Add parallel Print Page Options

Nebuchadnezzar Commands Everyone to Worship a Gold Statue

King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and he had it set up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then the king gave orders for all his officials to come together—the princes, governors, lieutenant governors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces. They were to attend the dedication of the statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When all these officials gathered for the dedication and stood in front of the statue, a herald announced in a loud voice, “People of all nations, races, and languages! You will hear the sound of the trumpets, followed by the playing of oboes, lyres, zithers, and harps; and then all the other instruments will join in. As soon as the music starts, you are to bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” And so, as soon as they heard the sound of the instruments, the people of all the nations, races, and languages bowed down and worshiped the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel's Three Friends Are Accused of Disobedience

It was then that some Babylonians took the opportunity to denounce the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May Your Majesty live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued an order that as soon as the music starts, everyone is to bow down and worship the gold statue, 11 and that anyone who does not bow down and worship it is to be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 There are some Jews whom you put in charge of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who are disobeying Your Majesty's orders. They do not worship your god or bow down to the statue you set up.”

13 At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him. 14 He said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you refuse to worship my god and to bow down to the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now then, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, oboes, lyres, zithers, harps, and all the other instruments, bow down and worship the statue. If you do not, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Do you think there is any god who can save you?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered, “Your Majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves. 17 If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power, then he will.[a] 18 But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up.”

Daniel's Three Friends Are Sentenced to Death

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar lost his temper, and his face turned red with anger at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 And he commanded the strongest men in his army to tie the three men up and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up, fully dressed—shirts, robes, caps, and all—and threw them into the blazing furnace. 22 Now because the king had given strict orders for the furnace to be made extremely hot, the flames burned up the guards who took the men to the furnace. 23 (A)Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, still tied up, fell into the heart of the blazing fire.

24 Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement. He asked his officials, “Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?”

They answered, “Yes, we did, Your Majesty.”

25 “Then why do I see four men walking around in the fire?” he asked. “They are not tied up, and they show no sign of being hurt—and the fourth one looks like an angel.”[b]

The Three Men Are Released and Promoted

26 So Nebuchadnezzar went up to the door of the blazing furnace and called out, “Shadrach! Meshach! Abednego! Servants of the Supreme God! Come out!” And they came out at once. 27 All the princes, governors, lieutenant governors, and other officials of the king gathered to look at the three men, who had not been harmed by the fire. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not burned, and there was no smell of smoke on them.

28 The king said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued these men who serve and trust him. They disobeyed my orders and risked their lives rather than bow down and worship any god except their own.

29 “And now I command that if anyone of any nation, race, or language speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he is to be torn limb from limb, and his house is to be made a pile of ruins. There is no other god who can rescue like this.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 3:17 If the God … will; or If it is true that we refuse to worship your god or bow down to the gold statue you set up, the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power—and he will.
  2. Daniel 3:25 angel; or a son of the gods; or a son of God.

Ekibumbe kya Zaabu n’Ekikoomi ky’Omuliro

(A)Kabaka Nebukadduneeza n’abumbisa ekifaananyi ekya zaabu, obugulumivu mita amakumi abiri mu musanvu n’obugazi mita bbiri ne sentimita nsanvu, n’alagira kiteekebwe mu lusenyi lwa Dduula, mu ssaza ly’e Babulooni. (B)N’atumya abaamasaza, n’abaamagombolola, n’abemiruka, n’abawi b’amagezi, n’abawanika, n’abalamuzi, n’abakungu bonna ab’omu masaza, bajje ku mukolo ogw’okuwongera ekibumbe Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa. Awo abaamasaza, n’abafuzi, n’abamateeka, n’abawi b’amagezi n’abawanika, n’abalamuzi, n’abakungu bonna ab’omu masaza, ne bakuŋŋaana ku mukolo ogw’okuwonga ekibumbe Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.

(C)Awo omulanzi n’ayogerera waggulu mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Mulagiddwa, mmwe abantu, n’amawanga, n’abantu ab’ennimi eza buli ngeri, (D)bwe munaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere, na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, muteekwa okuvuunama musinze ekibumbe ekya zaabu Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa. (E)Omuntu yenna atalivuunama n’akisinza, alisuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro.”

(F)Awo amawanga gonna bwe baawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, amawanga gonna n’ensi n’abantu ab’ennimi eza buli ngeri ne bavuunama ne basinza ekibumbe ekya zaabu Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye yabumbisa.

(G)Awo mu biro ebyo Abakaludaaya abamu ne bawawaabira Abayudaaya. (H)Ne bagenda eri Kabaka Nebukadduneeza ne bamugamba nti, “Wangaala, ayi kabaka! 10 (I)Ggwe ayi kabaka otaddewo etteeka, nti omuntu yenna anaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, ateekwa okuvuunama n’asinza ekifaananyi kya zaabu, 11 era buli atalivuunama n’akisinza alisuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro. 12 (J)Naye waliwo abamu ku Bayudaaya be walonda okuvunaanyizibwa ensonga ez’essaza ery’e Babulooni, era be ba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego abatakuwulirirako ddala ayi kabaka. Tebaweereza bakatonda bo newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye wabumbisa.”

