Daniel 3:1-18

1Nebuchadnezzar the king made a 1statue of gold, the height of which was 2sixty cubits, and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the 3province of Babylon. 2Nebuchadnezzar the king also sent word to assemble the 4satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the chief treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the chief treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you 5the command is given, you 6peoples, nations, and populations of all 7languages, 5that at the moment you 8hear the sound of the horn, flute, 9lyre, 10trigon, 11psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be 12thrown into the middle of a 13furnace of blazing fire.” 7Therefore as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, 14lyre, trigon, psaltery, 15bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 16languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8For this reason at that time certain 17Chaldeans came forward and 1819brought charges against the Jews. 9They began to speak and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “20O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have 21made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, flute, 22lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, is to 23fall down and worship the golden statue. 11But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. 12There are certain Jews whom you have 24appointed 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, nor do they worship the golden statue which you have set up.”

13Then Nebuchadnezzar in 25rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve 26my gods, nor worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready, 27at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, 28lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will 29immediately be 30thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and 31what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?”

1632Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 17If it be so, our 33God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; 34and 35He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 1836But even if He does not, 37let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”