< ダニエル書 3 >

1 ネブカデネザル王は一つの金の像を造った。その高さは六十キュビト、その幅は六キュビトで、彼はこれをバビロン州のドラの平野に立てた。
Nebuchadnezzar the king has made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits; he has raised it up in the Valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon;
2 そしてネブカデネザル王は、総督、長官、知事、参議、庫官、法官、高僧および諸州の官吏たちを召し集め、ネブカデネザル王の立てたこの像の落成式に臨ませようとした。
and Nebuchadnezzar the king has sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the province, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has raised up.
3 そこで、総督、長官、知事、参議、庫官、法官、高僧および諸州の官吏たちは、ネブカデネザル王の立てた像の落成式に臨み、そのネブカデネザルの立てた像の前に立った。
Then are gathered the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the province, to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has raised up: and they are standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar has raised up.
4 時に伝令者は大声に呼ばわって言った、「諸民、諸族、諸国語の者よ、あなたがたにこう命じられる。
And a crier is calling mightily: “They are saying to you: O peoples, nations, and languages!
5 角笛、横笛、琴、三角琴、立琴、風笛などの、もろもろの楽器の音を聞く時は、ひれ伏してネブカデネザル王の立てた金の像を拝まなければならない。
At the time that you hear the voice of the horn, the flute, the harp, the lyre, the stringed instrument, the symphony, and all kinds of music, you fall down and pay respect to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has raised up:
6 だれでもひれ伏して拝まない者は、ただちに火の燃える炉の中に投げ込まれる」と。
and whoever does not fall down and pay respect, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 そこで民らはみな、角笛、横笛、琴、三角琴、立琴、風笛などの、もろもろの楽器の音を聞くや、諸民、諸族、諸国語の者たちはみな、ひれ伏して、ネブカデネザル王の立てた金の像を拝んだ。
Therefore at that time, when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the horn, the flute, the harp, the lyre, the stringed instrument, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the peoples, nations and languages, worshiping the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has raised up.
8 その時、あるカルデヤびとらが進みきて、ユダヤ人をあしざまに訴えた。
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans have drawn near, and accused the Jews;
9 すなわち彼らはネブカデネザル王に言った、「王よ、とこしえに生きながらえられますように。
they have answered, indeed, they are saying to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, live for all ages!
10 王よ、あなたは命令を出して仰せられました。すべて、角笛、横笛、琴、三角琴、立琴、風笛などの、もろもろの楽器の音を聞く者は皆、ひれ伏して金の像を拝まなければならない。
You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the voice of the horn, the flute, the harp, the lyre, the stringed instrument, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, falls down and pays respect to the golden image;
11 また、だれでもひれ伏して拝まない者はみな、火の燃える炉の中に投げ込まれると。
and whoever does not fall down and pay respect, is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 ここにあなたが任命して、バビロン州の事務をつかさどらせられているユダヤ人シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴがおります。王よ、この人々はあなたを尊ばず、あなたの神々にも仕えず、あなたの立てられた金の像をも拝もうとしません」。
There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the work of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, these men have not made of you, O king, [any] regard; your gods they are not serving, and to the golden image you have raised up—are not making worship.”
13 そこでネブカデネザルは怒りかつ憤って、シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴを連れてこいと命じたので、この人々を王の前に連れてきた。
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in anger and fury, has said to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then these men have been brought in before the king.
14 ネブカデネザルは彼らに言った、「シャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴよ、あなたがたがわが神々に仕えず、またわたしの立てた金の像を拝まないとは、ほんとうなのか。
Nebuchadnezzar has answered and said to them, “Is [it] a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego—my gods you are not serving, and to the golden image that I have raised up you are not worshiping?
15 あなたがたがもし、角笛、横笛、琴、三角琴、立琴、風笛などの、もろもろの楽器の音を聞くときにひれ伏して、わたしが立てた像を、ただちに拝むならば、それでよろしい。しかし、拝むことをしないならば、ただちに火の燃える炉の中に投げ込まれる。いったい、どの神が、わたしの手からあなたがたを救うことができようか」。
Now behold, you are ready, so that at the time that you hear the voice of the horn, the flute, the harp, the lyre, the stringed instrument, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, you fall down and pay respect to the image that I have made! But if you do not worship—in that hour you are cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; who is that God who delivers you out of my hands?”
