with that of the young men who eat of the king's rich
food. Then do to us as seems best." So he did as they asked and tried
them ten days. At the end of ten days they looked better and they were
fatter than all the young men who ate of the king's rich food. So the
guardian took away their rich food and the wine and gave them
vegetables.

To these four young men God gave knowledge, learning, and wisdom; and
Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams.

At the end of the days which the king had fixed for bringing them in,
the chief of his servants brought them in to Nebuchadrezzar, and the
king talked with them. But not one of all the young men was found equal
to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve the
king. On every subject which called for wisdom and understanding and
about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better
than all the wise men and magicians who were in his entire kingdom.

A KING'S STRANGE DREAM

Nebuchadrezzar in the second year of his reign had dreams, and his mind
was so troubled that he could not sleep. Then the king sent for the
magicians and the wise men, and those who studied the stars to tell him
what his dreams meant. So they came in before the king, and he said to
them, "I have had a dream and my mind is troubled, for I want to know
what the dream means."

Then those who studied the stars said to the king: "O king, live
forever! Tell the dream to your servants and we will tell you what it
means." The king answered, "What I now say is certain: if you do not
tell me the dream and what it means, you shall be torn limb