1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 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.
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; 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. 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. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 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.
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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 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. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 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. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 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. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
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. 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. 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. 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. 21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Ehokololo lyaDaniel nookuume ke
Aagundjuka mombala yaNebukadnezzar
1 Momumvo omutitatu sho Jehoiakim a li omukwaniilwa gwaJuda, omukwaniilwa gwaBabilon, edhina lye Nebukadnezzar, okwa matukile Jerusalem e te shi kondeke. 2 Omuwa Kalunga okwe mu kwatitha omukwaniilwa Jehoiakim niikwaniipangitho yimwe yomotempeli. Okwa fala oonkwatwa dhimwe kotempeli yiikalunga ye kuBabilon, e ta tula iikwaniipangitho moompungulilo dhomotempeli yiikalunga ye.
3 Omukwaniilwa okwa lombwele elenga ekuluntu Aspenas, a hogolole mokati kAaisraeli aapika aagundjuka yamwe yomaawagona noomvalekele. 4 Oyo ye na okukala ya shitika, ye na oondunge, ya longekeka noye na omitse omipu mokwiilonga yo yaa na shipo, opo ya longwe okuyakula muuwa. Aspenas okwa li e na oku ya nongeka okulesha nokunyola elaka lyoshilongo. 5 Omukwaniilwa okwa gandja ishewe elaka kutya esiku kehe naa pewe iikulya nomaviinu ngaashi aambala ayehe. Konima yoomvula ndatu otaa ka holoka koshipala shomukwaniilwa. 6 Mumboka ya hogololwa omwa li Daniel, Hanania, Mishael naAzaria, ayehe mbaka oyomezimo lyaJuda. 7 Elenga ekuluntu olye ya lukulula omadhina omape: Beltshazzar, Shadrak, Meshak naAbednego.
8 Daniel okwa tokola, ki inyateke a lye iikulya nokunwa omaviinu gambala, onkee okwi indile Aspenas, e mu kwathe. 9 Kalunga oku uvitithitha Aspenas ohenda, a yaalele Daniel. 10 Aspenas sho a li a tila omukwaniilwa, okwa ti kuDaniel: “Omukwaniilwa oku utha shoka tamu li notamu nu, nongele itamu ondoka mwa fa aagundjuka ooyakweni, nena ota ka dhipaga ndje.”
11 Onkee Daniel okwa yi komutonateli ngoka a tulwa po kuAspenas, e ya tonatele nokwa ti kuye: 12 “Tu yelekela omasiku omulongo. Tu pa, tu lye omboga tse tu nwe omeya. 13 Nena tu yeleka naamati mboka taa li iikulya yambala, opo ihe etokolo lyoye li uthwe kuukwatya wetu.”
14 Aspenas okwe ya pitika, ya kambadhale omasiku omulongo. 15 Sho ethimbo ndyoka lya thiki, oya li ya kola noye na oonkondo ye vule ayehe mboka haa li iikulya yambala. 16 Okuza mpoka omutonateli okwe ya etha, ya tsikile okulya oomboga peha lyaashoka omukwaniilwa e shi ya longekidhila.
17 Kalunga okwa pe aagundjuka mbaka yane oondunge nuunongo mokutseya omanyolo agehe. Daniel okwa pewa omagano gokufatulula wo omamoniko noondjodhi.
18 Konima yomimvo ndhoka ndatu Aspenas okwe ya fala kuNebukadnezzar. 19 Omukwaniilwa okwa kundathana nayo ayehe, ndele Daniel, Hanania, Mishael naAzaria oye mu kumitha ye vule yalwe. Osho ya ningi aayakuli yomukwaniilwa. 20 Omukwaniilwa aluhe sho e ya pula kombinga yiinima tayi pula oondunge nuunongo, okwe ya dhimbulula kutya oye vule lwomulongo oonganga noompulile adhihe moshilongo she ashihe. 21 Daniel okwa hugunine mombala, sigo omukwaniilwa Kores gwaPersia a lala Babilon.
