1KingNebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits (ninety feet), and the breadth of it was six cubits (9 feet). He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2Then Nebuchadnezzar summoned all the princes, governors, officers, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of this image he had set up. 3Then when all these dignitaries were assembled; and standing together in front of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, 4A herald loudly proclaimed, “To you it is commanded, O people of all nations, and languages, 5That any time you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship this golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up: 6And whoever does not fall not down and worship shall, within the same hour, be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.” 7Therefore, whenever the people heard any of these musical instruments, all the people fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8At that time certain Chaldeans came forward, and accused the Jews. 9And said to the king, “O king, live forever. 10You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears any of these musical instruments shall fall down and worship the golden image; 11And whoever does not fall down and worship would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. 12There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego – who have disrespected you, O king; by not serving your gods, nor worshipping the golden image that you have set up.”

13Then, in a furious rage, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and when they were brought before the king, 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you refuse to serve my gods, or to worship the golden image that I have set up? 15Now when you hear the horn, pipe, lyre, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I had made, well; but if you do not, you shall be cast the same hour into the burning fiery furnace. And who is that God Who shall deliver you out of my hands?" 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to defend ourselves from you in this matter. 17If indeed we are thrown into the furnace, our God, Whom we serve, is able to deliver us from that burning fiery furnace, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was even more furious, and his rage toward these three men showed in his face; so that he commanded that the furnace be heated seven times more than usual. 20And he commanded the strongest men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and hurl them into that fiery furnace. 21So the three, still wearing their robes, trousers and turbans, were securely bound in their garments, and thrown into the super-heated fiery furnace. 22And because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flames of the fire killed those men that took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego up to the mouth of the furnace. 23And so these three young men, tightly bound, fell into the fiery furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and leaped to his feet, and said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the middle of the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25He then exclaimed, “Look! I see four men walking around unbound in the fire, and they show no sign of harm; and the fourth one looks like the Son of a God!”

26Then Nebuchadnezzar came closer to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and yelled, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come out here!” And so Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came out from the middle of the fire. 27And then all those officials and dignitaries who were assembled saw these men, whose bodies the fire had no effect upon - not even a hair of their head was singed, nor were their garments charred, nor even had the smell of smoke or fire.

28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, Who has sent His angel, and rescued His servants who trusted in Him, and have defied the king's word, willing to yield their bodies, rather than serve or worship any god, except their own God. 29Therefore, I now make this decree: ‘That if any people, of any nation, or language, speak anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, they shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a heap of rubble; because there is no other God Who can deliver or save in this manner.’” 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.