Daniel 3:8-30

MSTC^{(i) 8} Now were there certain men of the Chaldeans that went even then and accused the Jews, ⁹ and said unto the king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, God save thy life forever. ¹⁰ Thou being king hast given a commandment, that all men when they hear noise of the trumpets, harps, shawmes psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: shall fall down and bow themselves toward the golden Image. ¹¹ Whoso then fell not down and worshipped not, that he should be cast in to a hot burning oven. ¹² Now are there certain Jews, whom thou hast set over the offices of the land of Babylon: namely, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, regard not thy commandment; yea they will not serve thy gods, nor bow themselves to the golden Image, that thou hast set up." ¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in a cruel wrath and displeasure, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought unto him. So these men were brought before the king. ¹⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar spake unto them, and said, "What? O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: will not ye serve my gods? Nor bow yourselves to the golden Image, that I have set up? ¹⁵ Well, be ready hereafter, when ye hear the noise of the trumpets blow with the harps, shawmes psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: that ye fall down, and worship the Image which I have made. But if ye worship it not, ye shall be cast immediately in to a hot burning oven. Let's see what God is there, that may deliver you out of my hands!" ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, an said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we ought not to consent unto thee in this matter. For why? ¹⁷ Our God whom we serve, is able to keep us from the hot burning oven, O king, and can right well deliver us out of thy hands: ¹⁸ And if he will not, yet shalt thou know, O king, that we will not serve thy Gods, nor do reverence to the Image which thou hast set up." ¹⁹ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of indignation, so that the countenance of his face changed upon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he charged and commanded, that the oven should be made seven times hotter, than it was wont to be: ²⁰ and spake unto the strongest worthies that were in his house, for to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them in to the hot burning oven. ²¹ So these men were bound in their coats, hosen, shoes with their other garments, and cast into the hot burning oven. ²² For the king's commandment was so straight, and the oven was exceeding hot. As for the men that put in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the flame of the fire destroyed them. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down in the hot burning oven, being fast bound. ²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king marveled, and stood up in all haste: he spake unto his counsel and said, "Did not ye cast these three men bound into the fire?" They answered, and said unto the king, "Yea O king." ²⁵ He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt. And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." ²⁶ Upon this went Nebuchadnezzar unto the mouth of the hot burning oven: he spake also, and said, "O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the high God: go forth, and come hither." And so Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went out of the fire. ²⁷ Then the dukes, lords and nobles, and the king's counsel came together to see these men, upon whom the fire had no manner of power in their bodies: insomuch that the very hair of their head was not burnt, and their clothes unchanged: Yea, there was no smell of fire felt upon them. ²⁸ Then spake Nebuchadnezzar, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: which hath sent his angel, and defended his servants that put their trust in him: that have altered the king's commandment, and jeopardized their bodies thereupon, rather than they would serve or worship any other god except their own God only. ²⁹ Therefore I will and command, that all people, kindreds and tongues, which speak any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall die and their houses shall be prised: Because, there is no God that may save, as this." ³⁰ So the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the land of Babylon.