Danieli 3
1 Mfalme Nebukadneza alitengeneza sanamu ya dhahabu, yenye kimo cha dhiraa sitini, na upana wa dhiraa sita, akaisimamisha kwenye tambarare ya Dura katika jimbo la nchi ya Babeli.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and whose breadth was six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Kisha mfalme akaita wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wote wa jimbo kuja kuizindua sanamu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and the deputy governors, the chief judges, the treasurers, the judges, the counsellors, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Basi wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wa jimbo walikusanyika ili kuizindua sanamu ile Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha, nao wakasimama mbele ya hiyo sanamu.
Then the satraps, prefects, and deputy governors, the chief judges, treasurers, judges, counsellors, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
4 Ndipo mpiga mbiu akatangaza kwa sauti kubwa, “Enyi watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha, hili ndilo mnaloamriwa kulifanya:
Then a herald cried aloud: To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za sauti za ala za uimbaji, lazima mwanguke chini na kuabudu sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza ameisimamisha.
that at the time ye hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the harp, the sambuck, the psaltery, the bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.
6 Mtu yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu sanamu hiyo, atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.”
And whoso doth not fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Kwa hiyo, mara waliposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha wakaanguka chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha.
Therefore at the time when all the people heard the sound of the horn, the pipe, the harp, the sambuck, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshipped the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wakati huo baadhi ya Wakaldayo walijitokeza na kuwashtaki Wayahudi.
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldaeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 Wakamwambia Mfalme Nebukadneza, “Ee mfalme, uishi milele!
They spake and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever!
10 Ee mfalme, umetoa amri kwamba kila mmoja atakayesikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji lazima aanguke chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu,
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the harp, the sambuck, the psaltery, the bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;
11 na kwamba yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.
and that whoso doth not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 Lakini wako baadhi ya Wayahudi ambao umewaweka juu ya mambo ya jimbo la Babeli: yaani, Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambao hawakujali wewe, ee mfalme. Hawaitumikii miungu yako wala kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
Now there are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these men, O king, have not regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Mfalme Nebukadneza, akiwa amekasirika na mwenye ghadhabu kali, akawaita Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego. Hivyo watu hawa wakaletwa mbele ya mfalme,
Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 naye Nebukadneza akawauliza, “Je, ni kweli kwamba ninyi Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego hamuitumikii miungu yangu wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu niliyoisimamisha?
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said to them, Was it by design, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do ye not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Basi wakati mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, kama mtakuwa tayari kusujudu na kuiabudu hiyo sanamu niliyoitengeneza, vyema sana. Lakini kama hamtaiabudu, mtatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto. Naye ni mungu yupi atakayeweza kuwaokoa ninyi, kutoka mkono wangu?”
Now if ye be ready that at the time ye hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the harp, the sambuck, the psaltery, the bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have set up, well! but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakamjibu mfalme, “Ee Nebukadneza, hatuhitaji kujitetea mbele zako kuhusu jambo hili.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.
17 Ikiwa tutatupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto, Mungu tunayemtumikia anaweza kutuokoa na moto, naye atatuokoa kutoka mkononi mwako, ee mfalme.
Behold, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king!
18 Lakini hata ikiwa hatatuokoa, ee mfalme, tunataka ufahamu kwamba, hatutaitumikia miungu yako wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Ndipo Nebukadneza akawa na ghadhabu kali sana kwa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, nayo nia yake ikabadilika kwao. Akaagiza tanuru ichochewe moto mara saba kuliko kawaida yake
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 na kuwaamuru baadhi ya askari wake wenye nguvu zaidi katika jeshi lake kuwafunga Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego na kuwatupa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.
And he commanded the mightiest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Hivyo watu hawa, walifungwa na kutupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamevaa majoho yao, suruali, vilemba na nguo zao nyingine.
Then these men were bound in their trousers, their under-garments, their mantles, and their other clothing, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Amri ya mfalme ilikuwa ya haraka sana na tanuru ilikuwa na moto mkali kiasi kwamba miali ya moto iliwaua wale askari waliowapeleka Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego.
And because the command of the king was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 Watu hawa watatu walianguka ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamefungwa kwa uthabiti sana.
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Ndipo Mfalme Nebukadneza akashangaa, akainuka kwa haraka na kuwauliza washauri wake, “Je, hawakuwa watu watatu ambao tuliwafunga na kuwatupa ndani ya moto?” Washauri wakajibu, “Hakika, ee mfalme.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said to his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king!
25 Mfalme akasema, “Tazama! Naona watu wanne wakitembeatembea ndani ya moto, hawajafungwa wala kudhurika, naye mtu yule wa nne anaonekana kama mwana wa miungu.”
He answered and said, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
26 Ndipo Nebukadneza akaukaribia mdomo wa ile tanuru iwakayo moto na kupaza sauti, “Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana, tokeni! Njooni hapa!” Ndipo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatoka ndani ya moto.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire.
27 Nao maliwali, wasimamizi, watawala na washauri wa mfalme wakakusanyika kuwazunguka. Waliona kwamba moto haukudhuru miili yao, wala unywele wa vichwa vyao haukuungua, majoho yao hayakuungua, wala hapakuwepo na harufu ya moto kwenye miili yao.
And the satraps, prefects, and deputy governors, and the counsellors of the king, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.
28 Ndipo Nebukadneza akasema, “Ahimidiwe Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambaye amemtuma malaika wake na kuwaokoa watumishi wake. Walimtumaini na kukaidi amri ya mfalme, nao wakawa tayari kufa kuliko kutumikia au kuabudu mungu mwingine yeyote isipokuwa Mungu wao.
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants, that trusted in him, and disobeyed the command of the king, and gave up their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
29 Kwa hiyo ninaamuru kwamba watu wa taifa lolote au lugha yoyote watakaosema kitu chochote dhidi ya Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatwe vipande vipande na nyumba zao zifanywe kuwa malundo ya kokoto, kwa maana hakuna mungu mwingine awezaye kuokoa namna hii.”
Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language which speaks anything reproachful against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and its houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver in this manner.
30 Kisha mfalme akawapandisha vyeo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego katika jimbo la Babeli.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
