Old Testament · Prophets
Daniel chapter 3
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King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. He set it up on the , in the province of Babylon.He then sent word to assemble the , and all the other officials of the provinces to come to the of the statue he had set up.So the regional governors, prefects, provincial governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.Then the shouted loudly, “, this is what you are commanded to do:As soon as you hear the sound of the , and every other kind of instrument, you must fall down and to the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.Anyone who does not fall down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into a .”So when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every other kind of instrument, the people of every nation and language fell down and paid homage to the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.At that time, some came forward and the Jewish people.They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “!Your Majesty, you issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and every other kind of instrument must fall down and pay homage to the gold statue.And that anyone who does not fall down and pay homage will be thrown into a blazing furnace.But there are some Jewish men whom you put in charge of the province of Babylon — — who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They don’t , and they refuse to pay homage to the gold statue you set up.”, Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. So they brought the men to the king.Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — is it true that you don’t serve my gods or pay homage to the gold statue I set up?Now, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and every other kind of instrument, if you’re ready to fall down and pay homage to the statue I made — good. But if you refuse to pay homage, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. And ?”Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, on this matter.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, is able to us from it, and he will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty., we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or pay homage to the gold statue you set up.”Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated than usual.He commanded some of the in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.So these men, still wearing their , were tied up and thrown into the blazing furnace.The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it.And these three men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — fell, tied up, into the blazing furnace.Then King Nebuchadnezzar . He asked his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men, tied up, into the fire?” They answered, “, Your Majesty.”He said, “Look! I see four men, , walking around in the fire — ! And the fourth one looks like .”Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of , come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.The regional governors, prefects, provincial governors, and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies. , their robes were not scorched, and there was on them.Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “ the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his and rescued his servants who in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or pay homage to any god except their own God.Therefore I decree that any people, nation, or language group that says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be , and their houses will be turned into rubble. For .”Then the king Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.