Daniel 3 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

He then sent word to assemble the regional governors, prefects, provincial governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to come to the dedication 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 herald shouted loudly, "People of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded to do:

As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and every other kind of instrument, you must fall down and pay homage 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 blazing furnace."

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 Babylonian astrologers came forward and brought accusations against the Jewish people.

They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "Long live the king!

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 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They don't serve your gods, and they refuse to pay homage to the gold statue you set up."

Furious with rage, 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 what god is going to rescue you from my power?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to defend ourselves to you on this matter.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to rescue us from it, and he will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

But even if he doesn't, 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 the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.

He commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

So these men, still wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the blazing furnace.

The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames killed the soldiers 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 jumped up in alarm. He asked his advisors, "Didn't we throw three men, tied up, into the fire?" They answered, "Absolutely, Your Majesty."

He said, "Look! I see four men, untied, walking around in the fire — completely unharmed! And the fourth one looks like a son of the gods."

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, 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. Not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted 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 cut to pieces, and their houses will be turned into rubble. For there is no other god who can rescue like this."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.