Daniel 1:1-21

In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  The LORD let
King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the
vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and
placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the
Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without
physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed
with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace;
they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.  The
king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine.
They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time
they could be stationed in the king's court.  Among them were Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah.  The palace
master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he
called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called
Abednego.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal
rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not
to defile himself.  Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion
from the palace master.  The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of
my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink.  If he should
see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you
would endanger my head with the king."  Then Daniel asked the guard whom
the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah:  "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given
vegetables to eat and water to drink.  You can then compare our appearance
with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal
with your servants according to what you observe."  So he agreed to this
proposal and tested them for ten days.  At the end of ten days it was
observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who
had been eating the royal rations.  So the guard continued to withdraw
their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them
vegetables.  To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every
aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions
and dreams.

At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in,
the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and
the king spoke with them.  And among them all, no one was found to compare
with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed
in the king's court.  In every matter of wisdom and understanding
concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.  And Daniel
continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.