Daniel 3
World English Bible
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its width 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 local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, 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 local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to 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 the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 Whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace the same hour.”
7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and brought accusation against the Jews. 9 They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, live for ever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image; 11 and whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not respected you. They don’t serve your gods, and don’t worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and you don’t worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good; but if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain mighty men who 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 pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other clothes, and were cast into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?”
They answered the king, “True, O king.”
25 He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.[b]”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke 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. 27 The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their head wasn’t singed. Their pants weren’t changed. The smell of fire wasn’t even on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have 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 anything evil 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 who is able to deliver like this.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
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 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. 2 He 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. 3 So 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.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,(D) this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As 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) 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(H)
7 Therefore, 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)
8 At this time some astrologers[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(K) 10 Your 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) 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But 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)
13 Furious(Q) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and 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? 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(T) will be able to rescue(U) you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(V) 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(W) us from it, and he will deliver(X) us[c] 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.(Y)”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven(Z) times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(AA) and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,(AB) 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell 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,(AC) come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers(AD) crowded around them.(AE) They saw that the fire(AF) 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(AG) and rescued(AH) his servants! They trusted(AI) 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.(AJ) 29 Therefore I decree(AK) 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,(AL) for no other god can save(AM) in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.(AN)
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
Daniel 3
New King James Version
The Image of Gold
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was [a]sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried [b]aloud: “To you it is commanded, (A)O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall (B)be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans (C)came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, (D)“O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 (E)There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have (F)not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in (G)rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, (H)good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (I)And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, (J)we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our (K)God whom we serve is able to (L)deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we (M)worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Saved in Fiery Trial
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was [c]urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his [d]counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, (N)walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like (O)the[e] Son of God.”
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the [f]mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the (P)Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men (Q)on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His (R)Angel[g] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 (S)Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the (T)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be (U)cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; (V)because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king [h]promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 About 90 feet
- Daniel 3:4 Lit. with strength
- Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
- Daniel 3:24 High officials
- Daniel 3:25 Or a son of the gods
- Daniel 3:26 Lit. door
- Daniel 3:28 Or angel
- Daniel 3:30 Lit. caused to prosper
Daniel 3
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
De tre i den brinnande ugnen
3 Kung Nebukadnessar lät göra en staty av guld, sextio alnar hög och sex alnar[a] bred. Han ställde upp den på Duraslätten[b] i Babels provins. 2 Sedan sände han bud och kallade samman satraper[c], guvernörer och ståthållare, fogdar, skattmästare, domare, lagtolkare och alla andra makthavare i provinserna, för att de skulle komma till invigningen av statyn som kung Nebukadnessar hade ställt upp.
3 Då samlades satraperna, guvernörerna och ståthållarna, fogdarna, skattmästarna, domarna, lagtolkarna och alla andra makthavare i provinserna till invigningen av statyn som kung Nebukadnessar hade ställt upp. När de stod framför den, 4 utropade en härold med hög röst: ”Detta är befallningen till er, ni folk och stammar och språk: 5 När ni hör ljudet av horn, pipa, cittra, lyra, harpa, säckpipa och alla slags instrument, ska ni falla ner och tillbe den gyllene statyn som kung Nebukadnessar har ställt upp. 6 (A) Men den som inte faller ner och tillber ska genast kastas i den brinnande ugnen[d].”
7 Så snart allt folket hörde ljudet av horn, pipa, cittra, lyra, harpa och alla slags instrument föll de ner, alla folk, stammar och språk, och tillbad den gyllene statyn som kung Nebukadnessar hade ställt upp.
8 Men strax därefter kom några kaldeiska män fram och anklagade judarna. 9 (B) De tog till orda och sade till kung Nebukadnessar: ”Må kungen leva för evigt! 10 (C) Kungen har befallt att alla människor ska falla ner och tillbe den gyllene statyn när de hör ljudet av horn, pipa, cittra, lyra, harpa, säckpipa och alla slags instrument, 11 och att var och en som inte faller ner och tillber ska kastas i den brinnande ugnen. 12 (D) Men nu finns här några judiska män, Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego, som du har satt att förvalta Babels provins. Dessa män sätter sig över ditt påbud, o konung. De dyrkar inte dina gudar och tillber inte den gyllene statyn som du har ställt upp.”
