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Daniel 3
Christian Standard Bible

Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue,(A) ninety feet high and nine feet wide.[a] He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.(B) 2 King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers(C) of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,[b] lyre,[c] harp, drum,[d] and every kind of music,(D) you are to fall facedown and worship(E) the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”(F)

7 Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Furnace of Blazing Fire

8 Some Chaldeans(G) took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse[e](H) the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. 10 You as king have issued a decree(I) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. 11 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.(J) These men have ignored you,(K) the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

13 Then in a furious rage(L) Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue(M) I have set up? 15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?” (N)

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists,(O) then he can rescue(P) us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can[f] rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us,[g] we want you as king to know that we will not serve(Q) your gods(R) or worship the gold statue you set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage,(S) and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, 20 and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings,[h] and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Since the king’s command was so urgent[i](T) and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames[j] killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

Delivered from the Fire

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm.(U) He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.

25 He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed;(V) and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”[k](W)

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.(X) 27 When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect(Y) on[l] the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.(Z) 28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel[m](AA) and rescued his servants who trusted in him.(AB) They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.(AC) 29 Therefore I issue a decree(AD) that anyone of any people, nation, or language(AE) who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump.(AF) For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” 30 Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Lit statue, its height sixty cubits, its width six cubits
  2. 3:5 Or lyre
  3. 3:5 Or sambuke
  4. 3:5 Or pipe
  5. 3:8 Lit and eat the pieces of
  6. 3:17 Or If the God whom we serve is willing to save us from the furnace of blazing fire, then he will
  7. 3:18 Lit But if not
  8. 3:21 The identity of these articles of clothing is uncertain.
  9. 3:22 Or harsh
  10. 3:22 Lit the flame of the fire
  11. 3:25 Or of a divine being
  12. 3:27 Lit fire had not overcome
  13. 3:28 Or messenger
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Daniel 3
Hoffnung für Alle

Daniels Freunde werden zum Tod verurteilt

3 König Nebukadnezar ließ eine goldene Statue von 30 Metern Höhe und 3 Metern Breite anfertigen und in der Ebene Dura in der Provinz Babylon aufstellen. 2 Dann lud er zur Einweihung alle führenden Beamten seines Reiches ein, die Statthalter und ihre Stellvertreter, die königlichen Berater, die Schatzmeister und Richter, die hohen Würdenträger und alle übrigen Beamten der Provinzen. 3 So kamen alle, die im babylonischen Reich Rang und Namen hatten, und versammelten sich vor dem Standbild. 4 Dann rief ein Herold mit lauter Stimme:

»Ihr Männer aus allen Völkern, Ländern und Sprachen! Der König befiehlt euch: 5 Sobald ihr den Klang der Hörner und Flöten, der Zithern und Harfen, der Lauten, Pfeifen und aller anderen Instrumente hört, sollt ihr euch niederwerfen und die goldene Statue anbeten, die König Nebukadnezar aufstellen ließ. 6 Wer es nicht tut, wird bei lebendigem Leib im Ofen verbrannt!«

7 Als die Musik einsetzte, warfen sich alle zu Boden und beteten die goldene Statue an.

8 Einige Sterndeuter[a] aber verklagten die Juden bei Nebukadnezar. 9 Sie sagten zu ihm: »Lang lebe der König! 10 Du, o König, hast doch angeordnet, dass jeder sich beim Klang der Instrumente niederwerfen und die Statue anbeten muss. 11 Wer dies nicht tut, soll in den Ofen geworfen werden. 12 Nun sind hier einige Juden, denen du die Verwaltung der Provinz Babylon anvertraut hast: Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego. Diese Männer erweisen dir nicht den nötigen Respekt. Sie dienen deinen Göttern nicht, und sie weigern sich, deine goldene Statue anzubeten.«

13 Da packte den König der Zorn, und voller Wut ließ er die drei kommen. Als sie vor ihm standen, 14 stellte er sie zur Rede: »Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego, ist es wahr, dass ihr meinen Göttern keine Ehre erweist? Warum wollt ihr euch nicht vor meiner Statue niederwerfen? 15 Ich gebe euch eine letzte Gelegenheit: Wenn jetzt die Musik ertönt und ihr niederfallt, lasse ich noch einmal Gnade vor Recht ergehen. Wenn ihr euch aber meinem Befehl widersetzt, werdet ihr auf der Stelle in den glühenden Ofen geworfen. Glaubt ihr, dass euch dann noch ein Gott aus meiner Gewalt retten kann?«

