Daniel 3:1-18 - The Faithfulness Of Three Young Israelites And God's Deliverance

¹ Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. He set it up in the plain of Dura, the province of Babylon. It was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. ² Then Nebuchadnezzar the king gathered the satraps, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces. They came to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. ³ The satraps, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together at the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. They stood before the image.

⁴ Then the herald proclaimed: You are commanded to do this, O peoples, nations, and men of every language. ⁵ When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes (bagpipe), and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace.

⁷ When all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up.

⁸ Some Chaldean Astrologers brought accusation against the Jews. ⁹ They said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, may you live for a very long time. ¹⁰ You, O king, made a decree, that every man that hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. ¹¹ Whoever does not fall down and worship, will be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace. ¹² The Jews whom you appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego have not listened to you. They do not serve your gods. They do not worship the golden image that you set up.

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar said to them: Is it true Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that you do not serve my god, nor worship the golden image that I set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, zither, pipes, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, good! But if you do not worship it you will be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace that same hour. What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king: O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace. He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ If not you should know O king that we will not serve your gods. We will not worship the golden image that you set up!