Daniel 1

¹ King Jehoiakim had ruled Judah for three years. Then the bad times came. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon brought his army to Jerusalem and shut it in tight!

³ King Nebuchadnezzar told Ashpenaz, his top helper, "Bring me some of the people from Israel! I want young men from the royal family and from the big families."

⁸ But Daniel made up his mind! He would not eat the king's rich food. He would not drink the king's wine. These things would make him unclean before God. So Daniel asked the top helper for a different way.

¹⁵ When the ten days ended, Daniel and his friends looked better than all the other young men! Their bodies were stronger than the ones who ate the king's food.

¹⁷ God blessed these four young men! He poured great skill into them for learning and wisdom. Daniel got something extra. He could understand dreams and what they meant!