Daniel 3:6-26

6But whoever does not fall down and worship shall 1immediately be 2cast into the midst of a 3furnace of blazing fire.” 7Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, 4lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every 5language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8For this reason at that time certain 6Chaldeans came forward and 78brought charges against the Jews. 9They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “9O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have 10made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, 11lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to 12fall down and worship the golden image. 11But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12There are certain Jews whom you have 13appointed 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.”

13Then Nebuchadnezzar in 14rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve 15my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready, 16at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, 17lyre, 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 18immediately be 19cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and 20what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

1621Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 1722If it be so, our 23God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; 24and 25He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 1826But even if He does not, 27let 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.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with 28wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered 29by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20He 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. 21Then these men were tied up in their 3031trousers, their 32coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22For this reason, because the king’s 33command was 3435urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 23But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, 36fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24Then 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.” 25He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and 37walking about in the midst of the fire 38without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the 39gods!” 26Then 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 40Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego 41came out of the midst of the fire.