The Book of the Prophet Daniel 3 The Golden Statue: Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace

 The Book of the Prophet Daniel 3

The Golden Statue: Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, officials, and all the governors of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3 Then the satraps, prefects, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, officials, and all the governors of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 And the herald proclaimed in a loud voice: “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and languages:

5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7 So, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages ​​fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At that very moment, some Chaldean men came forward and accused the Jews.

9 And they spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!

10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden image.

11 And whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing furnace.

12 There are some Jewish men whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not heeded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in anger and fury, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. And these men were brought before the king. 

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, “Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?

15 Now therefore, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship it, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need to answer you concerning this matter.

17 Behold, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us; He will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and from your hand, O king.

18 But even if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.

20 He ordered the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 So those men were bound in their cloaks, their trousers, their hats, and their garments, and thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

22 And because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and rose up in haste; and he spake and said to his captains, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, But 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 the Son of God.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; and spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the midst of the fire.

27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s captains gathered together, seeing these men, and they saw that the fire had had no power over their bodies; not a hair of their head was singed, nor were their garments altered, nor was there any smell of fire on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything 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 who can deliver like this.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.