Daily Meditation
12 Prove thy
servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and
water to drink.
Today’s ReadingDaniel
Chapter 1
In the third year of
the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar…
1 In the third year
of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah
into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried
into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels
into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake
unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the
children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 children in
whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning
in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to
stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the
king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years,
that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these
were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 unto
whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abed-nego.
8 But Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the
prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought
Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the
prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath
appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse
liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger
my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the
eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy
servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and
water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and
the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and
as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this
matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their
countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which
did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of
their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four
children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the
days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the
eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with
them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom
and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 21
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
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