1
Nebukadreza, mfalme, alifanya sanamu ya dhahabu, ambayo urefu wake ulikuwa ni dhiraa sitini, na upana wake dhiraa sita; akaisimamisha katika uwanda wa Dura, katika wilaya ya Babeli.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2
Ndipo Nebukadreza akatuma watu kuwakusanya maamiri, na manaibu, na maliwali, na makadhi, na watunza hazina, na mawaziri, na mawakili, na wakuu wa wilaya zote, ili wahudhurie wakati wa kuizindua ile sanamu, mfalme Nebukadneza aliyoisimamisha.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.
3
Ndipo maamiri, na manaibu, na maliwali, na makadhi, na watunza hazina, na mawaziri, na mawakili, na wakuu wa wilaya zote, wakakusanyika ili kuizindua ile sanamu, mfalme Nebukadreza aliyoisimamisha; wakasimama mbele ya ile sanamu, mfalme Nebukadreza aliyoisimamisha.
So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4
Ndipo mpiga mbiu akapiga kelele akisema, Enyi watu wa kabila zote, na taifa, na lugha, mmeamriwa hivi,
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
5
wakati mtakapoisikia sauti ya panda, na filimbi, na kinubi, na zeze, na santuri, na zomari, na namna zote za ngoma, lazima kuanguka na kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu, mfalme Nebukadreza aliyoisimamisha.
As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6
Na kila mtu asiyeanguka na kuabudu atatupwa saa iyo hiyo katika tanuru ya moto uwakao.
And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”
7
Basi wakati huo, watu wa kabila zote walipoisikia sauti ya panda, na filimbi, na kinubi, na zeze, na santuri, na zomari, na namna zote za ngoma, watu wote na mataifa na lugha wakaanguka, wakaiabudu ile sanamu, mfalme Nebukadreza aliyoisimamisha.
Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8
Basi baadhi ya Wakaldayo wakakaribia, wakaleta mashitaka juu ya Wayahudi.
At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,
9
Wakajibu, wakamwambia mfalme Nebukadreza, Ee mfalme, uishi milele.
saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever!
10
Wewe, Ee mfalme, ulitoa amri ya kwamba kila mtu atakapoisikia sauti ya panda, na filimbi, na kinubi, na zeze, na santuri, na zomari, na namna zote za ngoma, ni lazima aanguke na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu;
You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,
11
na kila mtu asiyeanguka na kuabudu atatupwa katika tanuru ya moto uwakao.
and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.
12
Wako Wayahudi kadha wa kadha uliowaweka juu ya mambo ya wilaya ya Babeli, yaani, Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego; watu hawa, Ee mfalme, hawakukujali wewe; hawaitumikii miungu yako, wala kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.
But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
13
Basi Nebukadreza akatoa amri kwa hasira na ghadhabu, waletwe hao Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego. Basi wakawaleta watu hao mbele ya mfalme.
Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14
Nebukadreza akajibu, akawaambia, Enyi Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, je! Ni kwa makusudi hata hammtumikii mungu wangu wala kuisujudia sanamu ya dhahabu niliyoisimamisha?
and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?
15
Basi sasa, kama mkiwa tayari wakati mtakapoisikia sauti ya panda, na filimbi, na kinubi, na zeze, na santuri, na zomari, na namna zote za ngoma, kuanguka na kuisujudia sanamu niliyoisimamisha, ni vema; bali msipoisujudia, mtatupwa saa iyo hiyo katika tanuru iwakayo moto; naye ni nani Mungu yule atakayewaokoa ninyi na mikono yangu?
Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
16
Ndipo Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, wakajibu, wakamwambia mfalme, Ee Nebukadreza, hamna haja kukujibu katika neno hili.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17
Kama ni hivyo, Mungu wetu tunayemtumikia aweza kutuokoa na tanuru ile iwakayo moto; naye atatuokoa na mkono wako, Ee mfalme.
If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.
18
Bali kama si hivyo, ujue, Ee mfalme, ya kuwa sisi hatukubali kuitumikia miungu yako, wala kuisujudia hiyo sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.
But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
19
Ndipo Nebukadreza akajaa ghadhabu, na sura ya uso wake ikabadilika juu ya Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, basi akatoa amri watie moto ile tanuru mara saba kuliko desturi yake ya kutiwa moto.
At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
20
Kisha akawaamuru baadhi ya watu mashujaa wa jeshi lake kuwafunga Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, na kuwatupa katika ile tanuru iliyokuwa ikiwaka moto.
and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.
21
Basi watu hao wakafungwa, hali wamevaa suruali zao, na kanzu zao, na joho zao, na mavazi yao mengine, wakatupwa katikati ya ile tanuru iliyokuwa ikiwaka moto.
So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.
22
Basi kwa sababu amri ya mfalme ilikuwa ni kali, na ile tanuru ilikuwa ina moto sana, mwako wa ule moto ukawaua wale watu waliowashika Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego.
The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23
Na watu hao watatu, Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, wakaanguka, hali wamefungwa, katikati ya ile tanuru iliyokuwa inawaka moto.
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.
24
Ndipo Nebukadreza akastaajabu, akainuka kwa haraka; akanena, akawaambia mawaziri wake, Je! Hatukutupa watu watatu, hali wamefungwa, katikati ya moto? Wakajibu, wakamwambia mfalme, Kweli, Ee mfalme.
Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” “Certainly, O king,” they replied.
25
Akajibu, akasema, Tazama, mimi naona watu wanne, nao wamefunguliwa, wanatembea katikati ya moto hali hawana dhara; na sura yake yule wa nne ni mfano wa mwana wa miungu.
“Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”
26
Kisha Nebukadreza akaukaribia mdomo wa ile tanuru iliyokuwa inawaka moto. Akanena, akasema, Enyi Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, watumishi wa Mungu Aliye juu, tokeni, mje huku. Ndipo Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, wakatoka katika ule moto.
Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire,
27
Na maamiri, na manaibu, na maliwali, na mawaziri, waliokuwa wamekusanyika pamoja, wakawaona watu hao, ya kuwa ule moto ulikuwa hauna nguvu juu ya miili yao, wala nywele za vichwa vyao hazikuteketea, wala suruali zao hazikubadilika, wala harufu ya moto haikuwapata hata kidogo.
and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28
Nebukadreza akanena, akasema, Na ahimidiwe Mungu wa Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego; aliyemtuma malaika wake, akawaokoa watumishi wake waliomtumaini, wakaligeuza neno la mfalme, na kujitoa miili yao ili wasimtumikie mungu mwingine, wala kumwabudu, ila Mungu wao wenyewe.
Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29
Basi mimi naweka amri ya kuwa kila kabila ya watu, na kila taifa, na kila lugha, watakaonena neno lo lote lisilopasa juu ya huyo Mungu wa Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, watakatwa vipande vipande, na nyumba zao zitafanywa jaa; kwa kuwa hakuna Mungu mwingine awezaye kuokoa namna hii.
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”
30
Kisha mfalme akawakuza Shadraka, na Meshaki, na Abednego, katika wilaya ya Babeli.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.