Psalm 98

New International Version

Psalm 98

A psalm.

¹Sing to the Lord^(A) a new song,^(B)
    for he has done marvelous things;^(C)
his right hand^(D) and his holy arm^(E)
    have worked salvation^(F) for him.
²The Lord has made his salvation known^(G)
    and revealed his righteousness^(H) to the nations.^(I)
³He has remembered^(J) his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth^(K) have seen
    the salvation of our God.^(L)

⁴Shout for joy^(M) to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵make music to the Lord with the harp,^(N)
    with the harp and the sound of singing,^(O)
⁶with trumpets^(P) and the blast of the ram’s horn^(Q)—
    shout for joy^(R) before the Lord, the King.^(S)

⁷Let the sea^(T) resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.^(U)
⁸Let the rivers clap their hands,^(V)
    let the mountains^(W) sing together for joy;
⁹let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.^(X)

Daniel 3:1-18

New International Version

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image^(A) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ²He then summoned the satraps,^(B) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials^(C) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

⁴Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,^(D) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(E) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(F) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^(G) ⁶Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(H)

⁷Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.^(I)

⁸At this time some astrologers^[b]^(J) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^(K) ¹⁰Your Majesty has issued a decree^(L) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,^(M) ¹¹and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹²But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(N)—who pay no attention^(O) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(P)

¹³Furious^(Q) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(R) or worship the image^(S) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(T) will be able to rescue^(U) you from my hand?”

¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(V) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(W) us from it, and he will deliver^(X) us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(Y)”

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Footnotes

Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide
Daniel 3:8 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and

Revelation 18:1-10

New International Version

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel^(A) coming down from heaven.^(B) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^(C) ²With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a]^(D)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,^(E)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.^(F)
³For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.^(G)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,^(H)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich^(I) from her excessive luxuries.”^(J)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

⁴Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’^[b]^(K)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;^(L)
⁵for her sins are piled up to heaven,^(M)
    and God has remembered^(N) her crimes.
⁶Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back^(O) double^(P) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.^(Q)
⁷Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.^(R)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;^[c]
    I will never mourn.’^(S)
⁸Therefore in one day^(T) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,^(U)
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(V) and shared her luxury^(W) see the smoke of her burning,^(X) they will weep and mourn over her.^(Y) ¹⁰Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(Z) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(AA)
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour^(AB) your doom has come!’

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Footnotes

Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.

Revelation 18:19-20

New International Version

¹⁹They will throw dust on their heads,^(A) and with weeping and mourning^(B) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(C)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’^(D)

²⁰“Rejoice over her, you heavens!^(E)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”^(F)