| 達尼爾 |
Daniel |
| 1瑪待人達理阿承受了王位，那時他約六十二歲。 |
1 And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. |
| 2他認為更好在國內設立一百二十個總督，分治全國； |
2Darius decided to appoint over his entire kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to safeguard his interests; |
| 3在這些總督之上另設三位監察史──達尼爾便是其中之一──各總督應向他們述職，這樣可免君王煩勞。 |
3these were accountable to three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. |
| 4這位達尼爾，由於他具有超凡的精神，辦事勝過其他監察史和總督，所以君王有意立他治理全國。 |
4Daniel outshone all the supervisors and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king thought of giving him authority over the entire kingdom. |
| 5因此監察史和總督，竭力在達尼爾處理國事上，尋找機會陷害他，卻總不能找到任何可控告他的事實和過失，因為達尼爾忠信可靠，所以在他身上總找不到任何疏忽和過錯。 |
5Therefore the supervisors and satraps tried to find grounds for accusation against Daniel as regards the administration. But they could accuse him of no wrongdoing; because he was trustworthy, no fault of neglect or misconduct was to be found in him. |
| 6於是這些人說道：「我們若不在他的神的法律上尋找，就找不到陷害達尼爾的任何事。」 |
6Then these men said to themselves, "We shall find no grounds for accusation against this Daniel unless by way of the law of his God." |
| 7這些監察史和總督，便群集到君王前，對君王說：「達理阿大王，萬歲！ |
7So these supervisors and satraps went thronging to the king and said to him, "King Darius, live forever! |
| 8國內的眾監察史、知縣、總督、大臣和省長，都計議請下一道詔書，立一禁令：三十天內，凡不向你大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內。 |
8All the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, nobles, and governors are agreed that the following prohibition ought to be put in force by royal decree: no one is to address any petition to god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king; otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions. |
| 9大王！請你現在就立刻下這道禁令，簽署這項文告，人就不能再更改，因為按瑪待人和波斯人的法律，那是不可更改的。」 |
9 Now, O king, issue the prohibition over your signature, immutable and irrevocable under Mede and Persian law." |
| 10達理阿遂簽署了這文告禁令。 |
10So King Darius signed the prohibition and made it law. |
| 11達尼爾一知道君王簽署了這項文告，便回了家。他樓房的窗戶是向着耶路撒冷開的──他每天仍照常三次屈膝跪拜，祈求稱謝自己的天主，如往日所行的一樣。 |
11Even after Daniel heard that this law had been signed, he continued his custom of going home to kneel in prayer and give thanks to his God in the upper chamber three times a day, with the windows open toward Jerusalem. |
| 12那些人群集前來，看見達尼爾正在自己的天主前祈求哀禱， |
12So these men rushed in and found Daniel praying and pleading before his God. |
| 13他們遂去見君王，向他提及禁令說：「陛下不是簽署了這樣的一道禁令：三十天內，凡不向大王，而向任何神祇或任何人祈求的，應將他投入獅子圈內嗎？」君王回答說：「確有此事！照瑪待人和波斯人的法律是不可更改的。」 |
13Then they went to remind the king about the prohibition: "Did you not decree, O king, that no one is to address a petition to god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king; otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions?" The king answered them, "The decree is absolute, irrevocable under the Mede and Persian law." |
| 14他們便對君王說道：「大王！猶大俘擄中的那個達尼爾，竟然不介意陛下和陛下所簽署的禁令，仍照常一日三次自作祈禱。」 |
14To this they replied, "Daniel, the Jewish exile, has paid no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you issued; three times a day he offers his prayer." |
| 15君王聽了這些話，十分難過，有心要救達尼爾，君王直到日落要設法解救他。 |
15The king was deeply grieved at this news and he made up his mind to save Daniel; he worked till sunset to rescue him. |
| 16但是那些人又群集到君王前，對君王說：「大王！陛下要知道瑪待人和波斯人的法律：凡君王所立的禁令和法令，是不可更改的。」 |
16But these men insisted. "Keep in mind, O king," they said, "that under the Mede and Persian law every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable." |
| 17君王於是下令，將達尼爾逮捕，投入獅子圈內。君王對達尼爾說：「願你恆心恭敬的天主拯救你！」 |
17 So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions' den. To Daniel he said, "May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you." |
| 18遂即移了一塊大石，封住圈口，君王蓋上自己的御璽，大臣們蓋上自己的印章，免得達尼爾的案件發生意外的變化。 |
18To forestall any tampering, the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den. |
| 19然後君王回了王宮，整夜絕食，斷絕娛樂，並徹夜失眠未睡。 |
19Then the king returned to his palace for the night; he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers. Since sleep was impossible for him, |
| 20清晨，天一亮，君王便起來，急速往獅子圈去了， |
20the king rose very early the next morning and hastened to the lions' den. |
| 21一來到獅子圈旁，就哀聲呼喊，向達尼爾說道：「永生天主的僕人達尼爾！你恆心恭敬的天主真能由獅子口裏拯救你嗎？」 |
21As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has the God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?" |
| 22達尼爾遂對君王說：「大王萬歲！ |
22Daniel answered the king: "O king, live forever! |
| 23我的天主曾打發他的天使閉住獅子的口，一點沒有傷害我，因為我在他面前是無罪的；大王！我即在陛下面前，也從沒有做過什麼傷害人的事。」 |
23My God has sent his angel and closed the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither to you have I done any harm, O king!" |
| 24君王非常高興，遂下令將達尼爾從獅子圈裏提出來。達尼爾便從獅子圈裏被提出來，他身上絲毫沒有受到損傷，因為他信賴了自己的天主。 |
24This gave the king great joy. At his order Daniel was removed from the den, unhurt because he trusted in his God. |
| 25君王遂下令逮捕那些控告達尼爾的人，將他們和他們的兒子、妻子，都投入獅子圈裏，他們還沒有到獅子圈底，獅子就向他們撲來，捉住他們，將他們的骨頭全咬碎了。 |
25The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions' den. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. |
| 26達理阿於是詔告居於普世的各民族，各邦國及各異語人民說：「願平安常與你們同在！ |
26Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on the earth: "All peace to you! |
| 27在今頒發詔書，諭令我所統轄的全國人民，都應在達尼爾的天主前起敬起畏，因為他是生活永在的天主，他的國永不滅亡，他的王權永遠常存。 |
27I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared: "For he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end. |
| 28他拯救施援，在天上地下實行神蹟奇事；是他拯救達尼爾脫免獅子的爪牙。」 |
28He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he delivered Daniel from the lions' power." |
| 29這位達尼爾，就這樣在達理阿和波斯人居魯士為王時，事事亨通。 |
29So Daniel fared well during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. |
