Daniel

The Golden Statue

King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue, thirty meters high and three wide, set up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Then he called together the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all other provincial officials to gather for the dedication of the statue.

All those summoned gathered together for the dedication and stood before the statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar.

There, a herald loudly proclaimed: “Nations and peoples of every language, you are hereby commanded

to fall down and worship the golden statue as soon as you hear the music played on the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all other instruments.

Whoever does not do this will immediately be thrown into a burning furnace.”

At this command, all the peoples of every nation and language who heard the sound of music on the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments fell down and worshiped the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

That was when the Chaldean diviners came to the king, accusing the Jews.

They told King Nebuchadnezzar: “Live forever, O king!

You issued a decree that whenever the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments was heard, everyone must fall down and worship the golden statue.

Whoever failed to do so was to be thrown into a burning furnace.

There are some Jews, those whom you appointed as administrators of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who refuse to pay attention to your order. They will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were immediately brought before the king.

King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them: “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

If you hear now the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments, will you fall down and worship the statue I made? If you won’t, you know the punishment: you will immediately be thrown into a burning furnace. And then what god can deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded:

“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves to you on this matter. If you command us to be thrown into the furnace, the God we serve will rescue us.

But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s face reddened with fury as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

and commanded some of his strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the burning furnace.

At once they were bound and thrown into the furnace, with their hats, shoes, and garments on,

for the king’s order was very urgent. The fire in the furnace was so fierce that it consumed even the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it.

The three, tightly bound, fell into the heart of the blazing furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Confession

Then King Nebuchadnezzar suddenly stood in amazement and asked his counselors: “Did we not throw three men bound into the fire?” They replied: “Certainly.”

(92)The king said: “But I see four men walking around freely in the fire, and they aren’t hurt; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

(93)Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the blazing furnace and said:“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.”

(94)So they came out of the fire. The officials, prefects, governors, and counselors of the king stepped forward to examine them: the fire had not harmed their bodies; their hair was not singed; their clothes were not burned; and they didn’t even have the smell of smoke.

(95)Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to free his servants who, trusting in him, disobeyed the king’s order; and preferred to give their bodies to the fire rather than serve and worship any other god but their God.

(96)I give this command, therefore: From every race, nation, and language, anyone who speaks irreverently of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut into pieces and his house shall be destroyed, for there is no other god who can save like this.”

(97)And the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego throughout the province of Babylon.

(98)Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, all nations on the earth, regardless of their language: Peace. It pleases me to share the signs and wonders the Most High God has performed in me.

(100)How impressive are his signs,how mighty are his wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,his dominion lasts for all generations.

(33) And today, we cannot even open our mouths; shame and humiliation have overcome those who serve and worship you.

(34) Do not abandon us forever; do not reject your covenant for your name’s sake.

(35) Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac, your servant, of Israel, your holy one,

(36) to whom you promised to multiply their race as the stars of heaven and the sand on the shore of the sea.

(37) Lord, see, we have become the least among the nations in all the world, and we are humiliated because of our sins.

(38) Right now, we no longer have a king, prophet, or leader. We can’t offer you holocausts, sacrifices, offerings, or incense. We have no place to present to you the firstfruits of our crops, to find favor with you.

(39) But at least when we present ourselves with a contrite soul and humbled spirit, may we then be deemed acceptable to you,

(40) more than by offerings of rams and calves as holocausts, and of thousands of fat lambs. May this sacrifice of ours today earn us your favor, for we know that those who trust in you will never be disappointed.

(41) And now, we serve you with all our hearts; we fear you and seek your face.

(42) Do not abandon us in our shame, but treat us with your kindness and great mercy.

(43) Save us through your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.

(44) Let those be put to shame who mistreat your servants, covered with disgrace, and stripped of their power. Break their strength,

(45) and let them recognize that you alone are God and Lord, glorious over the whole world.

Canticle of the Three Young Men

The king’s servants who had thrown them into the furnace kept adding oil, tar, tow, and vine shoots to keep the fire burning,

so that the flames reached about twenty-five meters above the furnace,

and spreading out, burned the Chaldeans standing around.

But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside Azariah and his companions; he drove the flames of the fire outside the furnace, and blew upon them,

in the middle of the furnace, a coolness, like that of wind and dew, so that the fire did not touch them or cause them pain or trouble.

Then the three began singing together, glorifying and blessing God inside the furnace, and saying:

(52) “Blessed are you, Lord, God of our ancestors, be praised and exalted forever. Blessed is your holy and glorious name, celebrated and exalted forever.

(53) Blessed are you in the temple of your sacred glory; your praises are sung forever.

(54) Blessed are you, on the throne of your kingdom; honored and glorified forever.

(55) Blessed are you, who fathom the depths, who are enthroned on the cherubim; praised and exalted forever.

(56) Blessed are you, in the firmament of heaven; praised and glorified forever.

(57) All the works of the Lord, bless him, praise him, exalt him forever.

(58) Angels of the Lord, bless him, praise and glorify him forever.

(59) Heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

(60) All the waters above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

(61) All the powers of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.

(62) Sun and moon, praise and exalt him forever.

(63) Stars of heaven, praise and exalt him forever.

(64) Rain and dew, praise and exalt him forever.

(65) All winds, praise and exalt him forever.

(66) Fire and heat, praise and exalt him forever.

(67) Cold and heat, praise and exalt him forever.

(68) Dew and frost, praise and exalt him forever.

(69) Ice and cold, praise and exalt him forever.

(70) Frost and snow, praise and exalt him forever.

(71) Days and nights, praise and exalt him forever.

(72) Light and darkness, praise and exalt him forever.

(73) Lightning and clouds, praise and exalt him forever.

(74) Earth, praise and exalt him forever.

(75) Mountains and hills, praise and exalt him forever.

(76) Everything that sprouts on earth, praise and exalt him forever.

(77) Springs of water, praise and exalt him forever.

(78) Seas and rivers, praise and exalt him forever.

(79) Whales and fishes, praise and exalt him forever.

(80) All the birds of heaven, praise and exalt him forever.

(81) Animals, wild and tame, praise and exalt him forever.

(82) All people on earth, praise and exalt him forever.

(83) O Israel, praise and exalt him forever.

(84) Priests of the Lord, praise and exalt him forever.

(85) Servants of the Lord, praise and exalt him forever.

(86) Spirits and souls of the just, praise and exalt him forever.

(87) Those who are holy and humble of heart, praise and exalt him forever.

(88) Ananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever. For he has taken us out from the netherworld, he has saved us from the hands of death, freed us from the furnace of burning flames, and rescued us from the midst of the fire.

(89) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is everlasting.

(90) All who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods; praise and acknowledge him, for his mercy is everlasting.”