1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[1] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, 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.4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do:5as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’7Therefore, 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 worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.8At this time some astrologers[2] came forward and denounced the Jews.9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘May the king live for ever!10Your Majesty has issued a decree 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,11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.12But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.’13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?15Now 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 will be able to rescue you from my hand?’16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[3] from Your Majesty’s hand.18But 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.’19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude towards them changed. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’25He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.’30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3
Nuova Riveduta 2006
from Società Biblica di Ginevra
Tre compagni di Daniele nella fornace
1Il re Nabucodonosor fece una statua d’oro, alta sessanta cubiti e larga sei cubiti, e la collocò nella pianura di Dura, nella provincia di Babilonia.2Poi il re Nabucodonosor fece convocare i satrapi, i prefetti, i governatori, i consiglieri, i tesorieri, i giureconsulti, i magistrati e tutte le autorità delle province perché venissero all’inaugurazione della statua che egli aveva fatto erigere.3Allora i satrapi, i prefetti e i governatori, i consiglieri, i tesorieri, i giureconsulti, i magistrati e tutte le autorità delle province vennero all’inaugurazione della statua che il re Nabucodonosor aveva fatto erigere. Tutti stavano in piedi davanti alla statua eretta da Nabucodonosor.4Allora l’araldo gridò forte: «A voi, gente di ogni popolo, nazione e lingua, si ordina quanto segue:5nel momento in cui udrete il suono del corno, del flauto, della cetra, della lira, del saltèrio, della zampogna e di ogni specie di strumenti, vi inchinerete e adorerete la statua d’oro che il re Nabucodonosor ha fatto erigere.6Chi non si inchina per adorare sarà immediatamente gettato in una fornace ardente».7Non appena tutti i popoli ebbero udito il suono del corno, del flauto, della cetra, della lira, del saltèrio e di ogni specie di strumenti, gli uomini di ogni popolo, nazione e lingua si inchinarono e adorarono la statua d’oro che il re Nabucodonosor aveva fatto erigere.8In quello stesso momento, alcuni Caldei si fecero avanti e accusarono i Giudei,9dicendo al re Nabucodonosor: «O re, possa tu vivere per sempre!10Tu hai decretato, o re, che chiunque ha udito il suono del corno, del flauto, della cetra, della lira, del saltèrio, della zampogna e di ogni specie di strumenti deve inchinarsi per adorare la statua d’oro.11Chiunque non si inchina e non adora deve essere gettato in una fornace ardente.12Ora, ci sono dei Giudei, ai quali tu hai affidato l’amministrazione della provincia di Babilonia, cioè Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego, che non ti danno ascolto, non adorano i tuoi dèi e non si inchinano alla statua d’oro che tu hai fatto erigere».13Allora Nabucodonosor, irritato e furioso, ordinò che gli portassero Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego; questi furono condotti alla presenza del re.14Nabucodonosor disse loro: «Sadrac, Mesac, Abed-Nego, è vero che non adorate i miei dèi e non vi inchinate davanti alla statua d’oro che io ho fatto erigere?15Ora, appena udrete il suono del corno, del flauto, della cetra, della lira, del saltèrio, della zampogna e di ogni specie di strumenti, siate pronti a inchinarvi per adorare la statua che io ho fatta. Se non la adorerete, sarete immediatamente gettati in una fornace ardente; e quale Dio potrà liberarvi dalla mia mano?»16Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego risposero al re: «O Nabucodonosor, noi non abbiamo bisogno di darti risposta su questo punto.17Ma il nostro Dio, che noi serviamo, ha il potere di salvarci, e ci libererà dal fuoco della fornace ardente e dalla tua mano, o re.18Anche se questo non accadesse, sappi, o re, che comunque noi non serviremo i tuoi dèi e non adoreremo la statua d’oro che tu hai fatto erigere».19Allora Nabucodonosor s’infuriò e l’espressione del suo viso mutò completamente nei riguardi di Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego. Egli ordinò che si arroventasse la fornace sette volte più del solito;20poi ordinò agli uomini più vigorosi del suo esercito di legare Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego, e di gettarli nella fornace ardente.21Allora i tre uomini furono legati con le loro tuniche, le loro vesti, i loro mantelli e tutti i loro indumenti, e furono gettati in mezzo alla fornace ardente.22Poiché l’ordine del re era perentorio e la fornace era arroventata, il calore uccise gli uomini che avevano gettato Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego nel fuoco.23E questi tre uomini, Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego, caddero