< Daniel 3 >

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits, and the breadth of which was six cubits: he set it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Mfalme Nebukadneza alitengeneza sanamu ya dhahabu, yenye kimo cha dhiraa sitini, na upana wa dhiraa sita, akaisimamisha kwenye tambarare ya Dura katika jimbo la nchi ya Babeli.
2 And king Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble [his] lieutenants, the superintendents, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, those learned in the law, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Kisha mfalme akaita wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wote wa jimbo kuja kuizindua sanamu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha.
3 Thereupon were assembled the lieutenants, the superintendents, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, those learned in the law, and all the rulers of the provinces unto the dedication of the image that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood opposite to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Basi wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wa jimbo walikusanyika ili kuizindua sanamu ile Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha, nao wakasimama mbele ya hiyo sanamu.
4 Then a herald called out with a loud voice, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Ndipo mpiga mbiu akatangaza kwa sauti kubwa, “Enyi watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha, hili ndilo mnaloamriwa kulifanya:
5 That at the time when ye do hear the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye shall fall down and bow yourselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar hath set up:
Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za sauti za ala za uimbaji, lazima mwanguke chini na kuabudu sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza ameisimamisha.
6 And whoso doth not fall down and bow himself shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Mtu yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu sanamu hiyo, atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.”
7 Therefore at the same time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down bowing themselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Kwa hiyo, mara waliposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha wakaanguka chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha.
8 Therefore at the same time certain Chaldean men came near, and accused the Jews treacherously.
Wakati huo baadhi ya Wakaldayo walijitokeza na kuwashtaki Wayahudi.
9 They commenced and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
Wakamwambia Mfalme Nebukadneza, “Ee mfalme, uishi milele!
10 Thou, O king, hadst made a decree, that every man that should hear the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, should fall down and bow himself to the golden image;
Ee mfalme, umetoa amri kwamba kila mmoja atakayesikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji lazima aanguke chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu,
11 And that whoso should not fall down and bow himself should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
na kwamba yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.
12 There are certain Jewish men whom thou hast appointed over the public service of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego: these men, O king, have not paid any regard to thee; thy god they do not worship, and to the golden image which thou hast set up they do not bow themselves.
Lakini wako baadhi ya Wayahudi ambao umewaweka juu ya mambo ya jimbo la Babeli: yaani, Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambao hawakujali wewe, ee mfalme. Hawaitumikii miungu yako wala kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
13 Then ordered Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego. Then were these men brought before the king.
Mfalme Nebukadneza, akiwa amekasirika na mwenye ghadhabu kali, akawaita Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego. Hivyo watu hawa wakaletwa mbele ya mfalme,
14 Nebuchadnezzar commenced and said unto them, Is it out of disrespect, O Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego? My god ye do not worship, and to the golden image which I have set up ye do not bow yourselves?
naye Nebukadneza akawauliza, “Je, ni kweli kwamba ninyi Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego hamuitumikii miungu yangu wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu niliyoisimamisha?
15 Now then if ye be ready at the time when ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, guitar, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and bow yourselves to the image which I have made, [well]; but if ye bow yourselves not, ye shall be cast in the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace: and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hand?
Basi wakati mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, kama mtakuwa tayari kusujudu na kuiabudu hiyo sanamu niliyoitengeneza, vyema sana. Lakini kama hamtaiabudu, mtatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto. Naye ni mungu yupi atakayeweza kuwaokoa ninyi, kutoka mkono wangu?”
16 Then answered Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee a word in this matter.
Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakamjibu mfalme, “Ee Nebukadneza, hatuhitaji kujitetea mbele zako kuhusu jambo hili.
17 Behold, there is our God whom we worship, he is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace: and out of thy hand, O king, will he deliver us.
Ikiwa tutatupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto, Mungu tunayemtumikia anaweza kutuokoa na moto, naye atatuokoa kutoka mkononi mwako, ee mfalme.
