Nebukhadnetstsar the king made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its width six cubits, and he set it up in the valley of Dura in the province of Babylon.

And Nebukhadnetstsar the king sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebukhadnetstsar the king had set up.

Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered for the dedication of the image that Nebukhadnetstsar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebukhadnetstsar the king had set up.

And a herald called out with strength, 'To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages!'

At the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the zither, the harp, the bagpipe, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebukhadnetstsar the king has set up.

And whoever does not fall down and worship, at that hour shall be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace.

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

Therefore, at that time, some Chaldeans came forward and accused the Yehudim.

They answered and said to Nebukhadnetstsar the king, 'O king, live forever!'

'You, O king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the zither, the harp, the bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.

And whoever does not fall down and worship, at that hour shall be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace.'

'There are certain Yehudim whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon—Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego. These men, O king, have not paid regard to you; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden image that you have set up.'

Then Nebukhadnetstsar, in rage and fury, commanded that Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego be brought. So these men were brought before the king.

Nebukhadnetstsar answered and said to them, 'Is it true, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego, that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image that I have set up?'

'Now, if you are ready, at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the zither, the harp, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, at that hour you shall be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace. And who is the Elohim who will deliver you out of my hands?'

Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego answered and said to Nebukhadnetstsar the king, 'We have no need to answer you concerning this matter.'

'If it is so, our Elohim whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.'

'But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up.'

Then Nebukhadnetstsar was filled with fury, and his expression toward Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego changed. He answered and commanded that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

And he commanded the mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego, and to throw them into the blazing furnace.

So these men were bound in their trousers, their tunics, and their cloaks, and were thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace.

Because the king's command was urgent and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who lifted Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego.

And these three men, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego, fell bound into the midst of the blazing furnace.

Then Nebukhadnetstsar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He answered and said to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' They answered the king, 'True, O king.'

He answered and said, 'Look, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the elohim.'

Then Nebukhadnetstsar came near to the entrance of the blazing furnace. He answered and said, 'Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego, servants of the Most High Elohim, come out and come here!' Then Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego came out from the midst of the fire.

And the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their trousers were not scorched, and the smell of fire had not come upon them.

Nebukhadnetstsar answered and said, 'Blessed be the Elohim of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded their bodies rather than serve and worship any elohim except their own Elohim.'

'Therefore, I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the Elohim of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses shall be laid in ruins. For there is no other Elohim who is able to deliver in this way.'

Then the king promoted Shadrakh, Meshakh, and 'Aved-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Nebukhadnetstsar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: May your peace increase.

'It is my pleasure to show the signs and wonders that the Most High Elohim has worked with me.'

'How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.'