Taniela 3
1 Naʻe ngaohi ʻe Nepukanesa ko e tuʻi ha meʻa fakatātā koula, ʻaia naʻe teau ma uofulu ʻae hanga ʻo hono māʻolunga, pea ko hono māukupu ko e hanga ʻe hongofulu ma ua; naʻa ne fokotuʻu ia ʻi he toafa ʻo Tula ʻi he vahe fonua ʻo Papilone.
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his men to make a gold statue. It was (90 feet/27 meters) high and (9 feet/2.7 meters) wide. They set it up in the Dura plain in Babylon province.
2 Pea naʻe fekau ʻe Nepukanesa, ke fakataha ʻae houʻeiki hau mo e ngaahi pule, mo e ngaahi ʻeikitau, mo e ngaahi houʻeiki, mo e kau pule koloa, mo e kau tangata fakamatala fono, mo e kau fakamaau, pea mo e kau pule kotoa pē ʻoe ngaahi fonua, ke nau haʻu ki he fakatapui ʻoe meʻa fakatātā ʻaia naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe he tuʻi ko Nepukanesa.
Then he sent messages to all the provincial governors, the district governors, the chief advisors, the counselors, the various judges, and all the other officials in the province. He told them to come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up.
3 Ko ia naʻe fakataha ai ʻae houʻeiki hau, mo e ngaahi pule, mo e ngaahi ʻeikitau, mo e houʻeiki mo e kau pule koloa, mo e kau fakamatala fono, mo e kau fakamaau, pea mo e kau pule ʻoe ngaahi fonua, ki he fakatapui ʻoe meʻa fakatātā ʻaia naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe he tuʻi ko Nepukanesa; pea naʻa nau tuʻu ʻi he ʻao ʻoe meʻa fakatātā ʻaia naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe Nepukanesa.
When they all arrived, they all stood in front of that statue.
4 Pea naʻe kalanga mālohi ʻae tangata fekau; “ʻOku fekau kiate kimoutolu, ʻae kakai mo e ngaahi puleʻanga mo e kakai ʻi he lea kehekehe;
Then an announcer shouted, “You people who come from many countries and many people-groups and [who speak many] languages, listen to what the king has commanded!
5 ʻoka mou ka fanongo ki he leʻo ʻoe koaneti, mo e fangufangu, ʻae haʻape mo e sakipute, ʻae saliteli mo e lali, mo e ngaahi meʻa hiva kehekehe kotoa pē, te mou punou hifo, mo hū ki he meʻa fakatātā ʻaia kuo fokotuʻu ʻe he tuʻi ko Nepukanesa;
When you hear the sounds made by the trumpets, the flutes, the guitars, the harps, the wind instruments, and all the other musical instruments, bow down to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
6 Pea ko ia ʻe ʻikai punou mo hū, ʻe lī ia ʻi he feituʻulaʻā ko ia ki he loto afi vela kakaha.”
Anyone who refuses to do that will be thrown into a blazing furnace!”
7 Ko ia ʻi he feituʻulaʻā ko ia, ʻi he fanongo ʻae kakai kotoa pē ki he leʻo ʻoe koaneti mo e fangufangu, ʻae haʻape, mo e sakipute, ʻae saliteli, pea mo e ngaahi meʻa hiva kehekehe kotoa pē, naʻe punou hifo ʻo hū ʻae kakai kotoa pē, ʻae ngaahi puleʻanga, pea mo e ngaahi lea, ki he meʻa fakatātā koula ʻaia naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe he tuʻi ko Nepukanesa.
So when all those people who had gathered heard the sounds made by the musical instruments, they all bowed down to worship the statue.
8 Pea ʻi he ʻaho ko ia naʻe ʻunuʻunu atu ha niʻihi ʻoe kau Kalitia, ʻo talatalaakiʻi ʻae kau Siu.
But some of the men who studied the stars went to the king.
9 Naʻa nau lea ki he tuʻi ko Nepukanesa ʻo pehē, “ʻE tuʻi, ke ke moʻui ʻo taʻengata.
They reported to him, “We hope that you, O king, will live a long time!
10 Ko koe, ʻe tuʻi, kuo ke fai fono, koeʻuhi ko e tangata kotoa pē ʻaia ʻe fanongo ki he leʻo ʻoe koaneti, mo e fangufangu, ʻae haʻape, mo e sakipute, ʻae saliteli, mo e lali, mo e meʻa hiva kehekehe ke ne punou hifo ʻo hū ki he meʻa fakatātā koula:
You decreed that all the officials [whom you had gathered] should bow down and worship the gold statue when they heard the sounds made by the musical instruments.
