1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold. It was 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 word to gather the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces. They were to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3So the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4Then a herald called out loudly, "This is the command to you, people of every nation and language:"
5When you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6"Anyone who does not fall down and worship will be thrown that same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace."
7So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people of every nation and language fell down and worshipped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9They spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar and said, "O king, live for ever."
10You, O king, have made a decree. It says that every man who hears the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden image,
11and that anyone who does not fall down and worship must be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.
12"There are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have paid no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, and they do not worship the golden image you have set up."
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to him. So they brought these men before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do you not serve my gods or worship the golden image I have set up?"
15"Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image I have made, it is well. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown that same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that God who can rescue you out of my hands?"
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you about this matter."
17If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will rescue us out of your hand, O king.
18"But if he does not, know this, O king: we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image you have set up."
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the look on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave the order to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was usually heated.
20He commanded the strongest men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace.
21So these men were tied up in their coats, their trousers, their hats, and their other clothes, and they were thrown into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
22Because the king's command was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it.
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, still tied up, into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed. He got up quickly and said to his counsellors, "Did we not throw three men, tied up, into the middle of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
25He said, "Look, I see four men walking about in the middle of the fire, untied, and they are not hurt. And the fourth one looks like the Son of God."
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the opening of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire.
27The princes, the governors, the captains, and the king's counsellors gathered round and saw these men. The fire had no power over their bodies. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their coats were not damaged, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's word and gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."