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; and he carried them 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 in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; 4 youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they should stand before the king. 6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

1 No terceiro ano do reinado de Joaquim, rei de Judá, Nabucodonosor, rei de Babilônia, veio sitiar Jerusalém.

2 O Senhor entregou-lhe Joaquim, rei de Judá, bem como parte dos objetos do templo, que Nabucodonosor transportou para a terra de Senaar, para o templo de seu deus: foi na sala do tesouro do templo de seu deus que ele os colocou.

3 O rei deu ordem ao chefe de seus eunucos, Asfenez, para trazer-lhe jovens israelitas, oriundos de raça real ou de família nobre,

4 isentos de qualquer tara corporal, bem proporcionados, dotados de toda espécie de boas qualidades, instruídos, inteligentes, aptos a ingressarem {nos serviços do} palácio real; ser-lhes-ia ensinado a escrever e a falar a língua dos caldeus.

5 O rei destinou-lhes uma provisão cotidiana, retirada das iguarias da mesa real e do vinho que ele bebia. A formação deles devia durar três anos, após o que entrariam a serviço do rei.

6 Entre eles encontravam-se alguns judeus: Daniel, Ananias, Misael e Azarias.