Daniel 3

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.	1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.	2 Then king Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together the governors, magistrates and judges, generals and sovereigns and commanders, and all the leaders of the regions, to come together for the dedication of the statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had raised.
3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, were assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.	3 Then the governors, magistrates and judges, generals and sovereigns and nobles, who were appointed to power, and all the leaders of the regions were brought together so as to convene for the dedication of the statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had raised. And so they stood before the statue that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,	4 And a herald proclaimed loudly, “To you it is said, to you peoples, tribes, and languages,
5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;	5 that in the hour when you will hear the sound of the trumpet and the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, you must fall down and adore the gold statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."	6 But if anyone will not bow down and adore, in the same hour he will be cast into a furnace of burning fire.”
7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.	7 After this, therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, all the peoples, tribes, and languages fell down and adored the gold statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.	8 And soon, about the same time, some influential Chaldeans came and accused the Jews,
9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for ever!	9 and they said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.
10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;	10 You, O king, have established a decree, so that every man who might hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, will prostrate himself and adore the gold statue.
11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.	11 But if any man will not fall down and adore, he would be cast into a furnace of burning fire.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."	12 Yet there are influential Jews, whom you have appointed over the works of the region of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have scorned your decree. They do not worship your gods, and they do not adore the gold statue which you have raised up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king.	13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in fury and in wrath, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought, and so, without delay, they were brought before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?	14 And king Nebuchadnezzar addressed them and said, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the gold statue, which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?"	15 Therefore, if you are prepared now, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, lute, harp and psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, prostrate yourselves and adore the statue which I have made. But if you will not adore, in the same hour you will be cast into the furnace of burning fire. And who is the God that will rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.	16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “It is not right for us to obey 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 your hand, O king.	17 For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to rescue us from the oven of burning fire and to free us from your hands, O king.
18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."	18 But even if he will not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your gods, nor adore the gold statue, which you have raised up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated.	19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the appearance of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated to seven times its usual fire.
20 And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.	20 And he ordered the strongest men of his army to bind the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire.
21 Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace.	21 And immediately these men were bound, and along with their coats, and their hats, and their shoes, and their garments, were cast into the middle of the furnace of burning fire.
22 Because the king's order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.	22 But the king’s order was so urgent that the furnace was heated excessively. As a result, those men who had cast in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were killed by the flame of the fire.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.	23 But these three men, that is, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, having been bound, fell down in the middle of the oven of burning fire.
24 And they walked about in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord.	24 And they were walking in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.
25 Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:	25 Then Azariah, while standing, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
26 "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise; and thy name is glorified for ever.	26 “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and your name is praiseworthy and glorious for all ages.
27 For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true and thy ways right, and all thy judgments are truth.	27 For you are just in all the things that you have accomplished for us, and all your works are true, and your ways are right, and all your judgments are true.
28 Thou hast executed true judgments in all that thou hast brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, for in truth and justice thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins.	28 For you have made equally true judgments in all the things that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. For in truth and in judgment, you have brought down all these things because of our sins.
29 For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from thee, and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed thy commandments;	29 For we have sinned, and we have committed iniquity in withdrawing from you, and we have offended in all things.
30 we have not observed them or done them, as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us.	30 And we have not listened to your precepts, nor have we observed or done as you have ordered us, so that it might go well with us.
31 So all that thou hast brought upon us, and all that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.	31 Therefore, everything that you have brought upon us, and all that you have done for us, you have done in true judgment.
32 Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.	32 And you have delivered us into the hands of our enemies: traitors, unjust and most wicked, and to a king, unjust and most wicked, even more so than all others on earth.
33 And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and worshipers.	33 And now we are not able to open our mouths. We have become a shame and a disgrace to your servants and to those who worship you.
34 For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break thy covenant,	34 Do not hand us over forever, we ask you, because of your name, and do not abolish your covenant.
35 and do not withdraw thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac thy servant and Israel thy holy one,	35 And do not withdraw your mercy from us, because of Abraham, your beloved, and Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one.
36 to whom thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea.	36 You have spoken with them, promising that you would multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore.
37 For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.	37 For we, O Lord, are diminished more than all other peoples, and we are brought low throughout all the earth, this day, because of our sins.
38 And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before thee or to find mercy.	38 Neither is there, at this time, a leader, or a ruler, or a prophet, nor any holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first fruits, in your eyes,
39 Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;	39 so that we may be able to find your mercy. Nevertheless, with a contrite soul and humble spirit, let us be accepted.
40 such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.	40 Just as in the holocausts of rams and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, in order to please you. For there is no shame for those who trust in you.
