1
Katika mwaka wa tatu wa kumiliki kwake Yehoyakimu, mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadreza mfalme wa Babeli,alikwenda Yerusalemu akauhusuru.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2
Bwana akamtia Yehoyakimu, mfalme wa Yuda, katika mkono wake, pamoja na baadhi ya vyombo vya nyumba ya Mungu; naye akavichukua mpaka nchi ya Shinari, mpaka nyumba ya mungu wake; akaviingiza vile vyombo katika nyumba ya hazina ya mungu wake.
And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.
3
Mfalme akamwambia Ashpenazi, mkuu wa matowashi wake, awalete baadhi ya wana wa Israeli, wa uzao wa kifalme, na wa uzao wa kiungwana;
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—
4
vijana wasio na mawaa, wazuri wa uso, wajuzi wa hekima, werevu kwa sababu ya maarifa yao, wenye kufahamu elimu, watakaoweza kusimama katika jumba la mfalme; tena alimwambia awafundishe elimu ya Wakaldayo, na lugha yao.
young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5
Huyo mfalme akawaagizia posho ya chakula cha mfalme, na ya divai aliyokunywa, akaagiza walishwe hivyo muda wa miaka mitatu; ili kwamba hatimaye wasimame mbele ya mfalme.
The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service.
6
Basi katika hao walikuwapo baadhi ya wana wa Yuda, Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria.
Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7
Mkuu wa matowashi akawapa majina; alimwita Danielii, Belteshaza; na Hanania akamwita Shadraka; na Mishaeli akamwita Meshaki; na Azaria akamwita Abednego.
The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8
Lakini Danielii aliazimu moyoni mwake ya kuwa hatajitia unajisi kwa chakula cha mfalme, wala kwa divai aliyokunywa; basi akamwomba yule mkuu wa matowashi ampe ruhusa asijitie unajisi.
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
9
Basi Mungu alimjalia Danielii kupata kibali na huruma machoni pa huyo mkuu wa matowashi.
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
10
Mkuu wa matowashi akamwambia Danielii, Mimi namwogopa bwana wangu, mfalme, aliyewaagizia ninyi chakula chenu na kinywaji chenu; kwa nini azione nyuso zenu kuwa hazipendezi kama nyuso za vijana hirimu zenu? Basi kwa kufanya hivyo mtahatirisha kichwa changu mbele ya mfalme.
but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”
11
Ndipo Danielii akamwambia yule msimamizi, ambaye mkuu wa matowashi amemweka juu ya Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria,
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12
Tafadhali utujaribu sisi watumishi wako muda wa siku kumi; na watupe mtama tule, na maji tunywe.
“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13
Kisha nyuso zetu zitazamwe mbele yako, na nyuso za wale vijana wanaokula chakula cha mfalme; ukatutendee sisi watumishi wako kadiri ya utakavyoona.
Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
14
Basi akawasikiliza katika jambo hilo, akawajaribu siku kumi.
So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.
15
Hata mwisho wa zile siku kumi nyuso zao zilikuwa nzuri zaidi, na miili yao ilikuwa imenenepa zaidi, kuliko wale vijana wote waliokula chakula cha mfalme.
And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.
16
Basi yule msimamizi akaiondoa posho yao ya chakula, na ile divai waliyopewa wanywe, akawapa mtama tu.
So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.
17
Basi, kwa habari za hao vijana wanne, Mungu aliwapa maarifa na ujuzi katika elimu na hekima; Danielii naye alikuwa na ufahamu katika maono yote, na ndoto.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
18
Hata mwisho wa siku zile alizoziagiza mfalme za kuwaingiza, mkuu wa matowashi akawaingiza mbele ya mfalme Nebukadreza.
Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19
Naye mfalme akazungumza nao; na miongoni mwao wote hawakuonekana waliokuwa kama Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria; kwa hiyo wakasimama mbele ya mfalme.
And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
20
Na katika kila jambo la hekima na ufahamu alilowauliza mfalme, akawaona kuwa walifaa mara kumi zaidi ya waganga na wachawi waliokuwa katika ufalme wake.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21
Tena, Danielii huyo akadumu huko hata mwaka wa kwanza wa mfalme Koreshi.
And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.