Daniel 3
New American Standard Bible
The King’s Golden Image
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made a (A)statue of gold, the height of which was [a]sixty cubits, and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon. 2 Nebuchadnezzar the king also sent word to assemble the (C)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the chief treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the chief treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you [b]the command is given, you (D)peoples, nations, and populations of all [c]languages, 5 that at the moment you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [d]lyre, [e]trigon, [f]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be (F)thrown into the middle of a (G)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [g]lyre, trigon, psaltery, [h]bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [i]languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Worship of the Image Refused
8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came forward and [j](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They began to speak and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(J)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (K)made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [k]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, is to (L)fall down and worship the golden statue. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (M)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden statue which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve (O)my gods, nor worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [l]lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will [m]immediately be (Q)thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?”
16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; [n]and (U)He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 (V)But even if He does not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Protected
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered [o]by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their (Y)trousers, their [p]coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s [q]command was (Z)harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, (AA)fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25 He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and (AB)walking about in the middle of the fire [r]unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (AC)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (AD)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (AE)came out of the middle of the fire. 27 The (AF)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the (AG)fire had no [s]effect on [t]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their [u](AH)trousers [v]damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [w]violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies (AL)rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation, or population of any language that speaks anything offensive against the God of (AN)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (AO)houses made a rubbish heap, because there is (AP)no other god who is able to save in this way.” 30 Then the king (AQ)made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosperous in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 About 90 ft. high and 9 ft. wide or 27 m and 2.7 m
- Daniel 3:4 Lit they command
- Daniel 3:4 Lit tongues
- Daniel 3:5 Or zither
- Daniel 3:5 I.e., triangular lyre
- Daniel 3:5 Or a type of harp
- Daniel 3:7 See notes v 5
- Daniel 3:7 MT omits bagpipe
- Daniel 3:7 Lit tongues
- Daniel 3:8 Lit ate the pieces of
- Daniel 3:10 See notes v 5
- Daniel 3:15 See notes v 5
- Daniel 3:15 Or in the same hour
- Daniel 3:17 Or then
- Daniel 3:19 Lit and ordered to
- Daniel 3:21 Or cloaks
- Daniel 3:22 Lit word
- Daniel 3:25 Lit there is no injury in them
- Daniel 3:27 Lit power over
- Daniel 3:27 Lit their
- Daniel 3:27 Or coats
- Daniel 3:27 Lit changed
- Daniel 3:28 Lit and changed the king’s word
Daniel 3
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
The Golden Image
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were standing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, 4 the herald proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.’ 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live for ever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good.[a] But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?’
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defence to you in this matter. 17 If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us.[b] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’
The Fiery Furnace
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary, 20 and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics,[c] their trousers,[d] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.
The Prayer of Azariah in the Furnace
24 They walked around in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Then Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud:
26 ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and worthy of praise;
and glorious is your name for ever!
27 For you are just in all you have done;
all your works are true and your ways right,
and all your judgements are true.
28 You have executed true judgements in all you have brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors;
by a true judgement you have brought all this upon us because of our sins.
29 For we have sinned and broken your law in turning away from you;
in all matters we have sinned grievously.
30 We have not obeyed your commandments,
we have not kept them or done what you have commanded us for our own good.
31 So all that you have brought upon us,
and all that you have done to us,
you have done by a true judgement.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels,
and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.
33 And now we cannot open our mouths;
we, your servants who worship you, have become a shame and a reproach.
34 For your name’s sake do not give us up for ever,
and do not annul your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham your beloved
and for the sake of your servant Isaac
and Israel your holy one,
36 to whom you promised
to multiply their descendants like the stars of heaven
and like the sand on the shore of the sea.
37 For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any other nation,
and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
38 In our day we have no ruler, or prophet, or leader,
no burnt-offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
39 Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted,
40 as though it were with burnt-offerings of rams and bulls,
or with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
such may our sacrifice be in your sight today,
and may we unreservedly follow you,[e]
for no shame will come to those who trust in you.
41 And now with all our heart we follow you;
we fear you and seek your presence.
42 Do not put us to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your abundant mercy.
43 Deliver us in accordance with your marvellous works,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord.
44 Let all who do harm to your servants be put to shame;
let them be disgraced and deprived of all power,
and let their strength be broken.
45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God,
glorious over the whole world.’
