Daniel 3

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue about ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials gathered for the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up. The herald proclaimed loudly, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages: When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you must fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” So as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At that time some Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. Whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown into a blazing furnace. There are some Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men pay no attention to you, O king. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. These men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. And what god can deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to give you an answer in this matter. If that is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace, and he will deliver us from your hand, O king. But even if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times as hot as it was usually heated. He commanded mighty warriors from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men were bound in their cloaks, trousers, caps, and other clothing, and thrown into the blazing furnace. Because the king’s command was so harsh and the furnace so intensely hot, the flames killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “Certainly, O king.” He said, “Look! I see four men unbound, walking in the fire, and they are unharmed. The fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. The satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered around and saw that the fire had had no power over these men’s bodies. The hair on their heads was not singed, their cloaks were unchanged, and no smell of fire clung to them. Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him! They defied the king’s command and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. So I issue this decree: anyone of any people, nation, or language who speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and his house will be turned into a rubbish heap. For no other god can deliver like this.” Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prosper in the province of Babylon.

Rights and attribution