但以理書 1
1 猶大王約雅金在位第三年，巴比倫王拿步高前來圍攻耶路撒冷，
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 上主將猶大王約雅金和天主殿內的一部分器皿，交在拿步高手中，他便將這些器皿帶到史納爾地方，存放在他神殿的庫房內。
And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
3 君王吩咐他的宦官長阿市培納次，要他由以色列子民中，選一些王室或貴族的青年，
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—
4 他們應沒有缺陷，容貌俊美，足智多才，富有知識，明察事理，適合在王宮內充當侍從，應教給他們加色丁文字和語言。
young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 君王且給他們指定了，每天要吃君王所吃的食品和所飲的美酒，如此教養他們三年；期滿以後，他們便可侍立在君王左右。
The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.
6 他們中為猶大後裔的，有達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅。
Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 宦官長另給他們起了名字：給達尼爾起名叫貝特沙匝，阿納尼雅叫沙得辣客，米沙耳叫默沙客，阿匝黎雅叫阿貝得乃哥。
The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 但是阿尼爾心中早已拿定主意，決不讓自己為君王的食品和君王飲的美酒所玷污，所以他請求宦官長使自己免受玷污。
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
9 天主賞達尼爾在宦官長眼中獲得寵遇和同情。
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
10 宦官長對達尼爾說：「我害怕我的主上君王，他原給你們指定了飲食，若見你們的面容比你們同年的青年消瘦，這樣你們豈不是將我的頭斷送給君王! 」
but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”
11 達尼爾對宦官長派來照管達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的人說：「
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 請你一連十天試一試你的僕人們，只給我們蔬菜吃，清水喝；
“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 然後，你親自觀察我們的容貌，和那些吃君王食品的青年的容貌，就照你所觀察的，對待你的僕人們罷! 」
Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
14 他答應了他們的要求，試驗了他們十天。
So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.
15 十天以後，他們的容貌比那些吃君王食品的青年顯得更為美麗，肌肉更為豐滿。
And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.
16 負責照管的人，遂將他們的食品和應喝的美酒撤去，祇給他們蔬菜。
So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.
17 至於這四個青年，天主賜給了他們精通各種文字和學問的才智與聰明，而且達尼爾還通曉各種神視和夢兆。
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 君王規定帶他們進宮的期限一滿，宦官長就領他們進見拿步高。
Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19 君王和他們交談，發現其中沒有一個能及得上達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的，於是他們隨侍在君王前，
And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
20 君王無論詢問他們什麼智識和學問，發現他們都十倍於自己全國所有的巫師和術士。
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21 達尼爾就這樣一直到居魯士王元年。
And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
