Daniel 3
Legacy Standard Bible
Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was [a]sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the (C)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they were standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, (D)O peoples, nations, and men of every tongue, 5 that at the time you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [b]lyre, [c]trigon, [d]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall [e]immediately be (F)cast into the midst of a (G)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [f]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
We Will Not Serve Your Gods
8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came near and [g](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(J)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (K)made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [h]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to (L)fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (M)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, do not pay attention to you; they do not serve your gods and do not worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and wrath said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you are not serving (O)my gods and do not worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [i]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, then you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you will [j]immediately be (Q)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can save you out of my hands?”
16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with an answer concerning this matter. 17 [k]If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; [l]and (U)He will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 (V)But if not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Delivered
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and the image of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered and said to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he said to certain mighty men of valor who were in his military [m]host to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [n](Y)trousers, their [o]coats, their caps, and their other clothes and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s word was [p](Z)urgent and the furnace had been heated to an extraordinary degree, the flame of the fire killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, (AA)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and hurriedly stood up; he answered and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast tied up into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (AB)walking about in the midst of the fire [q]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (AC)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (AD)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (AE)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 Then the (AF)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (AG)fire had no power over [r]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [s](AH)trousers [t]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and saved His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [u]violating the king’s word, and gave up their bodies so as (AL)not to serve and not to worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation, or tongue that says anything offensive against the God of (AN)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (AO)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (AP)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (AQ)caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to succeed in the province of Babylon.
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 Approx. 90 ft. high and 9 ft. wide or 27 m and 2.7 m
- Daniel 3:5 Or zither
- Daniel 3:5 A triangular lyre
- Daniel 3:5 A type of harp
- Daniel 3:6 Or in the same hour
- Daniel 3:7 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
- Daniel 3:8 Lit ate the pieces of
- Daniel 3:10 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
- Daniel 3:15 v 5, notes 1, 2, 3
- Daniel 3:15 Or in the same hour
- Daniel 3:17 Or If our God...is able
- Daniel 3:17 Or then
- Daniel 3:20 Or force
- Daniel 3:21 Or leggings
- Daniel 3:21 Or cloaks
- Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
- Daniel 3:25 Lit there is no injury in them
- Daniel 3:27 Lit their
- Daniel 3:27 Or cloaks
- Daniel 3:27 Lit changed
- Daniel 3:28 Lit and changed the king’s word
Daniel 3
Revised Geneva Translation
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 60 cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babel.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces, that they should come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 So the nobles, princes, and dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces were assembled for the dedicating of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And they stood before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried aloud, “Be it known to you, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all instruments of music, you shall fall down, and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
6 “And whoever does not fall down and worship, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace!”
7 Therefore as soon as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all instruments of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down, and worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 By reason whereof, at that same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grievously accused the Jews.
9 For they spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.
10 “You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, shall fall down, and worship the golden image.
11 “And whoever does not fall down, and worship, that he should be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace.
12 “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the charge of the province of Babel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded your commandment. Nor will they serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger and wrath, commanded that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king.
14 And Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said to them, “What is this? Will not you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, serve my god, and worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 “Now, therefore, you should be ready when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, to fall down, and worship the image which I have made. “For if you do not worship it, you shall immediately be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace. For who is that God, that can deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not hesitant to answer you in this matter.
17 “Behold, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the hot fiery furnace. And he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage. And his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore, he commanded that they should heat the furnace to seven times hotter than it was normally heated.
20 And he charged the most valiant men of war, who were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot fiery furnace.
21 So these men were bound in their coats, their hats, and their cloaks, with their other garments, and cast into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s commandment was urgent, that the furnace should be exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who brought forth Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
24 Then, Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished; and rose up quickly, and spoke; and said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men, bound, into the midst of the fire?” Who answered, and said to him, “It is true, O king.”
25 And he answered, and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like the son of God.
26 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the hot fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the servants of the high God, come out and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came forth from the midst of the fire.
27 Then the nobles, princes, and dukes, and the king’s counselors came together to see these men, because the fire had no power over their bodies. For not a hair of their head was burnt, nor their clothing, nor was any smell of fire upon them.
28 So, Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his Angel, and delivered his servants, who put their trust in him; and have changed the king’s commandment, and offered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29 “Therefore, I make a decree that every people, nation, and language, which speaks any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be torn in pieces, and their houses shall be laid waste, because there is no god that can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babel.
31 Nebuchadnezzar, king to all people, nations and languages, who dwell in all the world, Peace be multiplied to you.
32 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders, that the high God has wrought toward me.
33 How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And his dominion is from generation to generation.
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