Daniel 3

1In his eighteenth year, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image. Its height was sixty cubits and its width, six cubits, and he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

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2Then Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together the high officials, the commanders, the governors, the rulers, and all those in authority, along with all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up.

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3So the governors, the high officials, the leaders, the great rulers—all those in authority who ruled the provinces came to the dedication of the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up, and they stood before the image Nebuchadnezzar made.

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4Then the herald cried out in a loud voice, 'To you it is commanded, O peoples and tribes and languages,

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5that in what hour you hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up.

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6But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.'

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7So at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, all the peoples, tribes, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up.

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8Then Chaldean men came forward and brought charges against the Jews,

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9and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, 'O king, live forever.

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10You, O king, made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music,

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11but does not fall down and worship the golden image shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.

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12Now there are certain Jews you set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Those men did not obey your decree, O king; and they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden image you set up.'

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13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So the men were brought before the king.

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14Nebuchadnezzar then answered and said to them, 'Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image I set up?

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15Now then, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe, the harp, the four-stringed instrument, the psaltery, the symphony, and every kind of music, that you shall fall down and worship the golden image I made. But indeed, if you do not worship it at that time, you shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace. Then what god is there who will deliver you from my hands?'

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16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, 'We have no need to answer you in regard to this thing.

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17For there is a God in the heavens, whom we serve, and He is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us from your hands, O king.

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18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image you set up.'

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19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of anger, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he commanded them to heat the furnace seven times more, until it burned to its fullest.

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20Then he commanded certain very strong men to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

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21Thereupon, those men were bound together with their sandals, caps, leg-coverings, and clothing, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

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22Because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace was exceedingly hot,

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23these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

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24But they walked about in the midst of the flame, singing to God and praising the Lord.

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25Then Azariah stood and prayed thus and opened his mouth in the midst of the fire and said:

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26'Blessed are You and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, And praised and glorified is Your name unto the ages.

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27For You are righteous in all You did for us, And all Your works are true.

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28Your ways are upright, And all Your judgments are true. The judgments You made are true, According to all You brought on us And on the holy city of our fathers, Because in truth and judgment You did all these things on account of our sins.

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29For we sinned and acted lawlessly To depart from You.

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30We sinned in every way, And did not obey Your commandments. Neither did we treasure or do as You commanded, That it might go well with us.

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31Every thing You brought on us And all You did to us, You did in true judgment.

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32You delivered us into the hands of lawless and rebellious enemies And to an unjust king—the most evil in any land.

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33Now it is not for us to open our mouth, For this has become a shame and disgrace to Your servants And to those who worship You.

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34For Your name's sake, do not hand us over to the end, And do not reject Your covenant.

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35Do not withdraw Your mercy from us for the sake of Abraham, Who is loved by You, and for the sake of Isaac, Your servant, And of Israel, Your holy one,

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36As You spoke to them, saying That You would multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, And as the sand along the seashore.

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37Yet we have been diminished in number, O Master, More than all the nations, And we are humbled in all the earth today because of our sins.

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38'At this time, there is no prince, no prophet, and no leader; There is no whole burnt offering, no sacrifice, no offering, and no incense; There is no place to bear fruit before You and to find mercy.

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39Yet with a contrite soul and humbled spirit, May we receive mercy, as with whole burnt offerings of rams and bulls, And as with thousands of fatted lambs.

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40So let this be our sacrifice before You today, And may it be accomplished for those who follow You; For there is no shame for those who trust in You.

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41Now we are following You with all our heart, And we fear You and seek Your face.

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42'Do not put us to shame, But deal with us according to Your kindness And according to the abundance of Your mercy.

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43Deliver us by Your wondrous works And give glory to Your name, O Lord.

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44May all those who inflict evils upon Your servants Be put to shame and humiliated in their power; And let their strength be crushed.

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45Let them know that You alone are the Lord God And glorious over all the inhabited earth.'

