但以理書 6
1 他認為更好在國內設立一百二十個總督，分治全國；
King Darius decided to divide his kingdom into 120 provinces. He appointed a governor to rule each province.
2 在這些總督之上另設三位監察史－達尼爾便是其中之一－各總督應向他們述職，這樣可免君王煩勞。
He also appointed me and two other men to be administrators, to supervise the governors and to be sure that they did the king’s work [properly], in order that the king would not have to worry about anything.
3 這位達尼爾，由於他具有超凡的精神，辦事勝過其他監察史和總督，所以君王有意立他治理全國。
I soon showed that I was (more capable/able to do the work better) than all the other administrators and the governors. Because of that, the king planned to appoint me to be in charge of the entire empire.
4 因此監察史和總督，竭力在達尼爾處理國事上，尋找機會陷害他，卻總不能找到任何可控告他的事實和過失，因為達尼爾忠信可靠，所以在他身上總找不到任何疏忽和過錯。
Then, the [other] administrators and the governors [became jealous. So they began to] try to find something that they could criticize about the way I was working for the king. But I always did my work faithfully and honestly, and was never lazy. So they could not find anything to criticize.
5 於是這些人說道：「我們若不在他的神的法律上尋找，就找不到陷害達尼爾的任何事。」
They concluded, “The only way we can find something for which we can criticize Daniel will be something concerning the laws that his god [his given him].”
6 這些監察史和總督，便群集到君王前，對君王說：「達理阿大王，萬歲!
So the administrators and governors went as one group to the king and said, “(Your Majesty/O king), we wish that you will live a long time!
7 國內的眾監察史、知縣、總督、大臣和省長，都計議請下一道詔書，立一禁令：三十天內，凡不向你大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內。
[We] administrators and governors and district governors and advisors and other officials have all agreed that you should make a law that everyone must obey. We want you to command that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you. If anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he must be thrown into [a pit of] lions.
8 大王! 請你現在就立刻下這道禁令，簽署這項文告，人就不能再更改，因為按瑪待人和波斯人的法律，那是不可更改的。」
And because laws made by [our governments of] Media and Persia cannot be changed, [we want] you, [the head of our government], to sign it.”
9 達理阿遂簽署了這文告禁令。
So King Darius [wrote] the law and signed it.
10 達尼爾一知道君王簽署了這項文告，便回了家。他樓房的窗戶是向著耶路撒冷開的－他每天仍照常三次屈膝跪拜，祈求稱謝自己的天主，如往日所行的一樣。
But when I found out that [the king] had [written and] signed that law, I went home. I knelt down in my upstairs room and prayed. I looked toward Jerusalem, and the windows were open [with the result that everyone could see me while I was praying]. I prayed three times each day, just as I always did, thanking God.
11 那些人群集前來，看見達尼爾正在自己的天主前祈求哀禱，
The officials went together [to my house] and they saw me praying and requesting God to help me.
12 他們遂去見君王，向他提及禁令說：「陛下不是簽署了這樣的一道禁令：三十天內，凡不向大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內嗎﹖」君王回答說：「確有此事! 照瑪待人和波斯人的法律是不可更改的。」
So they returned to the king and said to him, “[Do you remember] that you wrote a law stating that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you, and if anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he will be thrown into [a pit of] lions?” The king replied, “[Yes, that is the law that I wrote]. It is a law of [our governments of] Media and Persia, which cannot be canceled.”
13 他們便對君王說道：「大王! 猶大俘虜中的那個達尼爾，竟然不介意陛下和陛下所簽署的禁令，仍照常一日三次自作祈禱。」
Then they said to the king, “Well, that [man] Daniel, one of the men who were brought from Judah, is not paying any attention to you or the law that you [signed]. He prays [to his god] three times each day!”
14 君王聽了這些話，十分難過，有心要救達尼爾，君王直到日落要設法解救他。
When the king heard that, he was very distressed. He tried to find a way to save me. All the rest of that day he tried to think of a way to rescue me.
