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:

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:

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.