Daniel:3

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* King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold , the height of which was sixty cubits , and the breadth of which was six cubits : he set it up in the valley of Dura , in the province of Babylon . * And king Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble lieutenants , the superintendents , and the governors , the judges , the treasurers , the counsellors , those learned in the law , and all the rulers of the provinces , to come to the dedication of the image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up . * Thereupon were assembled the lieutenants , the superintendents , and the governors , the judges , the treasurers , the counsellors , those learned in the law , and all the rulers of the provinces unto the dedication of the image that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up ; and they stood opposite to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up . * Then a herald called out with a loud voice , To you it is commanded , O people , nations , and languages , * That at the time when ye do hear the sound of the cornet , flute , guitar , harp , psaltery , bagpipe , and all kinds of music , ye shall fall down and bow yourselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar hath set up : * And whoso doth not fall down and bow himself shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace . * Therefore at the same time , when all the people heard the sound of the cornet , flute , guitar , harp , psaltery , and all kinds of music , all the people , the nations , and the languages fell down bowing themselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up . * Therefore at the same time certain Chaldean men came near , and accused the Jews treacherously . * They commenced and said to king Nebuchadnezzar , O king , live for ever . * Thou , O king , hadst made a decree , that every man that should hear the sound of the cornet , flute , guitar , harp , psaltery , and bagpipe , and all kinds of music , should fall down and bow himself to the golden image ; * And that whoso should not fall down and bow himself should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace . * There are certain Jewish men whom thou hast appointed over the public service of the province of Babylon , Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego : these men , O king , have not paid any regard to thee ; thy god they do not worship , and to the golden image which thou hast set up they do not bow themselves . * Then ordered Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury to bring Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego . Then were these men brought before the king . * Nebuchadnezzar commenced and said unto them , Is it out of disrespect , O Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego ? My god ye do not worship , and to the golden image which I have set up ye do not bow yourselves ? * Now then if ye be ready at the time when ye hear the sound of the cornet , flute , harp , guitar , psaltery , and bagpipe , and all kinds of music , to fall down and bow yourselves to the image which I have made ,; but if ye bow yourselves not , ye shall be cast in the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace : and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hand ? * Then answered Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , and said to the king , O Nebuchadnezzar , we have no need to answer thee a word in this matter . * Behold , there is our God whom we worship , he is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace : and out of thy hand , O king , will he deliver us . * But if not , then be it known unto thee , O king , that thy god will we not worship , and to the golden image which ; thou hast set up will we not bow ourselves . * Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury , and the form of his countenance was changed because of Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego ; he commenced and ordered that they should heat the furnace thoroughly seven times more than it was wont to be heated . * And he ordered the mightiest men in strength that were in his army , to bind Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , to cast them into the burning fiery furnace . * Then were these men bound in their mantles , their under –garments , and their turbans , and their other garments , and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace . * Now , because the king ’s command was so urgent , and the furnace exceedingly heated , the flame of the fire slew those men that carried up Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego . * And these three men , Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace . * Then was king Nebuchadnezzar astonished , and he rose up in haste , commenced , and said unto his counsellors , Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire ? They answered and said unto the king , Certainly , O king . * He answered and said , Lo , I see four men unbound , walking in the midst of the fire , and there is no injury on them ; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods . * Then came Nebuchadnezzar near to the door of the burning fiery furnace , commenced , and said , Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , ye servants of the most high God , step forth , and come hither . Then stepped Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego forth out of the midst of the fire . * And the lieutenants , superintendents , and governors , and the king ’s counsellors , being assembled together , saw these men , over whose bodies the fire had had no power , and the hair of whose head was not singed , whose mantles were not changed , and on whom there was not come the smell of fire . * Then commenced Nebuchadnezzar , and said , Blessed be the God of Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , who hath sent his angel , and delivered his servants that had trusted in him , and had transgressed the king ’s word , and yielded up their bodies , that they might not worship no bow themselves to any god , except their own God . * Therefore do I make a decree , That every people , nation , and language , that may speak any thing disrespectful against the God of Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , shall be cut in pieces , and their houses shall be changed into a dunghill ; because there is no other God that can deliver like this one . * Then did the king promote Shadrach , Meshach , and ‘Abed –nego , in the province of Babylon .

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