Daniel, 3

1. King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, which he set up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

1. King Nebuchadnez'zar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2. King Nebuchadnezzar then summoned the satraps, magistrates, governors, counsellors, treasurers, judges, lawyers, and all the provincial authorities to assemble and attend the dedication of the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

2. Then King Nebuchadnez'zar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up.

3. Satraps, magistrates, governors, counsellors, treasurers, judges, lawyers and all the provincial authorities then assembled for the dedication of the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar and stood in front of the statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, were assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnez'zar had set up.

4. A herald then loudly proclaimed: 'Peoples, nations, languages! Thus are you commanded:

4. And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

5. the moment you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe and every other kind of instrument, you will prostrate yourselves and worship the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

5. that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnez'zar has set up;

6. Anyone who does not prostrate himself and worship will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.'

6. and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."

7. And so, the instant all the peoples heard the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe and all the other instruments, all the peoples, nations and languages prostrated themselves and worshipped the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

7. Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnez'zar had set up.

8. Some Chaldaeans then came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

8. Therefore at that time certain Chalde'ans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

9. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, 'May Your Majesty live for ever!

9. They said to King Nebuchadnez'zar, "O king, live for ever!

10. You have issued a decree, Your Majesty, to the effect that everyone on hearing the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe and every other kind of instrument is to prostrate himself and worship the golden statue;

10. You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;

11. and that anyone who does not prostrate himself and worship is to be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

11. and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

12. Now, there are certain Jews to whom you have entrusted the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego; these men have ignored your command, Your Majesty; they do not serve your gods, and refuse to worship the golden statue you have set up.'

12. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."

13. Shaking with fury, Nebuchadnezzar sent for Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. The men were immediately brought before the king.

13. Then Nebuchadnez'zar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king.

14. Nebuchadnezzar addressed them, 'Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, is it true that you do not serve my gods, and that you refuse to worship the golden statue I have set up?

14. Nebuchadnez'zar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?

15. When you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe and every other kind of instrument, are you prepared to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you will be thrown forthwith into the burning fiery furnace; then which of the gods could save you from my power?'

15. Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?"

16. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, 'Your question needs no answer from us:

16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17. if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, Your Majesty, he will save us;

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 your hand, O king.

18. and even if he does not, then you must know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have set up.'

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

19. This infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar; his expression was changed now as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual

19. Then Nebuchadnez'zar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20. and commanded certain stalwarts from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace.

20. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21. They were then bound in their cloaks, trousers, headgear and other garments, and thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

21. Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace.

22. The king's command was so urgent and the heat of the furnace was so fierce, that the men carrying Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were burnt to death by the flames from the fire;

22. Because the king's order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego.

23. the three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego fell, bound, into the burning fiery furnace.

23. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

24. And they walked in the heart of the flames, praising God and blessing the Lord.

24. Then King Nebuchadnez'zar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."

25. Azariah stood in the heart of the fire, praying aloud thus:

25. He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

26. May you be blessed and revered, Lord, God of our ancestors, may your name be held glorious for ever.

26. Then Nebuchadnez'zar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego came out from the fire.

27. For you are upright in all that you have done for us, all your deeds are true, all your ways right, all your judgements true.

27. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their mantles were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

28. True is the sentence you have given in all that you have brought down on us and on Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors, for you have treated us rightly and truly, as our sins deserve.

28. Nebuchadnez'zar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

29. Yes, we have sinned and committed a crime by deserting you, yes, we have greatly sinned; we have not listened to your commandments,

29. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."

30. we have not observed them, we have not done what you commanded us to do for our own good.

30. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego in the province of Babylon.

31. Yes, all that you have brought down on us, all that you have done to us, you have been fully justified in doing.

31. Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:

32. You have handed us over to our enemies, to a lawless people, the worst of the godless, to an unjust king, the worst in the whole world;

32. "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise; and thy name is glorified for ever.

33. today we have no right to open our mouths, shame and dishonour are the lot of those who serve and worship you.

33. For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true and thy ways right, and all thy judgments are truth.

34. Do not abandon us for ever, for the sake of your name; do not repudiate your covenant,

34. Thou hast executed true judgments in all that thou hast brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, for in truth and justice thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins.

35. do not withdraw your favour from us, for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac, your servant, and of Israel, your holy one,

35. For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from thee, and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed thy commandments;

36. to whom you promised to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the grains of sand on the seashore.

36. we have not observed them or done them, as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us.

37. Lord, we have become the least of all nations, we are put to shame today throughout the world, because of our sins.

37. So all that thou hast brought upon us, and all that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.

38. We now have no leader, no prophet, no prince, no burnt offering, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can make offerings to you

38. Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.

39. and win your favour. But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit, be as acceptable to you

39. And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and worshipers.

40. as burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, as thousands of fat lambs: such let our sacrifice be to you today, and may it please you that we follow you whole-heartedly, since those who trust in you will not be shamed.

40. For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break thy covenant,

41. And now we put our whole heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more.

41. and do not withdraw thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac thy servant and Israel thy holy one,

42. Do not abandon us to shame but treat us in accordance with your gentleness, in accordance with the greatness of your mercy.

42. to whom thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea.

43. Rescue us in accordance with your wonderful deeds and win fresh glory for your name, O Lord.

43. For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.

44. Confusion seize all who ill-treat your servants: may they be covered with shame, deprived of all their power, and may their strength be broken.

