Daily Bread

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image^(A) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps,^(B) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials^(C) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,^(D) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(E) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(F) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^{(G) 6} Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(H)

⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.^(I)

⁸ At this time some astrologers^[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^{(K) 10} Your Majesty has issued a decree^(L) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,^{(M) 11} and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(N)—who pay no attention^(O) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(P)

¹³ Furious^(Q) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(R) or worship the image^(S) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(T) will be able to rescue^(U) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(V) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(W) us from it, and he will deliver^(X) us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(Y)”