legati in mezzo alla fornace ardente.24Allora il re Nabucodonosor fu spaventato e andò in gran fretta a dire ai suoi consiglieri: «Non erano tre gli uomini che abbiamo legati e gettati in mezzo al fuoco ardente?» Quelli risposero e dissero al re: «Certo, o re!»25«Eppure», disse ancora il re, «io vedo quattro uomini, sciolti, che camminano in mezzo al fuoco, senza avere sofferto nessun danno; e l’aspetto del quarto è simile a quello di un figlio degli dèi.26Nabucodonosor si avvicinò alla bocca della fornace ardente e disse: «Sadrac, Mesac, Abed-Nego, servi del Dio altissimo, venite fuori!» E Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego uscirono dal fuoco.27I satrapi, i prefetti, i governatori e i consiglieri del re si radunarono, osservarono quegli uomini e videro che sopra i loro corpi il fuoco non aveva avuto nessun potere e che neppure un capello del loro capo era stato bruciato, che le loro tuniche non erano alterate e che essi non avevano neppure odore di fuoco.28Nabucodonosor prese a dire: «Benedetto sia il Dio di Sadrac, di Mesac e di Abed-Nego, il quale ha mandato il suo angelo e ha liberato i suoi servi che hanno confidato in lui, hanno trasgredito l’ordine del re, hanno esposto i loro corpi per non servire né adorare alcun altro Dio che il loro.29Perciò ordino quanto segue: chiunque, a qualsiasi popolo, nazione o lingua appartenga, dirà male del Dio di Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego, sia fatto a pezzi e la sua casa ridotta in un letamaio; perché non c’è nessun altro dio che possa salvare in questo modo».30Allora il re fece prosperare Sadrac, Mesac e Abed-Nego nella provincia di Babilonia.
1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[1] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (Ge 11:2; Da 2:48; Da 3:12; Da 3:30)2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Ezr 8:36; Da 2:48; Da 3:27; Da 6:1; Da 6:3; Da 6:6)3Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Da 3:2)4And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, (Da 3:29; Da 4:1; Da 4:14; Da 5:7; Da 5:19; Da 6:25; Da 7:14; Re 5:9; Re 18:2)5that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (Da 2:46; Da 3:7; Da 3:10; Da 3:15)6And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” (Jer 29:22; Eze 23:25)7Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Da 3:4)
The Fiery Furnace
8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. (Da 1:4; Da 6:12)9They declared[2] to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!10You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. (Da 3:5; Da 3:7; Da 3:15; Da 3:29; Da 4:6; Da 6:26)11And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. (Da 3:6)12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Da 1:7; Da 2:49; Da 3:1; Da 6:13)13Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. (Da 2:12; Da 3:12)14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.[3] But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Ex 5:2; 2Ki 18:35; Da 3:5; Da 3:6; Da 3:7; Da 3:10; Da 6:20)16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (Da 3:12)17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[4] (Da 3:15)18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. (Es 7:7; Da 2:49; Da 3:12; Da 3:13)20And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. (Da 3:12; Da 3:24)21Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics,[5] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. (Da 3:20)22Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Da 1:7; Da 2:15)23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. (Da 3:20)24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” (Da 2:25; Da 3:20; Da 3:23; Da 4:19; Da 4:36; Da 6:7)25He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Job 1:6; Isa 43:2; Da 3:28; Da 6:23)26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. (Da 3:22; Da 4:2; Da 5:18; Da 5:21)27And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. (Da 3:2; Da 3:21; Da 3:24; Heb 11:34)28Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside[6] the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. (Ex 20:3; Ps 25:2; Ps 34:7; Da 3:15; Da 3:17; Da 3:22; Da 6:22)29Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” (Da 2:5; Da 3:4; Da 3:10; Da 3:22)30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (Da 2:48; Da 3:1; Da 3:12; Da 3:22)
Daniel 3
King James Version
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.10Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well : but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.17If it be so , our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.22Therefore because the king' commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither . Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king' counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king' word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