15 但是那些人又群集到君王前，對君王說：「大王! 陛下要知道瑪待人和波斯人的法律：凡君王所立的禁令和法令，是不可更改的。」
[In the evening, many of] [HYP] the officials went together to the king and said, “(Your Majesty/O king), you know that [our governments of] Media and Persia have declared that no law that the king signs can be canceled/changed. [So Daniel must be thrown to the lions!]”
16 君王於是下令，將達尼爾逮捕投入獅子圈內。君王對達尼爾說：「願你恒心恭敬的天主拯救救你! 」
So the king gave the order, and his servants brought me and threw me into a pit where the lions [were]. [Before they threw me in], the king said to me, “I hope/wish that your God, whom you worship regularly, will rescue you!”
17 遂即移了一塊大石，封住圈口，君王蓋上自己的御璽，大臣們蓋上自己的印章，免得達尼爾的案件發生意外的變化。
They rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the pit. Then the king [fastened a string across the entrance and put wax at each end, and stamped the wax with] the seal from his [ring] and the seals [of the rings] of his officials, in order that no one could [secretly] rescue me.
18 然後君王回了王宮，整夜絕食，斷絕娛樂，並徹夜失眠未睡。
Then the king returned to his palace. That night he refused to eat any food. He would not allow anyone to entertain him [because he did not want to be happy, with the result that he would forget about me. And that night] he was unable to sleep [because he was worried about me].
19 清晨，天一亮，君王便起來，急速往獅子圈去了，
At dawn the next morning, the king got up and went quickly to the pit where the lions were.
20 一來到獅子圈旁，就哀聲呼喊，向達尼爾說道：「永生天主的僕人達尼爾! 你恒心恭敬的天主真能由獅子口裏拯救你嗎﹖」
When he came near it, he was very worried. He called out, “Daniel, you who serve the all-powerful God! Was your God, whom you worship regularly, able to save you from the lions?”
21 達尼爾遂對君王說：「大王萬歲!
I answered, “(Your Majesty/O king), I hope that you will live a long time!
22 我的天主曾打發他的天使閉住獅子的口，一點沒有傷害我，因為我在他面前是無罪的；大王! 我即在陛下面前，也從沒有做過什麼傷害人的事。」
[Yes], my God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, in order that they would not harm me! [He did that] because [he knows that] I have done nothing that he thinks is wrong. And, (Your Majesty/O king), I never did anything wrong to you!”
23 君王非常高興，遂下令將達尼爾從獅子圈裏提出來。達尼爾便從獅子圈裏被提出來，他身上絲毫沒有受到損傷，因為他信賴了自己的天主。
The king was extremely happy, and he commanded [his servants] to lift me out of the pit. [When they did that, they] saw that the lions had not wounded me at all. [God had protected me] because I trusted in him.
24 君王遂下令逮捕那些控告達尼爾的人，將他們和他們的兒子、妻子，都投入獅子圈裏，他們還沒有到獅子圈底，獅子就向他們撲來，捉住他們，將他們的骨頭全咬碎了。
Then the king commanded that the men who had accused me should be seized and be thrown, along with their wives and children, into the pit where the lions were. [When they were thrown into the pit], the lions leaped on them and crushed their bones before they fell onto the bottom of the pit!
25 達理阿於是詔告居民於普世的各民族，各邦國及各異語人民說：「願平安常與你們同在!
Then King Darius wrote [this message and sent it throughout his kingdom] to the people of every people-group and nation and from all language groups: “I wish/hope that everything is going very well with you!
26 我今頒發詔書，諭令我所統轄的全國人民，都應在達尼爾的天主前起敬起畏，因為他是生活永在的天主，他的國永不滅亡，他的王權永遠常存。
I command that everyone in my kingdom should fear and revere the God that Daniel [worships]. He is the all-powerful God, and he will live forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed; he will rule forever.
27 他拯救施援，在天上地下實行神蹟奇事；是他拯救達尼爾脫免獅子的爪牙。」
He rescues and saves [his people]. He performs all kinds of miracles in heaven and on the earth. He rescued Daniel from the power of the lions!”
28 這位達尼爾就這樣在達理阿和波斯人居魯士為王時，事事亨通。
So I was successful [all] during the time that Darius ruled and during the time that Cyrus, [the King] of Persia, ruled.
