Danyeri 3
1 Kabaka Nebukadduneeza n’abumbisa ekifaananyi ekya zaabu, obugulumivu mita amakumi abiri mu musanvu n’obugazi mita bbiri ne sentimita nsanvu, n’alagira kiteekebwe mu lusenyi lwa Dduula, mu ssaza ly’e Babulooni.
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 N’atumya abaamasaza, n’abaamagombolola, n’abemiruka, n’abawi b’amagezi, n’abawanika, n’abalamuzi, n’abakungu bonna ab’omu masaza, bajje ku mukolo ogw’okuwongera ekibumbe Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.
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 Awo abaamasaza, n’abafuzi, n’abamateeka, n’abawi b’amagezi n’abawanika, n’abalamuzi, n’abakungu bonna ab’omu masaza, ne bakuŋŋaana ku mukolo ogw’okuwonga ekibumbe Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.
When they all arrived, they all stood in front of that statue.
4 Awo omulanzi n’ayogerera waggulu mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Mulagiddwa, mmwe abantu, n’amawanga, n’abantu ab’ennimi eza buli ngeri,
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 bwe munaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere, na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, muteekwa okuvuunama musinze ekibumbe ekya zaabu Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.
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 Omuntu yenna atalivuunama n’akisinza, alisuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro.”
Anyone who refuses to do that will be thrown into a blazing furnace!”
7 Awo amawanga gonna bwe baawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, amawanga gonna n’ensi n’abantu ab’ennimi eza buli ngeri ne bavuunama ne basinza ekibumbe ekya zaabu Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.
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 Awo mu biro ebyo Abakaludaaya abamu ne bawawaabira Abayudaaya.
But some of the men who studied the stars went to the king.
9 Ne bagenda eri Kabaka Nebukadduneeza ne bamugamba nti, “Wangaala, ayi kabaka!
They reported to him, “We hope that you, O king, will live a long time!
10 Ggwe ayi kabaka otaddewo etteeka, nti omuntu yenna anaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, ateekwa okuvuunama n’asinza ekifaananyi kya zaabu,
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 era buli atalivuunama n’akisinza alisuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro.
You also decreed that those who refused to do that would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 Naye waliwo abamu ku Bayudaaya be walonda okuvunaanyizibwa ensonga ez’essaza ery’e Babulooni, era be ba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego abatakuwulirirako ddala ayi kabaka. Tebaweereza bakatonda bo newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye wabumbisa.”
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 Awo Nebukadduneeza n’asunguwala nnyo n’alagira baleete Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego gy’ali; ne baleetebwa mu maaso ga kabaka.
Nebuchadnezzar became very angry. He commanded [his soldiers] to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were brought to him,
14 Nebukadduneeza n’ababuuza nti, “Ebigambo bye mpulira bituufu nti mmwe Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego temuweereza bakatonda bange, newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye nabumbisa?
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 Kaakano, bwe munaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, mwetegeke okuvuunama n’okusinza ekifaananyi kye nabumbisa. Naye bwe mutaakisinze, ku ssaawa eyo yennyini munaasuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro, kale tulyoke tulabe katonda oyo anaayinza okubawonya mu mukono gwange.”
[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 Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne baddamu kabaka nti, “Ayi Nebukadduneeza, tekitugwanira kwewolereza mu maaso go ku nsonga eyo.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend our [actions] to you in this matter.
17 Bwe tunaasuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro, Katonda gwe tuweereza anaatuwonya ekikoomi ekyaka omuliro era anaatulokola mu mukono gwo, ayi kabaka.
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 Naye ne bwe kitaabe bwe kityo, twagala okimanye, ayi kabaka nga tetugenda kuweereza bakatonda bo, newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye wabumbisa.”
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 Awo Nebukadduneeza ne yeeyongera okusunguwalira Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, n’amaaso ge ne gaba masunguwavu nnyo ng’ajjudde obuswandi. N’alagira ekikoomi kyake emirundi musanvu okusinga ne bwe kyali kyase.
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 N’alagira abamu ku baserikale be ab’amaanyi okusiba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, n’oluvannyuma basuulibwe mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro.
[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 Amangwago ne basiba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, nga bambadde ebyambalo byabwe eby’ekitiibwa, ne seruwale zaabwe, n’eminagiro gyabwe n’engoye zaabwe endala, ne basuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro.
So [the soldiers] tied them up and threw them into the furnace, while they were wearing their clothes.
22 Olw’okubanga ekiragiro kya kabaka kyali kya mbagirawo nga n’ekyoto kyaka nnyo nnyini, ennimi ez’omuliro ne zitta abasajja abaasitula Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego.
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 Awo abasajja abo abasatu Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne basuulibwa wakati mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro nga basibiddwa.
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the roaring flames.
24 Awo Kabaka Nebukadduneeza, mu kwewuunya n’agolokoka mangu n’abuuza abakungu be nti, “Mu muliro tetwasuddemu abasajja basatu nga basibiddwa?” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Bwe kyabadde, ayi kabaka.”
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 N’ayogera nti, “Naye nga ndaba abasajja bana nga basumuluddwa nga batambulira wakati mu muliro, nga tebaliiko kabi ke bakolebbwako, so n’owookuna ng’afaanana ng’omwana wa bakatonda.”
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 Nebukadduneeza n’alyoka asembera ku mulyango gw’ekikoomi ekyaka omuliro, n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki, ne Abeduneego, abaddu ba Katonda Ali Waggulu Ennyo, mufulume mujje wano.” Awo Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne bava mu muliro.
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 Abaamasaza, n’abemiruka, n’abafuzi ab’ebitundu, n’abakungu ba kabaka ne bakuŋŋaana ne babeetegereza. Ne balaba ng’omuliro tegubookezza, so n’enviiri zaabwe nga tezisiridde, so n’engoye zaabwe nga tezookeddwa, so n’olusu lw’omuliro nga terubawunyako.
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 Nebukadduneeza n’ayogera nti, “Katonda wa Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego atenderezebwe, aweerezza malayika we n’alokola abaddu be, abaamwesize, ne bajeemera ekiragiro kya kabaka, ne bawaayo obulamu bwabwe baleme okuweereza newaakubadde okusinza katonda yenna wabula Katonda waabwe bo.
[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 Noolwekyo nteeka etteeka nga buli muntu ow’eggwanga lyonna, na buli muntu ow’olulimi lwonna olwa buli ngeri alyogera obubi ku Katonda wa Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, alitemebwatemebwa, n’ennyumba ye erimenyebwamenyebwa, kubanga tewali katonda mulala ayinza okuwonya mu ngeri eyo.”
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 Awo kabaka n’akuza Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego mu ssaza ery’e Babulooni.
Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more important positions in Babylon province than they had before.
