CHAPTER 3
An image is set up
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the
king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in 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 thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that 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.
Song of the three children
24 And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.25 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,26 lessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:27 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth.28 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins.29 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee.30 In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us.31 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.32 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.33 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee.34 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant:35 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Issac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake;36 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore.37 For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.38 Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy. Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted.39 Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee.40 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face.41 Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.42 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed;43 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;44 And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.
45 And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;
46 So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.
47 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.
48 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven;
49 And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.
50 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,
51 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
52 And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
53 Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
54 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
55 Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
56 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.
57 all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
58 ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
59 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
60 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
61 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
62 O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
63 O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
64 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
65 O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
66 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
67 O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
68 O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
69 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever.
70 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
71 O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
72 O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
73 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
74 O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
75 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
76 O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
77 O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever.
78 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
79 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
80 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
81 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
82 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
83 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
84 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
85 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
86 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
87 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
88 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us.
89 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.
90 O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Delivery from the furnace
91 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 92 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 93 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 94 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.95 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 96 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.hus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
- King James Version (KJV)
3 Psal.25. 10.20 Or, by thy power and might.22 Or, Naptha, which is a certain kind of fat and chalk clay. Plin. lib.2.6.105.26 Or, coels.34 Or, highly exalt: and so in the rest.35 Psal.148.457 Gr. heaven.64 Or, Saints65 Or, grave.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king [caused to be] made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits or ninety feet and its breadth six cubits or nine feet. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.The King’s Golden Image
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, the governors, the judges and chief stargazers, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had [caused to be] set up.
3 Then the satraps, the deputies, the governors, the judges and chief stargazers, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces were 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 cried aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 That when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall that very hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Therefore at that time certain men of Chaldean descent came near and brought [malicious] accusations against the Jews.
9 They 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, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image,
11 And that whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed and set over the affairs 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 which you have set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and these men were brought before the king.
14 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer or bagpipe, and every kind of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very good. But if you do not worship, you shall be cast at once into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that god who can deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, it is not necessary for us to answer you on this point.
17 If our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, He will deliver 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 which you have set up!
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury and his facial expression was changed [to antagonism] against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these [three] men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics or undergarments, their turbans, and their other clothing, and they were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame and sparks from the fire killed those men who handled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the burning fiery furnace.
Song of the Three Children
24 They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord.
25 Azariah* stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud:
26“Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our ancestors, and glorious forever is your name.
27 For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper.
28 You have executed proper judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors.By a proper judgment you have done all this because of our sins;
29 For we have sinned and transgressed by departing from you, and we have done every kind of evil.
30 Your commandments we have not heeded or observed, nor have we done as you ordered us for our good.
31Therefore all you have brought upon us, all you have done to us, you have done by a proper judgment.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels; to an unjust king, the worst in all the world.
33 Now we cannot open our mouths; shame and reproach have come upon us, your servants, who revere you.
34 For your name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant.
35 Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
I36 To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.
I37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins.
38 We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bulls, or tens of thousands of fat lambs,
40 So let our sacrifice be in your presence today and find favor before you; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
41 And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we seek your face. Do not put us to shame,
42 but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
43 Deliver us in accord with your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord:
44 Let all those be put to shame who inflict evils on your servants; Let them be shamed and powerless, and their strength broken;
I45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world.”
46 Now the king’s servants who had thrown them in continued to stoke the furnace with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush.
47 The flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace,
48 and spread out, burning the Chaldeans that it caught around the furnace.
49 But the angel of the Lord went down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, drove the fiery flames out of the furnace,
50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it. The fire in no way touched them or caused them pain or harm.
51 Then these three in the furnace with one voice sang, glorifying and blessing God:
52 “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
55 Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.
57 Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
59 You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.a
60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
61All you powers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
64 Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
I65 All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
67 Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
70 Hoarfrost and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
71 Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
73 Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
I74 Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
76 Everything growing on earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
77 You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
79You sea monsters and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
80 All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
81 All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
82 All you mortals, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
83 O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
87 Holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
88 Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from Sheol, and saved us from the power of death; He has freed us from the raging flame and delivered us from the fire.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose mercy endures forever.
90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord; praise and give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.
Delivery from the Furnace
91 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king [saw and] was astounded, and he jumped up and said to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered, True, O king.
92 He answered, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods!
93 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the midst of the fire.
94 And the satraps, the deputies, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered around together and saw these men—that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed; neither were their garments scorched or changed in color or condition, nor had even the smell of smoke clung to them.
95 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who believed in, trusted in, and relied on Him! And they set aside the king’s command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
96 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, and language that speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses be made a dunghill, for there is no other God who can deliver in this way!
97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
- The Amplified Bible (AMPC)
Verses 24-90, New American Bible Revised Edition (NAB)
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