⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^(A) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^{(B) 7} The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^(C) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^(D)

⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile^(E) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor^(F) and compassion^(G) to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[a] food and drink.^(H) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test^(I) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”^{(J) 14} So he agreed to this and tested^(K) them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.^{(L) 16} So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.^(M)

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding^(N) of all kinds of literature and learning.^(O) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.^(P)

¹⁸ At the end of the time^(Q) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.^{(R) 20} In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians^(S) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.^(T)

¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^(A)

⁴⁹ Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,^(A) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.^(B)

¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(A)—who pay no attention^(B) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(C)

¹³ Furious^(D) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(E) or worship the image^(F) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(G) will be able to rescue^(H) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(I) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(J) us from it, and he will deliver^(K) us^[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(L)”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(M) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(N) and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,^{(O) 23} and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,^(P) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(Q) crowded around them.^(R) They saw that the fire^(S) 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.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(T) and rescued^(U) his servants! They trusted^(V) 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.^{(W) 29} Therefore I decree^(X) 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,^(Y) for no other god can save^(Z) in this way.”

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.^(AA)

³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames,^(A) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(B) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(C) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^(D)