Chapter 11

¹ The Scripture says, then: And Daniel laid it upon his heart that he would not be defiled by the king’s table or by the wine of his drink, and he asked the chief eunuch to give them some of the seeds, that he might show that man shall not live by bread alone.

² And God gave Daniel into mercy and compassion before the chief eunuch. But the chief eunuch said to him: I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, lest he should see your faces gloomier than those of the young men of your own age, and you bring my head into condemnation before the king.

³ Now what was said by Melzar held to its own reasoning; for, not knowing the dispensation being worked out through them, he was afraid lest their looks should appear gloomier than those of the young men who ate at the king’s table, and that in this way he himself, found to be the cause, might be handed over to death.

⁴ But they, wishing to show him that it was not earthly foods that furnished men with beauty and strength, but the grace of God bestowed through the Word, said to him: Test now your servants for ten days, and let them give us some of the seeds, and we will eat and will drink water; and let our looks be examined, and the looks of the young men who eat at the king’s table, and as you see, so deal with us.

⁵ Do you see the inviolable faith of the youths and their unalterable fear of God? They asked for an interval of ten days’ time, that in it they might show that men cannot otherwise obtain grace from God except by believing in the Word proclaimed through Jesus.