41 And now with all our heart we follow thee, we fear thee and seek thy face.	41 And now we follow you wholeheartedly, and we fear you, and we seek your face.
42 Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in thy forbearance and in thy abundant mercy.	42 Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in agreement with your clemency and according to the multitude of your mercies.
43 Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord! Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame;	43 And rescue us by your wonders and give glory to your name, O Lord.
44 let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, and let their strength be broken.	44 And let all those be confounded who lead your servants towards evil. May they be confounded by all your power and may their strength be crushed.
45 Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, glorious over the whole world."	45 And may they know that you are the Lord, the only God, and glorious above the world.”
46 Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush.	46 And they did not cease, those attendants of the king who had cast them in, to heat the furnace with oil, and flax, and pitch, and brush.
47 And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits,	47 And the flame streamed forth above the furnace for forty-nine cubits.
48 and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace.	48 And the fire erupted and burnt those of the Chaldeans within its reach near the furnace.
49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace,	49 But the angel of the Lord descended with Azariah and his companions into the furnace; and he cast the flame of the fire out of the furnace.
50 and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.	50 And he made the middle of the furnace like the blowing of a damp wind, and the fire did not touch them, nor afflict them, nor bother them at all.
51 Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying:	51 Then these three, as if with one voice, praised and glorified and blessed God, in the furnace, saying:
52 "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;	52 “Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers: praiseworthy, and glorious, and exalted above all forever. And blessed is the holy name of your glory: praiseworthy, and exalted above all, for all ages.
53 And blessed is thy glorious, holy name and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;	53 Blessed are you in the holy temple of your glory: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.
54 Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.	54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.
55 Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.	55 Blessed are you who beholds the abyss and sits upon the cherubims: praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
56 Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.	56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven: praiseworthy and glorious forever.
57 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven and to be sung and glorified for ever.	57 All works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
58 "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
59 Bless the Lord, you heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	59 Heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
60 Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	60 All waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
61 Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	61 All powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
62 Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
63 Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
64 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	64 Every rain and dew, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
65 Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	65 Every breath of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
66 Bless the Lord, all winds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	66 Fire and steam, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
67 Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	67 Cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
68 Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	68 Dews and frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
69 Bless the Lord, dews and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	69 Sleet and winter, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
70 Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
71 Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	71 Nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
72 Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
73 Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	73 Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
74 Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	74 May the land bless the Lord: and praise and exalt him above all forever.
75 Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
76 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	76 All things that grow in the land, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
77 Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	77 Fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
78 Bless the Lord, you springs, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
79 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	79 Whales and all things that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
80 Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	80 All things that fly in the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
81 Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	81 All beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
82 Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	82 Sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
83 Bless the Lord, you sons of men, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	83 May Israel bless the Lord: and praise and exalt him above all forever.
84 Bless the Lord, O Israel, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
85 Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
86 Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	86 Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
87 Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	87 Those who are holy and humble in heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
88 Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.	88 Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from the underworld, and saved us from the hand of death, and freed us from the midst of the burning flame, and rescued us from the midst of the fire.
89 Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever; for he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace; from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.	89 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good: because his mercy is forever.
90 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever.	90 All those who are pious, bless the Lord, the God of gods: praise him and acknowledge him because his mercy is for all generations.”
91 Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods, sing praise to him and give thanks to him, for his mercy endures for ever."	91 Then king Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and he quickly got up and said to his nobles: “Did we not cast three men shackled into the midst of the fire?” Answering the king, they said, “True, O king.”
92 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."	92 He answered and said, “Behold, I see four men unbound and walking in the midst of the fire, and no harm is in them, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of God.”
93 He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."	93 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the entrance of the furnace of burning fire, and he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the supreme God, come out and approach.” And immediately Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went out from the midst of the fire.
94 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.	94 And when the governors, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the powerful of the king had gathered together, they considered these men because the fire had no power against their bodies, and not a hair of their head had been scorched, and their pants had not been affected, and the smell of the fire had not passed onto them.
95 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their mantles were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.	95 Then Nebuchadnezzar, bursting out, said, “Blessed is their God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who believed in him. And they altered the verdict of the king, and they delivered up their bodies, so that they would not serve or adore any god except their God.
96 Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.	96 Therefore, this decree is established by me: that every people, tribe, and language, whenever they have spoken blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will perish and their homes will be destroyed. For there is no other God who is able to save in this way.”
97 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."	97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
98 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.	98 NEBUCHADNEZZAR, the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in the whole world, may peace be increased with you.
	99 The supreme God has accomplished signs and wonders with me. Therefore, it has pleased me to proclaim
	100 his signs, which are great, and his wonders, which are mighty. For his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power continues from generation to generation.