Daniel 3

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	GREEK BIBLE
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.	1 Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς εκαμεν εικονα χρυσην, το υψος αυτης εξηκοντα πηχων και το πλατος αυτης εξ πηχων? και εστησεν αυτην εν τη πεδιαδι Δουρα, εν τη επαρχια της Βαβυλωνος.
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.	2 Και απεστειλε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς να συναξη τους σατραπας, τους διοικητας και τους τοπαρχας, τους κριτας, τους θησαυροφυλακας, τους συμβουλους, τους νομοδιδασκαλους και παντας τους αρχοντας των επαρχιων, δια να ελθωσιν εις τα εγκαινια της εικονος, την οποιαν εστησε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς.
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.	3 Και οι σατραπαι, οι διοικηται και οι τοπαρχαι, οι κριται, οι θησαυροφυλακες, οι συμβουλοι, οι νομοδιδασκαλοι και παντες οι αρχοντες των επαρχιων συνηχθησαν εις τα εγκαινια της εικονος, την οποιαν εστησε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς? και εσταθησαν εμπροσθεν της εικονος, την οποιαν εστησεν ο Ναβουχοδονοσορ.
4 And a herald proclaimed loudly, “To you it is said, to you peoples, tribes, and languages,	4 Και κηρυξ εβοα μεγαλοφωνως, Εις εσας προσταττεται, λαοι, εθνη και γλωσσαι,
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.	5 καθ' ην ωραν ακουσητε τον ηχον της σαλπιγγος, της συριγγος, της κιθαρας, της σαμβυκης, του ψαλτηριου, της συμφωνιας και παντος ειδους μουσικης, πεσοντες προσκυνησατε την εικονα την χρυσην, την οποιαν εστησε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς?
6 But if anyone will not bow down and adore, in the same hour he will be cast into a furnace of burning fire.”	6 και οστις δεν πεση και προσκυνηση, την αυτην ωραν θελει ριφθη εις το μεσον της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης.
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.	7 Δια τουτο οτε ηκουσαν παντες οι λαοι τον ηχον της σαλπιγγος, της συριγγος, της κιθαρας, της σαμβυκης, του ψαλτηριου και παντος ειδους μουσικης, πιπτοντες παντες οι λαοι, τα εθνη και αι γλωσσαι προσεκυνουν την εικονα την χρυσην, την οποιαν εστησε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς.
8 And soon, about the same time, some influential Chaldeans came and accused the Jews,	8 Χαλδαιοι δε τινες προσηλθον τοτε και διεβαλον τους Ιουδαιους?
9 and they said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.	9 και ειπον λεγοντες προς τον βασιλεα Ναβουχοδονοσορ, Βασιλευ, ζηθι εις τον αιωνα.
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.	10 Συ, βασιλευ, εξεδωκας προσταγμα, πας ανθρωπος, οστις ακουση τον ηχον της σαλπιγγος, της συριγγος, της κιθαρας, της σαμβυκης, του ψαλτηριου και της συμφωνιας και παντος ειδους μουσικης, να πεση και να προσκυνηση την εικονα την χρυσην?
11 But if any man will not fall down and adore, he would be cast into a furnace of burning fire.	11 και οστις δεν πεση και προσκυνηση, να ριφθη εις το μεσον της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης.
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.”	12 Ειναι ανδρες τινες Ιουδαιοι, τους οποιους κατεστησας επι τας υποθεσεις της επαρχιας της Βαβυλωνος, ο Σεδραχ, ο Μισαχ και ο Αβδε-νεγω? ουτοι οι ανθρωποι, βασιλευ, δεν σε εσεβασθησαν? τους θεους σου δεν λατρευουσι και την εικονα την χρυσην, την οποιαν εστησας, δεν προσκυνουσι.
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.	13 Τοτε ο Ναβουχοδονοσορ μετα θυμου και οργης προσεταξε να φερωσι τον Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω. Και εφεραν τους ανθρωπους τουτους ενωπιον του βασιλεως.
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?	14 Και αποκριθεις ο Ναβουχοδονοσορ ειπε προς αυτους, Τωοντι, Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, τους θεους μου δεν λατρευετε και την εικονα την χρυσην, την οποιαν εστησα, δεν προσκυνειτε;
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?”	15 τωρα λοιπον εαν ησθε ετοιμοι, οποταν ακουσητε τον ηχον της σαλπιγγος, της συριγγος, της κιθαρας, της σαμβυκης, του ψαλτηριου και της συμφωνιας και παντος ειδους μουσικης, να πεσητε και να προσκυνησητε την εικονα την οποιαν εκαμα, καλως? εαν ομως δεν προσκυνησητε, θελετε ριφθη την αυτην ωραν εις το μεσον της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης? και τις ειναι εκεινος ο Θεος, οστις θελει σας ηθελεν ελευθερωσει εκ των χειρων μου;
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “It is not right for us to obey you in this matter.	16 Απεκριθησαν ο Σεδραχ, ο Μισαχ και ο Αβδε-νεγω και ειπον προς τον βασιλεα, Ναβουχοδονοσορ, ημεις δεν εχομεν χρειαν να σοι αποκριθωμεν περι του πραγματος τουτου.
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.	17 Εαν ηναι ουτως, ο Θεος ημων, τον οποιον ημεις λατρευομεν, ειναι δυνατος να μας ελευθερωση εκ της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης? και εκ της χειρος σου, βασιλευ, θελει μας ελευθερωσει.
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.”	18 Αλλα και αν ουχι, ας ηναι γνωστον εις σε, βασιλευ, οτι τους θεους σου δεν λατρευομεν και την εικονα την χρυσην, την οποιαν εστησας, δεν προσκυνουμεν.
