Dem Carry Am Go Babylon
Faithful people for exile inside one pagan empire, and visions of kingdoms wey rise and fall before the kingdom wey no go ever end. Through fire furnace and lion den, our Papa show say E dey with His children.
1 1For di third year wey Jehoiakim be king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon march come Jerusalem come surround am. 2Di Papa wey dey rule over everything hand Jehoiakim king of Judah give am, together with some of di things wey dey our Papa house; e carry dem go Shinar, go im god house, and e put di things inside di treasury of im god. a a v2 Shinar na di old name for Babylonia, di region wey dey surround di city of Babylon.
3Di king order Ashpenaz, im chief official, make e bring some Israelite people from di king family and from di big-big people. 4Young men wey no get any defect, wey fine, wey sabi all kind wisdom, wey get correct knowledge, wey dey quick to understand, wey fit stand for di king palace—and make e teach dem di writing and language of Babylon. 5Di king give dem every-day share from im food and im wine, three years training, den make dem serve for im front.
6Among dem, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah dey, from di sons of Judah. 7Di chief official change dem name: Daniel, e call Belteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; Mishael, Meshach; Azariah, Abednego. b b v7 Di name wey dem born dem with each dey honor di Papa of Israel; but di new Babylon name dey honor di gods of Babylon — na try to change how di young men take see demsef.
8But Daniel make up im mind say e no go make imsef unclean with di king food or wine, so e ask di chief official make e allow am no make imsef unclean. c c v8 Di king food fit carry meat wey Jewish law no gree, or food wey dem don sacrifice give Babylon gods — di two of dem go make am unclean for Israelite person wey get faith. 9Now our Papa give Daniel favor and tender mercy wey dey pain belle for di eyes of di chief official. 10Di chief official tell Daniel, “I dey fear my oga di king, wey don set your food and drink. Why im go see say your faces don worse pass di other boys wey be your age? You go make my head cut for di king hand.”
11Den Daniel talk to di steward wey di chief official put over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12“Abeg, test your servants for ten days. Give us only vegetable to chop and water to drink. 13Den compare how we take dey look with di young men wey dey chop di king food; and do your servants as you see am.” 14So e gree for dis thing and e test dem for ten days. 15After di ten days, dem body dey shine and dey fat pass all di young men wey dey chop di king food. 16So di steward carry comot di food wey dem give dem and di wine wey dem suppose drink, and e give dem vegetable instead.
17For dis four boys, our Papa give dem knowledge and understanding for all writing and wisdom; and Daniel sabi understand all kind vision and dream.
18As di days wey di king set for bringing dem in end, di chief official bring dem come Nebuchadnezzar front. 19Di king talk with dem, and nobody fit match Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so dem serve di king. 20Any time di king ask dem question about wisdom and understanding, e find say dem good ten times pass all di magicians and enchanters wey dey im whole kingdom. 21And Daniel stay for there reach di first year of King Cyrus.
