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 vale of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2
And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather··together the princes, the dukes, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all with··dominion in the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set··up.
3
Then the princes, the dukes, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all with··dominion in the provinces, were gathered··together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set··up; and they rose··up in front··of◦ the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set··up.
4
And one··proclaiming called with force, To you they say, O peoples, nations◦, and tongues,
5
At the time that you hear the voice of the horn, pipe, lute, sabbeka*, psaltery, symphonia, and all kinds of singing··psalms, 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 midst of a burning◦ fiery furnace.
7
Because of this at the time▵, when all the people heard the voice of the horn, the pipe, lute, the sabbeka, psaltery, and all kinds of singing··psalms, all peoples, nations◦ and tongues fell··down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set··up.
8
Because··of this at the time▵ men▫ of the Chaldeans came··near, and accused* those who were Jews.
9
They answered and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ages!
10
Thou◦, O king, hast set a decree, that every man▵ who shall hear the voice of the horn, pipe, lute, sabbeka, psaltery, symphonia, and all kinds of singing··psalms,, shall fall··down and worship the golden image,
11
and whoever does not fall··down and worship, that he should be cast into◦ the midst of a burning◦ fiery furnace.
12
There··are men▫ of the Jews whom thou hast appointed◦ over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men▫, O king, have not regarded thy decree; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set··up
13
Then Nebuchadnezzar, trembling and in fury, said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men▫ before the king.
14
Nebuchadnezzar answered, and said to them, Is it with··intent, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you··are not serving my gods, nor worshiping the image of gold which I have raised··up?
15
Now if you··be ready, at the time you hear the voice of the horn, pipe, lute, sabbeka*, psaltery, symphonia, and all kinds of singing··psalms, you will fall··down and worship the image which I have made; but if you worship not, you shall be cast the same hour into◦ the midst of a burning◦ fiery furnace; and who is that◦ God who shall deliver you from my hands?
16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we◦ will not return an answer to thee hurriedly concerning 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 thy hand, O king.
18
But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we··will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set··up.
19
Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the image of his face◦ was changed◦ against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and he answered, and said to heat the furnace one seven* times above what it was seen to be heated.
20
And to the mighty, the men▫ of the force who were in his forces, he said to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to cast them into the burning◦ fiery furnace.
21
Then these men▫ were bound in their mantles, their tunics, and their turbans, and their clothing, and were cast into◦ the midst of the burning◦ fiery furnace.
22
Therefore because the word of the king was··urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed◦ those men▫ who 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 astounded▵, and rose··up vexed. He answered and said to his chancellors, Did not we cast three men▫ into the midst of the fire bound? They answered and said to the king, It is certain, O king.
25
He answered and said, Behold, I◦ see four men▫ loose◦, walking in the midst of the fire, and there··is no◦ hurt on◦ them; and the appearance of the fourth is··like a son◦ of the gods.
26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came··near to the gate of the burning◦ fiery furnace. He answered and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most··High God, come··out, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came··out from the midst of the fire.
27
And the princes, dukes, and governors, and chancellors of the king, being gathered··together, saw these men▫, on◦ whose bodies the fire did not have··dominion, nor was a hair of their head singed*, neither were their mantles changed◦, nor had the smell of fire passed on◦ them.
28
Then Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted on Him, and they have changed◦ the word of the king, and given▵ their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.
29
And from me a decree is set, That every people, nation◦, and tongue, who say any fault against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made··like a dunghill; because there··is not any other God who is··able to rescue as this One.
30
Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to prosper in the province of Babylon.
