< Daniel 1 >

1 In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
猶大王約雅金在位第三年,巴比倫王拿步高前來圍攻耶路撒冷,
2 And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god.
上主將猶大王約雅金和天主殿內的一部分器皿,交在拿步高手中,他便將這些器皿帶到史納爾地方,存放在他神殿的庫房內。
3 And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed and of the princes,
君王吩咐他的宦官長阿市培納次,要他由以色列子民中,選一些王室或貴族的青年,
4 Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king’s palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
他們應沒有缺陷,容貌俊美,足智多才,富有知識,明察事理,適合在王宮內充當侍從,應教給他們加色丁文字和語言。
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king.
君王且給他們指定了,每天要吃君王所吃的食品和所飲的美酒,如此教養他們三年;期滿以後,他們便可侍立在君王左右。
6 Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.
他們中為猶大後裔的,有達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅。
7 And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.
宦官長另給他們起了名字:給達尼爾起名叫貝特沙匝,阿納尼雅叫沙得辣客,米沙耳叫默沙客,阿匝黎雅叫阿貝得乃哥。
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king’s table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled.
但是阿尼爾心中早已拿定主意,決不讓自己為君王的食品和君王飲的美酒所玷污,所以他請求宦官長使自己免受玷污。
9 And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
天主賞達尼爾在宦官長眼中獲得寵遇和同情。
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king.
宦官長對達尼爾說:「我害怕我的主上君王,他原給你們指定了飲食,若見你們的面容比你們同年的青年消瘦,這樣你們豈不是將我的頭斷送給君王! 」
11 And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:
達尼爾對宦官長派來照管達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的人說:「
12 Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink:
請你一連十天試一試你的僕人們,只給我們蔬菜吃,清水喝;
13 And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king’s meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants.
然後,你親自觀察我們的容貌,和那些吃君王食品的青年的容貌,就照你所觀察的,對待你的僕人們罷! 」
14 And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.
他答應了他們的要求,試驗了他們十天。
15 And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king’s meat.
十天以後,他們的容貌比那些吃君王食品的青年顯得更為美麗,肌肉更為豐滿。
16 So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse.
負責照管的人,遂將他們的食品和應喝的美酒撤去,祇給他們蔬菜。
17 And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.
至於這四個青年,天主賜給了他們精通各種文字和學問的才智與聰明,而且達尼爾還通曉各種神視和夢兆。
18 And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor.
君王規定帶他們進宮的期限一滿,宦官長就領他們進見拿步高。
19 And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king’s presence.
君王和他們交談,發現其中沒有一個能及得上達尼爾、阿納尼雅、米沙耳和阿匝黎雅的,於是他們隨侍在君王前,
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.
君王無論詢問他們什麼智識和學問,發現他們都十倍於自己全國所有的巫師和術士。
21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
達尼爾就這樣一直到居魯士王元年。

< Daniel 1 >