1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. Its height was sixty cubits and its width was six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.2And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.3Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4And the herald proclaimed with strength: To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages.5At the time when you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the trigon, the harp, the psaltery, the pipes, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.6And whoever does not fall down and worship shall at that moment be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.7Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, the flute, the trigon, the harp, the psaltery, the pipes, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.8Because of this, at that time certain Chaldeans approached and brought accusations against the Jews.9They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: O king, live forever!10You, O king, have issued a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, the flute, the trigon, the harp, the psaltery, the pipes, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image.11And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.12There are certain Jews whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have not paid heed to you, O king; they do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden image that you set up.13Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them: Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and that you do not worship the golden image that I set up?15Now if you are ready, at the time when you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the trigon, the harp, the psaltery, the pipes, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I made, then well; but if you do not worship, at that moment you shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hand?16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king: O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return an answer to you concerning this matter.17If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, he will deliver us from your hand, O king.18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden image that you set up.19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the appearance of his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He answered and commanded that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was seen fit to heat it.20And he commanded certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.21Then these men were bound in their trousers, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.22Because of this, because the word of the king was urgent and the furnace was heated exceedingly, the flame of the fire killed those men who had taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He answered and said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."25He answered and said, "Behold, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and harm is not in them; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the burning fiery furnace. He answered and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the midst of the fire.27And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors assembled and saw concerning these men that the fire had no power over their bodies, and the hair of their heads was not singed, and their trousers were not changed, and the smell of fire had not come upon them.28Nebuchadnezzar answered and said: Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and changed the king's word and gave their bodies that they might not serve and might not worship any god except their own God.29And from me a decree is set forth that every people, nation, and language that shall speak anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses shall be made a refuse heap, because there is no other god who is able to deliver in this manner.30Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon.