< Daniel 3 >

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Mfalme Nebukadneza alitengeneza sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo ilikuwa na urefu wa dhiraa sitini na upana dhiraa sita. Aliiweka katika uwanda wa Dura katika jimbo la Babeli.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Kisha Nebukadneza alituma ujumbe wa kuwaita pamoja magavana wote wa majimbo, magavana wa mikoa, na magavana wa vijiji, pamoja na na washauiri, wahazini, waamuzi, mahakimu, na maafisa wengine wakuu wa majimbo ili waje kwa ajili ya uzinduzi wa sanamu aliyokuwa ameiweka.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Ndipo magavana wa majimbo, magavana wa mikoa, na magavana wa vijiji, pamoja na washauri, wahasibu, waamuzi, mahakimu, na maafisa wa juu wa majimbo walikusanyika kwa pamoja katika uzinduzi wa sanamu ambayo Nebukadneza aliyokuwa ameiweka. Walisimama mbele yake.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Kisha mtangazaji alipiga kelele, “Enyi watu, mataifa, na lugha mmeamriwa
5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
kwamba mtakaposikia sauti za pembe, filimbi, ala za muziki, zeze, vinubi na zumari na aina zote za muziki, ni sharti kuanguka na kuisujudia ninyi wenyewe sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameiweka.
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Na yeyote asiyeanguka na kuiabuda, kwa wakati huo huo atatupwa katika tanuru la moto.”
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Basi watu walilposikia sauti za pembe, filimbi, ala za muziki, zeze, vinubi na zumari na aina zote za muziki, watu wote, mataifa na lugha walianguka na kuisujudia wao wenyewe sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Nebukadneza mfalme alikuwa ameiweka.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Wakati huu baadhi ya Walkadayo walikuja na kuleta mashitaka kinyume na Wayahudi.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
Walimwambia mfalme Nebukadneza, “mfalme aishi milele!
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Ewe mfalme, umeweka amri kwamba kila mtu aisikiye sauti ya pembe, filimbi, ala za muziki, zeze, vinubi na zumari, na aina zote za muziki, lazima kuanguka na kuisujudia sanamu ya dhahabu.
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Mtu yeyote asiyeanguka na kuiabudu sharti atupwe katika tanuru linalowaka moto.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Sasa kuna baadhi ya Wayahudi ambao umewaweka juu masuala ya jimbo la Babeli; majina yao ni Shadraka, Meshaki, na Abednego. Mfalme, hawa watu hawakutii wewe. Hawataiabudu, kuitumikia wala kuisujudia wenyewe sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo umeiweka.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Ndipo Nebukadneza alijawa na hasira na ghadhabu, aliagiza kwamba Shadraka, Meshaki na Abednego waletwe kwake. Hivyo, waliwalete hawa watu mbele ya mfalme.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Nebukadneza aliwaambia, “Je mmejipanga katika akili zenu, enyi Shadraka, Meshaki na Abedinego, kwamba hamtaiabudu miungu yangu wala kuisujudia wenyewe sanamu ile ya dhahabu ambayo nimeiweka?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well: ] but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Basi sasa kama mko tayari - mtakaposikia sauti pembe, filimbi, ala za muziki, zeze, vinumbi na zumari, aina zote za muziki - kuanguka chini na kuisujudia wenyewe sanamu ile ambayo nimeitengeneza, mambo yote yatakuwa mazuri. Lakini kama hamtaiabudu, mtatupwa mara katika tanuru la moto. Ni mungu gani atakayeweza kuwaokoa katika mikono yangu?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Shadraka, Meshaki, na Abednego wakamjibu mfalme, “Nebukadneza, hatuhitaji kukujibu wewe katika jambo hili.
17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.
Kama kuna jibu, ni kwamba Mungu wetu ambaye tunamtumikia anaweza kutuhifadhi sisi salama katika katika tanuru la moto, na atatuokoa sisi katika mkono wako, mfalme.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Kama sivyo, na ijulikane kwako, wewe mfalme, kwamba hatutaiabudu miungu yako, na wala hatutaisujudia wenyewe sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoiweka.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Ndipo Nebukadneza alijawa na ghadhabu; mwonekano wa uso wake ulibadilika kinyume na Shadraka, Meshaki na Abedinego. Aliagiza kuwa tanuru lichochewe ukali mara saba zaidi kuliko lilivyokuwa kawaida.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
Kisha aliwaamuru baadhi ya watu wenye nguvu katika jeshi lake kuwafunga Shadraka, Meshaki na Abednego na kuwatupa katika tanuru liwakalo moto.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Walifungwa akali wakiwa wamevaa nguo zao, kanzu, kilemba, na mavazi mengine, na walitupa katika tanuru liwakalo moto.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
Kwasababu ya agizo la mfalme lilifuatwa na tanuru lilikuwa na joto sana, miali ya moto iliwaua watu waliowatupa Shadraka, Meshaki, na Abedinego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Hawa wanaume watatu, Shadraka, Meshaki, na Abednego, waliangukia katika tanuru liwakalo moto wakali wamefungwa.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Kisha Nebukadneza mfalme alishangazwa na alisimam haraka. Aliwauliza washauri wake, “Je hatukutupa watu watatu wakiwa wamefungwa katika moto?” Nao walimjibu mfalme, “Hakika mfalme.”
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Alisema, “Lakini ninaona watu wanne ambao hawajafungwa wakizunguka katika moto, na hawajaumizwa. Mng'ao wa mtu wa nne ni kama mwana wa miungu.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Ndipo Nebukadneza aliposogea karibu na mlango wa tanuru liwakalo moto na akaaita, “Shadraka, Meshaki na Abednego, watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu, tokeni nje! Njooni hapa! Ndipo Shadraka, Meshaki na Abednego walitoka nje ya moto.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Magavana wa majimbo, magavana wengine, na washauri wa mfalme waliokuwa wamekusanyika kwa pamoja waliwaona watu hawa. Moto haukuunguza miili yao; nywele katika vichwa vyao hazikuungua; mavazi yao yalikuwa hayajaharibiwa; na hawakuwa na harufu ya moto.
28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Nebukadneza alisema, “Na tumsifu Mungu wa Shadraka, Meshaki na Abedinego, ambaye amemtuma mjumbe wake na amewapa ujumbe watumishi wake. Walimtumaini yeye wakati walipoikana amri yangu, na waliitoa miili yao badala ya kuabudu au kusujudia mungu mwingine isipokuwa Mungu wao.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Hivyo basi ninaagiza kwamba watu wote, taifa au lugha ambayo itazungumza kitu chochote kinyume na Mungu wa Shadraka, Meshaki na Abedinego lazima wakatwe vipande, na ya kwamba nyumba zao lazima zifanywe kuwa vichuguu vya uchafu kwasababu hakuna mungu mwingine anayeweza kuokoa kama hivi.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
Ndipo mfalme aliwapandisha cheo Shadraka, Meshaki na Abednego katika jimbo la Babeli.

< Daniel 3 >