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46Now the king's servants who cast them in did not cease to stoke the furnace with naphtha, pitch, coarse fiber, and brushwood.

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47The flame shot forty-nine cubits above the furnace,

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48and it broke out and burned those it found around the furnace of the Chaldeans.

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49But the Angel of the Lord went down into the furnace to join Azariah and his companions, and shook off the fiery flame of the furnace.

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50He made the inside of the furnace to be as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it, so the fire did not touch them at all, or cause them pain, or trouble them.

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51Then the three, as if with one mouth, sang, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying:

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52'Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, For You are praiseworthy And exalted beyond measure unto the ages. Blessed is Your name and the temple of your glory, And You are praised exceedingly And exalted beyond measure unto the ages.

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53You are blessed in the holy temple of Your glory, And are highly praised And exceedingly glorious unto the ages.

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54Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, And You are praised And exalted beyond measure unto the ages.

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55'Blessed are You who behold the depths And sit upon the cherubim.

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56You are praiseworthy And exalted beyond measure unto the ages. Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven, For You are praised and glorified unto the ages.

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57Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, And sing a hymn to the Lord, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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58Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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59Bless the Lord, you heavens, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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60Bless the Lord, all you waters above heaven, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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61Bless the Lord, all you powers of the Lord, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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62'Bless the Lord, you sun and moon, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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63Bless the Lord, you stars of heaven, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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64Bless the Lord, every shower and dew, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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65Bless the Lord, all you winds, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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66Bless the Lord, you fire and heat, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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67'Bless the Lord, you winter cold and summer heat, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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68Bless the Lord, you dews and snows, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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69Bless the Lord, you frost and cold, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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70Bless the Lord, you hoarfrosts and snows, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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71Bless the Lord, you night and day, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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72Bless the Lord, you light and darkness, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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73'Bless the Lord, you lightning and clouds, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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74Let the earth bless the Lord, And let it sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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75Bless the Lord, you mountains and hills, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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76Bless the Lord, all you things growing on the earth, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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77Bless the Lord, you springs, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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78Bless the Lord, you seas and rivers, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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79'Bless the Lord, you sea-monsters and everything that moves in the waters, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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80Bless the Lord, all you birds of heaven, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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81Bless the Lord, all you wild animals and cattle, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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82Bless the Lord, O children of men, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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83Bless the Lord, O Israel, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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84Bless the Lord, O priests of the Lord, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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85Bless the Lord, O servants of the Lord, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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86Bless the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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87Bless the Lord, O holy ones and humble in heart, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

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88'Bless the Lord, O Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, And sing a hymn to Him, And exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages; For He delivered us from Hades And saved us from the hand of death. He rescued us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace And saved us from the midst of the fire.

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89Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, Because His mercy endures forever.

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90Bless the Lord, the God of gods, All you who worship Him, And sing a hymn and give thanks to Him; For His mercy endures forever.'

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91Now Nebuchadnezzar heard their singing, and he marveled and rose up in haste, and said to his nobles, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They replied to the king, 'Truly, O king.'

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92Then the king said, 'Behold, I see four men untied and walking in the midst of the fire, yet they are not destroyed; and the vision of the fourth is like the Son of God.'

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93Then the king approached the door of the burning fiery furnace, and called out to them by name, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth and come here!' So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth from the midst of the fire.

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94Then the governors, the commanders, the viceroys, and the court officials gathered together and beheld the men, that the fire had no power over their bodies; neither had it singed their hair, nor scorched their clothes, nor was the smell of fire on them.

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95So King Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, 'Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel and saved His servants who trusted in Him; for they altered the word of the king and handed over their bodies to be burned, so as not to serve and worship any god other than their God.

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96Therefore I make a decree: 'Any people, tribe, or language that blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego shall be destroyed, and their houses plundered, because there is no other God who can deliver in this way.' '

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97Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego authority over the province of Babylon, and considered them worthy to be the rulers of all the Jews in his kingdom.

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