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 .
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes , the governors , and the captains , the judges , the treasurers , the counsellors , the sheriffs , and all the rulers of the provinces , to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up .
3 Then the princes , the governors , and captains , the judges , the treasurers , the counsellors , 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 .
4 Then an herald cried aloud , To you it is commanded , O people , nations , and languages ,
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 :
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery 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 .
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near , and accused the Jews .
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar , O king , live for ever .
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 :
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth , that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace .
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego ; these men , O king , have not regarded thee : they serve not thy gods , nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up .
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego . Then they brought these men before the king .
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true , O Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , do not ye serve my gods , nor worship the golden image which I have 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 ?
16 Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , answered and said to the king , O Nebuchadnezzar , we are not careful to answer thee 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 .
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 .
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury , and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego : therefore he spake , and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated .
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , and to cast them into the burning fiery 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 .
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 Abednego .
23 And these three men , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace .
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied , and rose up in haste , and spake , and said unto his counsellors , Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire ? They answered and said unto the king , True , O king .
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 .
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace , and spake , and said , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , ye servants of the most high God , come forth , and come hither. Then Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , came forth of the midst of the fire .
27 And the princes , governors , and captains , and the king's counsellors , 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.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake , and said , Blessed be the God of Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , 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 .
29 Therefore I make a decree , That every people , nation , and language , which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , 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.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , in the province of Babylon .
