Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue

1King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) made a golden statue (image)a sixty cubits high and six cubits wide <90 ft x 9 ft / 27.4 m x 2.7 m>,b and he set it up on the plain of Dura (dwelling) in the province of Babylon (confusion by mixing). 2Then King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) had set up, and they stood before it.

4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you⁺ are commanded: 5As soon as you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music,c you⁺ must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) has set up. 6And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

7Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) had set up.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused

8At this time some astrologers (Chaldeans)d came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, 9saying to King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown), “O king, may you live forever! 10You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. 12But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon (confusion by mixing)—Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo)—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

13Then Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown), furious with rage, summoned Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo). So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) said to them, “Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), is it true that you⁺ do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? 15Now when you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you⁺ are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you⁺ refuse to worship, you⁺ will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you⁺ from my hands?”

16Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown), we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If the God whom we serve exists, then He is ablee to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and 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 or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

The Fiery Furnace

19At this, Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo). He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, 20and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

21So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo). 23And these three men, Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

24Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?”

“Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25“Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods (like the Son of God)!f”

26Then Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), servants of the Most High God, come out!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), who has sent His angel (Angel)g and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

30Then the king promoted Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) in the province of Babylon (confusion by mixing).