但以理书 6
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
但以理被立为监察司
6 大利乌按自己的心意,立了一百二十个总督,治理全国;(本节在《马索拉文本》为6:2) 2 他又在这些总督之上,设立三位监察司(但以理是其中之一),监管总督的工作,免得王受亏损。 3 因为但以理里面有美好的灵性,所以各方面都比其他的监察司和总督优胜;王有意立他治理全国。
引起同僚的嫉妒与谋害
4 于是这些监察司和总督在但以理治国的事上,寻找把柄控告他,只是不能找到任何的把柄和过失,因为他忠心可靠,他们找不到他的任何错误和过失。 5 那些人就说:“如果我们要控告这但以理,就只有在他 神的律法中去找把柄。” 6 这些监察司和总督就相约前来见王,对他说:“愿大利乌王万岁! 7 国中所有的监察司、总监、总督、谋臣和省长,一同商议,请王立一条法例,实施一道禁令:无论何人,在三十天内,王啊!除了向你以外,若向任何神或任何人求甚么,就必扔在狮子坑中。 8 王啊!现在求你立这禁令,签署这份文告,使禁令不能更改。按照玛代和波斯的律法,这样的禁令是不能废除的。” 9 于是大利乌王签署了这禁令文告。
但以理照常祷告
10 但以理知道这文告签署了以后,就上到自己家里楼顶上的房间,这房间的窗户朝向耶路撒冷开着;他一日三次双膝跪下,在他的 神面前祷告称谢,像往日一样。 11 那些人相约前来,看见但以理在他的 神面前祈祷恳求。 12 他们就来到王面前,提起王的禁令,说:“你岂不是签署了禁令,无论何人,在三十天内,王啊!除了向你以外,若向任何神或任何人求甚么,就必扔在狮子坑中?”王回答说:“确有此事。按照玛代和波斯的律法,这样的禁令是不能废除的。” 13 于是他们对王说:“王啊,在被掳的犹大人中的但以理不理会你的命令,也不理会你签署的禁令,竟仍一日三次向他的 神祈求。” 14 王听见了这话,就非常愁烦;他定意要搭救但以理,直到日落的时候,他还在设法营救但以理。 15 那些人就相约前来见王,对他说:“王啊,你该知道,根据玛代和波斯的律法,王所立的禁令和法例,都是不能更改的。”
但以理被扔在狮子坑中
16 于是王下令,人就把但以理带来,扔在狮子坑中。王对但以理说:“你常常事奉的 神,他必搭救你!” 17 有人搬了一块石头,放在坑口,王又盖上自己的印鉴和众大臣的印鉴,使惩办但以理的事不得更改。 18 王回到宫里,整夜没有吃东西,也不要任何娱乐解闷,并且睡不着觉。
19 次日黎明,天一亮,王就起来,急忙到狮子坑那里去。 20 他走近坑边的时候,就用哀痛的声音呼叫但以理,对但以理说:“永活 神的仆人但以理啊!你常常事奉的 神能搭救你脱离狮子吗?”
但以理毫无损伤
21 但以理对王说:“愿王万岁! 22 我的 神差遣了他的使者,封住狮子的口,使牠们没有伤害我,因为我在 神面前是清白的;王啊!在你面前我也没有作过任何错事。” 23 王就非常高兴,吩咐人把但以理从坑里拉上来。于是但以理从坑里被拉上来,他身上一点损伤也没有,因为他信靠他的 神。
陷害但以理的人自食其果
24 王下令,人就把那些诬蔑控告但以理的人,连同他们的妻子和儿女都一起带来,扔在狮子坑中;他们还没有下到坑底,狮子就抓住他们,把他们所有的骨头都咬碎了。
王通令全国敬畏 神
25 后来大利乌王写信给住在全地的各国、各族和说各种语言的人,说:“愿你们大享平安! 26 现在我下令,我所统治的全国人民都要在但以理的 神面前战兢恐惧。
“他是永活的 神,
他永远长存;
他的国度永不灭亡,
他的统治直到永远。
27 他搭救人,拯救人;
他在天上地下施行神迹奇事;
他搭救了但以理脱离狮子的爪。”
28 于是这但以理在大利乌作王的时候,和在波斯人古列作王的时候(本句或译:“于是这但以理在大利乌〔即波斯人古列〕作王的时候”),事事亨通。
但以理书 6
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
但以理在狮子坑
6 大流士决定设立一百二十个总督治理全国。 2 总督之上,设三个总长,以维护王的统治,但以理是其中之一。 3 因为但以理有非凡的心智,远超过其他总长和总督,王便考虑让他治理全国。 4 于是,其他总长和总督想在但以理的政务中找把柄控告他,却找不到任何把柄或过失,因为他诚实可靠,毫无过失。 5 最后他们说:“除非我们从但以理上帝的律法下手,否则找不到指控他的把柄。”
6 于是,这些总长和总督齐来见王,说:“愿大流士王万岁! 7 所有总长、行政官、总督、谋士和省长都认为王应该下一道禁令,三十天内,任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告,违者必被扔进狮子坑。 8 王啊,求你颁布、签署这道禁令,使之不可更改,正如玛代人和波斯人的律令是不可更改的。” 9 于是大流士王签署了这道禁令。
10 但以理知道王签署禁令后,就回到家里。他楼上的窗户朝向耶路撒冷,他像往常一样每日三次跪下向上帝祷告、感恩。 11 那些官员一同来了,发现但以理向他的上帝祷告、祈求, 12 便去见王,提及王的禁令,说:“王啊,你不是签署禁令,三十天内,任何人不得向王以外的神明或人祷告,违者必被扔进狮子坑吗?”王说:“确有此事,按照玛代人和波斯人的律,这禁令不可更改。” 13 他们对王说:“王啊,被掳来的犹大人但以理不理会你和你的禁令,仍一日三次向他的上帝祈祷。” 14 王听了这些话,十分愁烦,一心想救但以理,直到日落都在筹划解救之道。 15 那些人齐来见王,说:“王啊,按照玛代人和波斯人的律,王颁布的禁令和律例是不可更改的。”
16 王便下令把但以理带来扔进狮子坑。他对但以理说:“愿你忠心事奉的上帝拯救你!” 17 坑口用大石封住,并加上王和大臣的封印,使惩办但以理的事不可更改。 18 王回宫后,整夜禁食,拒绝娱乐,无法入睡。
19 次日黎明,王起来匆忙赶往狮子坑, 20 到了坑边,凄声呼喊但以理:“永活上帝的仆人但以理啊,你忠心事奉的上帝有没有救你脱离狮子的口?” 21 但以理对王说:“愿王万岁! 22 我的上帝差遣天使封住了狮子的口,不让它们伤害我,因为我在上帝面前是清白的。王啊,我在你面前也没有过错。” 23 王非常高兴,便命人把但以理从坑中拉上来。于是,但以理从坑中被拉了上来,他因为信靠他的上帝,身上毫无损伤。 24 王下令把那些恶意控告但以理的人及其儿女妻子都带来,扔进狮子坑。他们还没到坑底,狮子便扑上去,咬碎了他们的骨头。
25 后来,大流士王传谕境内的各族、各邦、各语种的人,说:“愿你们大享平安! 26 我下令,我统治的国民都要敬畏但以理的上帝,
“因为祂是永活长存的上帝,
祂的国度永不灭亡,
祂的统治直到永远。
27 祂庇护、拯救,
在天上地下行神迹奇事,
救但以理脱离狮子的口。”
28 因此,在大流士和波斯人塞鲁士执政期间,但以理凡事亨通。
Daniel 6
New English Translation
Daniel is Thrown into a Lions’ Den
6 It seemed like a good idea to Darius[a] to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps[b] who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable[c] to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find[d] some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters.[e] But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence,[f] because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption.[g] 5 So these men concluded,[h] “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is[i] in connection with the law of his God.”