44. And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before thee or to find mercy.

45. Let them learn that you alone are God and Lord, glorious over the whole world.

45. Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;

46. All this time, the king's servants, who had thrown them into the furnace, had been stoking it with crude oil, pitch, tow and brushwood

46. such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.

47. until the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace

47. And now with all our heart we follow thee, we fear thee and seek thy face.

48. and, leaping out, burnt those Chaldaeans to death who were standing round it.

48. Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in thy forbearance and in thy abundant mercy.

49. But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside Azariah and his companions; he drove the flames of the fire outwards from the furnace

49. Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord! Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame;

50. and, in the heart of the furnace, wafted a coolness to them as of the breeze and dew, so that the fire did not touch them at all and caused them no pain or distress.

50. let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, and let their strength be broken.

51. Then all three in unison began to sing, glorifying and blessing God in the furnace, with the words:

51. Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, glorious over the whole world."

52. May you be blessed, Lord, God of our ancestors, be praised and extolled for ever. Blessed be your glorious and holy name, praised and extolled for ever.

52. Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush.

53. May you be blessed in the Temple of your sacred glory, exalted and glorified above all for ever:

53. And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits,

54. blessed on the throne of your kingdom, exalted above all, glorified for ever:

54. and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace.

55. blessed are you who fathom the abyss, enthroned on the winged creatures, praised and exalted above all for ever:

55. But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace,

56. blessed in the expanse of the heavens, exalted and glorified for ever.

56. and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.

57. Bless the Lord, all the Lord's creation: praise and glorify him for ever!

57. Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying:

58. Bless the Lord, angels of the Lord, praise and glorify him for ever!

58. "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;

59. Bless the Lord, heavens, praise and glorify him for ever!

59. And blessed is thy glorious, holy name and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;

60. Bless the Lord, all the waters above the heavens, praise and glorify him for ever!

60. Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.

61. Bless the Lord, powers of the Lord, praise and glorify him for ever!

61. Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.

62. Bless the Lord, sun and moon, praise and glorify him for ever!

62. Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.

63. Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever!

63. Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven and to be sung and glorified for ever.

64. Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, praise and glorify him for ever!

64. "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

65. Bless the Lord, every wind, praise and glorify him for ever!

65. Bless the Lord, you heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

66. Bless the Lord, fire and heat, praise and glorify him for ever!

66. Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

67. Bless the Lord, cold and warmth, praise and glorify him for ever!

67. Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

68. Bless the Lord, dew and snow-storm, praise and glorify him for ever!

68. Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

69. Bless the Lord, frost and cold, praise and glorify him for ever!

69. Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

70. Bless the Lord, ice and snow, praise and glorify him for ever!

70. Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

71. Bless the Lord, nights and days, praise and glorify him for ever!

71. Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

72. Bless the Lord, light and darkness, praise and glorify him for ever!

72. Bless the Lord, all winds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

73. Bless the Lord, lightning and cloud, praise and glorify him for ever!

73. Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

74. Let the earth bless the Lord: praise and glorify him for ever!

74. Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

75. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, praise and glorify him for ever!

75. Bless the Lord, dews and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

76. Bless the Lord, every plant that grows, praise and glorify him for ever!

76. Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

77. Bless the Lord, springs of water, praise and glorify him for ever!

77. Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

78. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, praise and glorify him for ever!

78. Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

79. Bless the Lord, whales, and everything that moves in the waters, praise and glorify him for ever!

79. Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

80. Bless the Lord, every kind of bird, praise and glorify him for ever!

80. Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

81. Bless the Lord, all animals wild and tame, praise and glorify him for ever!

81. Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

82. Bless the Lord, all the human race: praise and glorify him for ever!

82. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

83. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and glorify him for ever!

83. Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

84. Bless the Lord, priests, praise and glorify him for ever!

84. Bless the Lord, you springs, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

85. Bless the Lord, his servants, praise and glorify him for ever!

85. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

86. Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the upright, praise and glorify him for ever!

86. Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

87. Bless the Lord, faithful, humble-hearted people, praise and glorify him for ever!

87. Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

88. Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and glorify him for ever!-For he has rescued us from the Underworld, he has saved us from the hand of Death, he has snatched us from the burning fiery furnace, he has drawn us from the heart of the flame!

88. Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

89. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is everlasting.

89. Bless the Lord, you sons of men, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

90. Bless the Lord, the God of gods, all who fear him, give praise and thanks to him, for his love is everlasting!

90. Bless the Lord, O Israel, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

91. King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, 'Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?' They answered the king, 'Certainly, Your Majesty'.

91. Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

92. 'But', he went on, 'I can see four men walking free in the heart of the fire and quite unharmed! And the fourth looks like a child of the gods!'

92. Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

93. Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and said, 'Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, servants of God Most High, come out, come here!' And from the heart of the fire out came Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.

93. Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

94. The satraps, magistrates, governors, and advisers of the king crowded round the three men to examine them: the fire had had no effect on their bodies: not a hair of their heads had been singed, their cloaks were not scorched, no smell of burning hung about them. Nebuchadnezzar said,

94. Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

95. 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: he has sent his angel to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their God.

95. Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever; for he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace; from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.

96. I therefore decree as follows, "Peoples, nations, and languages! Let any of you speak disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, and I shall have him torn limb from limb and his house turned into a dunghill; for there is no other god who can save like this."'

96. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever.

97. The king then showered favours on Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

97. Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods, sing praise to him and give thanks to him, for his mercy endures for ever."

98. 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations and languages dwelling throughout the world: may you prosper more and more!

98.

99. 'It is my pleasure to make known the signs and wonders with which the Most High God has favoured me.

99.

100. How great his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, his empire endures age after age!'

100.