18 But if not, then be it known unto thee, O king, that thy god will we not worship, and to the golden image which; thou hast set up will we not bow ourselves.
Lakini hata ikiwa hatatuokoa, ee mfalme, tunataka ufahamu kwamba, hatutaitumikia miungu yako wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the form of his countenance was changed because of Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego; [and] he commenced and ordered that they should heat the furnace thoroughly seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Ndipo Nebukadneza akawa na ghadhabu kali sana kwa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, nayo nia yake ikabadilika kwao. Akaagiza tanuru ichochewe moto mara saba kuliko kawaida yake
20 And he ordered the mightiest men in strength that were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, [and] to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
na kuwaamuru baadhi ya askari wake wenye nguvu zaidi katika jeshi lake kuwafunga Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego na kuwatupa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.
21 Then were these men bound in their mantles, their under-garments, and their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Hivyo watu hawa, walifungwa na kutupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamevaa majoho yao, suruali, vilemba na nguo zao nyingine.
22 Now, because the king's command was so urgent, and the furnace exceedingly heated, the flame of the fire slew those men that carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego.
Amri ya mfalme ilikuwa ya haraka sana na tanuru ilikuwa na moto mkali kiasi kwamba miali ya moto iliwaua wale askari waliowapeleka Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Watu hawa watatu walianguka ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamefungwa kwa uthabiti sana.
24 Then was king Nebuchadnezzar astonished, and he rose up in haste, [and] commenced, and said unto his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, Certainly, O king.
Ndipo Mfalme Nebukadneza akashangaa, akainuka kwa haraka na kuwauliza washauri wake, “Je, hawakuwa watu watatu ambao tuliwafunga na kuwatupa ndani ya moto?” Washauri wakajibu, “Hakika, ee mfalme.”
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no injury on them; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
Mfalme akasema, “Tazama! Naona watu wanne wakitembeatembea ndani ya moto, hawajafungwa wala kudhurika, naye mtu yule wa nne anaonekana kama mwana wa miungu.”
26 Then came Nebuchadnezzar near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, commenced, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, step forth, and come hither. Then stepped Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego forth out of the midst of the fire.
Ndipo Nebukadneza akaukaribia mdomo wa ile tanuru iwakayo moto na kupaza sauti, “Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana, tokeni! Njooni hapa!” Ndipo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatoka ndani ya moto.
27 And the lieutenants, superintendents, and governors, and the king's counsellors, being assembled together, saw these men, over whose bodies the fire had had no power, and the hair of whose head was not singed, whose mantles were not changed, and on whom there was not come the smell of fire.
Nao maliwali, wasimamizi, watawala na washauri wa mfalme wakakusanyika kuwazunguka. Waliona kwamba moto haukudhuru miili yao, wala unywele wa vichwa vyao haukuungua, majoho yao hayakuungua, wala hapakuwepo na harufu ya moto kwenye miili yao.
28 Then commenced Nebuchadnezzar, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that had trusted in him, and had transgressed the king's word, and yielded up their bodies, that they might not worship no bow themselves to any god, except their own God.
Ndipo Nebukadneza akasema, “Ahimidiwe Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambaye amemtuma malaika wake na kuwaokoa watumishi wake. Walimtumaini na kukaidi amri ya mfalme, nao wakawa tayari kufa kuliko kutumikia au kuabudu mungu mwingine yeyote isipokuwa Mungu wao.
29 Therefore do I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, that may speak any thing disrespectful against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be changed into a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver like this one.
Kwa hiyo ninaamuru kwamba watu wa taifa lolote au lugha yoyote watakaosema kitu chochote dhidi ya Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatwe vipande vipande na nyumba zao zifanywe kuwa malundo ya kokoto, kwa maana hakuna mungu mwingine awezaye kuokoa namna hii.”
30 Then did the king promote Shadrach, Meshach, and 'Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
Kisha mfalme akawapandisha vyeo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego katika jimbo la Babeli.

< Daniel 3 >