Daniel 3:6-26

6But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be 1thrown into the middle of a 2furnace of blazing fire.” 7Therefore as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, 3lyre, trigon, psaltery, 4bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 5languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8For this reason at that time certain 6Chaldeans came forward and 78brought charges against the Jews. 9They began to speak and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “9O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have 10made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, flute, 11lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, is to 12fall 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 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, nor do they worship the golden statue 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 began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve 15my gods, nor worship the golden statue 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 musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will 18immediately be 19thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and 20what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?”

1621Shadrach, 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 22God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; 23and 24He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 1825But even if He does not, 26let 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.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with 27wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered 28by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21Then these men were tied up in their 29trousers, their 30coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. 22For this reason, because the king’s 31command was 32harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 33fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and 34walking about in the middle of the fire 35unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the 36gods!” 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the 37Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego 38came out of the middle of the fire.