但以理书 3
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
尼布甲尼撒下令拜金像
3 尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省的杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督、钦差、省长、参谋、财务、法官、地方官和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光礼。 3 于是总督、钦差、省长、参谋、财务、法官、地方官和各省的官员都聚集，站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光礼。 4 那时传令的大声呼叫说：“各方、各国、各族[a]的人哪，有命令传给你们： 5 你们一听见角、号、琴、瑟、三角琴、鼓和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏，拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏下拜的，必立刻扔在烈火的窑中。” 7 因此百姓一听见角、号、琴、瑟、三角琴[b]和各样乐器的声音，各方、各国、各族的人就都俯伏，拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
但以理的三个朋友被控违令
8 在那时，有几个迦勒底人进前来控告犹大人。 9 他们对尼布甲尼撒王说：“愿王万岁！ 10 你，王啊，你曾降旨，凡听见角、号、琴、瑟、三角琴、鼓和各样乐器声音的，都当俯伏拜这金像。 11 凡不俯伏下拜的，必扔在烈火的窑中。 12 现在有几个犹大人，就是王所派管理巴比伦省事务的沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌；王啊，这些人不理你的谕旨，不事奉你的神明，也不拜你所立的金像。”
13 当时，尼布甲尼撒大发烈怒，命令把沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌带过来；他们就把这几个人带到王面前。 14 尼布甲尼撒问他们说：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌，你们不事奉我的神明，不拜我所立的金像，是真的吗？ 15 现在，你们若准备好，一听见角、号、琴、瑟、三角琴、鼓和各样乐器的声音，就俯伏拜我所造的像；若不下拜，必立刻扔在烈火的窑中，有哪一个神明能救你们脱离我的手呢？”
16 沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌对王说：“尼布甲尼撒啊，这件事我们不必回答你， 17 即便如此，我们所事奉的 神能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王啊，他必救我们脱离你的手； 18 即或不然，王啊，你当知道，我们绝不事奉你的神明，也不拜你所立的金像。”
但以理的三个朋友被扔进火窑
19 当时，尼布甲尼撒怒气填胸，向沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌变了脸色，命令把窑烧热，比平常热七倍； 20 又命令他军中的几个壮士，把沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌捆起来，扔在烈火的窑中。 21 这三人穿着内袍、外衣、头巾和其他的衣服，被捆起来扔在烈火的窑中。 22 因为王的命令紧急，窑又非常热，那抬沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的人都被火焰烧死。 23 但是这三个人，沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌被捆绑着，掉进烈火的窑中。
24 那时，尼布甲尼撒王惊奇，急忙站起来，对谋士说：“我们捆起来扔在火里的不是三个人吗？”他们回答王说：“王啊，是的。” 25 王说：“看哪，我看见有四个人，并没有捆绑，在火中行走，也没有受伤；那第四个的相貌好像神明的儿子。”
三人获释且得高升
26 于是尼布甲尼撒靠近烈火窑门，说：“至高 神的仆人沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌，出来，来吧！”沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌就从火中出来。 27 那些总督、钦差、省长和王的谋士一同聚集来看这三个人，见火不能伤他们的身体，头发没有烧焦，衣裳也没有变色，都没有火烧过的气味。 28 尼布甲尼撒说：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的 神是应当称颂的！他差遣使者救护倚靠他的仆人，他们不遵王的命令，甚至舍身，在他们 神以外不肯事奉敬拜别神。 29 现在我降旨，无论何方、何国、何族，凡有人毁谤沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的 神，他必被凌迟，他的房屋必成粪堆，因为没有别神能像这样施行拯救。” 30 那时王在巴比伦省使沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌高升。
但以理书 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
金像和火窑
3 尼布甲尼撒王造了一尊高二十七米、宽二点七米的金像，立在巴比伦省的杜拉平原。 2 他派人召集总督、行政官、省长、谋士、库房官、审判官、司法官及各省的所有官员，前来参加他所立之像的奉献礼。 3 于是总督、行政官、省长、谋士、库房官、审判官、司法官及各省的官员齐来参加尼布甲尼撒王所立之像的奉献礼，站在那像面前。
4 传令官大声宣布说：“各族、各邦、各语种的人啊，王有令， 5 ‘你们一听见角、笛、弦琴、竖琴、瑟、笙等各种乐器奏响，就要叩拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 不叩拜的人必立刻被抛进烈焰熊熊的火窑。’” 7 于是，各族、各邦、各语种的人一听见角、笛、弦琴、竖琴、瑟等各种乐器的声音，就都叩拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。
