The fiery furnace
1KING Nebuchadnezzar made a gold image, ninety feet high and nine feet broad, and had it set up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2The king then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, counsellors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to assemble and attend the dedication of the image he had set up.
3The satraps, prefects, governors, counsellors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all governors of provinces assembled for the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they took their places in front of the image.
4A herald proclaimed in a loud voice, “Peoples and nations of every language, you are commanded,
5when you hear the sound of horn, pipe, zither, triangle, dulcimer, a full consort of music, to prostrate yourselves and worship the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6Whosoever does not prostrate himself and worship will be thrown forthwith into a blazing furnace.”
7Accordingly, no sooner did the sound of horn, pipe, zither, triangle, dulcimer, a full consort of music, reach them than all the peoples and nations of every language prostrated themselves and worshipped the gold image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.
8Some Chaldaeans seized the opportunity to approach the king with a malicious accusation against the Jews.
9They said, “Long live the king!
10Your majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of horn, pipe, zither, triangle, dulcimer, a full consort of music, must fall down and worship the gold image;
11and whoever does not do so will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the administration of the province of Babylon. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, have disregarded your royal command; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the gold image you set up.”
13In furious rage Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to be fetched, and when they were brought into his presence,
14he asked them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15Now if you are ready to prostrate yourselves as soon as you hear the sound of horn, pipe, zither, triangle, dulcimer, a full consort of music, and to worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown forthwith into the blazing furnace; and what god is there that can deliver you from my power?”
16Their reply to the king was: “Your majesty, we have no need to answer you on this matter.
17If there is a god who is able to save us from the blazing furnace, it is our God whom we serve; he will deliver us from your majesty's power.
18But if not, be it known to your majesty that we shall neither serve your gods nor worship the gold image you have set up.”
19At this Nebuchadnezzar was furious with them, and his face became distorted with anger. He ordered that the furnace should be heated to seven times its usual heat,
20and commanded some of the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21Then, just as they were, in trousers, shirts, headdresses, and their other clothes, they were bound and thrown into the furnace.
22Because the king's order was peremptory and the furnace exceedingly hot, those who were carrying the three men were killed by the flames;
23and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego fell bound into the blazing furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar, greatly agitated, sprang to his feet, saying to his courtiers, “Was it not three men whom we threw bound into the fire?” They answered, “Yes, certainly, your majesty.”
25“Yet”, he insisted, “I can see four men walking about in the fire, free and unharmed; and the fourth looks like a god.”
26Nebuchadnezzar approached the furnace door and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego emerged from the fire,
27the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king's courtiers gathered round them and saw how the fire had had no power to harm their bodies. The hair of their heads had not been singed, their trousers were untouched, and no smell of fire lingered about them.
28Nebuchadnezzar declared: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego! He has sent his angel to save his servants who, trusting in him, disobeyed the royal command; they were willing to submit themselves to the fire rather than to serve or worship any god other than their own God.
29I therefore issue this decree: anyone, whatever his people, nation, or language, if he speaks blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, is to be hacked limb from limb and his house is to be reduced to rubble; for there is no other god who can save in such a manner.”
30Then the king advanced the fortunes of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.
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