God Delivers His Servants

3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw41 into42 the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.” 3:25 He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!”43 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out,44 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”

Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.45 3:27 Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically46 unharmed by the fire.47 The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!

3:28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,48 “Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel49 and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring50 the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than51 serve or pay homage to any god other than their God! 3:29 I hereby decree52 that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes53 the god of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.” 3:30 Then Nebuchadnezzar54 promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

4:1 (3:31)1 “King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity!2 4:2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.

4:3 “How great are his signs!

How mighty are his wonders!

His kingdom will last forever,3

and his authority continues from one generation to the next.”