Danieli 1
1 Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli alikuja akazingira Yerusalemu kwa jeshi.
In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 Bwana akamtia Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda mkononi mwa Nebukadneza, pamoja na baadhi ya vyombo kutoka Hekalu la Mungu. Hivi akavichukua hadi kwenye hekalu la mungu wake huko Shinari, naye akaviweka nyumbani ya hazina ya mungu wake.
And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god.
3 Kisha mfalme akamwagiza Ashpenazi, mkuu wa maafisa wa mfalme, kumletea baadhi ya Waisraeli kutoka jamaa ya mfalme na kutoka jamaa kuu,
And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed and of the princes,
4 vijana wanaume wasio na dosari mwilini, wenye sura nzuri, wanaoonyesha kipaji katika kila aina ya elimu, wenye ufahamu mzuri, wepesi kuelewa, na waliofuzu kuhudumu katika jumba la kifalme. Alikuwa awafundishe lugha na maandiko ya Wakaldayo.
Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king’s palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 Mfalme akawaagizia kiasi cha chakula na divai ya kila siku kutoka meza ya mfalme. Walikuwa wafundishwe kwa miaka mitatu, na hatimaye waingie kwenye utumishi wa mfalme.
And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.
6 Baadhi ya hawa vijana walitoka Yuda: nao ni Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria.
Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.
7 Mkuu wa maafisa akawapa majina mapya: Danieli akamwita Belteshaza, Hanania akamwita Shadraki, Mishaeli akamwita Meshaki, na Azaria akamwita Abednego.
And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.
8 Lakini Danieli alikusudia kuwa hatajitia unajisi kwa chakula cha mfalme na divai, naye akamwomba mkuu wa maafisa ruhusa ili asijinajisi kwa njia hii.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king’s table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.
9 Basi Mungu alikuwa amemfanya huyo mkuu wa maafisa kuonyesha upendeleo na huruma kwa Danieli,
And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
10 lakini huyo mkuu wa maafisa akamwambia Danieli, “Ninamwogopa bwana wangu mfalme, aliyeagizia chakula na kinywaji chenu. Kwa nini aone nyuso zenu zikiwa mbaya kuliko za vijana wengine wa rika lenu? Mfalme atakata kichwa changu kwa sababu yenu.”
And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king.
11 Ndipo Danieli akamwambia mlinzi aliyeteuliwa na huyo mkuu wa maafisa kuwasimamia Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria,
And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:
12 “Tafadhali wajaribu watumishi wako kwa siku kumi. Usitupe chochote ila nafaka na mboga za majani tule, na maji ya kunywa.
Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink:
13 Baadaye ulinganishe sura zetu na vijana wanaokula chakula cha mfalme, ukawatendee watumishi wako kulingana na unachoona.”
And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king’s meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.
14 Basi akakubali jambo hili, akawajaribu kwa siku kumi.
And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.
15 Mwisho wa zile siku kumi, walionekana kuwa na afya na kunawiri zaidi kuliko yeyote kati ya wale vijana waliokula chakula cha mfalme.
And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king’s meat.
16 Hivyo mlinzi wao akaondoa chakula chao na divai yao waliopangiwa kula na kunywa, akawapa nafaka na mboga za majani badala yake.
So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.
17 Mungu akawapa hawa vijana wanne maarifa na ufahamu wa kila aina ya maandiko na elimu. Naye Danieli aliweza kufahamu maono na aina zote za ndoto.
And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.
18 Mwisho wa muda uliowekwa na mfalme kuwaingiza kwake, mkuu wa maafisa akawaleta mbele ya Mfalme Nebukadneza.
And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor.
19 Mfalme akazungumza nao, akaona hakuna aliyelingana na Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria. Hivyo wakaingia katika utumishi wa mfalme.
And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king’s presence.
20 Katika kila jambo la hekima na ufahamu kuhusu kile mfalme alichowauliza, aliwaona bora mara kumi zaidi kuliko waganga na wasihiri wote katika ufalme wake wote.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.
21 Naye Danieli akabaki huko mpaka mwaka wa kwanza wa utawala wa Mfalme Koreshi.
And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