The Song of the Three Jews
46 Now the king’s servants who threw them in kept stoking the furnace with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brushwood. 47 And the flames poured out above the furnace forty-nine cubits, 48 and spread out and burned those Chaldeans who were caught near the furnace. 49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, 50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it. The fire did not touch them at all and caused them no pain or distress.
51 Then the three with one voice praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace:
52 ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors,
and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
And blessed is your glorious, holy name,
and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
54 Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne on the cherubim,
and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
55 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
and to be sung and glorified for ever.
57 ‘Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
58 Bless the Lord, you heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
59 Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
60 Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
61 Bless the Lord, all you powers of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
62 Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
63 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
64 ‘Bless the Lord, all rain and dew;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
65 Bless the Lord, all you winds;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
66 Bless the Lord, fire and heat;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
67 Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
68 Bless the Lord, dews and falling snow;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
69 Bless the Lord, ice and cold;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
70 Bless the Lord, frosts and snows;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
71 Bless the Lord, nights and days;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
72 Bless the Lord, light and darkness;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
73 Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
74 ‘Let the earth bless the Lord;
let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
75 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
76 Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
77 Bless the Lord, you springs;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
78 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
79 Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
80 Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
81 Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
82 ‘Bless the Lord, all people on earth;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
83 Bless the Lord, O Israel;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
84 Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
85 Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
86 Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
87 Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
88 ‘Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
For he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the power[f] of death,
and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;
from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures for ever.
90 All who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods,
sing praise to him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures for ever.’
91 Hearing them sing, and amazed at seeing them alive, King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counsellors, ‘Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?’ They answered the king, ‘True, O king.’ 92 He replied, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.’[g] 93 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 94 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counsellors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics[h] were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. 95 Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 96 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.’ 97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:15 Aram lacks well and good
- Daniel 3:17 Or If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king.
- Daniel 3:21 Meaning of Aram word uncertain
- Daniel 3:21 Meaning of Aram word uncertain
- Daniel 3:40 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- Daniel 3:88 Gk hand
- Daniel 3:92 Aram a son of the gods
- Daniel 3:94 Meaning of Aram word uncertain
Daniel 3
King James Version
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 3
The Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace[a]
The Trial of Daniel’s Companions.[b] King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a golden statue[c] to be made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he decre ed that it be placed on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar then commanded the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to assemble for the dedication of the statue that he had set up. 3 Therefore, the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4 Then a herald proclaimed in a loud voice, “Peoples and nations of every language: when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, 5 you are commanded to prostrate yourselves and worship the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. 6 Anyone who refuses to prostrate himself and worship shall immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, all the peoples and nations of every language prostrated themselves and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Immediately some Chaldeans came forward before the king and made a malicious accusation against the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, Your Majesty, that when the people hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, they are to prostrate themselves and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever fails to do so is to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.
12 “Now there are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, have ignored your command, O king. They do not serve your God, and they refuse to worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
13 On hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar became infuriated and was filled with rage, and he sent for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the three men were brought into his presence, 14 King Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my god or worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, are you ready to fall down and worship the statue that I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you shall be immediately thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. What god is there that can deliver you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves to you in this regard. 17 If our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the white-hot blazing furnace and from your power, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But even if he does not do so, Your Majesty, be assured that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
19 This reply so infuriated Nebuchadnezzar against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his countenance became distorted. He ordered that the furnace was to be heated seven times more than customary, 20 and he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and hurl them into the fiery furnace.
21 The three young men were then bound while still wearing their cloaks, their trousers, their head coverings, and their other garments and thrown into the fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s command was so urgent and the heat of the furnace was so intense, the raging flames killed the men who were carrying Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 However, the three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell, bound, into the fiery furnace.
Two Inspired Additions of Prayer Texts
24 The Prayer of Azariah.[d] They walked amidst the flames, all the while singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Azariah then stood up, surrounded by flames, and said this prayer:
26 “Blessed are you and deserving of all praise,
O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and glorious is your name forever.
27 For you have shown justice in all you have done for us;
all your deeds are true, all your ways are right,
and all your judgments are correct.
28 You have made proper judgments
in all that you have brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors.
By a judgment, you have done all this
because of our sins.
29 “For we have sinned and broken your law
in our rebellion against you;
we have fallen short in every way.
30 We have neglected to obey your commandments
and have failed to do what you commanded for our own good.
31 Therefore, in all the misfortunes you have inflicted upon us,
in all you have done to us,
you have executed proper judgments.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies,
lawless and godless rebels,
and to a wicked king, the most evil in the entire world.
