 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold 60 cubits high and six cubits wide and set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then gathered together the princes, governors, officers, counselors, treasurers, judges, justices, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image that he had set up. 3 Then were gathered the princes, governors, officers, counselors, treasurers, judges, justices, and all the officials of the provinces to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before that image. 4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages: 5 At the time you hear the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the harp, stringed+ instruments, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship at that moment will be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the harp, stringed+ instruments, and all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Then certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. 10 You, O king, made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the harp, stringed+ instruments and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden image. 11 Whoever does not fall down and worship should be thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 But there are men, Jews, whom you have set over the business of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, O king, who do not heed you. They do not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up. 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in anger and wrath commanded them to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do you not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, at the time you hear the sound of the trumpet, the flute, the harp, stringed+ instruments and all kinds of music, fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, in that moment you will be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hand? 16 Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter. 17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up. 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the form of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded mighty men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then the men were tied up in their slippers, coats, mantles, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the center of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Then because the king's commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed the men who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed and he rose in haste and said to his advisers, Did we not throw three men bound into the middle of the fire? They said to the king, True, O king. 25 He said, Behold. I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire and there is no harm to them, and the form of the fourth man is like a son of the gods. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the burning fiery furnace. He said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come forth and come there. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth from the middle of the fire. 27 The satraps, the officers, the governors, and the king's advisers gathered and saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power and the hair of their head was not scorched, nor were their slippers changed, nor had the smell of fire clung on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and have changed the king's words and has given their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God. 29 A decree is given by me, that every people, nation, and language, who speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be made into mere members and their house shall be made a dunghill. Because there is no other God who can deliver in this way. 30 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prosper in the province of Babylon.
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