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.
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: