< Daniel 1 >

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoyakim the king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli alikuja Yerusalemu na kuuzunguka mji ili kuzuia mahitaji yake yote.
2 And the Lord gave up into his hand Yehoyakim the king of Judah, with part of the vessels of the house of God: and he brought them into the land of Shin'ar into the house of his god, namely, he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.
Bwana alimpa Nebukadneza ushindi dhidi ya Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, na alimpatia vitu vitakatifu kutoka nyumba ya Mungu. Alivipeleka vitu hivyo mpaka katika nchi ya Babeli, kwa nyumba ya mungu wake, na aliviweka vitu vitakatifu katika hazina ya mungu wake.
3 And the king said unto Ashpenas, the chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring out of the children of Israel, and of the royal seed, and of the nobles,
Mfalme akamwambia Ashipenazi, afisa wake mkuu, awalete baadhi ya watu wa Israeli, wa familia ya kifalme na za kiungwana -
4 [Certain] lads in whom there should be no kind of blemish, but who should be handsome in appearance, and intelligent in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as should have the ability to serve in the king's palace, and that these should be taught the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
vijana wasio na hila, wenye mwonekano wa kuvutia, wenye ujuzi katika hekima yote, wenye kujawa na ufahamu na weledi, na wenye sifa za kutumika katika ikulu ya mfalme. Alitakiwa kuwafundisha maandiko na lugha ya Babeli.
5 And the king ordered for them a daily provision for its day of the king's food, and of the wine which he drank, and to educate them three years, so that at the end thereof they should serve before the king.
Mfalme aliwatengea kwa ajili yao fungu kutoka katika chakula chake kizuri kwa kila siku na katika divai aliyokunywa. Vijana hawa walitakiwa kufunzwa kwa miaka mitatu, na baada ya hapo, wangeweza kumtumikia mfalme.
6 Now there were among these of the children of Judah, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah.
Miongoni mwao walikuwa ni Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria, baadhi ya watu wa Yuda.
7 And the chief of the eunuchs assigned them names; and he assigned to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Chananyah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to 'Azaryah, of 'Abed-nego.
Afisa mkuu aliwapa majina: Danieli alimwita Belteshaza, Hanania alimwita Shadraka, Mishaeli alimwita Meshaki, na Azaria alimwita Abedinego.
8 But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the food of the king, nor with the wine which he drank: and therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not need to defile himself.
Lakini Danieli alinuia katika akili yake kuwa asingejitia ujanisi mwenyewe kwa chakula kizuri cha mfalme wala kwa divai ambayo alikunywa.
9 And God gave Daniel kindness and mercy before the chief of the eunuchs.
Basi, aliomba ruhusa kutoka kwa afisa mkuu ili kwamba asije akajitia uchafu yeye mwenyewe. Hivyo, Mungu alimpa Danieli kibali na huruma kupitia katika heshima ambayo afisa mkuu alikuwa nayo kwake.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath ordered your food and your drink; for why should he see your face sadder looking than that of the lads who are of your age? and ye would thus endanger my head with the king.
Afisa mkuu alimwambia Danieli, “Ninamwogopa bwana wangu mfalme. Ameagiza aina ya chakula na vinywaji mnavyotakiwa kutumia. Kwa nini awaone ninyi mkiwa mnaonekana vibaya kuliko vijana wengine wa umri wenu? Mfalme aweza kukitwaa kichwa changu kwa sababu yenu.
11 Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had given charge over Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah,
Kisha Daniel akamwambia msimamizi ambaye afisa mkuu alikuwa amemweka juu ya Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria.
12 Prove, I beseech thee, thy servants, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink;
Alisema, “Tafadhari tujaribuni, sisi watumishi wako kwa siku kumi. Tupatieni tu mboga mboga za kula na maji ya kunywa.
13 And then let our countenances be looked at before thee, and the countenance of the lads that eat the food of the king: and as thou mayest see [fitting], so deal with thy servants.
Kisha ulinganishe mwonekano wetu na mwonekano wa vijana wanaokula vyakula vya mfalme, na mtutendee, sisi watu wako kulingana na kile unachokiona.”'
14 And he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Hivyo msimamizi alikubaliana naye kufanya hivi, na aliwajaribu kwa siku kumi.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared better and fuller in flesh than [that of] all the lads who ate the food of the king.
Katika mwisho wa siku kumi mwonekano wao ulikuwa ni wenye afya nzuri kuliko wa wale vijana waliokula vyakula vya kifalme.
16 And the steward took away their [apportioned] food, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Basi, msimamizi aliliondoa fungu lao la chakula na vivywaji vyao na walipewa mboga mboga tu.
17 But as regardeth all these four lads, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Na kuhusu vijana hawa nne Mungu aliwapa uelewa na ufahamu katika maandiko yote na hekima, na Danieli aliweza kupambanua aina zote za maono na ndoto.
18 And at the end of the days [after] which the king had said that they should be presented, the chief of the eunuchs presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.
Katika mwisho wa muda uliokuwa umepangwa na mfalme kuwaleta ndani, afisa mkuu aliwaleta mbele ya Nebukadneza.
19 And the king spoke with them; and there was not found among them all any one like Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah: and so they served before the king.
Mfalme aliongea nao, na miongoni mwa kundi lote hapo hapakuwa na wa kuwalinganisha na akina Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria. Walisimama mbele ya mfalme, wakiwa tayari kumtumikia.
20 And in every matter of wise understanding, which the king required of them, he found them ten times superior above all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his kingdom.
Katika kila swali la hekima na ufahamu ambalo mfalme aliwauliza, aliwakuta wakiwa na uwezo mara kumi kuliko waganga wote na wale waliojidai kusema na wafu, waliokuwa katika ufalme wake wote.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Danieli alikuwa hapo mpaka mwaka wa kwanza wa Mfalme Koreshi.

< Daniel 1 >