Daniel 3

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.	1 King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, which he set up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.	2 He then ordered the satraps, prefects, and governors, the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the officials of the provinces to be summoned to the dedication of the statue which he had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.	3 The satraps, prefects, and governors, the counselors, treasurers, judges, and magistrates and all the officials of the provinces, all these came together for the dedication and stood before the statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,	4 A herald cried out: "Nations and peoples of every language, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:	5 you are ordered to fall down and worship the golden statue which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.	6 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be instantly cast into a white-hot furnace."
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.	7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, the nations and peoples of every language all fell down and worshiped the golden statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.	8 At that point, some of the Chaldeans came and accused the Jews
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.	9 to King Nebuchadnezzar: "O king, live forever!
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:	10 O king, you issued a decree that everyone who heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments should fall down and worship the golden statue;
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.	11 whoever did not was to be cast into a white-hot furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.	12 There are certain Jews whom you have made administrators of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego; these men, O king, have paid no attention to you; they will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up."
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.	13 Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and sent for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were promptly brought before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?	14 King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?	15 Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hands?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.	16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.	17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.	18 But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up."
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.	19 Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.	20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.	21 They were bound and cast into the white-hot furnace with their coats, hats, shoes and other garments,
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.	22 for the king's order was urgent. So huge a fire was kindled in the furnace that the flames devoured the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.	23 But these three fell, bound, into the midst of the white-hot furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.	24 They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord.
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.	25 In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud:
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.	26 "Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.	27 For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.	28 You have executed proper judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. By a proper judgment you have done all this because of our sins;
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.	29 For we have sinned and transgressed by departing from you, and we have done every kind of evil.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.	30 Your commandments we have not heeded or observed, nor have we done as you ordered us for our good.
	31 Therefore all you have brought upon us, all you have done to us,you have done by a proper judgment.
	32 You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels; to an unjust king, the worst in all the world.
	33 Now we cannot open our mouths; we, your servants, who revere you, have become a shame and a reproach.
	34 For your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant.
	35 Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
	36 To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.
	37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins.
	38 We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
	39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;
	40 As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
	41 And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you.
	42 Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
	43 Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord:
	44 Let all those be routed who inflict evils on your servants; Let them be shamed and powerless, and their strength broken;
	45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world."
	46 Now the king's men who had thrown them in continued to stoke the furnace with brimstone, pitch, tow, and faggots.
	47 The flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace,
	48 and spread out, burning the Chaldeans nearby.
	49 But the angel of the Lord went down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, drove the fiery flames out of the furnace,
	50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it. The fire in no way touched them or caused them pain or harm.
	51 Then these three in the furnace with one voice sang, glorifying and blessing God:
	52 "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
	53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
	54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
	55 Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
	56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.
	57 Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
	58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
	59 You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
	60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
	61 All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	64 Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	65 All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	67 [Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	71 Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	73 Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	74 Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
	75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	76 Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	77 You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	79 You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	80 All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	81 All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	82 You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	83 O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	86 Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	87 Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
	88 Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from the nether world, and saved us from the power of death; He has freed us from the raging flame and delivered us from the fire.
	89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
	90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord; praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endures forever." Hearing them sing, and astonished at seeing them alive,
	91 King Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered.
	92 "But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
	93 Then Nebuchadnezzar came to the opening of the white-hot furnace and called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Servants of the most high God, come out." Thereupon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
	94 When the satraps, prefects, governors, and nobles of the king came together, they saw that the fire had had no power over the bodies of these men; not a hair of their heads had been singed, nor were their garments altered; there was not even a smell of fire about them.
	95 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
	96 Therefore I decree for nations and peoples of every language that whoever blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut to pieces and his house destroyed. For there is no other God who can rescue like this."
	97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
	98 King Nebuchadnezzar to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on earth: abundant peace!
	99 It has seemed good to me to publish the signs and wonders which the most high God has accomplished in my regard.
	100 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures through all generations.