8 那时，有几个占星家前来控告犹大人。 9 他们对尼布甲尼撒王说：“愿王万岁！ 10 王啊，你曾下令，角、笛、弦琴、竖琴、瑟、笙等各种乐器一奏响，每个人都要叩拜金像。 11 不叩拜的人必被扔进烈焰熊熊的火窑。 12 然而，王啊，有几个犹大人，就是王委派负责巴比伦省事务的沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌，却不理会你的命令，不事奉你的神明，也不祭拜你立的金像。” 13 尼布甲尼撒王勃然大怒，下令将沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌带来。于是他们被带到王面前。 14 尼布甲尼撒问他们：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌啊，你们真的不事奉我的神明，不祭拜我立的金像吗？ 15 现在你们准备好，一听见角、笛、弦琴、竖琴、瑟、笙等各种乐器的声音，就要叩拜我造的像。不然，必立刻将你们扔进烈焰熊熊的火窑。那时什么神明能从我手中救你们呢？”
16 沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌答道：“尼布甲尼撒啊，我们无需为此事回答你。 17 王啊，我们若真被扔进烈焰熊熊的火窑，我们所事奉的上帝必能救我们脱离火窑，祂必从你手中救我们。 18 即或不然，王啊，你要明白，我们也不会事奉你的神明或祭拜你立的金像。”
19 尼布甲尼撒怒气填胸，向沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌大发雷霆，下令将火窑烧得比平时热七倍， 20 又命令军中的勇士将沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌绑起来，扔进烈焰熊熊的火窑。 21 这三人穿着外袍、裤子等衣物，戴着头巾，被绑着扔进烈焰熊熊的火窑。 22 因为王的命令紧急，窑烧得非常热，火焰烧死了那些抬沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的人。 23 沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌三人被绑着落入烈焰熊熊的火窑。
24 这时，尼布甲尼撒王惊奇地跳起来，问谋士：“我们绑起来扔进火里的不是三个人吗？”他们答道：“王啊，是的。” 25 王说：“看啊，我见有四个人在火中走来走去，没有被绑着，也没有被烧伤，第四个人的面貌好像神明的儿子。”
26 于是，尼布甲尼撒走近火窑的门，喊道：“至高上帝的仆人沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌啊，出来吧，到这里来吧。”沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌便从火中出来。 27 那些总督、行政官、省长和王的谋士上前围观，见火焰没有烧伤他们的身体，他们的头发没有烧焦，衣服没有烧坏，身上甚至没有火燎的气味。 28 尼布甲尼撒说：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的上帝当受称颂！祂差遣天使拯救那些信靠祂的仆人。他们无视王命，宁肯死也不供奉、祭拜其他神明。 29 现在我下令，不论何民、何邦、何族，若毁谤沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的上帝，必被碎尸万段，他们的家必沦为废墟，因为没有别的神明能这样施行拯救。” 30 于是，王让沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌在巴比伦省身居高位。
Daniel 3
The Voice
3 One day King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his craftsmen to make a statue plated with gold that was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide.
This giant idol clearly is meant to intimidate.
When finished, it was set up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon, 2-3 and King Nebuchadnezzar planned an elaborate ceremony to dedicate the statue. He sent out invitations to his officials. At the appointed time, his officers, prefects, governors, trusted advisors, treasury officials, judges, magistrates, and all the rest of his provincial leaders arrived and gathered near the statue for the dedication ceremony.
The Babylonian Empire has a complex governmental structure. At the top is the king, a man descended from Nabopolassar, the Babylonian who wrested the region from Assyrian control about 612 b.c. A resident of the Chaldean region of the Babylonian Empire, he brings his friends with him to the top, making the Chaldeans the most powerful group of people in the empire. As the empire grows, the king needs friends under him to rule the far-flung provinces, so he appoints satraps, guardians of large portions of the empire and representatives of the king in his absence. Within each large portion, prefects rule the conquered cities and report to the satraps. In every part of the empire, the power of the king is felt through his servants who administer justice, protect the lands from invasions, and collect hefty taxes.
