Daniel 3

1 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold image 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. [a] 2 Nebuchadnezzar summoned the governors, generals, provincial rulers, leaders, officials, authorities, and all the regional rulers to attend the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 The governors, generals, provincial rulers, leaders, great officials, authorities, and all the regional rulers gathered for the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then a herald cried aloud, “You are commanded, peoples, tribes, and languages:” 5 “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, triangular harp, zither, ensemble, and every kind of music, you must fall down and bow down to the gold image King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” [b] 6 “Whoever does not fall down and bow down will be thrown into the blazing furnace immediately.” 7 When the peoples heard the trumpet, flute, lyre, triangular harp, zither, ensemble, and every kind of music, every people, tribe, and language fell down and bowed down to the gold image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Then some Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews before the king. 9 “King, live forever!” 10 “King, you issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, triangular harp, zither, ensemble, and every kind of music,” 11 “must fall down and bow down to the gold image, and that whoever does not must be thrown into the blazing furnace.” 12 “There are certain Jews whom you appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They have not obeyed your decree, king. They do not serve your gods or bow down to the gold image you set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, filled with fury and anger, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or bow down to the gold image I set up?” 15 “Now, if you are ready, when you hear the trumpet, flute, lyre, triangular harp, zither, ensemble, and every kind of music, fall down and bow down to the image I made. But if you do not bow down, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing furnace. Then what god can rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to answer you about this matter.” 17 “The God we serve is able to rescue us from the blazing furnace, and he will rescue us from your hands, king.” 18 “But even if he does not, know this, king: we will not serve your gods or bow down to the image you set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and his expression toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, until it burned at its fiercest. 20 He ordered some of his strongest men to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 Then those men were bound in their trousers, caps, leggings, and other clothing and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 Because the king’s command was so urgent, the furnace had been heated beyond measure. 23 Then these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the midst of the burning furnace. 24 They walked among the flames, singing praise to God and blessing the Lord. [g] 25 Then Azariah stood up in the fire, opened his mouth, and prayed:

46 The king’s servants who had thrown them in kept feeding the furnace with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brushwood. 47 The flame rose about 75 feet above the furnace. [c] 48 The flame spread out and burned the Chaldeans it found around the furnace. 49 But the Lord’s messenger came down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions and drove the fiery flame out of it. [d] 50 He made the inside of the furnace like a moist, whistling wind. The fire did not touch them at all or cause them pain or distress. 51 Then the three men, as if with one voice, praised, honored, and blessed God in the furnace: †

91 Nebuchadnezzar heard them singing praise. Astonished, he rose quickly and asked his nobles, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?” They answered the king, “Yes, king.” 92 The king said, “But I see four men, unbound and walking in the fire, and they are unharmed. The fourth looks like a son of God.” † 93 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing furnace and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 94 The satraps, captains, provincial governors, and royal officials gathered around. They saw that the fire had no power over the men’s bodies: not a hair on their heads was singed, their trousers were not changed, and they did not even smell of fire. 95 King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He sent his messenger and rescued his servants because they trusted in him. They defied the king’s word and handed over their bodies to the fire rather than serve or bow down to any god except their own God.” † 96 “Therefore I issue a decree: anyone of any people, tribe, or language who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be destroyed and have his house plundered, because no other God can rescue like this.” 97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. He advanced them and gave them authority over all the Jews in his kingdom. 98 “King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, tribes, and languages living throughout the earth: May your peace increase.” 99 “I am pleased to announce the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me.” 100 “How great are his signs and how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is everlasting, and his power lasts through every generation.” [f]