33 “Now we cannot open our mouths;
we, your servants who worship you,
have become a cause of shame and dishonor.
34 For your name’s sake, do not abandon us forever
or renounce your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us
for the love of Abraham, your friend,
Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one,
36 to whom you spoke, promising to make their descendants
as numerous as the stars in the heavens
and the grains of sand on the seashore.
37 “For we, O Lord, have become the least of all nations,
humiliated throughout the world in our day
because of our sins.
38 We now have no ruler, no prophet, no leader,
no burnt offering or sacrifice or oblation of incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
39 But may we be accepted by you
as we approach you with a contrite heart
and with a submissive spirit.
40 As though we were presenting burnt offerings of rams and bulls
or thousands of fat lambs,
so may our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly,
for those who trust in you will never be put to shame.
41 “And now with all our heart we shall follow you;
even though we fear you, we seek your face.
42 Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your great mercy.
43 Deliver us by your wonderful deeds,
and let your name be glorified, O Lord.
44 Let those who harm your servants be brought low;
let them be put to shame and rendered powerless,
and may their strength be crushed.
45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God,
glorious throughout the whole world.”
46 Now the king’s servants who had thrown the three young men into the furnace continued to stoke it with brimstone, pitch, tow, and brushwood 47 until the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace 48 and spread out, burning to death those Chaldeans who were standing nearby. 49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace where Azariah and his companions had been cast. He drove the fiery flames out of the furnace 50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a dewy breeze was wafting through it. The fire did not touch them in the least way and caused them no pain or harm.
51 The Canticle of the Three Young Men.[e] Then those three men in the furnace began to sing in unison, glorifying and blessing God:
52 “Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our ancestors,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
55 Blessed are you who behold the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
57 “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
59 You heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
61 All you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
64 “All rain and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
65 All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
67 Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
71 Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
73 Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
74 “Let the earth bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
76 Every plant that grows, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
77 Springs of water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
79 Dolphins and all creatures that live in water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
80 Every kind of bird, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
81 All animals, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
82 “All the human race, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
83 O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
84 You priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
85 You servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the upright, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
87 You who are holy and humble in heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
88 “Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
For he has rescued us from the netherworld
and saved us from the power of death.
He has liberated us from the fiery furnace,
and from the fire he has delivered us.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord;
praise him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures forever.”
91 The Miracle Is Accomplished.[f] Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, O king.”
92 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”[g]
93 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, 94 and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire 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.
95 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted 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. 96 Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other God can save in this way.”
97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness
98 Vision of the Great Tree. King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language dwelling throughout the entire world: May you prosper abundantly. 99 I am pleased to make known the signs and wonders with which I have been favored by the Most High God.
100 How great are his signs,
how mighty are his wonders.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his sovereignty endures through all generations.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 Another story of resistance that was very likely clandestine. Is the story a legend? Perhaps, but it was written at a dramatic moment. The purpose of the story is primarily to encourage an absolute rejection of idolatry, at the cost, if necessary, of martyrdom.
1
The prayer of Azariah and the canticle of the three young men, which make up these verses, are inspired additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the Book. Their original (in Hebrew or Aramaic) is not extant. The Church regards them as part of the canonical Scriptures. - Daniel 3:1 The author plays with history: he speaks of Nebuchadnezzar but he is thinking of Antiochus, the king diseased by his greatness and pride.
- Daniel 3:1 Golden statue: the colossus was about ninety feet tall and nine feet wide.
- Daniel 3:24 The condemned men are kept safe from the flames by an angel, through a special intervention of God who does not abandon his own to the madness of the wicked. The canticle, which is found only in Greek manuscripts, is a collective lament, filled with biblical echoes and well adapted to times of persecution.
- Daniel 3:51 This second canticle, which is likewise found only in Greek manuscripts, is a lengthy canticle of praise. It brings together some of the most magnificent verses from the Psalms (Pss 103; 148; 150). The whole of creation is urged to take part in this great symphony.
- Daniel 3:91 Nebuchadnezzar, who is really Antiochus IV, is compelled to acknowledge the true God. The miracle seems to reward appeals inspired by limitless faith, such as we find in the psalter (Ps 70:1) and in Isaiah (Isa 43:2). Mentions of this story in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:34) and in the Quran (85) attest to its popularity.
- Daniel 3:92 A son of God: other versions have “a son of the gods.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
