Daniel 3
1 Eze Nebukadneza kpụrụ oyiyi ọlaedo nke ịdị elu ya ga-adị iri mita atọ, obosara ya ga-adị ka mita atọ. Emesịa, o debe ya nʼobosara ala Dura, nke dị nʼotu mpaghara Babilọn.
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his men to make a gold statue. It was (90 feet/27 meters) high and (9 feet/2.7 meters) wide. They set it up in the Dura plain in Babylon province.
2 Eze Nebukadneza ziri ozi ka e zie ndị nnọchite anya eze niile, ndịisi, ndị na-achị achị, ndị ndụmọdụ ya niile, ndị na-elekọta ụlọakụ ya niile, ndị ọkaikpe, ndị maji na-edozi okwu na ọtụtụ ndị ọzọ nọkwa nʼisi ọchịchị akụkụ niile nke ala ahụ, ka ha bịa nʼụbọchị a ga-edo oyiyi ahụ nsọ bụ nke eze Nebukadneza guzobere.
Then he sent messages to all the provincial governors, the district governors, the chief advisors, the counselors, the various judges, and all the other officials in the province. He told them to come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up.
3 Ya mere, ndị nnọchite anya eze niile, ndịisi, ndị na-achị achị, ndị ndụmọdụ ya niile na ndị na-elekọta ụlọakụ ya niile, ndị ọkaikpe, ndị maji na-edozi okwu na ọtụtụ ndị ọzọ nọkwa nʼisi ọchịchị akụkụ niile nke ala ahụ, zukọtara maka ido oyiyi ahụ nke eze, bụ Nebukadneza guzobere nsọ. Ha niile guzooro ọtọ nʼihu oyiyi ahụ bụ nke eze Nebukadneza guzobere.
When they all arrived, they all stood in front of that statue.
4 Onye nkwusa kwuru okwu nʼolu ike, “Mmadụ niile si na mba niile na asụsụ niile dị iche iche bịa, ka a na-enye iwu nke a,
Then an announcer shouted, “You people who come from many countries and many people-groups and [who speak many] languages, listen to what the king has commanded!
5 mgbe ọbụla unu nụrụ ụda ọja, une, ụbọ akwara, maọbụ ụda ihe egwu ọbụla, unu ga-ada nʼala kpọọ isiala nye ihe a Nebukadneza eze ji ọlaedo kpụọ.
When you hear the sounds made by the trumpets, the flutes, the guitars, the harps, the wind instruments, and all the other musical instruments, bow down to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
6 Onye ọbụla juru ịkpọ isiala ka a ga-atụba ngwangwa nʼime ọkụ nke na-enwu ajọ onwunwu.”
Anyone who refuses to do that will be thrown into a blazing furnace!”
7 Ya mere, ngwangwa ha nụrụ ụda opi ike, nke ọja, une ụbọ akwara, nke une na nke egwu dị iche iche, ndị niile si mba dị iche iche, ndị na-asụ asụsụ dị iche iche, dara nʼala kpọọ isiala nye oyiyi ọlaedo ahụ, nke eze bụ Nebukadneza guzobere.
So when all those people who had gathered heard the sounds made by the musical instruments, they all bowed down to worship the statue.
8 Nʼoge a, ụfọdụ nʼime ndị Kaldịa pụtara nʼihu boo ndị Juu ebubo.
But some of the men who studied the stars went to the king.
9 Ha gwara eze, bụ Nebukadneza, “Ka eze dị ndụ ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.
They reported to him, “We hope that you, O king, will live a long time!
10 Gị, onwe gị nyere iwu, na onye ọbụla nụrụ ụda opi ike, ọja, une, ụbọ akwara maọbụ ihe egwu ọzọ ga-akpọ isiala sekpuoro ihe ahụ e ji ọlaedo kpụọ,
You decreed that all the officials [whom you had gathered] should bow down and worship the gold statue when they heard the sounds made by the musical instruments.
11 na onye ọbụla jụrụ ịkpọ isiala ka a ga-atụba nʼime ọkụ na-enwu ajọ onwunwu.