16 シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴは王に答えて言った、「ネブカデネザルよ、この事について、お答えする必要はありません。
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego have answered, indeed, they are saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need concerning this matter to answer you.
17 もしそんなことになれば、わたしたちの仕えている神は、その火の燃える炉から、わたしたちを救い出すことができます。また王よ、あなたの手から、わたしたちを救い出されます。
Behold, it is; our God whom we are serving, is able to deliver us from a burning fiery furnace; and from your hand, O king, He delivers.
18 たといそうでなくても、王よ、ご承知ください。わたしたちはあなたの神々に仕えず、またあなたの立てた金の像を拝みません」。
And behold—not! Be it known to you, O king, that we are not serving your gods, and we do not worship the golden image you have raised up.”
19 そこでネブカデネザルは怒りに満ち、シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴにむかって、顔色を変え、炉を平常よりも七倍熱くせよと命じた。
Then Nebuchadnezzar has been full of fury, and the expression of his face has been changed concerning Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; he answered and said to heat the furnace seven times above that which it is seen to be heated;
20 またその軍勢の中の力の強い人々を呼んで、シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴを縛って、彼らを火の燃える炉の中に投げ込めと命じた。
and to certain mighty men who [are] in his force he has said to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to cast into the burning fiery furnace.
21 そこでこの人々は、外套、下着、帽子、その他の衣服のまま縛られて、火の燃える炉の中に投げ込まれた。
Then these men have been bound in their coats, their tunics, and their turbans, and their clothing, and have been cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 王の命令はきびしく、かつ炉は、はなはだしく熱していたので、シャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴを引きつれていった人々は、その火炎に焼き殺された。
Therefore, because that the word of the king is urgent, and the furnace heated exceedingly, those men who have taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego—the spark of the fire has killed them.
23 シャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴの三人は縛られたままで、火の燃える炉の中に落ち込んだ。
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, have fallen down in the midst of the burning fiery furnace—bound.
24 その時、ネブカデネザル王は驚いて急ぎ立ちあがり、大臣たちに言った、「われわれはあの三人を縛って、火の中に投げ入れたではないか」。彼らは王に答えて言った、「王よ、そのとおりです」。
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king has been astonished, and has risen in haste; he has answered and said to his counselors, “Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire—bound?” They have answered and are saying to the king, “Certainly, O king.”
25 王は答えて言った、「しかし、わたしの見るのに四人の者がなわめなしに、火の中を歩いているが、なんの害をも受けていない。その第四の者の様子は神の子のようだ」。
He answered and has said, “Behold, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.”
26 そこでネブカデネザルは、その火の燃える炉の入口に近寄って、「いと高き神のしもべシャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴよ、出てきなさい」と言ったので、シャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴはその火の中から出てきた。
Then Nebuchadnezzar has drawn near to the gate of the burning fiery furnace; he has answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of God Most High come forth, indeed, come”; then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego come forth, from the midst of the fire;
27 総督、長官、知事および王の大臣たちも集まってきて、この人々を見たが、火は彼らの身にはなんの力もなく、その頭の毛は焼けず、その外套はそこなわれず、火のにおいもこれに付かなかった。
and gathered together, the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the counselors of the king, are seeing these men, that the fire has no power over their bodies, and the hair of their head has not been singed, and their coats have not changed, and the smell of fire has not passed on them.
28 ネブカデネザルは言った、「シャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴの神はほむべきかな。神はその使者をつかわして、自分に寄り頼むしもべらを救った。また彼らは自分の神以外の神に仕え、拝むよりも、むしろ王の命令を無視し、自分の身をも捨てようとしたのだ。
Nebuchadnezzar has answered and has said, “Blessed [is] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who has sent His messenger, and has delivered His servants who trusted on Him.” And the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that they might not serve nor pay respect to any god except to their own God.
29 それでわたしはいま命令を下す。諸民、諸族、諸国語の者のうちだれでも、シャデラク、メシャク、アベデネゴの神をののしる者があるならば、その身は切り裂かれ、その家は滅ぼされなければならない。このように救を施すことのできる神は、ほかにないからだ」。
“And by me a decree is made, that any people, nation, and language, that speaks erroneously concerning the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, he is made pieces, and its house is made a dunghill, because that there is no other god who is able thus to deliver.”
30 こうして、王はシャデラク、メシャクおよびアベデネゴの位を進めて、バビロン州におらせた。
Then the king has caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to prosper in the province of Babylon.

< ダニエル書 3 >