11 Pea ko ia ʻe ʻikai tōmapeʻe ʻo hū, ʻe lī ia ki he loto afi vela kakaha.
You also decreed that those who refused to do that would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 ʻOku ai ʻae kau Siu niʻihi, ʻaia kuo ke fokotuʻu ke pule ki he ngaahi ngāue ʻi he potu ʻo Papilone, ko Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko; ko e kau tangata ni, ʻe tuʻi, kuo nau taʻetokanga kiate koe; ʻoku ʻikai te nau tauhiʻi ho ngaahi ʻotua, pe hū ki he meʻa fakatātā koula, ʻaia kuo ke fokotuʻu.”
Sir, there are some men from Judah whom you have appointed to be officials in Babylon province who have not obeyed your decree. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They have refused to worship your god and the gold statue that you have set up.”
13 Ko ia naʻe fekau ʻe Nepukanesa ʻi heʻene houhau mo ʻene tuputāmaki ke ʻomi ʻa Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko. Ko ia naʻa nau ʻomi ʻae kau tangata ni ki he ʻao ʻoe tuʻi.
Nebuchadnezzar became very angry. He commanded [his soldiers] to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were brought to him,
14 Pea ne lea ʻa Nepukanesa, ʻo pehēange kiate kinautolu, “ʻOku moʻoni, ʻe Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻoku ʻikai te mou tauhiʻi ʻa hoku ngaahi ʻotua, pe hū ki he meʻa fakatātā koula ʻaia kuo u fokotuʻu?
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true that you three men have refused to worship my gods or the gold statue that I have set up?
15 Ko eni, kapau te mou tali ʻoka mou ka fanongo ki he leʻo ʻoe koaneti, mo e fangufangu, ʻae haʻape, mo e sakipute, ʻae saliteli, mo e lali, mo e ngaahi meʻa hiva kehekehe kotoa pē, pea te mou punou ʻo hū ki he meʻa fakatātā ʻaia kuo u ngaohi; pehē ʻe lelei: pea kapau ʻe ʻikai te mou hū, ʻe lī ʻakimoutolu ʻi he feituʻulaʻā ko ia, ki he loto afi vela kakaha; pea ko hai ʻae ʻotua ko ia te ne fakahaofi ʻakimoutolu mei hoku nima?”
[If that is true, ] I will give you one more chance. If you bow down to worship the statue that I have set up when you hear the sounds of the musical instruments, fine. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. Then (what god will be able to rescue you from my power?/no god will be able to rescue you from my power!)” [RHQ]
16 Pea naʻe tali ʻe Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻo pehē ki he tuʻi, “ʻE Nepukanesa, ʻoku ʻikai te mau toe fifili pe ko e hā haʻamau tali kiate koe ʻi he meʻa ni.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend our [actions] to you in this matter.
17 Kapau ʻoku pehē, ʻoku mālohi ʻa homau ʻOtua, ʻaia ʻoku mau tauhi ke fakahaofi ʻakimautolu mei he afi vela kakaha, pea te ne fakahaofi ʻakimautolu mei ho nima, ʻe tuʻi.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we worship is able to rescue us. Sir, he will rescue us from your power.
18 Pea kapau ʻe ʻikai, ke ke ʻilo pe ʻe tuʻi, ʻe ʻikai te mau tauhiʻi ho ngaahi ʻotua, pe hū ki he meʻa fakatātā koula ʻaia kuo ke fokotuʻu.”
But [even] if he does not [rescue us], you need to know that we will never worship your gods or the gold statue that you have set up.”
19 Ko ia naʻe fonu ai ʻa Nepukanesa ʻi he houhau, pea naʻe kehe ʻae anga ʻo hono fofonga kia Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ko ia naʻa ne lea ʻo fekau ke nau tafu ʻae afi ke liunga fitu hake ʻene vela ʻi heʻene faʻa vela.
Nebuchadnezzar was extremely angry. [His being very angry even] showed on his face. He commanded that the furnace should be made seven times as hot as usual.
20 Pea ne fekau ki he kau tangata mālohi hake ʻi heʻene kongakau ke haʻi ʻa Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, pea lī ʻakinautolu ki he afi vela kakaha.
[After that was done, ] he commanded some of the [very] strong men of his army to tie Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and [then] to throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 Ko ia naʻe haʻi ʻae kau tangata ni mo honau ngaahi kofutuʻa, mo honau ngaahi kofu loto, mo honau ngaahi tatā, pea naʻe lī ʻakinautolu ki he loto afi vela kakaha.
So [the soldiers] tied them up and threw them into the furnace, while they were wearing their clothes.
22 Pea ko e meʻa ʻi he fekau ʻae tuʻi ke fai ke toʻotoʻo, pea mo ʻene vela ʻaupito ʻae afi, naʻe tāmateʻi ʻe he ulo ʻoe afi ʻae kau tangata ko ia naʻe hiki hake ʻa Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko.