1King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. It was 30 metres high and 3 metres wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura near the city of Babylon.2Then the king sent for the royal rulers, high officials and governors. He sent for the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. And he sent for all the other officials of Babylon. He asked them to come to a special gathering to honour the statue he had set up.3So the royal rulers, high officials and governors came together. So did the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. All the other officials joined them. They came to honour the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it.4Then a messenger called out loudly, ‘Listen, you people who come from every nation! Pay attention, you who speak other languages! Here is what the king commands you to do.5You will soon hear the sound of horns and flutes. You will hear zithers, lyres, harps and pipes. In fact, you will hear all kinds of music. When you do, you must fall down and worship the gold statue. That is the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.6If you don’t, you will be thrown into a blazing furnace right away.’7All the people heard the sound of the horns and flutes. They heard the zithers, lyres, harps and other musical instruments. As soon as they did, they fell down and worshipped Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. They were people from all nations no matter what language they spoke.8At this time some people who studied the heavens came forward. They spoke against the Jews.9They said, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, may you live for ever!10Your Majesty has commanded everyone to fall down and worship the gold statue. You told them to do it when they heard the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, pipes and other musical instruments.11If they didn’t, they would be thrown into a blazing furnace.12But you have appointed some Jews to help Daniel govern Babylon and the towns around it. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They don’t pay any attention to you, King Nebuchadnezzar. They don’t serve your gods. And they refuse to worship the gold statue you have set up.’13Nebuchadnezzar was very angry. He sent for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So they were brought to him.14The king said to them, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is what I heard about you true? Don’t you serve my gods? Don’t you worship the gold statue I set up?15You will hear the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, pipes and other musical instruments. When you do, fall down and worship the statue I made. If you will, that’s very good. But if you won’t, you will be thrown at once into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to save you from my power?’16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him. They said, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to talk about this anymore.17We might be thrown into the blazing furnace. But the God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive. He will save us from your power.18But we want you to know this, Your Majesty. Even if we knew that our God wouldn’t save us, we still wouldn’t serve your gods. We wouldn’t worship the gold statue you set up.’19Then Nebuchadnezzar was very angry with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The look on his face changed. And he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.20He also gave some of the strongest soldiers in his army a command. He ordered them to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then he told his men to throw them into the blazing furnace.21So they were tied up. Then they were thrown into the furnace. They were wearing their robes, pants, turbans and other clothes.22The king’s command was carried out quickly. The furnace was so hot that its flames killed the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into it.23So the three men were firmly tied up. And they fell into the blazing furnace.24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet. He was so amazed he asked his advisers, ‘Didn’t we tie up three men? Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Yes, we did, Your Majesty.’25The king said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They aren’t tied up. And the fire hasn’t even harmed them. The fourth man looks like a son of the gods.’26Then the king approached the opening of the blazing furnace. He shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come out! You who serve the Most High God, come here!’ So they came out of the fire.27The royal rulers, high officials, governors and advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire hadn’t harmed their bodies. Not one hair on their heads was burned. Their robes weren’t burned either. And they didn’t even smell like smoke.28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘May the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be praised! He has sent his angel and saved his servants. They trusted in him. They refused to obey my command. They were willing to give up their lives. They would rather die than serve or worship any god except their own God.29No other god can save people this way. So I’m giving an order about the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. No one may say anything against him. That’s true no matter what language they speak. If they say anything against him, they’ll be cut to pieces. And their houses will be turned into piles of rubble.’30Then the king honoured Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave them higher positions in the city of Babylon and the towns around it.