UDanyeli 3
1 UNebhukadinezari inkosi wenza isithombe segolide; ubude baso babuzingalo ezingamatshumi ayisithupha, ububanzi baso buzingalo eziyisithupha; yasimisa egcekeni leDura, esabelweni seBhabhiloni.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue that was sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide. He set it up in the Plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 UNebhukadinezari inkosi wasethumela ukubuthela ndawonye iziphathamandla, ababusi, lezinduna, abeluleki, abaphathizikhwama, abehluleli, abathonisisi, labo bonke ababusi bezabelo, ukuze beze ekwehlukanisweni kwesithombe uNebhukadinezari inkosi ayesimisile.
Then Nebuchadnezzar sent messages out to gather together the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up.
3 Lapho iziphathamandla, ababusi, lezinduna, abeluleki, abaphathizikhwama, abehluleli, abathonisisi, labo bonke ababusi bezabelo babuthana ndawonye ekwehlukanisweni kwesithombe uNebhukadinezari inkosi ayesimisile; basebesima phambi kwesithombe uNebhukadinezari ayesimisile.
Then the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces gathered together to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood before it.
4 Ummemezeli wasememeza ngamandla wathi: Liyalaywa, lina bantu, zizwe, lezindimi, ukuthi:
Then a herald loudly shouted, “You are commanded, peoples, nations, and languages,
5 Ngesikhathi elizwa ngaso ukukhala kophondo, umhlanga, ichacho, ichachwana, ugubhu lwezintambo, umfece, layo yonke imihlobo yokukhaliswayo, liwele phansi, likhonze isithombe segolide uNebhukadinezari inkosi asimisileyo.
that at the time you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and prostrate yourselves to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 Njalo loba ngubani ongawi phansi, akhonze, ngalesosikhathi uzaphoselwa phakathi kwesithando somlilo esivuthayo.
Whoever does not fall down and worship, at that very moment, will be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Ngakho ngalesosikhathi, lapho abantu bonke besizwa ukukhala kophondo, umhlanga, ichacho, ichachwana, ugubhu lwezintambo, layo yonke imihlobo yokukhaliswayo, bonke abantu, izizwe, lezindimi, bawela phansi, bakhonza isithombe segolide uNebhukadinezari inkosi ayesimisile.
So when all the peoples heard the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and prostrated themselves to the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Ngakho ngalesosikhathi amaKhaladiya athile asondela, ahleba amaJuda.
Now at this time certain Chaldeans came and brought accusations against the Jews.
9 Aphendula athi kuNebhukadinezari inkosi: Nkosi, phila kuze kube nininini!
They said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “King, live forever!
10 Wena nkosi, wenzile umlayo, ukuthi wonke umuntu ozakuzwa ukukhala kophondo, umhlanga, ichacho, ichachwana, ugubhu lwezintambo, lomfece, layo yonke imihlobo yokukhaliswayo, uzawela phansi akhonze isithombe segolide;
You, king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, must fall down and prostrate himself to the golden statue.
11 njalo loba ngubani ongawi phansi, akhonze, uzaphoselwa phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo.
Whoever does not fall down and worship must be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 Kukhona amaJuda athile owamise phezu komsebenzi wesabelo seBhabhiloni, oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego; la amadoda, nkosi, kawakunakanga; kawakhonzi onkulunkulu bakho, kawakhothameli isithombe segolide osimisileyo.
Now there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon; their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, king, pay no attention to you. They will not worship or serve your gods, or prostrate themselves before the golden statue you have set up.”
13 Lapho uNebhukadinezari ekuthukutheleni lekuvutheni kolaka walaya ukuletha oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego. Khonokho lawomadoda alethwa phambi kwenkosi.
Then Nebuchadnezzar, filled with anger and rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to him. So they brought these men before the king.
14 UNebhukadinezari waphendula wathi kubo: Kungamabomu yini, Shadraki, Meshaki, loAbedinego, lingakhonzi onkulunkulu bami, lingakhothameli isithombe segolide engisimisileyo?
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Have you made your minds up, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not worship my gods or prostrate yourselves to the golden statue that I have set up?
15 Khathesi, uba selilungile ukuthi ngesikhathi lisizwa ukukhala kophondo, umhlanga, ichacho, ichachwana, ugubhu lwezintambo, lomfece, layo yonke imihlobo yokukhaliswayo, liwele phansi, likhonze isithombe engisenzileyo, kuhle; kodwa uba lingakhonzi, ngalesosikhathi lizaphoselwa phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo. Ngubani-ke lowoNkulunkulu ozalikhulula ezandleni zami?
Now if you are ready—when you hear the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music—to fall down and prostrate yourselves to the statue that I have made, all will be well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Who is the god who is able to rescue you out of my hands?”