13 (K)Awo Nebukadduneeza n’asunguwala nnyo n’alagira baleete Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego gy’ali; ne baleetebwa mu maaso ga kabaka. 14 (L)Nebukadduneeza n’ababuuza nti, “Ebigambo bye mpulira bituufu nti mmwe Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego temuweereza bakatonda bange, newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye nabumbisa? 15 (M)Kaakano, bwe munaawulira eddoboozi ly’akagombe, n’endere, n’ennanga, n’amadinda, n’ekidongo, n’ekkondeere na buli ngeri yonna ey’ebivuga eby’amaloboozi, mwetegeke okuvuunama n’okusinza ekifaananyi kye nabumbisa. Naye bwe mutaakisinze, ku ssaawa eyo yennyini munaasuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro, kale tulyoke tulabe katonda oyo anaayinza okubawonya mu mukono gwange.” 16 (N)Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne baddamu kabaka nti, “Ayi Nebukadduneeza, tekitugwanira kwewolereza mu maaso go ku nsonga eyo. 17 (O)Bwe tunaasuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro, Katonda gwe tuweereza anaatuwonya ekikoomi ekyaka omuliro era anaatulokola mu mukono gwo, ayi kabaka. 18 (P)Naye ne bwe kitaabe bwe kityo, twagala okimanye, ayi kabaka nga tetugenda kuweereza bakatonda bo, newaakubadde okusinza ekifaananyi ekya zaabu kye wabumbisa.”

19 (Q)Awo Nebukadduneeza ne yeeyongera okusunguwalira Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, n’amaaso ge ne gaba masunguwavu nnyo ng’ajjudde obuswandi. N’alagira ekikoomi kyake emirundi musanvu okusinga ne bwe kyali kyase. 20 N’alagira abamu ku baserikale be ab’amaanyi okusiba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, n’oluvannyuma basuulibwe mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro. 21 Amangwago ne basiba Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, nga bambadde ebyambalo byabwe eby’ekitiibwa, ne seruwale zaabwe, n’eminagiro gyabwe n’engoye zaabwe endala, ne basuulibwa mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro. 22 (R)Olw’okubanga ekiragiro kya kabaka kyali kya mbagirawo nga n’ekyoto kyaka nnyo nnyini, ennimi ez’omuliro ne zitta abasajja abaasitula Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego. 23 Awo abasajja abo abasatu Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne basuulibwa wakati mu kikoomi ekyaka omuliro nga basibiddwa.

24 Awo Kabaka Nebukadduneeza, mu kwewuunya n’agolokoka mangu n’abuuza abakungu be nti, “Mu muliro tetwasuddemu abasajja basatu nga basibiddwa?”

Ne bamuddamu nti, “Bwe kyabadde, ayi kabaka.”

25 N’ayogera nti, “Naye nga ndaba abasajja bana nga basumuluddwa nga batambulira wakati mu muliro, nga tebaliiko kabi ke bakolebbwako, so n’owookuna ng’afaanana ng’omwana wa bakatonda.”

26 (S)Nebukadduneeza n’alyoka asembera ku mulyango gw’ekikoomi ekyaka omuliro, n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, “Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki, ne Abeduneego, abaddu ba Katonda Ali Waggulu Ennyo, mufulume mujje wano.”

Awo Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego ne bava mu muliro. 27 (T)Abaamasaza, n’abemiruka, n’abafuzi ab’ebitundu, n’abakungu ba kabaka ne bakuŋŋaana ne babeetegereza. Ne balaba ng’omuliro tegubookezza, so n’enviiri zaabwe nga tezisiridde, so n’engoye zaabwe nga tezookeddwa, so n’olusu lw’omuliro nga terubawunyako.

28 (U)Nebukadduneeza n’ayogera nti, “Katonda wa Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego atenderezebwe, aweerezza malayika we n’alokola abaddu be, abaamwesize, ne bajeemera ekiragiro kya kabaka, ne bawaayo obulamu bwabwe baleme okuweereza newaakubadde okusinza katonda yenna wabula Katonda waabwe bo. 29 (V)Noolwekyo nteeka etteeka nga buli muntu ow’eggwanga lyonna, na buli muntu ow’olulimi lwonna olwa buli ngeri alyogera obubi ku Katonda wa Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego, alitemebwatemebwa, n’ennyumba ye erimenyebwamenyebwa, kubanga tewali katonda mulala ayinza okuwonya mu ngeri eyo.”

30 (W)Awo kabaka n’akuza Saddulaaki, ne Mesaki ne Abeduneego mu ssaza ery’e Babulooni.

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

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. 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. 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.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,(D) this is what you are commanded to do: 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) Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(H)

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)

At this time some astrologers[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. 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