1
Belshaza, mfalme, aliwafanyia wakuu wake elfu karamu kubwa akanywa divai mbele ya elfu hao.
Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
2
Belshaza, alipokuwa akionja ile divai, akaamuru wavilete vile vyombo vya dhahabu na fedha, ambavyo baba yake, Nebukadreza, alivitoa katika hekalu lililokuwako Yerusalemu; ili kwamba mfalme, na wakuu wake, na wake zake, na masuria wake, wapate kuvinywea.
Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
3
Basi wakavileta vile vyombo vya dhahabu, vilivyotolewa katika hekalu la nyumba ya Mungu lililokuwako Yerusalemu; na mfalme na wakuu wake, na wake zake, na masuria wake, wakavinywea.
Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
4
Wakanywa divai, wakaisifu miungu ya dhahabu, na ya fedha, na ya shaba, na ya chuma, na ya mti, na ya mawe.
As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5
Saa iyo hiyo vikatokea vidole vya mkono wa mwanadamu, vikaandika katika chokaa ya ukuta wa nyumba ya enzi ya mfalme, mahali palipokikabili kinara; naye mfalme akakiona kitanga cha ule mkono ulioandika.
At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,
6
Ndipo uso wa mfalme ukambadilika; fikira zake zikamfadhaisha; viungo vya viuno vyake vikalegea; magoti yake yakagongana.
his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
7
Mfalme akalia kwa sauti kubwa, akaamuru waletwe wachawi, na Wakaldayo na wanajimu. Mfalme akanena, akawaambia wenye hekima wa Babeli, mtu awaye yote atakayesoma maandiko haya, na kunionyesha tafsiri yake, atavikwa mavazi ya rangi ya zambarau, na kuwa na mkufu wa dhahabu shingoni mwake, naye atakuwa mtu wa tatu katika ufalme.
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
8
Basi wakaingia wenye hekima wote wa mfalme; lakini hawakuweza kuyasoma yale maandiko, wala kumjulisha mfalme tafsiri yake.
So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.
9
Ndipo mfalme Belshaza akahangaika sana, uso wake ukambadilika, na wakuu wake wakaona fadhaa.
Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.
10
Basi malkia, kwa sababu ya maneno ya mfalme na ya wakuu wake, akaingia katika nyumba ya karamu; malkia akanena, akasema, Ee mfalme, uishi milele; fikira zako zisikufadhaishe; wala uso wako usibadilike.
Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.
11
Yuko mtu katika ufalme wako, ambaye roho ya miungu watakatifu inakaa ndani yake; na katika siku za baba yako nuru na ufahamu na hekima zilionekana ndani yake; na mfalme Nebukadreza, baba yako, naam, mfalme, baba yako, akamfanya kuwa mkuu wa waganga, na wachawi, na Wakaldayo, na wanajimu;
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,
12
kwa kuwa roho njema kupita kiasi, na maarifa, na ufahamu, na uwezo wa kufasiri ndoto, na kufunua maneno ya fumbo, na kufungua mafundo, zilionekana katika Danielii huyo, ambaye mfalme alimwita Belteshaza. Basi na aitwe Danielii, naye ataionyesha tafsiri.
did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”
13
Ndipo Danielii akaletwa mbele ya mfalme. Na Mfalme akanena, akamwambia Danielii, Je! Wewe ndiwe Danielii yule, aliye mmoja wa wana wa Yuda waliohamishwa, ambao mfalme, baba yangu, aliwaleta huku toka Yerusalemu?
So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?
14
Nimesikia habari zako, kwamba roho ya miungu imo ndani yako, na kwamba nuru na ufahamu na akili bora zimeonekana kwako.
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
15
Basi sasa, watu wenye hekima na wachawi wameletwa mbele yangu, wapate kulisoma andiko hili, na kunijulisha tafsiri yake; lakini hawakuweza kunijulisha tafsiri ya jambo hili.
Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.
16
Lakini nimesikia habari zako, kwamba waweza kuleta tafsiri, na kufumbua mafumbo; haya! Kama ukiweza kulisoma andiko hili, na kunijulisha tafsiri yake, utavikwa mavazi ya rangi ya zambarau, na kuwa na mkufu wa dhahabu shingoni mwako, nawe utakuwa mtu wa tatu katika ufalme.
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
17
Ndipo Danielii akajibu, akasema mbele ya mfalme; Zawadi zako zishike wewe mwenyewe; na thawabu zako mpe mtu mwingine; walakini nitamsomea mfalme maandiko haya, na kumjulisha tafsiri yake.
In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
18
Kwa habari zako, Ee mfalme, Mungu Aliye juu alimpa Nebukadreza, baba yako, ufalme, na ukuu, na fahari, na utukufu;
As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
19
na kwa sababu ya ule ukuu aliompa, watu wa kabila zote, na mataifa, na lugha, wakatetemeka na kuogopa mbele yake; aliyetaka kumwua alimwua; na aliyetaka kumwacha hai, alimwacha hai; aliyetaka kumtukuza, alimtukuza; na aliyetaka kumshusha, alimshusha.
Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.
20
Lakini moyo wake ulipoinuliwa, na roho yake ilipokuwa ngumu akatenda kwa kiburi, aliuzuliwa katika kiti chake cha enzi, nao wakamwondolea utukufu wake.
But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
21
Akafukuzwa mbali na wanadamu, moyo wake ukafanywa kuwa kama moyo wa mnyama, na makao yake yalikuwa pamoja na punda-mwitu; akalishwa majani kama ng'ombe, mwili wake ukalowa maji kwa umande wa mbinguni; hata alipojua ya kuwa Mungu Aliye juu ndiye anayetawala katika ufalme wa wanadamu, na ya kuwa humweka juu yake yeye amtakaye, awaye yote.
He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.
22
Na wewe, mwanawe, Ee Belshaza, hukujinyenyekeza moyo wako, ijapokuwa ulijua hayo yote.
But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.
23
Bali umejiinua juu ya Bwana wa mbingu; nao wamevileta vyombo vya nyumba yake mbele yako; na wewe, na wakuu wako, na wake zako, na masuria wako, mmevinywea; nawe umeisifu miungu ya fedha na ya dhahabu na ya shaba, na ya chuma, na ya mti, na ya mawe; wasioona, wala kusikia, wala kujua neno lo lote; na Mungu yule, ambaye pumzi yako i mkononi mwake, na njia zako zote ni zake, hukumtukuza.
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
24
Ndipo kile kitanga cha ule mkono kikaletwa kutoka mbele zake, na maandiko haya yameandikwa.
Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
25
Na maandiko yaliyoandikwa ni haya; MENE, MENE, TEKELI, NA PERESI.
Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.
26
Na tafsiri ya maneno haya ni hii; MENE, Mungu ameuhesabu ufalme wako na kuukomesha.
And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27
TEKELI, umepimwa katika mizani nawe umeonekana kuwa umepunguka.
TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
28
PERESI, ufalme wako umegawanyika, nao wamepewa Wamedi na Waajemi.
PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
29
Ndipo Belshaza akatoa amri, nao wakamvika Danielii mavazi ya rangi ya zambarau, wakatia mkufu wa dhahabu shingoni mwake, wakapiga mbiu kutangaza habari zake, ya kwamba yeye ni mtu wa tatu katika ufalme.
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
30
Usiku uo huo Belshaza, mfalme wa Wakaldayo, akauawa.
That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain,
31
Na Dario, Mmedi, akaupokea ufalme, naye umri wake alikuwa na miaka sitini na miwili.</p>
and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.