You also decreed that those who refused to do that would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 Ugbu a, e nwere ụfọdụ ndị Juu, ndị aha ha bụ Shedrak, na Mishak na Abednego, ndị i mere ka ha bụrụ ndị na-elekọta ihe niile a na-eme eme nʼala Babilọn; ha aṅaghị ntị nʼiwu eze nyere, jụkwa ịkpọ isiala nye oyiyi a i ji ọlaedo kpụọ.”
Sir, there are some men from Judah whom you have appointed to be officials in Babylon province who have not obeyed your decree. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They have refused to worship your god and the gold statue that you have set up.”
13 Nebukadneza nʼọnọdụ oke iwe nyere iwu ka a kpọta Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego. Ya mere, a kpọbatara ndị ikom a nʼihu eze,
Nebuchadnezzar became very angry. He commanded [his soldiers] to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were brought to him,
14 Nebukadneza sịrị ha, “Ọ bụ eziokwu, Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego, na unu adịghị efe chi m maọbụ kpọọ isiala nye oyiyi ọlaedo ahụ m guzobere?
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true that you three men have refused to worship my gods or the gold statue that I have set up?
15 Mgbe unu nụrụ ụda opi, ọja, une na ụbọ akwara maọbụ ihe egwu ọzọ, ọ bụrụ na unu adaa nʼala kpọọ isiala nye oyiyi ahụ a kpụrụ akpụ, ihe niile ga-adị mma. Kama ọ bụrụ na unu ajụ ịkpọ isiala, a ga-atụnye unu ngwangwa nʼime ọkụ na-enwu ajọ onwunwu. Kedụ chi ahụ nke pụrụ ịnapụta unu site nʼaka m?”
[If that is true, ] I will give you one more chance. If you bow down to worship the statue that I have set up when you hear the sounds of the musical instruments, fine. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. Then (what god will be able to rescue you from my power?/no god will be able to rescue you from my power!)” [RHQ]
16 Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego, gwara eze, “O Nebukadneza, ọ dịghị mkpa na anyị ga-azara ọnụ anyị nʼihu gị banyere okwu a.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend our [actions] to you in this matter.
17 Ọ bụrụ Chineke anyị na-efe nwere ike ịzọpụta anyị site nʼọkụ na-enwusi ike nʼaka gị, ya zọpụta anyị.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we worship is able to rescue us. Sir, he will rescue us from your power.
18 Ma ọ bụrụkwa na ọ zọpụtaghị anyị, mata nke ọma, o eze, na anyị agaghị efe chi gị ndị a maọbụ kpọọ isiala nye oyiyi a ị kpụrụ akpụ nke ị guzobere.”
But [even] if he does not [rescue us], you need to know that we will never worship your gods or the gold statue that you have set up.”
19 Mgbe ahụ, Nebukadneza jupụtara nʼoke iwe megide Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego, nke bụ nʼihu ya gbarụrụ nʼebe ha nọ. O nyere iwu sị ka e mee ụlọ ọkụ ahụ ka ọ dị ọkụ ugboro asaa karịa ka o kwesiri.
Nebuchadnezzar was extremely angry. [His being very angry even] showed on his face. He commanded that the furnace should be made seven times as hot as usual.
20 Ọ nyere ụfọdụ ndị kacha sie ike nʼetiti ndị agha ya iwu ka e kee Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego eriri nʼụkwụ na aka, tụbakwa ha nʼọkụ ahụ na-enwu enwu.
[After that was done, ] he commanded some of the [very] strong men of his army to tie Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and [then] to throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 Ya mere, ha kere ndị ikom ahụ agbụ ebe ha ka yi uwe ụkwụ ha, na akwa nkụkụ isi ha, na uwe mwụda ha, na uwe ha niile, tụba ha nʼetiti ọkụ ahụ na-enwu ajọ onwunwu.
So [the soldiers] tied them up and threw them into the furnace, while they were wearing their clothes.
22 Ebe ọ bụ nʼokwu eze dị ọkụ ọkụ, tinyere na ọkụ ahụ na-enwusi ike, o mere ka ire ọkụ regbuo ndị agha ahụ tụbara Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego.
