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 Jehoyakim the king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon unto 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 gave up into his hand Yehoyakim the king of Judah, with part of the vessels of the house of God: and he brought them into the land of Shin'ar into the house of his god, namely, he brought the vessels 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 said unto Ashpenas, the chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring out of the children of Israel, and of the royal seed, and of the nobles,
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.
[Certain] lads in whom there should be no kind of blemish, but who should be handsome in appearance, and intelligent in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as should have the ability to serve in the king's palace, and that these should be taught the learning and the language 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 ordered for them a daily provision for its day of the king's food, and of the wine which he drank, and to educate them three years, so that at the end thereof they should serve before the king.
6 Baadhi ya hawa vijana walitoka Yuda: nao ni Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria.
Now there were among these of the children of Judah, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah.
7 Mkuu wa maafisa akawapa majina mapya: Danieli akamwita Belteshaza, Hanania akamwita Shadraki, Mishaeli akamwita Meshaki, na Azaria akamwita Abednego.
And the chief of the eunuchs assigned them names; and he assigned to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Chananyah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to 'Azaryah, of 'Abed-nego.
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 resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the food of the king, nor with the wine which he drank: and therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not need to defile himself.
9 Basi Mungu alikuwa amemfanya huyo mkuu wa maafisa kuonyesha upendeleo na huruma kwa Danieli,
And God gave Daniel kindness and mercy before the chief 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 chief of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath ordered your food and your drink; for why should he see your face sadder looking than that of the lads who are of your age? and ye would thus endanger my head with the king.
11 Ndipo Danieli akamwambia mlinzi aliyeteuliwa na huyo mkuu wa maafisa kuwasimamia Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria,
Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had given charge over Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah,
12 “Tafadhali wajaribu watumishi wako kwa siku kumi. Usitupe chochote ila nafaka na mboga za majani tule, na maji ya kunywa.
Prove, I beseech thee, thy servants, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink;
13 Baadaye ulinganishe sura zetu na vijana wanaokula chakula cha mfalme, ukawatendee watumishi wako kulingana na unachoona.”
And then let our countenances be looked at before thee, and the countenance of the lads that eat the food of the king: and as thou mayest see [fitting], so deal with thy servants.
14 Basi akakubali jambo hili, akawajaribu kwa siku kumi.
And he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them 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 at the end of ten days their countenances appeared better and fuller in flesh than [that of] all the lads who ate the food of the king.
16 Hivyo mlinzi wao akaondoa chakula chao na divai yao waliopangiwa kula na kunywa, akawapa nafaka na mboga za majani badala yake.
And the steward took away their [apportioned] food, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
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.
But as regardeth all these four lads, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Mwisho wa muda uliowekwa na mfalme kuwaingiza kwake, mkuu wa maafisa akawaleta mbele ya Mfalme Nebukadneza.
And at the end of the days [after] which the king had said that they should be presented, the chief of the eunuchs presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Mfalme akazungumza nao, akaona hakuna aliyelingana na Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria. Hivyo wakaingia katika utumishi wa mfalme.
And the king spoke with them; and there was not found among them all any one like Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah: and so they served before the king.
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 every matter of wise understanding, which the king required of them, he found them ten times superior above all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his kingdom.
21 Naye Danieli akabaki huko mpaka mwaka wa kwanza wa utawala wa Mfalme Koreshi.
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
