¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(A) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(B) 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,^{(C) 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,^(D) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(E) crowded around them.^(F) They saw that the fire^(G) 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^(H) and rescued^(I) his servants! They trusted^(J) 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.^{(K) 29} Therefore I decree^(L) 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,^(M) for no other god can save^(N) in this way.”

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

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(N) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(A) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[a](B) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(C)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(D) and to be holy;^(E) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(F) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(G) and that no bitter root^(H) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(I) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(J) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(K) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(L) 19} to a trumpet blast^(M) or to such a voice speaking words^(N) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(O) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[b](P) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[c](Q)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(R) to the city^(S) of the living God,^(T) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(U) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(V) whose names are written in heaven.^(W) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(X) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(Y) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(Z) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(AA) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(AB)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(AC) him who speaks.^(AD) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(AE) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(AF) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(AG) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[d](AH) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(AI)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(AJ) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(AK) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[e](AL)