Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar Makes a Golden Image

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3Then the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4Then the herald proclaimed with strength, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages: 5At the time you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and bow before the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall down and bow shall immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” 7Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and bowed before the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Are Accused

8Therefore at that time certain Chaldean men came near and maliciously accused the Judeans. 9They answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10You, O king, made a decree that every person who hears the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and bow before the golden image, 11and whoever does not fall down and bow shall be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12There are certain Judean men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have paid no attention to you, O king. They do not serve your gods, and they do not bow before the golden image that you set up.”

We Will Not Serve Your Gods

13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and do not bow before the golden image that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready, at the time you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, fall down and bow before the image that I made. But if you do not bow, you shall immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. And who is the god who will rescue you from my hand?” 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you concerning this matter. 17If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and from your hand, O king, he will rescue us. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and will not bow before the golden image that you have set up.”

The Three Are Thrown into the Furnace

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He answered and commanded that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was normally heated. 20He commanded certain mighty men from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21Then these men were bound in their cloaks, tunics, hats, and other garments and were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22Because the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

A Fourth Figure in the Fire

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose quickly. He answered and said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25He answered and said, “Look, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no harm to them. And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the furnace of blazing fire and answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the midst of the fire.

Nebuchadnezzar Blesses Their God

27The satraps, prefects, governors, and king’s counselors gathered and saw these men, that the fire had no power over their bodies. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not changed, and the smell of fire had not come upon them. 28Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his messenger and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They changed the king’s word and gave up their bodies rather than serve or bow before any god except their own God. 29Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses shall be made a refuse heap, because there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon.