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The Book of Daniel 3

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up on the Plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and 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 that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship, at that very moment, will be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 Therefore at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against the Jews. 9 They responded and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, harp, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready—at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, harp, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music—to fall down and worship the image that I have made, all will be well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. Who is the god who will rescue you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue 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 or worship the golden image that you set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was normally heated. 20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the command of the king was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and stood up in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the midst of the fire. 27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the counselors of the king gathered together and saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men; the hair of their heads was not singed; their cloaks were not harmed; and the smell of fire had not come on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the command of the king, and gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God. 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and their houses be made into rubbish heaps because there is no other god who is able to save like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

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