6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion[j] to the king and said[k] to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays[l] to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. 8 Now let the king issue a written interdict[m] so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”[n] 9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.
10 When Daniel realized[o] that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows[p] in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three[q] times daily he was[r] kneeling[s] and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. 11 Then those officials who had gone to the king[t] came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. 12 So they approached the king and said to him,[u] “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct,[v] according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captives[w] from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.”[x]
14 When the king heard this,[y] he was very upset and began thinking about[z] how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon[aa] he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. 15 Then those men came by collusion to the king and[ab] said to him,[ac] “Recall,[ad] O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order,[ae] and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den[af] of lions. The king consoled[ag] Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!” 17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening[ah] to the den. The king sealed[ai] it with his signet ring and with those[aj] of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions[ak] were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.[al]
God Rescues Daniel from the Lions
19 In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den. 20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice,[am] “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke to[an] the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God. 24 The king gave another order,[ao] and those men who had maliciously accused[ap] Daniel were brought and thrown[aq] into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.[ar] They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: “Peace and prosperity![as] 26 I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God;
he endures forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed;
his authority is forever.[at]
27 He rescues and delivers
and performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the power[au] of the lions!”
28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and[av] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Footnotes
- Daniel 6:1 tn Aram “It was pleasing before Darius.”
- Daniel 6:1 tn This is a technical term for an official placed in charge of a region of the empire (cf. KJV, NLT “prince[s]”; NCV, TEV “governors”). These satraps were answerable to a supervisor, who in turn answered to Darius.
- Daniel 6:2 tn Aram “giving an account.”
- Daniel 6:4 tn Aram “looking to find.”
- Daniel 6:4 tn Aram “from the side of the kingdom.”
- Daniel 6:4 tn Aram “pretext and corruption.”
- Daniel 6:4 tn Aram “no negligence or corruption was found in him.” The Greek version of Theodotion lacks the phrase “and no negligence or corruption was found in him.”
- Daniel 6:5 tn Aram “were saying.”
