3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king makes an image of gold:
- It’s height: 60 cubits
- It’s breadth: 6 cubits
He sets it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sends to gather the princes, the prefects and the governors; the counsellors, the treasurers, the judges, the lawyers and so all officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king set up.
3:3-6
Thereupon, being gathered together for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up, the princes, the prefects and the governors; the counsellors, the treasurers, the judges, the lawyers and so all officials of the provinces, thus are standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar set up and the herald is proclaiming with might:
“To ye, O peoples, nations and languages, at the time that ye shall hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, harp, lyre, zither, tandem flute and all kinds of music, ye shall fall down and do homage to the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up, and whosoever will not fall down and do homage, in the same hour shall be thrown into the middle of the Furnace of the Incinerating Fire.”
3:7
Accordingly, therefore, at that time when all the people are hearing the sound of the horn, the pipe, harp, lyre, zither and all kinds of music, all the people, nations and languages are falling down, doing homage to the gold image that Nebuchadnezzar the king set up.
3:8-12
Wherefore, according to this front, at that time certain Chaldeans approach and devour their Jewish counterparts. They speak up and are saying to Nebuchadnezzar the king:
“O king, Live for ever! You, O king, made a decree that every person that shall hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, harp, lyre, zither and double flute and all kinds of music must fall down and do homage to the gold image and whosoever should not fall down and do homage shall be thrown into the middle of the Furnace of the Incinerating Fire. There are certain Jews, them whom you appointed over administration of the judicial district of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Aved Nego.
These men:
· Did not issue the king’s decree on your behalf
· Are not paying reverence to your gods
· And also not doing homage to the gold image you set up.”
3:13-15
Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commands to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego. Then these men are brought before the king, Nebuchadnezzar speaking and saying to them:
“Is it a coup stratagem, O Shadrach, Meshach and Aved Nego? To my gods you are not paying reverence nor doing homage to the gold image which I set up?
Now either you are ready, so that at the time when ye will hear the horn, the pipe, harp, lyre, zither and double flute and all kinds of music, ye shall fall down and do homage to the image that I made; Or if ye shall not do homage, in the same hour ye shall be thrown into the middle of the furnace of the incinerating fire. And who is that god who can deliver you from my hands?”
3:16-18
Shadrach Meshach and Abed Nego speak up, saying to the king:
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we were not reckoning needful concerning this, to give you word back.
If it be so, our God whom we are serving has ability to deliver us from a furnace of burning fire and he can deliver from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not paying reverence to your gods thus we can’t do homage to the gold image you set up.”
3:19-23
Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the expression of his face is changed towards Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego, responding and ordering to heat the furnace seven times over that which is customary for its heating.
Then to certain strong men, those in his army, he gives orders to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego for throwing into the Furnace of the Incinerating Fire. Immediately these men are bound in their mantles, tunics, turbans and so their clothing and are being thrown into the midst of the furnace of burning fire. Because of this, since the king’s word has severity and the furnace is made excessively hot, these men who lift up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego – the blaze of the fire kills them. And these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego, fall down bound into the middle of the furnace of burning fire.
3:24-25
Then Nebuchadnezzar is startled and he arises in haste, speaking and saying to his counsellors:
“Did we not cast the three men tied up into the midst of the fire?”
His counsellors responding and saying to the king: “True, O king!”
Nebuchadnezzar replying and saying:
“Lo! I am witnessing four men loosed walking in the middle of the fire and there isn’t an injury on them! And His appearance, that of the fourth is like the Son of God!
3:26-30
Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar approaches the door of the Furnace of the Incinerating Fire speaking and saying:
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego: servants of the Most High God! Exit and come here!”
Thereupon Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego are moving out from the middle of the fire, and the princes, the prefects and the governors and the king’s ministers being gathered together are witnessing these men whom on their bodies the fire has no power, and the hair of their heads is not singed and their mantles are not changed and nor does fire odour pass onto them;
Nebuchadnezzar responding and saying:
“Blessed is their God, of Shadrach, Meshach and Aved Nego, Who sends His Angel and delivers His servants who trust in Him and they change the word of the king; Indeed they surrender their bodies that they should not pay reverence to nor do homage to any god except to their God. And so from me a decree is issued that any people, nation or language that should speak insolence against their God, that of Shadrach, Meshach and Aved Nego, will be dismembered and his house will be rendered a refuse pile, because there is not another God that will be able to deliver like this!”
Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego prosper in the Province of Babylon.