9. God made Ashpenaz want to be kind and merciful to Daniel.
10. But Ashpenaz said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my master, the king. He ordered me to give you this food and drink. If you don’t eat this food, you will begin to look worse than other young men your age. The king will see this. And he will cut off my head because of you.”
11. Ashpenaz had ordered a guard to watch Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
12. Daniel said to the guard, “Please give us this test for ten days: Don’t give us anything but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13. Then after ten days compare us with the other young men who eat the king’s food. See for yourself who looks healthier. Then you judge for yourself how you want to treat us, your servants.”
14. So the guard agreed to test them for ten days.