Daniel 3:4-12

4Then an officer shouted aloud, ‘Listen to me, you people from every country and nation, who speak different languages! The king makes this command:

5Listen for the sound of music from trumpets, flutes, lyres, harps or any other kind of music. When you hear the music, you must bend down low towards the ground. You must worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has built.

6The king will punish anyone who does not do that. His soldiers will throw them immediately into a very hot fire.’

7So, when all the people heard the different kinds of music, they obeyed. The people from every country and nation, who spoke different languages all bent down low. They worshipped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had built.

8Then some wise men went to the king. They told him bad things against the Jews.

9They said to the king, ‘King, live for ever!

10You made a rule. You said that everyone must listen for the sound of the special music. When they hear it, they must bend down and they must worship the gold statue.

11You said that you would punish everyone who does not obey you. You said you would throw them into the middle of a very hot fire.

12But there are some Jewish men who do not obey you. They are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You gave them authority to take care of everything in Babylon region. Those men do not respect your authority. They do not give honour to your gods. They do not worship your gold statue.’