Daniel 犹大王约雅金在位第三年,巴比伦王拿步高前来围攻耶路撒冷, 2 The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of 上主将犹大王约雅金和天主殿内的一部分器皿,交在拿步高手中,他便将这些器皿带到史纳尔地方,存放在他神殿的库房内。 3 The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility, 君王吩咐他的宦官长阿市培纳次,要他由以色列子民中,选一些王室或贵族的青年, 4 young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king's palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; 5 after three years' training they were to enter the king's service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. 君王且给他们指定了,每天要吃君王所吃的食品和所饮的美酒,如此教养他们三年;期满以后,他们便可侍立在君王左右。 6 Among these were men of 7 2 The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego. 宦官长另给他们起了名字:给达尼尔起名叫贝特沙匝,阿纳尼雅叫沙得辣客,米沙耳叫默沙耳,阿匝黎雅叫阿贝得乃哥。 8 3 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. 但是阿尼尔心中早已拿定主意,决不让自己为君王的食品和君王饮的美酒所玷污,所以他请求宦官长使自己免受此玷污。 9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 天主赏达尼尔在宦官长眼中获得宠遇和同情。 10 he nevertheless said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king." 宦官长对达尼尔说:"我害怕我的主上君王,他原给你们指定了饮食,若见你们的面容比你们同年的青年消瘦,这样你们岂不是将我的头断送给君王!" 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 达尼尔对宦官长派来照管达尼尔、阿纳尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的人说:" 12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 请你一连十天试一试你的仆人们,只给我们蔬菜吃,清水喝; 13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see." 然后,你亲自观察我们的容貌,和那些吃君王食品的青年的容貌,就照你所观察的,对待你的仆人们罢!" 14 He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; 他答应了他们的要求,试验了他们十天。 15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. 十天以后,他们的容貌比那些吃君王食品的青年显得更为美丽,肌肉更为丰满。 16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables. 负责照管的人,遂将他们的食品和应喝的美酒撤去,祇给他们蔬菜。 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all literature and science, and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams. 至于这四个青年,天主赐给了他们精通各种文字和学问的才智与聪明,而且达尼尔还通晓各种神视和梦兆。 18 At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. 君王规定带他们进宫的期限一满,宦官长就领他们进见拿步高。 19 When the king had spoken with all of them, none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so they entered the king's service. 君王和他们交谈,发现其中没有一个能及得上达尼尔、阿纳尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的,于是他们随侍在君王前, 君王无论询问他们什么智识和学问,发现他们都十倍于自己全国所有的巫师和术士。 21 4 Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. 达尼尔就这样一直到居鲁士王元年。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [2] 2 [7] The young men are given Babylonian names as a sign of their adoption by the king. 3 [8] This defilement: the bread, meat, and wine of the Gentiles, which were unclean (Hosea 9:3; Tobit 1:12; Judith 10:5; 12:1-2) because they might have been offered to idols or prepared over firewood taken from a sacred grove. Only raw vegetables and water were safe from this danger (Daniel 1:12). 4 [21] The first year of King Cyrus: the year of this Persian king's conquest of |