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Daniel 3
New American Standard Bible 1995

The King’s Golden Image

3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was sixty [a]cubits and its width six [b]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 stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you [c]the command is given, (D)O peoples, nations and men of every [d]language, 5 that at the moment you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [e]lyre, [f]trigon, [g]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 [h]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, [i]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every [j]language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Worship of the Image Refused

8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came forward and [k](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They responded 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, [l]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, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve (O)my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [m]lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will [n]immediately be (Q)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 [o]If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; [p]and (U)He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 (V)But even if He does not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel’s Friends Protected

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered [q]by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army 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 [r](Y)trousers, their [s]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 [t]command was [u](Z)urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew 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 stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (AB)walking about in the midst of the fire [v]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 responded 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 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 [w]effect on [x]the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [y](AH)trousers [z]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [aa]violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as (AL)not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks 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 prosper in the province of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 3:1 I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
  2. Daniel 3:1 I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
  3. Daniel 3:4 Lit they command
  4. Daniel 3:4 Lit tongue
  5. Daniel 3:5 Or zither
  6. Daniel 3:5 I.e. triangular lyre
  7. Daniel 3:5 Or a type of harp
  8. Daniel 3:6 Or in the same hour
  9. Daniel 3:7 V 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  10. Daniel 3:7 Lit tongue
  11. Daniel 3:8 Lit ate the pieces of
  12. Daniel 3:10 V 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  13. Daniel 3:15 V 5, notes 1, 2, 3
  14. Daniel 3:15 Or in the same hour
  15. Daniel 3:17 Or If our God...is able
  16. Daniel 3:17 Or then
  17. Daniel 3:19 Lit and ordered to
  18. Daniel 3:21 Or leggings
  19. Daniel 3:21 Or cloaks
  20. Daniel 3:22 Lit word
  21. Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
  22. Daniel 3:25 Lit there is no injury in them
  23. Daniel 3:27 Lit power over
  24. Daniel 3:27 Lit their
  25. Daniel 3:27 Or cloaks
  26. Daniel 3:27 Lit changed
  27. Daniel 3:28 Lit and changed the king’s word
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Daniel 3
English Standard Version

Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on (A)the plain of Dura, in (B)the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather (C)the satraps, the prefects, and (D)the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then (E)the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald (F)proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O (G)peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the (H)sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you (I)are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately (J)be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all (K)the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Fiery Furnace

8 Therefore at that time certain (L)Chaldeans (M)came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared[b] to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, (N)have made a decree, that every man who (O)hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, (P)shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship (Q)shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (R)appointed over the affairs of (S)the province of Babylon: (T)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, (U)pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar (V)in furious rage commanded that (W)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when (X)you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.[c] But if you do not worship, (Y)you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And (Z)who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 (AA)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, (AB)our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[d] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was (AC)filled with fury, and the expression of his face (AD)was changed against (AE)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army (AF)to bind (AG)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were (AH)bound in their cloaks, their tunics,[e] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was (AI)urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up (AJ)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell (AK)bound into the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was (AL)astonished and rose up (AM)in haste. He declared to his (AN)counselors, “Did we not cast three men (AO)bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, (AP)walking in the midst of the fire, and they (AQ)are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like (AR)a son of the gods.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, (AS)“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the (AT)Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then (AU)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the (AV)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and (AW)the king's counselors gathered together and saw that (AX)the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their (AY)cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of (AZ)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who (BA)has sent his angel and (BB)delivered his servants, who (BC)trusted in him, and set aside[f] the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than (BD)serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore (BE)I make a decree: Any (BF)people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of (BG)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (BH)shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted (BI)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in (BJ)the province of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 3:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  2. Daniel 3:9 Aramaic answered and said; also verses 24, 26
  3. Daniel 3:15 Aramaic lacks well and good
  4. Daniel 3:17 Or If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and out of your hand, O king
  5. Daniel 3:21 The meaning of the Aramaic words rendered cloaks and tunics is uncertain; also verse 27
  6. Daniel 3:28 Aramaic and changed
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New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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