Prophetia Danielis, 1

1. Anno tertio regni Ioachim regis Iudae venit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis Ierusalem et obsedit eam;

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. et tradidit Dominus in manu eius Ioachim regem Iudae et partem vasorum domus Dei, et asportavit ea in terram Sennaar in domum deorum suorum et vasa intulit in domum thesauri deorum suorum.

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. Et ait rex Asfanaz praeposito eunuchorum suorum, ut introduceret de filiis Israel et de semine regio et tyrannorum

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. pueros, in quibus nulla esset macula, decoros forma et eruditos omni sapientia, cautos scientia et doctos disciplina, et qui possent stare in palatio regis, et ut docerent eos litteras et linguam Chaldaeorum.

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. Et constituit eis rex annonam per singulos dies de cibis suis et de vino, unde bibebat ipse, ut enutriti tribus annis postea starent in conspectu regis.

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. Fuerunt ergo inter eos de filiis Iudae Daniel, Ananias, Misael et Azarias.

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

7. Et imposuit eis praepositus eunuchorum nomina: Danieli Baltassar et Ananiae Sedrac, Misaeli Misac et Azariae Abdenago.

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. Proposuit autem Daniel in corde suo, ne pollueretur de mensa regis neque de vino potus eius, et rogavit eunuchorum praepositum, ne contaminaretur.

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. Dedit autem Deus Danieli gratiam et misericordiam in conspectu principis eunuchorum;

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

10. et ait princeps eunuchorum ad Daniel: “Timeo ego dominum meum regem, qui constituit vobis cibum et potum; qui si viderit vultus vestros macilentiores prae ceteris adulescentibus coaevis vestris, condemnabitis caput meum regi”.

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. Et dixit Daniel ad custodem, quem constituerat princeps eunuchorum super Daniel, Ananiam, Misael et Azariam:

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. “Tenta nos, obsecro, servos tuos diebus decem, et dentur nobis legumina ad vescendum et aqua ad bibendum;

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

13. et videantur in conspectu tuo vultus nostri et vultus puerorum, qui vescuntur cibo regio, et, sicut videris, facies cum servis tuis”.

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. Qui, audito sermone huiuscemodi, tentavit eos diebus decem.

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

15. Post dies autem decem apparuerunt vultus eorum meliores et corpulentiores prae omnibus pueris, qui vescebantur cibo regio.

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. Porro custos tollebat cibaria et vinum potus eorum dabatque eis legumina.

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

17. Quattuor autem pueris his dedit Deus scientiam et disciplinam in omni scriptura et sapientia, Danieli autem intellegentiam omnium visionum et somniorum.

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. Completis itaque diebus, post quos dixerat rex, ut introducerentur, introduxit eos praepositus eunuchorum in conspectu Nabuchodonosor.

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. Cumque locutus eis fuisset rex, non sunt inventi de universis tales ut Daniel, Ananias, Misael et Azarias; et steterunt in conspectu regis.

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. Et omne verbum sapientiae et intellectus, quod sciscitatus est ab eis, rex invenit in eis decuplum super cunctos hariolos et magos, qui erant in universo regno eius.

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. Fuit autem Daniel usque ad annum primum Cyri regis.

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