3 Ukumkani uNebhukadenezare wathi kuAshpenazi, intloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu, makakhethe abafana begazi nabomnombo wezikhulu apho kuloo maSirayeli wayewathimbile.
4 Wathi makakhethe iinzwana ezingenasiphako, ezikrelekrele ngengqondo, eziqeqeshekileyo, nezinengqiqo – abafana abakufaneleyo ukugosiswa komkhulu. UAshpenazi wayalelwa ukuba abafundise ukusithetha nokusifunda isiKaledi.
5 Ngaphezu koko ukumkani wayalela ukuba yonke imihla mabaphakelwe kwimbiza kakumkani, ngokunjalo basele nakwiwayini yakhe. Olu qeqesho ke lwaluza kuthatha iminyaka emithathu, emva koko bagosiswe komkhulu.
6 Phakathi kwâbo bakhethiweyo ke kwabakho nabafana bendlu kaJuda: uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli, noAzariya.
7 Ke kaloku intloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu yabathiya amagama amatsha; uDaniyeli wabizwa ngokuba nguBhelteshazare, uHananiya ngokuba nguShadraki, uMishayeli ngokuba nguMeshaki, uAzariya ngokuba nguAbhednigo.
8 Kambe ke yena uDaniyeli wenza isigqibo sokuba angazixabheli ngokutya nangeziselo zalapho ebhotwe. Ngoko ke wacela kwintloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu ukuba avunyelwe ukungazixabheli ngoku kutya.
9 Ngenene ke uThixo wayenza intloko yamaphakathi akomkhulu ukuba ivelane noDaniyeli, ibe nenceba kuye,