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.”
Daniel 3
Complete Jewish Bible
3 N’vukhadnetzar the king had a gold statue made, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, which he set up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Bavel. 2 Then N’vukhadnetzar the king summoned the viceroys, prefects, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs and all the provincial officials to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue which N’vukhadnetzar the king had set up. 3 The viceroys, prefects, governors, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs and all the provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the statue which N’vukhadnetzar the king had set up. They stood in front of the statue that N’vukhadnetzar had set up; 4 and a herald proclaimed, “Peoples! Nations! Languages! You are ordered 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute, bagpipe and the rest of the musical instruments, you fall down and worship the gold statue that N’vukhadnetzar the king has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown immediately into a blazing hot furnace.” 7 Therefore, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute and the rest of the musical instruments, all the peoples, nations and languages fell down and worshipped the gold statue that N’vukhadnetzar the king had set up.
8 But then some Kasdim approached and began denouncing the Jews. 9 They said to N’vukhadnetzar the king, “May the king live forever! 10 Your majesty, you have ordered that everyone who hears sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute, bagpipe and the rest of the musical instruments is to fall down and worship the gold statue; 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown into a blazing hot furnace. 12 There are some Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Bavel, Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go; and these men, your majesty, have paid no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, and they do not worship the gold statue you set up.”
13 In a raging fury N’vukhadnetzar ordered that Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go be brought. When the men had been brought before the king, 14 N’vukhadnetzar said to them, “Shadrakh! Meishakh! ‘Aved-N’go! Is it true that you neither serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I set up? 15 All right, then. If you are prepared, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute, bagpipe and the rest of the musical instruments, to fall down and worship the gold statue, very well. But if you won’t worship, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing hot furnace — and what god will save you from my power then?” 16 Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go answered the king, “Your question doesn’t require an answer from us. 17 Your majesty, if our God, whom we serve, is able to save us, he will save us from the blazing hot furnace and from your power. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will neither serve your gods nor worship the gold statue which you have set up.”
19 N’vukhadnetzar became so utterly enraged that his face was distorted with anger against Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go. He ordered the furnace made seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men in his army to tie up Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go and throw them into the blazing hot furnace. 21 So these men were tied up in their cloaks, tunics, robes and other clothes, and thrown into the blazing hot furnace. 22 The king’s order was so urgent and the furnace so overheated that the men carrying Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go were burned to death by the flames. 23 These three men, Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go, fell, bound, into the blazing hot furnace.
24 Suddenly N’vukhadnetzar sprang to his feet. Alarmed, he asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the flames?” They answered the king, “Yes, of course, your majesty.” 25 But he exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied up, walking around there in the flames, unhurt; and the fourth looks like one of the gods!” 26 N’vukhadnetzar approached the opening of the blazing hot furnace and said, “Shadrakh! Meishakh! ‘Aved-N’go! You servants of El ‘Elyon! Come out, and come here!” Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go emerged from the flames. 27 The viceroys, prefects, governors and royal advisers who were there saw that the fire had had no power on the bodies of these men — not even their hair was singed, their clothes looked the same, and they didn’t smell of fire.
28 N’vukhadnetzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They defied the royal order to the point of being willing to give up their bodies, in order not to serve or worship any god but their own God. 29 Therefore I herewith decree that anyone, no matter from which people, nation or language, who says anything to insult the God of Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go is to be torn limb from limb, and his house is to be reduced to rubble; because there is no other god who can save like this.”
30 Then the king gave Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go higher rank in the province of Bavel.
31 (4:1) [The following letter was sent out:]
“From: N’vukhadnetzar the king
“To: All the peoples, nations and languages living throughout the earth:
“Shalom rav! [Abundant peace!]
32 (4:2) “I am pleased to recount the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.
33 (4:3) “How great are his signs!
How powerful his wonders!
His kingdom lasts forever,
and he rules all generations.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.