Daniel 3

1. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth 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 prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3. Then were gathered the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to 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 a herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

5. At the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.

6. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall in the same hour be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.”

7. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8. Then at that time certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews.

9. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.

10. You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, and the bagpipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image.

11. And whoever does not fall down and worship, he should be thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12. There are certain Jews, whom you have set over the business of the province of Babylon; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These men, O king, do not heed you. They do not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”

13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded them to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego that you do not serve my gods nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15. Now if you are ready, at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music fall down and worship the image which I have made. But if you do not worship immediately, you shall be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that god who shall deliver you out of my hand?”

16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer a word to you on this matter.

17. If that is the case, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”

19. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

20. And he commanded mighty men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace.

21. Then these men were tied up in their cloaks, their tunics, and their robes, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.

22. Then because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to throw them in.

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 amazed. And he rose up in haste and spoke and said to his advisers, “Did we not throw three men bound into the middle of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

25. He answered and said, “Behold! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and there is no harm done to them. And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

26. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the opening of the burning fiery furnace. He answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out of the middle of the fire.

27. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s advisers gathered together and saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power—and the hair of their head was not singed, nor were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire clung to them.

28. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego Who has sent His angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and has changed the king’s words, and has given back their bodies from the flame, so that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.

29. And a decree is given by me, that every people, nation, and language who speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and his house shall be made a dunghill because there is no other God Who can deliver in this way.”

30. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.