11 The king's official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends. So Daniel said to the guard,
12 “For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtimes.
13 When the ten days are up, compare how we look with the other young men, and decide what to do with us.”
14 The guard agreed to do what Daniel had asked.
15 Ten days later, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better than the young men who had been served food from the royal palace.
16 After this, the guard let them eat vegetables instead of the rich food and wine.
17 God made the four young men clever and wise. They read a lot of books and became well educated. Daniel could also tell the meaning of dreams and visions.