Daniel 3:16-30 ▼

16 Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown), we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo). He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,

20 and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

21 So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo).

23 And these three men, Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

24 Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” “Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25 “Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods (like the Son of God)!

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), servants of the Most High God, come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire,

27 and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo), who has sent His angel (Angel) and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach (royal / the great scribe), Meshach (guest of the king), and Abednego (servant of Nebo) in the province of Babylon (confusion by mixing).