13 Då befallde Nebukadnessar i vrede och raseri att man skulle föra fram Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego. När man hade fört fram dem inför kungen 14 sade Nebukadnessar till dem: ”Är det sant att ni, Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego, inte dyrkar mina gudar och inte tillber den gyllene statyn som jag ställt upp? 15 (E) Om ni nu faller ner och tillber statyn som jag gjort när ni hör ljudet av horn, pipa, cittra, lyra, harpa, säckpipa och alla slags instrument, så är allt väl. Men om ni inte tillber ska ni i samma stund kastas i den brinnande ugnen, och vilken gud kan då rädda er ur mina händer?”
16 Då svarade Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego kungen: ”O Nebukadnessar, vi behöver inte svara dig på detta. 17 (F) Om det blir så, är vår Gud som vi dyrkar mäktig att rädda oss ur den brinnande ugnen och ur din hand, o konung. 18 (G) Men om inte, så ska du veta, o konung, att vi ändå inte dyrkar dina gudar och att vi inte tillber guldstatyn som du har ställt upp.”
19 Då fylldes Nebukadnessar av vrede mot Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego, så att hans ansiktsuttryck förvandlades. Han befallde att man skulle göra ugnen sju gånger hetare[e] än man någonsin sett den vara. 20 Och han befallde några av de starkaste männen i hans här att binda Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego och kasta dem i den brinnande ugnen. 21 Så bands de, iförda sina byxor, mantlar, mössor och andra kläder, och kastades i den brinnande ugnen. 22 Men eftersom kungens befallning var så sträng och ugnen blivit så starkt upphettad, blev männen som förde dit Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego själva dödade av eldslågorna. 23 Och de tre männen Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego föll bundna ner i den brinnande ugnen.
24 Då blev kung Nebukadnessar förskräckt. Han reste sig hastigt och frågade sina rådsherrar: ”Var det inte tre män vi band och kastade i elden?” De svarade kungen: ”Jo visst, o konung.” 25 Då sade han: ”Men nu ser jag fyra män gå lösa och lediga inne i elden, helt oskadda. Och den fjärde ser ut som en gudason[f].”
26 (H) Sedan gick Nebukadnessar fram till den brinnande ugnens öppning och ropade: ”Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego! Ni den högste Gudens tjänare, kom ut, kom hit!” Då kom Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego ut ur elden. 27 (I) Och satraperna, guvernörerna, ståthållarna och kungens rådsherrar samlades där och såg att elden inte hade haft någon makt över männens kroppar, att deras huvudhår inte hade svetts och att deras kläder inte skadats. Man kunde inte ens känna att de luktade bränt.
28 (J) Nebukadnessar tog då till orda och sade: ”Lovad är Shadraks, Meshaks och Abed-Negos Gud, som sände sin ängel och räddade sina tjänare. De litade på honom och gick emot kungens befallning och vågade sina liv för att inte tvingas dyrka eller tillbe någon annan gud än sin egen Gud. 29 (K) Härmed befaller jag nu att var och en av alla folk och stammar och språk som säger något ovärdigt om Shadraks, Meshaks och Abed-Negos Gud, han ska huggas i stycken och hans hus ska göras till en sophög. För det finns ingen Gud som kan rädda så som han.”
30 (L) Därefter lät kungen Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego få stor ära och makt i Babels provins.
Nebukadnessars andra dröm
31 (M) Från kung Nebukadnessar till alla folk och stammar och språk över hela jorden. Jag önskar er fred och framgång. 32 Jag finner för gott att härmed tillkännage de tecken och under som den högste Guden har gjort med mig.
33 (N) Stora är hans tecken,
mäktiga hans under.
Hans rike är ett evigt rike,
hans välde varar
från släkte till släkte.
Footnotes
- 3:1 en staty av guld, sextio alnar … sex alnar Knappt 30 meter och 3 meter, nästan lika hög som kolossen på Rhodos från ca 280 f Kr. Kungastatyer användes för ritualer där underlydande folk skulle avge trohetseder (jfr 6:7), vilket är känt t ex från Assurbanipals regering på 600-talet f Kr.
- 3:1 Duraslätten Kan inte lokaliseras med säkerhet eftersom Dura (”mur”) var ett mycket vanligt platsnamn.
- 3:2 satrap Perserrikets högsta ämbetstitel.
- 3:6 den brinnande ugnen Vid större byggprojekt (som denna staty) krävdes ugnar för såväl bränning av tegel som metallarbete.
- 3:19 sju gånger hetare Ett talesätt. En smältugns normala arbetstemperatur var ca 1 000 grader, och med blåsbälgar kunde den maximalt värmas till ca 1 500 grader.
- 3:25 en gudason Ett vanligt uttryck för en ängel (jfr vers 28 och Job 38:7).
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation

