Daniel 3
Svenska Folkbibeln
De tre männen i den brinnande ugnen
3 Kung Nebukadnessar lät göra en staty av guld, sextio alnar hög och sex alnar bred. Den lät han ställa upp på Duraslätten i Babels hövdingdöme. 2 Sedan sände han bud och kallade samman satraper,[a] landshövdingar och ståthållare, fogdar, skattmästare, domare, lagtolkare och alla andra makthavare i hövdingdömena, för att de skulle komma till invigningen av den staty kung Nebukadnessar hade låtit ställa upp.
3 Då samlades satraperna, landshövdingarna och ståthållarna, fogdarna, skattmästarna, domarna, lagtolkarna och alla andra makthavare i hövdingdömena till invigningen av den staty som kung Nebukadnessar hade låtit ställa upp. När de stod framför den, 4 utropade en härold med hög röst: "Detta är befallningen till er, ni folk och stammar och tungomål: 5 När ni hör ljudet av horn, pipor, cittror, lyror, psaltare, säckpipor och alla andra slags instrument, skall ni falla ner och tillbe den staty av guld som kung Nebukadnessar har låtit ställa upp. 6 Men den som inte faller ner och tillber, han skall genast kastas i den brinnande ugnen."
7 Så snart allt folket hörde ljudet av horn, pipor, cittror, lyror, psaltare och alla andra slags instrument föll de ner, alla folk, stammar och tungomål, och tillbad den staty av guld som kung Nebukadnessar hade låtit ställa upp.
8 Men strax därefter kom några kaldeiska män fram och anklagade judarna. 9 De tog till orda och sade till kung Nebukadnessar: "Må konungen leva för evigt! 10 Konungen har befallt att alla människor skall falla ner och tillbe statyn av guld, när de hör ljudet av horn, pipor, cittror, lyror, psaltare, säckpipor och alla andra slags instrument, 11 och att var och en som inte faller ner och tillber skall kastas i den brinnande ugnen. 12 Men nu finns här några judiska män, Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego, som du har satt att förvalta Babels hövdingdöme. Dessa män sätter sig över ditt påbud, o konung. De dyrkar inte dina gudar och tillber inte den staty av guld som du har låtit ställa upp."
13 Då befallde Nebukadnessar i vrede och förbittring att man skulle föra fram Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego. När man hade fört fram dem inför kungen 14 sade Nebukadnessar till dem: "Är det sant att ni, Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego, inte dyrkar mina gudar och inte tillber den staty av guld som jag har låtit ställa upp? 15 Allt är nu väl om ni faller ner och tillber den staty som jag har låtit göra, när ni hör ljudet av horn, pipor, cittror, lyror, psaltare, säckpipor och alla andra slags instrument. Men om ni inte tillber, skall ni i samma stund kastas i den brinnande ugnen, och vilken gud skall då kunna rädda er ur mina händer?" 16 Då svarade Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego kungen: "O Nebukadnessar, vi behöver inte svara dig på detta. 17 Om det blir så, är vår Gud, som vi dyrkar, mäktig att befria oss ur den brinnande ugnen och att befria oss ur din hand, o konung. 18 Men om inte, så skall du veta, o konung, att vi ändå inte dyrkar dina gudar och att vi inte vill tillbe den staty av guld som du har låtit ställa upp."
19 Då fylldes Nebukadnessar av vrede mot Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego, så att hans ansiktsuttryck förvandlades. Han befallde att man skulle göra ugnen sju gånger hetare än man någonsin hade sett den vara. 20 Och han befallde några av de starkaste männen i hans här att binda Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego och kasta dem i den brinnande ugnen. 21 Så bands dessa iförda sina underkläder, livrockar, mössor och andra kläder och kastades i den brinnande ugnen. 22 Men eftersom kungens befallning hade varit så sträng och ugnen därför hade blivit oerhört starkt upphettad, blev de män som förde Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego dit upp själva dödade av eldslågorna, 23 när de kastade de tre männen Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego bundna i den brinnande ugnen.
24 Då blev kung Nebukadnessar förskräckt. Han steg hastigt upp och frågade sina rådsherrar: "Var det inte tre män vi band och kastade i elden?" De svarade kungen: "Jo visst, o konung." 25 Då sade han: "Ändå ser jag nu fyra män som går lösa och lediga inne i elden, och de är helt oskadda. Och den fjärde ser ut som en gudason." 26 Sedan gick Nebukadnessar fram till den brinnande ugnens öppning och ropade: "Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego, ni den högste Gudens tjänare, kom ut, kom hit!" Då gick Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego ut ur elden. 27 Och satraperna, landshövdingarna, ståthållarna och kungens rådsherrar samlades där och såg att elden inte hade haft någon makt över männens kroppar och att håret på deras huvuden inte hade svetts och att deras kläder inte skadats. Man kunde inte ens känna att de luktade bränt.
28 Nebukadnessar tog då till orda och sade: "Lovad vare Sadraks, Mesaks och Abed-Negos Gud, som sände sin ängel och räddade sina tjänare. De förtröstade så på honom att de överträdde kungens befallning och vågade sina liv för att inte tvingas dyrka eller tillbe någon annan gud än sin egen Gud. 29 Härmed befaller jag nu att vem det vara må av alla folk och stammar och tungomål, som säger något ovärdigt om Sadraks, Mesaks och Abed-Negos Gud, han skall slitas i stycken, och hans hus skall göras till en sophög. För det finns ingen Gud som kan hjälpa så som han."
30 Därefter lät kungen Sadrak, Mesak och Abed-Nego få stor ära och makt i Babels hövdingdöme.
Nebukadnessars dröm om det avhuggna trädet
31 Kung Nebukadnessar till alla folk och stammar och tungomål som finns på hela jorden. Jag önskar er fred och framgång. 32 Jag finner för gott att härmed kungöra de tecken och under som den högste Guden har gjort med mig.
33 Stora är hans tecken,
mäktiga hans under.
Hans rike är ett evigt rike,
hans välde varar från släkte till släkte.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:2 satraper Perserrikets högsta ämbetstitel var "satrap".
Daniel 3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 3
The Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace[a]
The Trial of Daniel’s Companions.[b] King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a golden statue[c] to be made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he decre ed that it be placed on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar then commanded the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to assemble for the dedication of the statue that he had set up. 3 Therefore, the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4 Then a herald proclaimed in a loud voice, “Peoples and nations of every language: when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, 5 you are commanded to prostrate yourselves and worship the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. 6 Anyone who refuses to prostrate himself and worship shall immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, all the peoples and nations of every language prostrated themselves and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Immediately some Chaldeans came forward before the king and made a malicious accusation against the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, Your Majesty, that when the people hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, they are to prostrate themselves and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever fails to do so is to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.
12 “Now there are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, have ignored your command, O king. They do not serve your God, and they refuse to worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
13 On hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar became infuriated and was filled with rage, and he sent for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the three men were brought into his presence, 14 King Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my god or worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, are you ready to fall down and worship the statue that I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you shall be immediately thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. What god is there that can deliver you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves to you in this regard. 17 If our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the white-hot blazing furnace and from your power, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But even if he does not do so, Your Majesty, be assured that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
19 This reply so infuriated Nebuchadnezzar against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his countenance became distorted. He ordered that the furnace was to be heated seven times more than customary, 20 and he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and hurl them into the fiery furnace.
21 The three young men were then bound while still wearing their cloaks, their trousers, their head coverings, and their other garments and thrown into the fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s command was so urgent and the heat of the furnace was so intense, the raging flames killed the men who were carrying Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 However, the three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell, bound, into the fiery furnace.
Two Inspired Additions of Prayer Texts
24 The Prayer of Azariah.[d] They walked amidst the flames, all the while singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Azariah then stood up, surrounded by flames, and said this prayer:
26 “Blessed are you and deserving of all praise,
O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and glorious is your name forever.
27 For you have shown justice in all you have done for us;
all your deeds are true, all your ways are right,
and all your judgments are correct.
28 You have made proper judgments
in all that you have brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors.
By a judgment, you have done all this
because of our sins.
29 “For we have sinned and broken your law
in our rebellion against you;
we have fallen short in every way.
30 We have neglected to obey your commandments
and have failed to do what you commanded for our own good.
31 Therefore, in all the misfortunes you have inflicted upon us,
in all you have done to us,
you have executed proper judgments.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies,
lawless and godless rebels,
and to a wicked king, the most evil in the entire world.
33 “Now we cannot open our mouths;
we, your servants who worship you,
have become a cause of shame and dishonor.
