| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | International Standard Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Some time later, king Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue, making it 60 cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up in the Dura Valley within the province of Babylon. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then King Nebuchadnezzar summoned the regional authorities, governors, deputy governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the other administrators of the provinces, ordering them to come to the dedication of the statue that he had erected. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3So the regional authorities, governors, deputy governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the other administrators of the provinces assembled to dedicate the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They took their places in front of the statue that he had erected. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then a herald proclaimed aloud: "People of all nations, and languages are commanded: |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that was set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Anyone who does not fall down and worship is immediately to be thrown into the blazing fire furnace." |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Therefore, when all of the people "heard the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various other instruments," all the "people, nations, and languages" began to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Just then, certain influential Chaldeans took this opportunity to come forward and denounce the Jews. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9They told King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your majesty, live forever. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10You, your majesty, issued this decree: 'Every man who hears the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp, playing together along with various other instruments is to fall down and worship the golden statue. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Whoever does not fall down and worship is to be thrown into a blazing fire furnace.' |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12"Certain influential Jewish men whom you appointed to manage the city of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—have neither paid attention to you, your majesty, nor served your gods. And they won't worship the golden statue that you set up." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and furiously ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't worship my gods and that you don't worship the golden statue that has been set up? |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Now, if you are ready at this very moment to obey 'the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the lyre, the four-stringed lyre, and the harp,' and worship the image that I have made… If you do not so worship, you will immediately have cast yourselves into the middle of the blazing fire, and what god is there who can deliver you from my power?" |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "It's not necessary for us to respond in this matter. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18But if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won't serve your gods, and we won't worship the golden statue that you have set up." |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Out of control with rage, Nebuchadnezzar's facial expression changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Then he issued orders to his elite guard to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with ropes and throw them into the blazing fire furnace. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21So the elite guard tied them up fully clothed, still wearing their robes, tunics, and turbans, and threw them into the blazing fire furnace, |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22because the king's command was so drastic. Since the furnace was blazing hot, its flames killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing fire. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Bound firmly with ropes, these three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing fire furnace. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Astonished, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up in terror, and asked his advisers, "Didn't we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?" In reply they told the king, "Yes, your majesty." |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25"Look!" he told them, "I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being." |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27The regional authorities, viceroys, governors, and royal advisors gazed at those men and saw that the fire had no effect on their bodies—not a hair on their head was singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not smell of fire. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and announced: "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29So I decree that people from any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will be destroyed and their house reduced to rubble, because there is no other god who can save like this." |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego within the province of Babylon. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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