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.	19 Τοτε ο Ναβουχοδονοσορ επλησθη θυμου και η οψις του προσωπου αυτου ηλλοιωθη κατα του Σεδραχ, του Μισαχ και του Αβδε-νεγω? και λαλησας προσεταξε να εκκαυσωσι την καμινον επταπλασιως μαλλον παρ' οσον εφαινετο καιομενη.
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.	20 Και προσεταξε τους δυνατωτερους ανδρας του στρατευματος αυτου να δεσωσι τον Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, και να ριψωσιν αυτους εις την καμινον του πυρος την καιομενην.
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.	21 Τοτε οι ανδρες εκεινοι εδεθησαν μετα των σαλβαριων αυτων, των τιαρων αυτων και των περικνημιδων αυτων και των αλλων ενδυματων αυτων και ερριφθησαν εις το μεσον της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης.
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.	22 Επειδη δε η προσταγη του βασιλεως ητο κατεπειγουσα και η καμινος εξεκαυθη εις υπερβολην, η φλοξ του πυρος εθανατωσε τους ανδρας εκεινους, οιτινες εσηκωσαν τον Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω.
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.	23 Ουτοι δε οι τρεις ανδρες, ο Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, επεσον δεμενοι εις το μεσον της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης.
24 And they were walking in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.	24 Ο δε Ναβουχοδονοσορ ο βασιλευς εξεπλαγη? και σηκωθεις μετα σπουδης ελαλησε και ειπε προς τους μεγιστανας αυτου, δεν ερριψαμεν τρεις ανδρας δεδεμενους εις το μεσον του πυρος; οι δε απεκριθησαν και ειπον προς τον βασιλεα, Αληθως, βασιλευ.
25 Then Azariah, while standing, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:	25 Και αποκριθεις ειπεν, Ιδου, εγω βλεπω τεσσαρας ανδρας λελυμενους, περιπατουντας εν μεσω του πυρος, και βλαβη δεν ειναι εις αυτους, και η οψις του τεταρτου ειναι ομοια με Υιον Θεου.
26 “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and your name is praiseworthy and glorious for all ages.	26 Τοτε πλησιασας ο Ναουχοδονοσορ εις το στομα της καμινου του πυρος της καιομενης ελαλησε και ειπε, Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, δουλοι του Θεου του Υψιστου, εξελθετε και ελθετε. Τοτε ο Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω εξηλθον εκ μεσου του πυρος.
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.	27 Και συναχθεντες οι σατραπαι, οι διοικηται και οι τοπαρχαι και οι μεγιστανες του βασιλεως ειδον τους ανδρας τουτους, οτι επι των σωματων αυτων το πυρ δεν ισχυσε και θριξ της κεφαλης αυτων δεν εκαη και τα σαλβαρια αυτων δεν παρηλλαξαν ουδε οσμη πυρος επερασεν επ' αυτους.
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.	28 Τοτε ελαλησεν ο Ναβουχοδονοσορ και ειπεν, Ευλογητος ο Θεος του Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, οστις απεστειλε τον αγγελον αυτου και ηλευθερωσε τους δουλους αυτου, οιτινες ηλπισαν επ' αυτον και παρηκουσαν τον λογον του βασιλεως και παρεδωκαν τα σωματα αυτων, δια να μη λατρευσωσι μηδε να προσκυνησωσιν αλλον θεον εκτος του Θεου αυτων.
29 For we have sinned, and we have committed iniquity in withdrawing from you, and we have offended in all things.	29 Δια τουτο εκδιδω προσταγμα, οτι πας λαος, εθνος και γλωσσα, ητις λαληση κακον εναντιον του Θεου του Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω, θελει καταμελισθη, και αι οικιαι αυτων θελουσι γεινει κοπρωνες? διοτι αλλος Θεος δεν ειναι δυναμενος να ελευθερωση ουτω.
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.	30 Τοτε ο βασιλευς προεβιβασε τον Σεδραχ, Μισαχ και Αβδε-νεγω εις την επαρχιαν της Βαβυλωνος.
31 Therefore, everything that you have brought upon us, and all that you have done for us, you have done in true judgment.
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 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 Do not hand us over forever, we ask you, because of your name, and do not abolish your covenant.
35 And do not withdraw your mercy from us, because of Abraham, your beloved, and Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one.
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, are diminished more than all other peoples, and we are brought low throughout all the earth, this day, because of our sins.
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 so that we may be able to find your mercy. Nevertheless, with a contrite soul and humble spirit, let us be accepted.
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 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 agreement with your clemency and according to the multitude of your mercies.
43 And rescue us by your wonders and give glory to your name, O Lord.
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 And may they know that you are the Lord, the only God, and glorious above the world.”
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 forth above the furnace for forty-nine cubits.
48 And the fire erupted and burnt those of the Chaldeans within its reach near 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 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 these three, as if with one voice, praised and glorified and blessed God, in the furnace, saying:
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 Blessed are you in the holy temple of your glory: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.
55 Blessed are you who beholds the abyss and sits upon the cherubims: praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven: praiseworthy and glorious forever.
57 All works of the Lord, bless 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 Heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
60 All waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
61 All powers 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 rain and dew, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
65 Every breath of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
66 Fire and steam, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
67 Cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
68 Dews and frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
69 Sleet and winter, 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 Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
74 May the land bless the Lord: and praise and exalt him above all forever.
75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
76 All things that grow in the land, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
77 Fountains, 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 Whales and all things that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
80 All things that fly in the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
81 All beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
82 Sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.
83 May Israel bless the Lord: and 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 Those who are holy and humble in 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 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 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good: because his mercy is forever.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.