Daniel 3

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:

5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

7 Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,

9 saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever!

10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,

11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

12 But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,

14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,

20 and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

21 So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

24 Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” “Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25 “Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire,

27 and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

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

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 princes, the governors, and the captains, 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 princes, the governors, and captains, 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 an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, 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 people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, 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 accused the Jews.

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, 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 musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; 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 Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, 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 musick, 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 Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful 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 thine 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 Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, 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 Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] 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 form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 ¶ [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and 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 any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

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

1 And king Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, threescore cubits high and six cubits broad, and set it in the land of Babylon in the valley of Dura.

2 And king Nebuchadnezzar sent for the princes, and the lords, and the governors, and the judges, and the reeves, and the counsellors, and the officers, and all the mighty men of the land, that they should come together to dedicate the image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3 And the princes, and the lords, and the governors, and the judges, and the reeves, and the counsellors, and the officers, and all the mighty men of the land, came together to dedicate the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 And Ehrenhold cried aloud: Let this be told you, you nations, people and tongues:

5 When ye hear the sound of the trumpets, and of the drums, and of the harps, and of the violins, and of the psalteries, and of the lutes, and of all kinds of instruments, then ye shall fall down, and worship the graven image, which Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

6 And whosoever shall not then fall down and worship shall be cast into the fiery furnace from that hour.

7 And when they heard the sound of the trumpets, and of the drums, and of the harps, and of the violins, and of the psalteries, and of all kinds of instruments, all nations and people and tongues fell down, and worshipped the graven image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set.

8 And from that time certain Chaldean men came and accused the Jews,

9 And they began to say unto king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, God grant thee long life.

10 Thou hast sent forth a commandment, that when all men hear the sound of trumpets, and of drums, and of harps, and of violins, and of psalteries, and of lutes, and of all kinds of instruments, they should fall down and worship the graven image;

11 And whosoever would not fall down and worship should be cast into a fiery furnace.

12 Now there are Jewish men whom thou hast set over the offices of the land of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: they have despised thy commandment, and have not honoured thy gods, neither have they worshipped the graven image which thou hast set up.

13 And Nebuchadnezzar commanded with fury and wrath to set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. And the men were set before the king.

14 And Nebuchadnezzar began to speak unto them: How? will ye not, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, honour my God, and worship the graven image which I have set?

15 Come, send ye. As soon as you hear the sound of trumpets, drums, harps, violins, psalteries, lutes and all kinds of strings, fall down and worship the image I have made. If you do not worship it, you will be thrown into the fiery furnace from that hour. Let us see who is the God who will deliver you out of my hand!

16 And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, began to speak unto king Nebuchadnezzar, saying, There is no need that we should answer thee.

17 Behold, our God, whom we honour, is able to deliver us out of the fiery furnace, and also to deliver us out of thine hand.

18 And if he will not do it, know thou that we will not honour thy gods, nor worship the graven image which thou hast set up.

19 And Nebuchadnezzar was full of wrath, and stood in a vile place against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and commanded that the furnace should be made seven times hotter than it was wont to be made.

20 And he commanded the best men of war that were in his host to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the fiery furnace.

21 So these men were bound with their coats, and their shoes, and their hats, and their other garments, and cast into the burning fiery furnace.

22 For the king's commandment must be hasted. And they stirred up the fire in the furnace, and the men that burnt Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were consumed in the flames of the fire.

23 And the three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down into the burning fiery furnace, as they were bound.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and said unto his counsellors: Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? And they answered and said unto the king: Yes, O king!

25 And he answered and said, Behold, I see four men loose in the fire, and they are unharmed; and the fourth is like unto him, as if he were a son of the gods.

26 And Nebuchadnezzar came near before the hole of the burning furnace, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of GOD most high, come out, and come hither. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.

27 And the princes, and the lords, and the governors, and the king's counsellors, came together, and saw that the fire had no power in the bodies of these men, neither was the hair of their heads singed, neither were their coats corrupted; yea, there was no smell of fire in them.

28 And Nebuchadnezzar began to say, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, which hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants, which trusted in him, and kept not the king's commandment, but offered up their bodies, to honour no god, nor to worship any but their God.

29 Now therefore this is my commandment: Whosoever of all nations, people, and tongues shall blaspheme the God of Sadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he shall perish, and his house shall be shamefully destroyed. For there is no other God who can save like this.

30 And the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego great authority in the land of Babylon.