1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold,
whose height was sixty cubits,†
and its width 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 local governors, the
deputies, and the governors, the judges,
the treasurers, the counselors, 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 local governors, the deputies,
and the governors, the judges, the treasurers,
the counselors, the sheriffs, and all
the rulers of the provinces, were gathered
together to 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 the herald cried aloud, “To you
it is commanded, peoples, nations, and
languages,

5 that whenever you hear the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe,
and all kinds of music, you fall down and
worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar
the king has set up.

6 Whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall
be cast into the middle of a burning fiery
furnace the same hour.”

7 Therefore at that time, when all the
peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute,
zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of
music, all the peoples, the nations, and the
languages, fell down and worshiped the
golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the
king had set up.

8 Therefore at that time certain
Chaldeans came near, and brought
accusation against the Jews.

9 They answered Nebuchadnezzar the
king, “O king, live for ever!

10 You, O king, have made a decree that
every man who hears the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all
kinds of music shallfall down and worship
the golden image;

11 and whoever doesn’t fall down and
worship shall be cast into the middle of a
burning fiery furnace.

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, have
not respected you. They don’t serve your
gods, and don’t worship the golden image
which you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and
fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego be brought. Then these
men were brought before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is
it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, that you don’t serve my god,
nor worship the golden image which I
have set up?

15 Now if you are ready whenever you
hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,
lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to
fall down and worship the image which I
have made, good; but if you don’t worship,
you shall be cast the same hour into the
middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who
is that god who will deliver you out of my
hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we
have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If it happens, 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.

18 But if not, let it be known to you, O
king, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the golden image which you have
set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of
fury, and the form of his appearance was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. He spoke, andcommandedthat
they should heat the furnace seven times
more than it was usually heated.

20 He commanded certain mighty men
who 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
pants, their tunics, their mantles, and their
other clothes, and were cast into the
middle of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king’s commandment
was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot,
the flame of the fire killed those men who
took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 These three men, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, fell down bound into the
middle of the burning fiery furnace.
THE SONG OF THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN‡

24 They walked in the midst of the fire,
praising God, and blessing the Lord.

25 Then Azarias stood, and prayed like
this. Opening his mouth in the midst of the
fire he said,

26 “Blessed are you, O Lord, you God of
our fathers! Your name is worthy to be
praised and glorified for evermore;

27 for you are righteous in all the things
that you have done. Yes, all your works
are true. Your ways are right, and all your
judgments are truth.

28 In all the things that you have brought
upon us, and upon the holy city of our
fathers,Jerusalem, you have executed true
judgments. For according to truth and
justice you have brought all these things
upon us because of our sins.

29 For we have sinned and committed
iniquity in departing from you.

30 In all things we have trespassed, and
not obeyed your commandments or kept
them. We haven’t done as you have commanded
us, that it might go well with us.

31 Therefore all that you have brought
upon us, and everything that you have
done to us, you have done in true judgment.

32 You delivered us into the hands of
lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and
to an unjust king who is the most wicked
in all the world.

33 And now we can’t open our mouth.
Shame and reproach have come on your
servants and those who worship you.

34 Don’t utterly deliver us up, for your
name’s sake. Don’t annul your covenant.

35 Don’t cause your mercy to departfrom
us,for the sake of Abraham who is loved by
you, and for the sake of Isaac your servant,
and Israel your holy one,

36 to whom you promised that you would
multiply their offspring as the stars of the
sky, and as the sand thatis onthe sea shore.

37 For we, O Lord, have become less than
any nation, and are broughtlow this day in
all the world because of our sins.

38 There isn’t at this time prince, or
prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or
sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place
to offer before you, and to find mercy.

39 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and a
humble spirit let us be accepted,

40 like the burnt offerings of rams and
bullocks, and like ten thousands of fat
lambs. So let our sacrifice be in your sight
this day, that we may wholly go after you,
for they shall not be ashamed who put
their trust in you.

41 And now we follow you with all our
heart. We fear you, and seek your face.

42 Put us not to shame; but deal with us
after your kindness, and according to the
multitude of your mercy.

43 Deliver us also according to your mar-
velous works, and give glory to your name,
O Lord. Let all those who harm your
servants be confounded.