⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?^(A) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(A) along with their wives and children.^(B) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(C)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(A) pays no attention^(B) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”

⁸ At this time some astrologers^[a](A) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^{(B) 10} Your Majesty has issued a decree^(C) 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,^{(D) 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^(E)—who pay no attention^(F) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(G)

¹³ Furious^(H) 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^(I) or worship the image^(J) 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^(K) will be able to rescue^(L) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(M) 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^(N) us from it, and he will deliver^(O) us^[b] 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.^(P)”

Further Sayings of the Wise

²³ These also are sayings of the wise:^(A)