1King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue that was about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a message to gather all the high officials, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, advisers, sheriffs, and all the other rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3So the high officials, deputies, governors, judges, treasurers, advisers, sheriffs, and all the other rulers of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood in front of the statue.
4Then a herald loudly announced, "People, nations, and languages, this is what you are commanded to do:
5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6Anyone who does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7Therefore, at that moment, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8At that time, some Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May the king live forever!
10Your Majesty, you issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of musical instruments must fall down and worship the gold statue.
11And anyone who does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12But there are some Jews whom you appointed to manage the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these men, O king, have disregarded you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, full of rage and fury, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. So these men were brought before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my god and worship the gold statue I set up?"
15Now, if you are ready to bow down and worship the statue I made as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, then that’s good. But if you don't worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to defend ourselves to you about this.
17If it happens, our God, whom we serve, can rescue us from the blazing furnace. And he will rescue us from your power, O king.
18But even if he doesn't, you should know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."
19Then Nebuchadnezzar became furious, and his face changed with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.
20He commanded some of the strongest men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21So these men were tied up in their trousers, cloaks, turbans, and other clothes, and were thrown into the blazing furnace.
22Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, the flames killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23And these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—fell, still tied, into the blazing furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and quickly stood up. He asked his advisors, "Didn't we throw three men, tied up, into the fire?" They answered the king, "Yes, Your Majesty."
25He replied, "Look! I see four men, untied, walking around in the fire, and they are unharmed! And the fourth one looks like a son of the gods."
26Then Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the opening of the blazing furnace. He called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
27The provincial leaders, governors, and royal advisors gathered and saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies. Not a hair on their heads was singed, their clothes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28Nebuchadnezzar declared, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's order and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29Therefore, I issue a decree: Any people, nation, or language group that says anything disrespectful about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can rescue in such a way."
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.