Then three more of the boys said they would stand by Daniel, and have
only the beans and water rather than break God's holy Law. Their proper
names were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, but the king had changed all
the boys' names, and he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
So Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of the rich
wine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse--that is, beans.
But Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such poor food, and
then the king would be angry with him.
"Only try us for just ten days," Daniel said.
And God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, Daniel,
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter than all their
cousins and friends who had been eating the king's dainties.
And Melzar had found that none were so true and honest and obedient
and painstaking, so he trusted them very much; and they grew wise and
learned, and still loved and feared their God, though they were slaves
so far away from home.
Now remember how they began. It was by giving up the things they liked
when they found it was wrong to have them. When you are tempted to be
greedy, would it not be a good thing to recollect Daniel and the other
boys eating beans and drinking water?