Daniel - Chapter 3

1. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its width six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the capital city of Babylon.

2. And Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the capital cities to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3. Then, the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the capital cities were gathered to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they were standing opposite the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4. And the announcement was issued aloud, "To you we are saying O peoples, nations and tongues.

5. At the time that you hear the sound of the whistling horn, the clavichord, the harp, the psaltery, the bagpipes, and all kinds of music, you shall fall and prostrate yourselves to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6. And whoever will not fall and prostrate himself, will at that time be cast into a burning, fiery furnace."

7. In view of this, at that time, when all peoples heard the sound of the whistling horn, the clavichord, the harp, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, all peoples, nations, and tongues would prostrate themselves to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8. In view of this, at that time, some Chaldean men approached and denounced the Jews.

9. They spoke up and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May the king live forever!

10. You, O king, gave an order that any person who hears the sound of the whistling horn, the clavichord, the harp, the psaltery, the bagpipes, and all kinds of music, shall fall and prostrate himself to the golden image.

11. And whoever does not fall and prostrate himself shall be cast into the fiery furnace.

12. There are Judahite men whom you appointed over the affairs of the capital cities of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men did not take counsel to follow your decree, O king. They do not worship your god and they do not prostrate themselves to the golden image that you have set up."

13. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in wrath and anger, ordered to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then these men were brought before the king.

14. Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said to them, "Is it [my decree] meaningless, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not worship my god and that you do not prostrate yourselves to the golden image that I have set up?"

15. Now behold, you are destined, at the time that you hear the whistling horn, the clavichord, the harp, the psaltery, the bagpipes, and all kinds of music, to fall and prostrate yourselves to the image that I made, and if you do not prostrate yourselves, at that time you shall be cast into a burning, fiery furnace, and who is a god who will save you from my hand?

16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we do not care to answer you about this matter.

17. Behold there is our God whom we worship; He can save us. From the burning, fiery furnace and from your hands, O king, He will save [us].

18. And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your god, neither will we prostrate ourselves to the golden image that you have set up."

19. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the features of his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; he shouted and ordered to heat the furnace seven times as much as it should be heated.

20. And he commanded certain mighty men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, to cast them into the burning, fiery furnace.

21. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their trousers, their robes, and their [other] garments, and they were cast into the burning, fiery furnace.

22. In view of this, since the word of the king was urgent and the furnace was heated excessively, these men who had brought up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were killed by a spark of fire.

23. And these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the burning, fiery furnace, bound.

24. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was bewildered and stood up in haste. He shouted and said to his leaders, "Did I not cast three men into the fiery furnace, bound?" They answered and said to the king, "The king is true."

25. He called out and said, "Behold, I see four free men walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no wound upon them, and the form of the fourth one is like [that of] an angel."

26. Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the gate of the burning, fiery furnace. He shouted and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, the servants of the Most High God! Step out and come!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.

27. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the leaders of the king gathered [and] saw these men, that the fire had taken no effect on their bodies, the hair of their heads was not singed, their robes had not changed, and the smell of fire had not been absorbed by them.

28. Nebuchadnezzar cried out and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, Who sent His angel and rescued His servants, who trusted Him, deviated from the command of the king, and risked their lives in order not to worship or prostrate themselves to any god except to their God.

29. Now an order is issued by me that any people, nation, or tongue that will speak amiss about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and his house shall be made a dungheap because there is no other god who can save in this manner."

30. Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosper in the capital city of Babylon.

31. King Nebuchadnezzar, [said] to all peoples, nations, and tongues that dwell in the whole earth, "May your welfare increase!

32. The signs and wonders that the Most High God has done with me it behooves me to recite.

33. How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His dominion is with every generation."