Daniel 3
Living Bible
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet high and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon; 2 then he sent messages to all the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and rulers of all the provinces of his empire, to come to the dedication of his statue. 3 When they had all arrived and were standing before the monument, 4 a herald shouted out, “O people of all nations and languages, this is the king’s command:
5 “When the band[a] strikes up, you are to fall flat on the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue; 6 anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a flaming furnace.”
7 So when the band began to play, everyone—whatever his nation, language, or religion[b]—fell to the ground and worshiped the statue.
8 But some officials went to the king and accused some of the Jews of refusing to worship!
9 “Your Majesty,” they said to him, 10 “you made a law that everyone must fall down and worship the gold statue when the band begins to play, 11 and that anyone who refuses will be thrown into a flaming furnace. 12 But there are some Jews out there—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you have put in charge of Babylonian affairs—who have defied you, refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a terrible rage, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in before him.
14 “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,” he demanded, “that you are refusing to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I set up? 15 I’ll give you one more chance. When the music plays, if you fall down and worship the statue, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. 17 If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and he will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. 18 But if he doesn’t, please understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have erected.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and his face became dark with anger at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that the furnace be heated up seven times hotter than usual, 20 and called for some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and throw them into the fire. 21 So they bound them tight with ropes and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they threw them in! 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down bound into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?”
“Yes,” they said, “we did indeed, Your Majesty.”
25 “Well, look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire, and they aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a god!”[c]
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the open door of the flaming furnace and yelled: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God! Come out! Come here!” So they stepped out of the fire.
27 Then the princes, governors, captains, and counselors crowded around them and saw that the fire hadn’t touched them—not a hair of their heads was singed; their coats were unscorched, and they didn’t even smell of smoke!
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for he sent his angel to deliver his trusting servants when they defied the king’s commandment and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own. 29 Therefore, I make this decree, that any person of any nation, language, or religion[d] who speaks a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and his house knocked into a heap of rubble. For no other God can do what this one does.”
30 Then the king gave promotions to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so that they prospered greatly there in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:5 the band, literally, “the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltry, dulcimer, and every other sort of instrument.” So also in vv. 7 and 10.
- Daniel 3:7 whatever his nation, language, or religion, implied.
- Daniel 3:25 looks like a god, literally, “looks like a son of the gods.”
- Daniel 3:29 of any nation, language, or religion, implied.
Daniel 3
Authorized (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 Abed-nego; 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 Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 Abed-nego, 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 Abed-nego: 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 Abed-nego, 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 flame of the fire slew those men that 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 Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, 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 Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 Abed-nego, 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 Abed-nego, 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 Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
La imagen de oro
3 El rey Nabucodonosor hizo una estatua[a] de oro(A) cuya altura era de 60 codos (27 metros) y su anchura de 6 codos (2.7 metros). La levantó en el llano de Dura, en la provincia de Babilonia(B). 2 Entonces el rey Nabucodonosor mandó reunir a los sátrapas, prefectos y gobernadores, los consejeros, tesoreros, jueces, magistrados y todos los gobernantes de las provincias para que vinieran a la dedicación de la estatua que el rey Nabucodonosor había levantado(C).
3 Se reunieron, pues, los sátrapas, prefectos y gobernadores, los consejeros, tesoreros, jueces, magistrados y todos los gobernantes de las provincias para la dedicación de la estatua que el rey Nabucodonosor había levantado. Y todos estaban de pie delante de la estatua que Nabucodonosor había levantado. 4 Entonces el heraldo proclamó con fuerza: «Se les ordena a ustedes, pueblos, naciones y lenguas(D), 5 que en el momento en que oigan el sonido del cuerno, la flauta, la lira[b], el arpa[c], el salterio[d], la gaita y toda clase de música, se postren y adoren la estatua de oro que el rey Nabucodonosor ha levantado(E). 6 Pero el que no se postre y adore, será echado inmediatamente[e] en un horno de fuego ardiente(F)».
7 Por tanto, en el momento en que todos los pueblos oyeron el sonido del cuerno, la flauta, la lira, el arpa, el salterio, la gaita[f] y toda clase de música, todos los pueblos, naciones y lenguas se postraron y adoraron la estatua de oro que el rey Nabucodonosor había levantado.
8 Sin embargo[g], en aquel tiempo algunos caldeos se presentaron(G) y acusaron a[h] los judíos(H). 9 Hablaron y dijeron al rey Nabucodonosor: «¡Oh rey, viva para siempre(I)! 10 Usted, oh rey, ha proclamado un decreto de que todo hombre que oiga el sonido del cuerno, la flauta, la lira, el arpa, el salterio, la gaita y toda clase de música, se postre y adore la estatua de oro(J), 11 y el que no se postre y adore, será echado en un horno de fuego ardiente. 12 Pero hay algunos judíos a quienes usted ha puesto sobre la administración de la provincia de Babilonia, es decir, Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego(K), estos hombres, oh rey, no le hacen caso. No sirven a sus dioses ni adoran la estatua de oro que ha levantado».
