hat every man who hears the sound of the trumpet, flute,
lute, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments shall fall
down and worship the golden image, and that whoever does not fall down
and worship shall be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace. There are
certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you have placed in
charge of the province of Babylon. These men, O king, have not obeyed
your command; they do not serve your gods nor worship the golden image
which you have set up."

Then Nebuchadrezzar in his rage and fury gave command to bring in
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were brought before the king,
Nebuchadrezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, that you do not serve my god nor worship the golden image
which I have set up? If you are now ready, as soon as you hear the sound
of the trumpet, flute, lute, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical
instruments, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well;
but if you do not worship, you shall at once be thrown into a burning,
fiery furnace. Where is there a god who can deliver you out of my
hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O king, there is no
need of our answering you about this. Our God whom we serve is able to
save us from the burning, fiery furnace; he will save us out of your
hand, O king. But if not, know, O king, that we will not serve your gods
nor worship the golden image which you have set up."

Then Nebuchadrezzar was very angry and the appearance of his face
changed, as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered
that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than usual. He also
commanded certain strong men who were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and throw them into the burning, fiery furnace.
Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their robes,
and their other garments, and were thrown into the burning, fiery
furnace. As the king's command was urgent and the furnace very hot, the
flames destroyed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the midst of
the burning, fiery furnace.

Nebuchadrezzar, the king, was so astonished that he rose up hastily and
said to his counsellors, "Did we not throw three men, bound, into the
fire?" They answered, "True, O king." He said, "Now I see four men,
unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are un