AB - Daniel - 3

3:1  In the eighteenth year Nebuchadnezzar the king made a golden image, its height was sixty cubits, and its breadth was six cubits. And he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

3:2  And he sent forth to gather the governors, and the captains, and the heads of provinces, chiefs, and princes, and those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, to come to the dedication of the image.

3:3  So the heads of provinces, the governors, the captains, the chiefs, the great princes, those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, were gathered to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image.

3:4  Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, you peoples, tribes, and languages,

3:5  at what hour you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

3:6  And whosoever shall not fall down and worship, in the same hour he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.

3:7  And it came to pass when the nations heard the sound of the trumpet, pipe, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the nations, tribes, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3:8  Then certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews to the king, saying,

3:9  O king, live forever!

3:10  You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music,

3:11  and shall not fall down and worship the golden image, shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.

3:12  There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who have not obeyed your decree, O king: they serve not your gods, and worship not the golden image which you have set up.

3:13  Then Nebuchadnezzar, in wrath and anger, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And they were brought before the king.

3:14  And Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you serve not my gods, and worship not the golden image which I have set up?

3:15  Now then, if you are ready, whenever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, harp, sackbut, psaltery, harmony, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the golden image which I have made, fine; but if you will not worship, in the same hour you shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace; and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hand?

3:16  Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, We have no need to answer you concerning this matter.

3:17  For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He shall rescue us from your hands, O king.

3:18  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, neither will we worship the image which you have set up.

3:19  Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the form of his countenance was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And he gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than usual, until it should burn to the uttermost.

3:20  And he commanded mighty men to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

3:21  Then those men were bound with their coats, caps, and trousers, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace,

3:22  forasmuch as the king's word prevailed; and the furnace was made exceedingly hot.

3:23  Then these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell bound into the midst of the burning furnace, and walked in the midst of the flame, singing praises to God, and blessing the Lord.

3:24  And Nebuchadnezzar heard them singing praises. And he wondered, and rose up in haste, and said to his nobles, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? And they said to the king, Yes, O king.

3:25  And the king said, But I see four men loose, and walking in the midst of the fire, and there has no harm happened to them; and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God.

3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar drew near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, you servants of the Most High God, proceed forth, and come here. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, came forth out of the midst of the fire.

3:27  Then were assembled the satraps, and captains, and heads of provinces, and the royal princes; and they saw the men, and perceived that the fire had not had power against their bodies, and the hair of their head was not burned, and their coats were not scorched, nor was the smell of fire upon them.

3:28  And King Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who has sent His angel, and delivered His servants, because they trusted in Him; and they have changed the king's word, and delivered their bodies to be burned, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

3:29  Therefore I publish a decree: Every people, tribe, or language that shall speak reproachfully against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be destroyed, and their houses shall be plundered, because there is no other God who shall be able to deliver thus.

3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, in the province of Babylon, and advanced them, and gave them authority to rule over all the Jews who were in his kingdom.