⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods^(A) and the Lord of kings^(B) and a revealer of mysteries,^(C) for you were able to reveal this mystery.^(D)”

⁴⁸ Then the king placed Daniel in a high^(E) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.^{(F) 49} Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,^(G) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.^(H)

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image^(I) 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,^(J) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials^(K) 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,^(L) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(M) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(N) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^{(O) 6} Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(P)