3 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 counsellors, 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 counsellors, 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 flames 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. 24 Then
Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and
said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst
of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 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. 26 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. 27 And
the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, 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. 28 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. 29 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. 30 Then
the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.