Because the fire had been made very hot because the king had very strongly ordered them to do that, the flames [leaped out and] killed the soldiers as they were throwing the men into the fire!
23 Pea naʻe tō hifo ʻae kau tangata ʻe toko tolu ni, ko Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ki he loto afi vela kakaha.
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the roaring flames.
24 Pea naʻe ofo ʻae tuʻi ko Nepukanesa, pea ne tuʻu hake fakavave, mo ne lea ʻo pehē, ki he kau tangata tokoni ʻi he pule, “ʻIkai naʻa tau lī ʻae kau tangata ʻe toko tolu kuo haʻi ki he loto afi?” Pea naʻa nau lea ʻo pehē ki he tuʻi, “ʻOku moʻoni, ʻe tuʻi.”
But as Nebuchadnezzar was watching, he was amazed. He suddenly jumped up and shouted to his advisors, “Did we tie up three men and throw them into the flames, or not?” They replied, “Yes, O king, [we did].”
25 Pea naʻe lea ʻae tuʻi ʻo pehēange kiate kinautolu, “Vakai, ʻoku ou mamata ki he kau tangata ʻe toko fā, ʻoku ʻataʻatā, pea ʻoku nau ʻeveʻeva ʻi he loto afi, pea ʻoku ʻikai ha kovi kiate kinautolu, pea ko e anga ʻo hono toko fā, ʻoku hangē ia ko e ʻAlo ʻoe ʻOtua.”
Nebuchadnezzar shouted, “[Look]! I see four men in the fire! They have no ropes on them, they are walking around, and [the flames] are not hurting them! And the fourth man looks like a divine being!”
26 Pea naʻe ʻunuʻunu atu ʻa Nepukanesa ʻo ofi ki he matapā ki he afi vela kakaha, ʻo ne lea ʻo pehē, “ʻE Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻakimoutolu ʻae kau tamaioʻeiki ʻae ʻOtua māʻolunga, mou hū mai pea haʻu ki heni.” Pea naʻe hū mai ʻa Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, mei he loto afi.
Nebuchadnezzar came closer to the opening of the flaming furnace, and he shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you who worship the Supreme God, come out of there! Come here!” So they stepped out of the fire.
27 Pea naʻe mamata ʻe he houʻeiki hau, mo e ngaahi pule, mo e ngaahi ʻeikitau, mo e kau mātuʻa ʻae tuʻi, ʻi heʻenau fakataha, ki he kau tangata ni, ʻaia naʻe ʻikai ke mālohi ʻae afi ki honau sino, pea naʻe ʻikai mahunuhunu ha tuʻoni louʻulu ʻe taha ʻi honau ʻulu, pea naʻe ʻikai ke fakakehe honau kofu, pea naʻe ʻikai ke hoko ʻae nanamu ʻoe afi kiate kinautolu.
Then all the king’s officials crowded around them. They saw that the flames had not harmed them. The flames had not [even] singed any of the hair on their heads or scorched any of their clothes! There was not [even] any smell of smoke on them!
28 Pea naʻe lea ʻa Nepukanesa ʻo pehē, “ʻOku monūʻia ʻae ʻOtua ʻo Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻaia kuo fekau ʻa ʻene ʻāngelo, pea kuo ne fakahaofi ʻene kau tamaioʻeiki naʻe falala kiate ia, pea kuo nau liliu ʻae lea ʻae tuʻi, ʻo fakahaofi ʻa honau sino, koeʻuhi ke ʻoua naʻa nau tauhi, pe hū ki ha ʻotua, ka ko honau ʻOtua pe.
[Then] Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God whom Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [worship]! He sent one of his angels to rescue these [three] men who worship him and trust in him. They ignored my command; they insisted that they would worship only their God, and were willing to die instead of worshiping any other god.
29 Ko ia ʻoku ou fokotuʻu ʻae fono, ʻilonga ha kakai, pe ha puleʻanga, pe ha lea, ʻoku lea kovi ki he ʻOtua ʻo Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻe tuʻutuʻu fakaikiiki ʻakinautolu, pea ʻe ngaohi honau ngaahi fale ko e tuʻunga ʻotoʻota: koeʻuhi ʻoku ʻikai mo ha ʻOtua ʻe faʻa fakahaofi ʻo hangē ko eni.”
Therefore, I am [now] making this decree: ‘If any people, from any country or people-group or any language group, criticize the God whom Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worship, they will be cut in pieces and their houses [will be torn down and] made into a pile of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue people like this!’”
30 Pea naʻe hakeakiʻi ʻe he tuʻi ʻa Seteleki, mo Mesake, mo ʻApeteniko, ʻi he fonua ʻo Papilone.
Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more important positions in Babylon province than they had before.
