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Daniel 3
New Living Translation

Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials[b] came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments,[c] bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7 So at the sound of the musical instruments,[d] all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 But some of the astrologers[e] went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.[f] But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

The Blazing Furnace

19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god[g]!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Aramaic 60 cubits [27 meters] tall and 6 cubits [2.7 meters] wide.
  2. 3:3 Aramaic the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials.
  3. 3:5 The identification of some of these musical instruments is uncertain.
  4. 3:7 Aramaic the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and other musical instruments.
  5. 3:8 Aramaic Chaldeans.
  6. 3:15 Aramaic the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments.
  7. 3:25 Aramaic like a son of the gods.
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Daniel 3
Legacy Standard Bible

Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image

3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was [a]sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the (C)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they were standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, (D)O peoples, nations, and men of every tongue, 5 that at the time you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [b]lyre, [c]trigon, [d]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall [e]immediately be (F)cast into the midst of a (G)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [f]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

We Will Not Serve Your Gods

8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came near and [g](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(J)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (K)made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [h]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to (L)fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (M)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, do not pay attention to you; they do not serve your gods and do not worship the golden image which you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and wrath said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you are not serving (O)my gods and do not worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [i]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, then you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you will [j]immediately be (Q)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can save you out of my hands?”

16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with an answer concerning this matter. 17 [k]If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; [l]and (U)He will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 (V)But if not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel’s Friends Delivered

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and the image of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered and said to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he said to certain mighty men of valor who were in his military [m]host to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [n](Y)trousers, their [o]coats, their caps, and their other clothes and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s word was [p](Z)urgent and the furnace had been heated to an extraordinary degree, the flame of the fire killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, (AA)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and hurriedly stood up; he answered and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast tied up into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (AB)walking about in the midst of the fire [q]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (AC)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (AD)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (AE)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 Then the (AF)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (AG)fire had no power over [r]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [s](AH)trousers [t]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and saved His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [u]violating the king’s word, and gave up their bodies so as (AL)not to serve and not to worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation, or tongue that says anything offensive against the God of (AN)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (AO)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (AP)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (AQ)caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to succeed in the province of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 3:1 Approx. 90 ft. high and 9 ft. wide or 27 m and 2.7 m
  2. Daniel 3:5 Or zither
  3. Daniel 3:5 A triangular lyre
  4. Daniel 3:5 A type of harp
  5. Daniel 3:6 Or in the same hour
  6. Daniel 3:7 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  7. Daniel 3:8 Lit ate the pieces of
  8. Daniel 3:10 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  9. Daniel 3:15 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  10. Daniel 3:15 Or in the same hour
  11. Daniel 3:17 Or If our God...is able
  12. Daniel 3:17 Or then
  13. Daniel 3:20 Or force
  14. Daniel 3:21 Or leggings
  15. Daniel 3:21 Or cloaks
  16. Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
  17. Daniel 3:25 Lit there is no injury in them
  18. Daniel 3:27 Lit their
  19. Daniel 3:27 Or cloaks
  20. Daniel 3:27 Lit changed
  21. Daniel 3:28 Lit and changed the king’s word
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


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