9. and God made Ashpenaz sympathetic to Daniel.
10. Ashpenaz, however, was afraid of the king, so he said to Daniel, “The king has decided what you are to eat and drink, and if you don't look as fit as the other young men, he may kill me.”
11. So Daniel went to the guard whom Ashpenaz had placed in charge of him and his three friends.
12. “Test us for ten days,” he said. “Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13. Then compare us with the young men who are eating the food of the royal court, and base your decision on how we look.”
14. He agreed to let them try it for ten days.
15. When the time was up, they looked healthier and stronger than all those who had been eating the royal food.
16. So from then on the guard let them continue to eat vegetables instead of what the king provided.
17. God gave the four young men knowledge and skill in literature and philosophy. In addition, he gave Daniel skill in interpreting visions and dreams.