¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(A) or worship the image^(B) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now 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^(C) will be able to rescue^(D) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(E) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(F) us from it, and he will deliver^(G) us^[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But 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.^(H)”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(I) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(J) and throw them into the blazing furnace.

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,^(A) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(B) crowded around them.^(C) They saw that the fire^(D) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(E) and rescued^(F) his servants! They trusted^(G) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^(H)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(A) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(B)

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants^(C) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^{(D) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(E) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(F) you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(G) because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,^(H) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[a]”^(I)

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(J) said Jesus, “then you would^[b] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(K) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(L) Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”^(M)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^(N)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^(O) for I have come here from God.^(P) I have not come on my own;^(Q) God sent me.^(R)