16 OShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego baphendula bathi enkosini: Nebhukadinezari, kasidingi ukukuphendula kuloludaba.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 Uba kungenzeka, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo ulakho ukusikhulula esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo; njalo uzasikhulula esandleni sakho, nkosi.
If there is an answer, it is that our God whom we serve is able to keep us safe from the blazing furnace, and he will rescue us out of your hand, king.
18 Kodwa uba kungenjalo, kakwaziwe kuwe, nkosi, ukuthi kasiyikubakhonza onkulunkulu bakho, lokuthi kasiyikukhothamela isithombe segolide osimisileyo.
But if not, let it be known to you, king, that we will not worship your gods, and we will not prostrate ourselves to the golden statue you set up.”
19 Lapho uNebhukadinezari wagcwala ulaka, lesimo sobuso bakhe sabaguqukela oShadraki, uMeshaki loAbedinego; waphendula, walaya ukuthi batshise isithando kasikhombisa ngaphezu kwalokho okwejwayeleke ukutshiswa ngakho.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage; the look on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was normally heated.
20 Waselaya amadoda alamandla ayesebuthweni lakhe ukuthi abophe oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego, ukuthi babaphosele esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo.
Then he commanded some very strong men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 Lawomadoda asebotshwa embethe izembatho zawo, amabhulugwe awo, lezingowane zawo, lezinye izigqoko zawo, aphoselwa phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo.
They were tied up still wearing their robes, tunics, turbans, and other clothing, and they were thrown into the blazing furnace.
22 Ngakho ngenxa yokuthi ilizwi lenkosi belibukhali, lesithando sitshisa kakhulu, ilangabi lomlilo labulala lawomadoda ayethwele oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego.
Because the king's command was strictly followed and the furnace was very hot, the flames killed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 Lala amadoda amathathu, oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego, awela phansi ebotshiwe phakathi kwesithando somlilo esivuthayo.
These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the blazing furnace while they were tied up.
24 Lapho uNebhukadinezari inkosi wethuka, wasukuma ngokuphangisa, waphendula wathi kubeluleki bakhe: Kasiphoselanga amadoda amathathu ebotshiwe phakathi komlilo yini? Baphendula bathi enkosini: Liqiniso, nkosi.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was amazed and stood up quickly. He asked his advisors, “Did we not throw three men tied up into the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, king.”
25 Yaphendula yathi: Khangelani, ngibona amadoda amane ekhululekile ehamba phakathi komlilo, njalo kakukho ukonakala kuwo; njalo isimo seyesine sifanana lendodana yabonkulunkulu.
He said, “But I see four men who are not tied up walking around in the fire, and they are not hurt. The brilliance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Lapho uNebhukadinezari wasondela emnyango wesithando somlilo esivuthayo, waphendula, wathi: Shadraki, Meshaki, loAbedinego, lina zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, phumani, lize. Lapho oShadraki, Meshaki, loAbedinego baphuma phakathi komlilo.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the blazing furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of God Most High, come out! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
27 Iziphathamandla, ababusi, lezinduna, labeluleki benkosi, sebebuthene, babona la amadoda, umlilo owawungazanga ube lamandla phezu kwemizimba yawo, okwakungahangulwanga lonwele lwekhanda lawo, lezambatho zawo ezazingaguqukanga, lokunuka komlilo okwakungedlulanga kiwo.
The provincial governors, regional governors, other governors, and the king's counselors who had gathered together saw these men. The fire had not hurt their bodies; the hair on their heads was not singed; their robes were not harmed; and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 UNebhukadinezari waphendula, wathi: Kadunyiswe uNkulunkulu kaShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego, othume ingilosi yakhe, wakhulula izinceku zakhe ezimthembileyo, zaze zaguqula ilizwi lenkosi, zanikela imizimba yazo, ukuze zingakhonzi zingakhuleki lakuwuphi unkulunkulu ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu wazo.
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Let us praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his messenger and given his message to his servants. They trusted in him when they set aside my command, and they gave up their bodies rather than worship or prostrate themselves to any god except their God.
29 Ngakho umlayo wenziwa yimi, ukuthi bonke abantu, isizwe, lolimi, olukhuluma okungafanelanga okumelene loNkulunkulu kaShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego, uzaqunywa iziqa, lendlu yakhe yenziwe inqumbi yomquba; ngoba engekho omunye unkulunkulu olakho ukophula njengalokhu.
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must be torn apart, and that their houses must be made into rubbish heaps because there is no other god who is able to save like this.”
30 Lapho inkosi yabaphumelelisa oShadraki, uMeshaki, loAbedinego, esabelweni seBhabhiloni.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
