< 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, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has come to Jerusalem, and lays siege against 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 gives into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he brings them in [to] the land of Shinar, [to] the house of his god, and the vessels he has brought in [to] 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 says, to Ashpenaz master of his eunuchs, to bring in out of the sons of Israel (even of the royal seed, and of the chiefs),
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.
boys in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skillful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and 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 appoints for them a rate, day by day, of the king’s portion of food, and of the wine of his drinking, so as to nourish them three years, that at the end thereof they may stand before the king.
6 Miongoni mwao walikuwa ni Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria, baadhi ya watu wa Yuda.
And there are among them out of the sons 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 chief of the eunuchs sets names on them, and he sets on Daniel, Belteshazzar; and on Hananiah, Shadrach; and on Mishael, Meshach; and on 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 purposes in his heart that he will not defile himself with the king’s portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeks of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not defile 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 gives Daniel for kindness and for mercies before the chief 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 chief of the eunuchs says to Daniel, “I am fearing my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, for why does he see your faces sadder than [those of] the boys which [are] of your circle? Then you have made my head indebted to the king,”
11 Kisha Daniel akamwambia msimamizi ambaye afisa mkuu alikuwa amemweka juu ya Danieli, Hanania, Mishaeli, na Azaria.
And Daniel says to the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs has appointed 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.
“Please try your servants [for] ten days; and they give to us from the vegetables and we eat, and water, and we drink;
13 Kisha ulinganishe mwonekano wetu na mwonekano wa vijana wanaokula vyakula vya mfalme, na mtutendee, sisi watu wako kulingana na kile unachokiona.”'
and our appearance is seen before you, and the appearance of the boys who are eating the king’s portion of food, and as you see—deal with your servants.”
14 Hivyo msimamizi alikubaliana naye kufanya hivi, na aliwajaribu kwa siku kumi.
And he listens to them, to this word, and tries 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 appearance has appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the boys who are eating the king’s portion of food.
16 Basi, msimamizi aliliondoa fungu lao la chakula na vivywaji vyao na walipewa mboga mboga tu.
And the Meltzar is taking away their portion of food, and the wine of their drink, and is giving to them vegetables.
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 boys, God has given to them knowledge and understanding in every [kind of] literature, and wisdom; and Daniel has given instruction about every [kind of] vision 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 to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brings 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 speaks with them, and there has not been found among them all like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they stand 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] any matter of wisdom [and] understanding that the king has sought of them, he finds them ten hands above all the enchanters, the conjurers, who [are] in all his kingdom.
21 Danieli alikuwa hapo mpaka mwaka wa kwanza wa Mfalme Koreshi.
And Daniel is to the first year of Cyrus the king.

< Danieli 1 >