8 ⌊Therefore⌋m ⌊at this time⌋n some ⌊astrologers⌋o came forward and ⌊they denounced the Jews⌋.p 9 ⌊They responded and said⌋q to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, may you live ⌊forever⌋!r 10 You, O king, have made a decree that ⌊everyone⌋s who hears the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, he shall fall down and shall worship the statue of gold.t 11 ⌊And whoever⌋u ⌊does not fall down⌋v and worship shall be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 12 However there are Judean men whom you have appointedw over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these men, O king, ⌊pay you no heed⌋x and were not serving your god, and the statue of goldy that you set up they are not worshiping.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar said in rage and anger to bring in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; then they brought in these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you are not serving my god, and you are not worshiping the statue of goldz that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready so that ⌊when⌋a you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, that will be good. But if you do not worship it, ⌊immediately⌋b you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and ⌊who is the god⌋c whod will rescue you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need on this matter ⌊to present a defense to you⌋.e 17 ⌊If it is so⌋,f our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us. 18 And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that ⌊we will not serve your gods⌋,g and the statue of goldh that you have set up we will not worship.”

The Wrath of the King and His Fiery Furnace of Death

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and the image of his face was changed ⌊toward⌋i Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, so he ⌊ordered and said⌋j to heat up the one furnace seven times what was usual to heat it up. 20 And he commanded ⌊the strongest men of the guards⌋k who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their other clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 ⌊Therefore⌋l ⌊because⌋m the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 23 But these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and they were bound.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and he rose up in haste and he asked, saying to his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered, saying to the king, “Certainly, O king!” 25 ⌊He answered⌋,n saying, “Look, I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire and there is no damage to them, and theo appearance of the fourth man resembles the son of a god.”