- Daniel 6:5 tn Aram “unless we find [it] against him.”
- Daniel 6:6 tn The Aramaic verb רְגַשׁ (regash) occurs three times in this chapter (vv. 7, 12, 16). Its meaning is widely disputed by commentators, and the versions vary considerably in how they render the word. The suggestion that it means “to come thronging” (BDB 1112 s.v.; cf. NAB) seems inappropriate, since it is unlikely that subordinates would enter a royal court in such a reckless fashion. The ancient versions struggled with the word and are not in agreement in their understanding of its meaning. In this chapter the word apparently means to act in agreement with other parties in the pursuit of a duplicitous goal, namely the entrapment of Daniel; cf. NIV, NCV “went as a group”; NRSV “conspired and came to the king.”
- Daniel 6:6 tn Aram “thus they were saying.”
- Daniel 6:7 tn Aram “prays a prayer.”
- Daniel 6:8 tn Aram “establish a written interdict and inscribe a written decree.”
- Daniel 6:8 tn Or “removed.”
- Daniel 6:10 tn Aram “knew.”
- Daniel 6:10 sn In later rabbinic thought this verse was sometimes cited as a proof text for the notion that one should pray only in a house with windows (see b. Berakhot 34b).
- Daniel 6:10 sn This is apparently the only specific mention in the OT of prayer being regularly offered three times a day. The practice was probably not unique to Daniel, however.
- Daniel 6:10 tc Read with several medieval Hebrew mss and printed editions הֲוָה (havah, “he was”) rather than the MT הוּא (huʾ, “he”).
- Daniel 6:10 tn Aram “kneeling on his knees” (so NASB).sn No specific posture for offering prayers is prescribed in the OT. Kneeling, as here, and standing were both practiced.
- Daniel 6:11 tn Aram “those men”; the referent (the administrative officials who had earlier approached the king about the edict) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Daniel 6:12 tc The MT also has “about the edict of the king,” but this phrase is absent in the LXX and the Syriac. The present translation deletes the expression.tn Aram “before the king.”
- Daniel 6:12 tn Aram “the word is true.”
- Daniel 6:13 tn Aram “from the sons of the captivity [of].”
- Daniel 6:13 tn Aram “prays his prayer.”
- Daniel 6:14 tn Aram “the word.”
- Daniel 6:14 tn Aram “placed his mind on.”
- Daniel 6:14 tn Aram “the entrances of the sun.”
- Daniel 6:15 tc Theodotion lacks the words “came by collusion to the king and.”
- Daniel 6:15 tn Aram “the king.”
- Daniel 6:15 tn Aram “know”; NAB “Keep in mind”; NASB “Recognize”; NIV, NCV “Remember.”
- Daniel 6:16 tn Aram “said,” as also in vv. 24, 25.
- Daniel 6:16 sn The den was perhaps a pit below ground level that could be safely observed from above.
- Daniel 6:16 tn Aram “answered and said [to Daniel].”
- Daniel 6:17 tn Aram “mouth.”
- Daniel 6:17 sn The purpose of the den being sealed was to prevent unauthorized tampering with the opening of the den. Any disturbance of the seal would immediately alert the officials to improper activity of this sort.
- Daniel 6:17 tn Aram “the signet rings.”
- Daniel 6:18 tn The meaning of Aramaic דַּחֲוָה (dakhavah) is a crux interpretum. Suggestions include “music,” “dancing girls,” “concubines,” “table,” “food”—all of which are uncertain. The translation employed here, suggested by earlier scholars, is deliberately vague. A number of recent English versions follow a similar approach with “entertainment” (e.g., NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT). On this word see further, HALOT 1849-50 s.v.; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 37.
- Daniel 6:18 tn Aram “his sleep fled from him.”
- Daniel 6:20 tn Aram “The king answered and said to Daniel.” This phrase has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons; it is redundant in English.
- Daniel 6:21 tn Aram “with.”
- Daniel 6:24 tn Aram “said.”
- Daniel 6:24 tn Aram “had eaten the pieces of.” The Aramaic expression is ironic, in that the accusers who had figuratively “eaten the pieces of Daniel” are themselves literally devoured by the lions.
- Daniel 6:24 tn The Aramaic active impersonal verb is often used as a substitute for the passive.
- Daniel 6:24 tc The LXX specifies only the two overseers, together with their families, as those who were cast into the lions’ den.
- Daniel 6:25 tn Aram “May your peace be increased!”
- Daniel 6:26 tn Aram “until the end.”
- Daniel 6:27 tn Aram “hand.”
- Daniel 6:28 tn Or perhaps “in the reign of Darius, even in the reign of Cyrus.” The identity of this Darius is disputed. Some take the name as referring to Cyrus, understanding the following ו (vav “and”) in an epexegetical sense (“even”). Others identify Darius with a governor of Babylon known from extra-biblical records as Gubaru, or with Cambyses, son of Cyrus. Many scholars maintain that the reference is historically inaccurate.
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