ダニエル書 1
1 ユダの王エホヤキムの治世の第三年にバビロンの王ネブカデネザルはエルサレムにきて、これを攻め囲んだ。
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has come to Jerusalem, and lays siege against it;
2 主はユダの王エホヤキムと、神の宮の器具の一部とを、彼の手にわたされたので、彼はこれをシナルの地の自分の神の宮に携えゆき、その器具を自分の神の蔵に納めた。
and the Lord gives into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he brings them in [to] the land of Shinar, [to] the house of his god, and the vessels he has brought in [to] the treasure-house of his god.
3 時に王は宦官の長アシペナズに、イスラエルの人々の中から、王の血統の者と、貴族たる者数人とを、連れて来るように命じた。
And the king says, to Ashpenaz master of his eunuchs, to bring in out of the sons of Israel (even of the royal seed, and of the chiefs),
4 すなわち身に傷がなく、容姿が美しく、すべての知恵にさとく、知識があって、思慮深く、王の宮に仕えるに足る若者を連れてこさせ、これにカルデヤびとの文学と言語とを学ばせようとした。
boys in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skillful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5 そして王は王の食べる食物と、王の飲む酒の中から、日々の分を彼らに与えて、三年のあいだ彼らを養い育て、その後、彼らをして王の前に、はべらせようとした。
And the king appoints for them a rate, day by day, of the king’s portion of food, and of the wine of his drinking, so as to nourish them three years, that at the end thereof they may stand before the king.
6 彼らのうちに、ユダの部族のダニエル、ハナニヤ、ミシャエル、アザリヤがあった。
And there are among them out of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
7 宦官の長は彼らに名を与えて、ダニエルをベルテシャザルと名づけ、ハナニヤをシャデラクと名づけ、ミシャエルをメシャクと名づけ、アザリヤをアベデネゴと名づけた。
and the chief of the eunuchs sets names on them, and he sets on Daniel, Belteshazzar; and on Hananiah, Shadrach; and on Mishael, Meshach; and on Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 ダニエルは王の食物と、王の飲む酒とをもって、自分を汚すまいと、心に思い定めたので、自分を汚させることのないように、宦官の長に求めた。
And Daniel purposes in his heart that he will not defile himself with the king’s portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeks of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not defile himself.
9 神はダニエルをして、宦官の長の前に、恵みとあわれみとを得させられたので、
And God gives Daniel for kindness and for mercies before the chief of the eunuchs;
10 宦官の長はダニエルに言った、「わが主なる王は、あなたがたの食べ物と、飲み物とを定められたので、わたしはあなたがたの健康の状態が、同年輩の若者たちよりも悪いと、王が見られることを恐れるのです。そうすればあなたがたのために、わたしのこうべが、王の前に危くなるでしょう」。
and the chief of the eunuchs says to Daniel, “I am fearing my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, for why does he see your faces sadder than [those of] the boys which [are] of your circle? Then you have made my head indebted to the king,”
11 そこでダニエルは宦官の長がダニエル、ハナニヤ、ミシャエルおよびアザリヤの上に立てた家令に言った、
And Daniel says to the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs has appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 「どうぞ、しもべらを十日の間ためしてください。わたしたちにただ野菜を与えて食べさせ、水を飲ませ、
“Please try your servants [for] ten days; and they give to us from the vegetables and we eat, and water, and we drink;
13 そしてわたしたちの顔色と、王の食物を食べる若者の顔色とをくらべて見て、あなたの見るところにしたがって、しもべらを扱ってください」。
and our appearance is seen before you, and the appearance of the boys who are eating the king’s portion of food, and as you see—deal with your servants.”
14 家令はこの事について彼らの言うところを聞きいれ、十日の間、彼らをためした。
And he listens to them, to this word, and tries them ten days:
15 十日の終りになってみると、彼らの顔色は王の食物を食べたすべての若者よりも美しく、また肉も肥え太っていた。
and at the end of ten days their appearance has appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the boys who are eating the king’s portion of food.
16 それで家令は彼らの食物と、彼らの飲むべき酒とを除いて、彼らに野菜を与えた。
And the Meltzar is taking away their portion of food, and the wine of their drink, and is giving to them vegetables.
17 この四人の者には、神は知識を与え、すべての文学と知恵にさとい者とされた。ダニエルはまたすべての幻と夢とを理解した。
As for these four boys, God has given to them knowledge and understanding in every [kind of] literature, and wisdom; and Daniel has given instruction about every [kind of] vision and dreams.
18 さて、王が命じたところの若者を召し入れるまでの日数が過ぎたので、宦官の町は彼らをネブカデネザルの前に連れていった。
And at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brings them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 王が彼らと語ってみると、彼らすべての中にはダニエル、ハナニヤ、ミシャエル、アザリヤにならぶ者がなかったので、彼らは王の前にはべることとなった。
And the king speaks with them, and there has not been found among them all like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they stand before the king;
20 王が彼らにさまざまの事を尋ねてみると、彼らは知恵と理解において、全国の博士、法術士にまさること十倍であった。
and [in] any matter of wisdom [and] understanding that the king has sought of them, he finds them ten hands above all the enchanters, the conjurers, who [are] in all his kingdom.
21 ダニエルはクロス王の元年まで仕えていた。
And Daniel is to the first year of Cyrus the king.