Herald (shouting): 4 People of all nations and languages: by order of the king, you are commanded 5 to bow down and worship the golden statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar every time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, lute, harp, pipe, and all the other musical instruments. 6 Anyone who does not obey the king’s command and refuses to bow and worship will be taken immediately and thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.
7 So, on cue, the moment all the people in the crowd heard the sound of the musical instruments—horn, flute, lyre, lute, harp, pipe, and all the rest—all of the people, regardless of their heritage, nationality, or language, bowed down and worshiped the golden statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar.
8 Meanwhile, certain Chaldean leaders stepped forward to make accusations against the Jews.
Chaldeans: 9 Long live the king! 10 You, good king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, lute, harp, pipe, and all the other musical instruments is supposed to bow down and worship the golden statue you erected. You have also decreed that 11 anyone who does not obey the king’s command and refuses to bow and worship will be taken immediately and thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 It has come to our attention that certain Jews whom you appointed to govern in the province of Babylon are ignoring your order, O king. They refuse to serve your gods, our gods, and they do not fall and worship the golden statue you erected. Their names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
13 When Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego be brought in for questioning; so his officials went out, found them, and brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar: 14 It is reported to me that you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, refuse to serve my gods and do not bow and worship the golden statue I had set up. Is that true?
Before they have a chance to answer, Nebuchadnezzar decides to see for himself what they will do.
15 If you are ready to comply with my order and fall down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, lute, harp, pipe, and all the other musical instruments, then things will go well for you from here. But if you refuse to worship, you will be taken immediately and thrown in a furnace of blazing fire. What god could possibly rescue you from my hands then?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: 16 Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to defend our actions in this matter. We are ready for the test. 17 If you throw us into the blazing furnace, then the God we serve is able to rescue us from a furnace of blazing fire and release us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if He does not, O king, you can be sure that we still will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue you erected.
Daniel’s friends are men of conviction. They are ready for anything the king throws at them and know that God can release them from the king’s angry grip. They just don’t know if He will. That line—“But even if He does not”—resonates with faith. Everyone wants to follow a God who does miracles-on-demand. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego know the one True God does not always rescue His martyrs. Still they will not back down; they will not compromise. They will follow Him and not serve Nebuchadnezzar’s gods.
19 At this Nebuchadnezzar flew into such a rage at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego that onlookers saw his face twisted and distorted. With fury burning in his eyes, he ordered the furnace heated up seven times hotter than usual. 20 He commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego so they could be thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the Jews were taken and tied up so quickly that they were still wearing the clothes they had on when they arrived—pants, cloaks, hats, and all.[a] Then they were picked up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 The furnace was so hot and the king’s command carried out so quickly, without any precautions, that the soldiers who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego up to the furnace were themselves killed by the heat of the raging fire. 23 And the three Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, tied and bound, fell into the furnace of blazing fire.
24 Nebuchadnezzar could hardly believe his eyes. Shocked, the king jumped up and asked his advisors,
Nebuchadnezzar: Didn’t we tie up and throw three men into the heart of the fire?
Advisors: Yes, O king.
Nebuchadnezzar: 25 Then why do I see four men, completely unbound, walking around in the middle of the fire? They don’t appear to be hurt at all. And the fourth . . . he appears to be like a son of the gods.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar moved as close to the door of the furnace as he dared without being scorched. He shouted over the roar of the blazing fire.
Nebuchadnezzar: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, right now. Come here!
So the three men made their way out of the fiery furnace.
27 The officers, prefects, governors, and king’s advisors moved closer to see what had happened to these men. They, too, could hardly believe their eyes. The fire had done nothing to harm these men. Their hair was not singed. Their clothes were not scorched. They didn’t have the faintest smell of smoke on them.
Nebuchadnezzar: 28 Praise is certainly due the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego today. He sent His heavenly representative and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him. They had the audacity to disobey the king’s order and surrendered their bodies to the fire rather than serve and worship any god other than their own God. 29 Therefore, I decree that any people—regardless of their heritage, nationality, or language—who speak against the God worshiped by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn apart, limb from limb, and their houses reduced to rubble; for no god I have ever heard of is able to rescue as this God has rescued His servants today.
30 Afterward the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- 3:21 Meaning of the Aramaic is uncertain.
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.