³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^(A)— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(B) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(C) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(D) and literature of the Babylonians.^{[a] 5} The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine^(E) from the king’s table.^(F) They were to be trained for three years,^(G) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.^(H)

⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^(I) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{(J) 7} The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^(K) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^(L)

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,