Because the fire had been made very hot because the king had very strongly ordered them to do that, the flames [leaped out and] killed the soldiers as they were throwing the men into the fire!
23 Ya mere, Shedrak, na Mishak, na Abednego ndị e kesịrị agbụ ike, dabara nʼime ọkụ ahụ na-enwusi ike.
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the roaring flames.
24 Nʼọnọdụ iju anya, Eze Nebukadneza wuliri nʼụkwụ ya, jụọ ndị ndụmọdụ sị, “Ọ bụghị ndị ikom atọ anyị kere agbụ ka anyị tụbara nʼime ọkụ?” Ha zara eze, “Ọ bụ ezie, eze.”
But as Nebuchadnezzar was watching, he was amazed. He suddenly jumped up and shouted to his advisors, “Did we tie up three men and throw them into the flames, or not?” They replied, “Yes, O king, [we did].”
25 Ọ sịrị, “Ma ana m ahụ mmadụ anọ ndị a na-ekeghị agbụ, ka ha na-agagharị nʼime ọkụ ahụ. Leekwa na ọkụ ahụ anaghị ere ha. Onye ahụ mere ha mmadụ anọ yiri nwa nke ndị bụ chi.”
Nebuchadnezzar shouted, “[Look]! I see four men in the fire! They have no ropes on them, they are walking around, and [the flames] are not hurting them! And the fourth man looks like a divine being!”
26 Mgbe ahụ Nebukadneza, bịara nso nʼọnụ ụzọ oke ọkụ ahụ sị, “Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego, ndị ohu Chineke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, pụtanụ! Bịanụ nʼebe a!” Ya mere, Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego, sitere nʼoke ọkụ ahụ pụta.
Nebuchadnezzar came closer to the opening of the flaming furnace, and he shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you who worship the Supreme God, come out of there! Come here!” So they stepped out of the fire.
27 Ụmụ ndị eze niile, ndịisi niile, ndị ahụ niile na-achị achị na ndị ndụmọdụ eze niile, zukọtara gburugburu ndị ikom atọ ahụ, ha hụkwara na ọkụ emerụghị ha ahụ, na o rechapụghịkwa agịrị isi dị ha nʼisi, uwe ha ereghịkwa ọkụ, isisi anwụrụ ọkụ adịghịkwa nʼahụ ha.
Then all the king’s officials crowded around them. They saw that the flames had not harmed them. The flames had not [even] singed any of the hair on their heads or scorched any of their clothes! There was not [even] any smell of smoke on them!
28 Mgbe ahụ, Nebukadneza sịrị, “Otuto dịrị Chineke nke Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego nʼihi na o zitere mmụọ ozi ya ịzọpụta ndị ohu ya tụkwasịrị ya obi, mgbe ha jụrụ ime ihe eze nyere nʼiwu, kama ha jiri aka ha họrọ ịnwụ, kama ife chi ọzọ nke na-abụghị Chineke nke ha.
[Then] Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God whom Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [worship]! He sent one of his angels to rescue these [three] men who worship him and trust in him. They ignored my command; they insisted that they would worship only their God, and were willing to die instead of worshiping any other god.
29 Ya mere, ana m enye iwu a taa, na-asị na onye ọbụla, maọbụ mba ọbụla, maọbụ asụsụ ọbụla, onye kwuru okwu ọjọọ megide Chineke Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego, a ga-etikpọkwa ụlọ onye ahụ, mee ka ọ ghọọ mkpọmkpọ ebe. Nʼihi na o nweghị chi ọzọ nke pụrụ ịzọpụta nʼụzọ dị otu a.”
Therefore, I am [now] making this decree: ‘If any people, from any country or people-group or any language group, criticize the God whom Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worship, they will be cut in pieces and their houses [will be torn down and] made into a pile of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue people like this!’”
30 Mgbe ahụ, eze nyere Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego ọkwa ọzọ dị elu karịa nke ha nwere na mbụ nʼala Babilọn.
Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more important positions in Babylon province than they had before.
