Daniel 3

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.3 Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4 Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,5 that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;6 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews.9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever.10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;11 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.20 And he commanded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.21 Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire.27 And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.28 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god that is able to deliver after this sort.30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 3

Daniel’s Friends Are Tested

1 s King Nebuchadnezzar had a goldens statue made.s It was ninety feett tall and nine feetts wide. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates,s and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that het had erected.

3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial authorities assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They were standing in front of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.s
4 Then the heraldt made a loudt proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:t5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,s trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you mustt bow down and pay homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected.6 Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediatelyt be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!”

7 Therefore when they allt heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes,s and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and language groups began bowing down and paying homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
8 Nows at that time certaint Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations againstt the Jews.9 They saidt to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!s10 You have issued an edict, O king, that everyone must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music.11 And whoever does not bow down and pay homage must be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.

12 But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – and these mens have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don’t serve your gods and they don’t pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of raget demanded that they bringt Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought themt before the king.14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and that you don’t pay homage to the golden statue that I erected?15 Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the statue that I had made. If you don’t pay homage to it, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?”t16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar,s “We do not need to give you a replyt concerning this.17 Ifs our God whom we are serving exists,t he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well.

18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changedt toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orderst to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated.20 He ordered strongt soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.21 So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes,s and were thrown into the furnacet of blazing fire.22 But since the king’s command was so urgent, and the furnace was so excessively hot, the men who escortedt Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killedt by the leaping flames.t

23 But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the furnacet of blazing fire while still securely bound.s

God Delivers His Servants

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threwt intot the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.”25 He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!”s

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out,t “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.t

27 Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physicallyt unharmed by the fire.t The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!
28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,t “Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angels and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoringt the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather thant serve or pay homage to any god other than their God!29 I hereby decreet that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemest the god of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.”

30 Then Nebuchadnezzart promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.