23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, afell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and awalking about in the midst of the fire 1without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the bgods!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the aMost High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego bcame out of the midst of the fire.

27 The asatraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the bfire had no 1effect on 2the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their 3ctrousers 4damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the aGod of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has bsent His angel and delivered His servants who put their ctrust in Him, 1violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as dnot to serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 “Therefore I amake a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of bShadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their chouses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is dno other god who is able to deliver in this way.”

30 Then the king acaused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.