13 Entonces Nabucodonosor, enojado y furioso, dio orden de traer a Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego. Estos hombres, pues, fueron conducidos ante el rey(L). 14 Habló Nabucodonosor y les dijo: «¿Es verdad Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego que no sirven a mis dioses ni adoran la estatua de oro que he levantado(M)? 15 ¿Están dispuestos ahora, para que cuando oigan el sonido del cuerno, la flauta, la lira, el arpa, el salterio, la gaita y toda clase de música, se postren y adoren la estatua que he hecho(N)? Porque si no la adoran, inmediatamente[i] serán echados en un horno de fuego ardiente(O). ¿Y qué dios será el que los libre de mis manos(P)?».
16 Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego(Q) le respondieron al rey Nabucodonosor: «No necesitamos darle una respuesta acerca de este asunto. 17 Ciertamente nuestro Dios a quien servimos puede librarnos del horno de fuego ardiente. Y de su mano, oh rey(R), nos librará(S). 18 Pero si no lo hace, ha de saber, oh rey, que no serviremos a sus dioses(T) ni adoraremos la estatua de oro que ha levantado(U)».
Librados del horno de fuego
19 Entonces Nabucodonosor se llenó de furor, y demudó su semblante contra Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego(V). Reaccionó ordenando que se calentara el horno siete veces más de lo que se acostumbraba calentar. 20 Y mandó que algunos valientes guerreros de su ejército ataran a Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego, y los echaran en el horno de fuego ardiente. 21 Entonces estos hombres fueron atados y arrojados con sus mantos[j], sus túnicas[k], sus gorros y sus otras ropas en el horno de fuego ardiente(W).
22 Como la orden[l] del rey era apremiante[m](X) y el horno había sido calentado excesivamente, la llama del fuego mató a los que habían alzado a Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego. 23 Pero estos tres hombres, Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego cayeron, atados, en medio del horno de fuego ardiente(Y).
24 Entonces el rey Nabucodonosor se espantó, y levantándose apresuradamente preguntó a sus altos oficiales: «¿No eran tres los hombres que echamos atados en medio del fuego?». «Así es, oh rey», respondieron ellos. 25 «¡Miren!», respondió el rey. «Veo a cuatro hombres sueltos que se pasean en medio del fuego sin sufrir daño alguno[n](Z), y el aspecto del cuarto es semejante al de un hijo de los dioses».
26 Entonces Nabucodonosor se acercó a la puerta del horno de fuego ardiente y dijo: «Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego, siervos del Dios Altísimo(AA), salgan y vengan acá». Entonces Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego salieron de en medio del fuego(AB). 27 Y los sátrapas, los prefectos, los gobernadores y los altos oficiales del rey se reunieron(AC) para ver a estos hombres, cómo el fuego no había tenido efecto[o] alguno sobre sus cuerpos, ni el cabello de sus cabezas se había chamuscado, ni sus mantos[p](AD) habían sufrido daño alguno[q], ni aun olor del fuego había quedado en ellos(AE).
28 Entonces Nabucodonosor dijo: «Bendito sea el Dios de Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego(AF) que ha enviado a Su ángel(AG) y ha librado a Sus siervos que, confiando en Él(AH), desobedecieron la orden[r] del rey y entregaron sus cuerpos antes de servir y adorar a ningún otro dios excepto a su Dios(AI). 29 Por tanto, proclamo un decreto de que todo pueblo, nación o lengua que diga blasfemia contra el Dios(AJ) de Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego(AK) sea descuartizado y sus casas reducidas a escombros[s](AL), ya que no hay otro dios que pueda librar de esta manera(AM)». 30 Entonces el rey hizo prosperar a Sadrac, Mesac y Abed Nego en la provincia de Babilonia(AN).
Footnotes
- 3:1 O imagen, y así en el resto del cap.
- 3:5 O cítara, y así en el resto del cap.
- 3:5 O lira triangular, y así en el resto del cap.
- 3:5 O una especie de arpa, y así en el resto del cap.
- 3:6 O en la misma hora.
- 3:7 Así en muchos mss. y en algunas versiones antiguas; el T.M. omite: la gaita.
- 3:8 Lit. Por tanto.
- 3:8 Lit. comieron los pedazos de.
- 3:15 O en la misma hora.
- 3:21 O pantalones.
- 3:21 O calzas.
- 3:22 Lit. la palabra.
- 3:22 O severa.
- 3:25 Lit. no hay daño en ellos.
- 3:27 Lit. poder.
- 3:27 O pantalones.
- 3:27 Lit. cambio.
- 3:28 Lit. y cambiaron la palabra.
- 3:29 Lit. muladar.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
