| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” The Blazing Furnace |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god !” |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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