16 Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego jedoch entgegneten: »Wir werden gar nicht erst versuchen, uns vor dir zu verteidigen. 17 Unser Gott, dem wir dienen, kann uns aus dem Feuer und aus deiner Gewalt retten. 18 Aber auch wenn er es nicht tut, musst du wissen, o König, dass wir nie deine Götter anbeten oder uns vor der goldenen Statue niederwerfen werden.«

19 Da verlor Nebukadnezar die Beherrschung, und sein Gesicht verzerrte sich vor Wut. Er ordnete an, den Ofen siebenmal stärker als gewöhnlich zu heizen. 20 Dann befahl er seinen kräftigsten Soldaten, die drei Freunde zu fesseln und hineinzuwerfen. 21 Sofort band man die Männer und stieß sie in ihrer Kleidung, mit Hosen, Mänteln und Turbanen, in den Ofen. 22 Weil der König befohlen hatte, ihn besonders stark zu heizen, schlugen die Flammen heraus und töteten die Soldaten, die Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego hineingeworfen hatten. 23 Die drei aber fielen gefesselt mitten ins Feuer.

24 Plötzlich sprang Nebukadnezar entsetzt auf und fragte seine Beamten: »Haben wir nicht drei Männer gefesselt in den Ofen geworfen?« »Ja, sicher!«, antworteten sie. 25 »Warum sehe ich dann aber vier Männer ohne Fesseln im Feuer umhergehen?«, rief der König. »Sie sind unversehrt, und der vierte sieht aus wie ein Sohn der Götter!«

26 Nebukadnezar trat näher an die Öffnung des Ofens heran und schrie: »Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego, ihr Diener des höchsten Gottes, kommt heraus!« Da kamen die drei aus dem Ofen. 27 Die Statthalter und ihre Stellvertreter, die Verwalter und alle obersten Beamten eilten herbei und sahen, dass das Feuer den Männern nichts hatte anhaben können. Nicht ein Haar auf ihrem Kopf war versengt. Ihre Kleider waren völlig unbeschädigt, sie rochen nicht einmal nach Rauch.

28 Da rief Nebukadnezar: »Gelobt sei der Gott von Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego! Er hat seinen Engel gesandt, um diese Männer zu retten, die ihm dienen und sich auf ihn verlassen. Sie haben mein Gebot übertreten und ihr Leben aufs Spiel gesetzt, weil sie keinen anderen Gott anbeten und verehren wollten. 29 Deshalb erlasse ich einen Befehl für alle Völker und Länder, gleich welcher Sprache: Wer über den Gott von Schadrach, Meschach und Abed-Nego etwas Verächtliches sagt, wird in Stücke gehauen, und sein Haus wird in Schutt und Asche gelegt! Denn es gibt keinen anderen Gott, der auf eine solche Weise retten könnte!« 30 Dann gab der König den drei Männern eine noch machtvollere Stellung in der Provinz Babylon.

Daniel deutet Nebukadnezars zweiten Traum

31 Dies ist die Botschaft, die König Nebukadnezar an die Menschen aller Völker und Länder sendet, ganz gleich, welche Sprache sie sprechen:

Ich wünsche euch Glück und Frieden!

32 In diesem Brief möchte ich euch von den Zeichen und Wundern erzählen, die der höchste Gott an mir getan hat. 33 Groß und gewaltig sind seine Taten! Sein Reich bleibt für immer bestehen, seine Herrschaft hört niemals auf.

Footnotes

  1. 3,8 Oder: Einige Chaldäer (d.h. Babylonier).
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Daniel 3
New International Version

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image(A) 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,(B) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials(C) 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,(D) this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,(E) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image(F) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(G) 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(H)

7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.(I)

8 At this time some astrologers[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(K) 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree(L) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,(M) 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(N)—who pay no attention(O) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(P)

13 Furious(Q) 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(R) or worship the image(S) 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(T) will be able to rescue(U) you from my hand?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(V) 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(W) us from it, and he will deliver(X) us[c] 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.(Y)”

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

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers(AD) crowded around them.(AE) They saw that the fire(AF) 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(AG) and rescued(AH) his servants! They trusted(AI) 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.(AJ) 29 Therefore I decree(AK) 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,(AL) for no other god can save(AM) in this way.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide
  2. Daniel 3:8 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and
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