< Danieli 1 >

1 Katika mwaka wa tatu wa utawala wa Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli alikuja Yerusalemu na kuuzunguka mji ili kuzuia mahitaji yake yote.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 Bwana alimpa Nebukadneza ushindi dhidi ya Yehoyakimu mfalme wa Yuda, na alimpatia vitu vitakatifu kutoka nyumba ya Mungu. Alivipeleka vitu hivyo mpaka katika nchi ya Babeli, kwa nyumba ya mungu wake, na aliviweka vitu vitakatifu katika hazina ya mungu wake.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, and a 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 Mfalme akamwambia Ashipenazi, afisa wake mkuu, awalete baadhi ya watu wa Israeli, wa familia ya kifalme na za kiungwana -
And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring of the children of Israel, both of the royal seed and of the nobles,
4 vijana wasio na hila, wenye mwonekano wa kuvutia, wenye ujuzi katika hekima yote, wenye kujawa na ufahamu na weledi, na wenye sifa za kutumika katika ikulu ya mfalme. Alitakiwa kuwafundisha maandiko na lugha ya Babeli.
youths in whom was no blemish, and of goodly countenance, and skilful in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
5 Mfalme aliwatengea kwa ajili yao fungu kutoka katika chakula chake kizuri kwa kila siku na katika divai aliyokunywa. Vijana hawa walitakiwa kufunzwa kwa miaka mitatu, na baada ya hapo, wangeweza kumtumikia mfalme.
And the king appointed unto them a daily provision of the king's delicate food, and of the wine that he drank, to nourish them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Miongoni mwao walikuwa ni Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria, baadhi ya watu wa Yuda.
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 Afisa mkuu aliwapa majina: Danieli alimwita Belteshaza, Hanania alimwita Shadraka, Mishaeli alimwita Meshaki, na Azaria alimwita Abedinego.
And the prince of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel he gave [the name] Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, Shadrach, and to Mishael, Meshach, and to Azariah, Abed-nego.
8 Lakini Danieli alinuia katika akili yake kuwa asingejitia ujanisi mwenyewe kwa chakula kizuri cha mfalme wala kwa divai ambayo alikunywa.
And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself.
9 Basi, aliomba ruhusa kutoka kwa afisa mkuu ili kwamba asije akajitia uchafu yeye mwenyewe. Hivyo, Mungu alimpa Danieli kibali na huruma kupitia katika heshima ambayo afisa mkuu alikuwa nayo kwake.
And God granted Daniel favour and mercy before the prince of the eunuchs.
10 Afisa mkuu alimwambia Danieli, “Ninamwogopa bwana wangu mfalme. Ameagiza aina ya chakula na vinywaji mnavyotakiwa kutumia. Kwa nini awaone ninyi mkiwa mnaonekana vibaya kuliko vijana wengine wa umri wenu? Mfalme aweza kukitwaa kichwa changu kwa sababu yenu.
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king who hath appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the youths who are of your age? and ye would endanger my head with the king.
11 Kisha Daniel akamwambia msimamizi ambaye afisa mkuu alikuwa amemweka juu ya Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria.
And Daniel said to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Alisema, “Tafadhari tujaribuni, sisi watumishi wako kwa siku kumi. Tupatieni tu mboga mboga za kula na maji ya kunywa.
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink;
13 Kisha ulinganishe mwonekano wetu na mwonekano wa vijana wanaokula vyakula vya mfalme, na mtutendee, sisi watu wako kulingana na kile unachokiona.”'
then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's delicate food: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.
14 Hivyo msimamizi alikubaliana naye kufanya hivi, na aliwajaribu kwa siku kumi.
And he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 Katika mwisho wa siku kumi mwonekano wao ulikuwa ni wenye afya nzuri kuliko wa wale vijana waliokula vyakula vya kifalme.
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and were fatter in flesh than all the youths that ate of the king's delicate food.
16 Basi, msimamizi aliliondoa fungu lao la chakula na vivywaji vyao na walipewa mboga mboga tu.
So the steward took away their delicate food, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 Na kuhusu vijana hawa nne Mungu aliwapa uelewa na ufahamu katika maandiko yote na hekima, na Danieli aliweza kupambanua aina zote za maono na ndoto.
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 Katika mwisho wa muda uliokuwa umepangwa na mfalme kuwaleta ndani, afisa mkuu aliwaleta mbele ya Nebukadneza.
And at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Mfalme aliongea nao, na miongoni mwa kundi lote hapo hapakuwa na wa kuwalinganisha na akina Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria. Walisimama mbele ya mfalme, wakiwa tayari kumtumikia.
And the king spoke with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: and they stood before the king.
20 Katika kila swali la hekima na ufahamu ambalo mfalme aliwauliza, aliwakuta wakiwa na uwezo mara kumi kuliko waganga wote na wale waliojidai kusema na wafu, waliokuwa katika ufalme wake wote.
And in all matters of judicious wisdom, as to which the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the scribes [and] magicians that were in all his realm.
21 Danieli alikuwa hapo mpaka mwaka wa kwanza wa Mfalme Koreshi.
And Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus.

< Danieli 1 >