Daniel:3

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* Nebuchadnezzar 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 . * Then 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 . * Then 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 . * Then an herald cried aloud , To you it is commanded , O people , nations , and languages , * That 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 : * And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace . * Therefore 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 . * Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near , and accused the Jews . * They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar , O king , live for ever . * Thou , 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 : * And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth , that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace . * There 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 . * Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego . Then they brought these men before the king . * Nebuchadnezzar 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 ? * Now 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 ? * Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , answered and said to the king , O Nebuchadnezzar , we are not careful to answer thee in this matter . * If 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 . * But 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 . * Then 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 . * And 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 . * Then 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 . * Therefore because the king 's commandment was urgent , and the furnace exceeding hot , the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego . * And these three men , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace . * Then 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 . * He 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 . * Then 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 . * And the princes , governors , and captains , and the king 's 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 . * Then 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 's word , and yielded their bodies , that they might not serve nor worship any god , except their own God . * Therefore 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 . * Then the king promoted Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , in the province of Babylon .

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