34 For your name’s sake, do not abandon us forever
or renounce your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us
for the love of Abraham, your friend,
Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one,
36 to whom you spoke, promising to make their descendants
as numerous as the stars in the heavens
and the grains of sand on the seashore.
37 “For we, O Lord, have become the least of all nations,
humiliated throughout the world in our day
because of our sins.
38 We now have no ruler, no prophet, no leader,
no burnt offering or sacrifice or oblation of incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
39 But may we be accepted by you
as we approach you with a contrite heart
and with a submissive spirit.
40 As though we were presenting burnt offerings of rams and bulls
or thousands of fat lambs,
so may our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly,
for those who trust in you will never be put to shame.
41 “And now with all our heart we shall follow you;
even though we fear you, we seek your face.
42 Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your great mercy.
43 Deliver us by your wonderful deeds,
and let your name be glorified, O Lord.
44 Let those who harm your servants be brought low;
let them be put to shame and rendered powerless,
and may their strength be crushed.
45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God,
glorious throughout the whole world.”
46 Now the king’s servants who had thrown the three young men into the furnace continued to stoke it with brimstone, pitch, tow, and brushwood 47 until the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace 48 and spread out, burning to death those Chaldeans who were standing nearby. 49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace where Azariah and his companions had been cast. He drove the fiery flames out of the furnace 50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a dewy breeze was wafting through it. The fire did not touch them in the least way and caused them no pain or harm.
51 The Canticle of the Three Young Men.[e] Then those three men in the furnace began to sing in unison, glorifying and blessing God:
52 “Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our ancestors,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
55 Blessed are you who behold the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
57 “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
59 You heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
61 All you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
64 “All rain and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
65 All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
67 Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
71 Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
73 Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
74 “Let the earth bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
76 Every plant that grows, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
77 Springs of water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
79 Dolphins and all creatures that live in water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
80 Every kind of bird, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
81 All animals, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
82 “All the human race, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
83 O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
84 You priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
85 You servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the upright, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
87 You who are holy and humble in heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
88 “Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
For he has rescued us from the netherworld
and saved us from the power of death.
He has liberated us from the fiery furnace,
and from the fire he has delivered us.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord;
praise him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures forever.”
91 The Miracle Is Accomplished.[f] Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, O king.”
92 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”[g]
93 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 94 and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire 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.
95 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted 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. 96 Therefore, I decree 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, for no other God can save in this way.”
97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness
98 Vision of the Great Tree. King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language dwelling throughout the entire world: May you prosper abundantly. 99 I am pleased to make known the signs and wonders with which I have been favored by the Most High God.
100 How great are his signs,
how mighty are his wonders.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his sovereignty endures through all generations.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 Another story of resistance that was very likely clandestine. Is the story a legend? Perhaps, but it was written at a dramatic moment. The purpose of the story is primarily to encourage an absolute rejection of idolatry, at the cost, if necessary, of martyrdom.
1
The prayer of Azariah and the canticle of the three young men, which make up these verses, are inspired additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the Book. Their original (in Hebrew or Aramaic) is not extant. The Church regards them as part of the canonical Scriptures. - Daniel 3:1 The author plays with history: he speaks of Nebuchadnezzar but he is thinking of Antiochus, the king diseased by his greatness and pride.
- Daniel 3:1 Golden statue: the colossus was about ninety feet tall and nine feet wide.
- Daniel 3:24 The condemned men are kept safe from the flames by an angel, through a special intervention of God who does not abandon his own to the madness of the wicked. The canticle, which is found only in Greek manuscripts, is a collective lament, filled with biblical echoes and well adapted to times of persecution.
- Daniel 3:51 This second canticle, which is likewise found only in Greek manuscripts, is a lengthy canticle of praise. It brings together some of the most magnificent verses from the Psalms (Pss 103; 148; 150). The whole of creation is urged to take part in this great symphony.
- Daniel 3:91 Nebuchadnezzar, who is really Antiochus IV, is compelled to acknowledge the true God. The miracle seems to reward appeals inspired by limitless faith, such as we find in the psalter (Ps 70:1) and in Isaiah (Isa 43:2). Mentions of this story in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:34) and in the Quran (85) attest to its popularity.
- Daniel 3:92 A son of God: other versions have “a son of the gods.”
Daniel 3
King James Version
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
1996, 1998 by Stiftelsen Svenska Folkbibeln
