1:1In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2And the Lord rescued into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the containers of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the containers he brought into the treasure house of his god.

3And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's offspring and of the leaders,

4Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own food, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.

6Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.

8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.

9And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy before the leader of the eunuchs.

10And the leader of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who has appointed you food and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king.

11And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the leader of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:

12Try, I beg you, your servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink:

13And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's food: and as you shall see, deal with your servants.

14And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.

15And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's food.

16So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.

17And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.

18And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the leader of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor.

19And when the king had said to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king's presence.

20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.

3:26Then Nabuchodonosor came to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said: Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, you servants of the most high God, go you forth, and come. And immediately Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago went out from the midst of the fire.

27And the nobles, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the great men of the king being gathered together, considered these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, and that not a hair of their head had been singed, nor their garments altered, nor the smell of the fire had passed on them.

28Then Nabuchodonosor breaking forth, said: Blessed be the God of them, to wit, of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, who has sent his angel, and rescued his servants that believed in him: and they changed the king's word, and rescued up their bodies that they might not serve, nor adore any god, except their own God.

29By me therefore this command is made, that every people, tribe, and tongue, which shall speak words against God against the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, shall be destroyed, and their houses laid waste: for there is no other God that can save in this manner.

30Then the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, in the province of Babylon.

21:1And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.

3And he said: Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all:

4For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, has cast in all the living that she had.