1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Katika mwaka wa tatu wa kumiliki kwake Yehoyakimu, mfalme wa Yuda, Nebukadreza mfalme wa Babeli, alikwenda Yerusalemu akauhusuru.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
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.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Mfalme akamwambia Ashpenazi, mkuu wa matowashi wake, awalete baadhi ya wana wa Israeli, wa uzao wa kifalme, na wa uzao wa kiungwana;
4 children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
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.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
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.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Basi katika hao walikuwapo baadhi ya wana wa Yuda, Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria.
7 unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
Mkuu wa matowashi akawapa majina; alimwita Danielii, Belteshaza; na Hanania akamwita Shadraka; na Mishaeli akamwita Meshaki; na Azaria akamwita Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
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.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Basi Mungu alimjalia Danielii kupata kibali na huruma machoni pa huyo mkuu wa matowashi.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
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.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Ndipo Danielii akamwambia yule msimamizi, ambaye mkuu wa matowashi amemweka juu ya Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Tafadhali utujaribu sisi watumishi wako muda wa siku kumi; na watupe mtama tule, na maji tunywe.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Kisha nyuso zetu zitazamwe mbele yako, na nyuso za wale vijana wanaokula chakula cha mfalme; ukatutendee sisi watumishi wako kadiri ya utakavyoona.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Basi akawasikiliza katika jambo hilo, akawajaribu siku kumi.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
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.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Basi yule msimamizi akaiondoa posho yao ya chakula, na ile divai waliyopewa wanywe, akawapa mtama tu.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
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.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Hata mwisho wa siku zile alizoziagiza mfalme za kuwaingiza, mkuu wa matowashi akawaingiza mbele ya mfalme Nebukadreza.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
Naye mfalme akazungumza nao; na miongoni mwao wote hawakuonekana waliokuwa kama Danielii, na Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria; kwa hiyo wakasimama mbele ya mfalme.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Na katika kila jambo la hekima na ufahamu alilowauliza mfalme, akawaona kuwa walifaa mara kumi zaidi ya waganga na wachawi waliokuwa katika ufalme wake.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Tena, Danielii huyo akadumu huko hata mwaka wa kwanza wa mfalme Koreshi.
