Daniel, 1

1. No terceiro ano do reinado de Joaquin, rei de Judá, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, veio sitiar Jerusalém.

1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoi'akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

2. O Senhor entregou-lhe Joaquin, rei de Judá, bem como parte dos objetos do templo, que Nabucodonosor transportou para a terra de Senaar, para o templo de seu deus: foi na sala do tesouro do templo de seu deus que ele os colocou.

2. And the Lord gave Jehoi'akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

3. O rei deu ordem ao chefe de seus eunucos, Asfenez, para trazer-lhe jovens israelitas, oriundos de raça real ou de família nobre,

3. Then the king commanded Ash'penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,

4. isentos de qualquer defeito corporal, bem proporcionados, dotados de toda espécie de boas qualidades, ins­truídos, inteligentes, aptos a ingressarem nos serviços do palácio real; deveria ser ensinado a eles a literatura e a língua dos caldeus.*

4. youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king's palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde'ans.

5. O rei destinou-lhes uma provisão cotidiana, retirada das iguarias da mesa real e do vinho que ele bebia. A formação deles devia durar três anos, após o que entrariam a serviço do rei.

5. The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

6. Entre eles, encontravam-se alguns judeus: Da­niel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias.

6. Among these were Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah of the tribe of Judah.

7. O chefe dos eunucos deu-lhes outros nomes: a Daniel, o de Baltazar; a Hananias, o de Sidrac; a Misael, o de Misac; e a Azarias, o de Abdênago.*

7. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshaz'zar, Hanani'ah he called Shadrach, Mish'a-el he called Meshach, and Azari'ah he called Abed'nego.

8. Daniel tomou a resolução de não se contaminar com os alimentos do rei e com seu vinho. Pediu ao chefe dos eunucos para deles se abster.*

8. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

9. Este, graças a Deus, tomado de benevolência para com Daniel, atendeu-o de boa vontade,

9. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs;

10. mas disse-lhe: “Temo que o rei, meu senhor, que estabeleceu vossa alimentação e vossa bebida, venha a notar vossas fisionomias mais abatidas do que as dos outros jovens de vossa idade, e que por vossa causa eu me exponha a uma repreensão da parte do rei”.

10. and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king."

11. Mas Daniel disse ao dispenseiro a quem o chefe dos eunucos havia confiado o cuidado de Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias:

11. Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah;

12. “Rogo-te, faze uma experiência de dez dias com teus servos: que só nos sejam dados legumes a comer e água a beber.

12. "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13. Depois, então, compararás nossos semblantes com os dos jovens que se alimentam com as iguarias da mesa real, e farás com teus servos segundo o que terás observado”.

13. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants."

14. O dispenseiro concordou com essa proposta e os submeteu à prova durante dez dias.

14. So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

15. No final desse prazo, averiguou-se que tinham melhor aparência e estavam mais gordos do que todos os jovens que comiam das iguarias da mesa real.

15. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's rich food.

16. Em consequência disso, o dispenseiro retirava os alimentos e o vinho que lhes eram destinados e mandava servir-lhes legumes.

16. So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17. A esses quatro jovens, Deus concedeu talento e saber no domínio das letras e das ciências. Daniel era particularmente entendido na interpretação de visões e sonhos.

17. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18. Ao fim do prazo fixado pelo rei para a apresentação, o chefe dos eunucos introduziu-os na presença de Nabucodonosor,

18. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez'zar.

19. o qual palestrou com eles. Entre todos os jovens nenhum houve que se comparasse a Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias. Por isso, entraram eles a serviço do rei.

19. And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani'ah, Mish'a-el, and Azari'ah; therefore they stood before the king.

20. Em qualquer negócio que necessitasse de sabedoria e sutileza, e que o rei os consultasse, este achava-os dez vezes superiores a todos os escribas e mágicos do reino.

20. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

21. Assim viveu Daniel até o primeiro ano do reinado de Ciro.

21. And Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.