< UDanyeli 1 >
1 Ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakhimi inkosi yakwaJuda, uNebhukhadineza inkosi yaseBhabhiloni wafika eJerusalema walihanqa.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 UThixo wanikela uJehoyakhimi inkosi yakwaJuda ezandleni zakhe, kanye lezinye impahla zethempeli likaNkulunkulu. Konke wakuthwala wakusa ethempelini likankulunkulu wakhe eBhabhiloniya wakufaka endlini yenotho kankulunkulu wakhe.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 Kwathi-ke inkosi yasilaya u-Ashiphenazi, induna yezikhulu zesigodlo sayo ukuthi alethe abanye bama-Israyeli besikhosini lasezikhulwini,
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;
4 amajaha amizimba ingelasici, amahle, atshengisa ukufundiseka ezintweni zonke, azi okunengi, aphangisayo ukuzwisisa njalo abonakala efanele ukukhonza esigodlweni senkosi. Ayemele awafundise ulimi lezincwadi zamaBhabhiloni.
youths in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 Inkosi yababela ukudla okukhethiweyo okwansuku zonke kanye lewayini kuthathwa kokwakulungiselwe inkosi. Babezafundiswa okweminyaka emithathu, kuthi ngemva kwalokho baqalise ukusebenza esigodlweni.
And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Phakathi kwalabo babekhona ababephuma koJuda: uDanyeli, loHananiya, loMishayeli kanye lo-Azariya.
Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 Indunankulu yabanika amabizo amatsha: uDanyeli kwathiwa nguBhelitheshazari; uHananiya waba nguShadreki, uMishayeli waba nguMeshaki; u-Azariya waba ngu-Abhediniko.
And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abed-nego.
8 Kodwa uDanyeli wazimisela ukuthi angazingcolisi ngokudla kwesikhosini lewayini lakhona, yikho wasecela kundunankulu imvumo yokuthi angazingcolisi kanjalo.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 UNkulunkulu wayekwenzile ukuthi Indunankulu imthande njalo imhawukele uDanyeli,
Now God made Daniel to find favour and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
10 kodwa wathi kuDanyeli, “Ngiyamesaba umhlekazi wami inkosi, onguye okumisileyo ukudla kwenu lokokunatha. Kambe akayikulibona yini selikhangeleka kubi kulamanye amajaha angontanga benu? Inkosi ingahle ingiqume ikhanda ngenxa yenu.”
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Darnel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the youths which are of your own age? so should ye endanger my head with the king.
11 UDanyeli wasesithi enxuseni elalibekwe yindunankulu phezu kwaboDanyeli, loHananiya, loMishayeli lo-Azariya,
Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
12 “Ake uzilinge izinceku zakho okwensuku ezilitshumi nje: Ungasiphi lutho ngaphandle kwemibhida ukuba sidle yona lamanzi okunatha.
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Lapho-ke ubusufananisa imizimba yethu laleyo eyamajaha adla ukudla kwesikhosini, ubususenza njengokubona kwakho ezincekwini zakho.”
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king’s meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 Lakanye inxusa lakuvuma lokho labalinga okwensuku ezilitshumi.
So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 Ekupheleni kwensuku ezilitshumi bakhangeleka bephila ngcono njalo bezimukile kulamajaha ayesidla ukudla kwesikhosini.
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths which did eat of the king’s meat.
16 Yikho inxusa laselisusa ukudla kwabo kwekhethelo kanye lewayini ababelinatha labapha imibhida.
So the steward took away their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.
17 La amajaha amane uNkulunkulu wawanika ulwazi lokuzwisisa zonke izibhalo lemfundo. Njalo uDanyeli wayezwisisa imibono lamaphupho wonke ehlukeneyo.
Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Ekupheleni kwesikhathi esasibekwe yinkosi ukuthi balethwe, indunankulu yabethula kuNebhukhadineza.
And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Inkosi yakhuluma labo yafumana engekho olingana loDanyeli, loHananiya, loMishayeli kanye lo-Azariya; ngakho bangeniswa ukusebenzela inkosi.
And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 Kuzozonke izindaba zokuhlakanipha lokuzwisisa inkosi eyababuza ngazo yabafumana bebedlula bonke omasalamusi lezangoma ngokuphindwe katshumi kuwo wonke umbuso wayo.
And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.
21 UDanyeli wahlala khona kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wokuqala weNkosi uKhurosi.
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.