Daniel 3

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.

King Nebuchadnezzar crafted a towering golden statue, sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide. He proudly displayed it on the flat lands of Dura, in the heart 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.

King Nebuchadnezzar passionately summoned all the leaders - princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, advisors, sheriffs, and provincial rulers - to attend the unveiling of the statue he had proudly erected.

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.

All the leaders, from princes to sheriffs, gathered to honor the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had erected, standing in awe before its grandeur.

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

A messenger passionately proclaimed, "Listen up, all people, cultures, and languages, you are given this command!"

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:

When you hear the melody of the trumpet, flute, harp, or any other instrument, bow down and honor the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected.

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Anyone who doesn't bow down and worship will be thrown immediately into a blazing fire.

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.

When everyone heard the symphony of instruments, people of all nations and languages were moved to bow down in awe and reverence to the golden statue King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

At that moment, some Chaldeans approached, filled with resentment, and pointed fingers at the Jews.

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

They passionately expressed to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May you, O King, live eternally."

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:

You, dear king, have ordered that when anyone hears the music from any instrument, they must bow down and worship the golden statue.

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Anyone who refuses to bow down and worship will be thrown into a blazing 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.

You've appointed some Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to manage Babylon's affairs. But these men, dear king, don't respect you. They don't serve your gods or honor the golden statue you've erected.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

In his fiery anger, Nebuchadnezzar demanded the presence of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So, they were led 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?

Nebuchadnezzar questioned them, his voice filled with disbelief, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true? Do you really refuse to honor my gods and bow to the golden statue I've erected?"

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?

If you're prepared to bow down and worship the idol I've created when you hear the music play, that's fine. But if you refuse, you'll be thrown into a blazing furnace immediately. And who is this God who can save you from me?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bravely responded to King Nebuchadnezzar, "We don't need to think twice to answer you on 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.

Indeed, the God we faithfully serve has the power to rescue us from the blazing flames. And rest assured, O king, He will free us from your grip.

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.

But even if He doesn't, dear king, understand this clearly - we will not serve your gods or bow down to the golden idol you've erected.

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.

Nebuchadnezzar was consumed with rage, his face twisted in anger towards Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.

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.

He ordered his strongest soldiers to seize Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and throw them into the blazing inferno.

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.

These men, fully clothed, were tied up and thrown into the heart of a blazing furnace.

Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Because the king's order was immediate and the furnace was incredibly hot, the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were consumed by the fierce flames.

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

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bound and helpless, plummeted into the heart of the blazing inferno.

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.

King Nebuchadnezzar was stunned, quickly stood up, and asked his advisors in disbelief, "Didn't we throw three tied-up men into the fire?" They confirmed, "Yes, indeed, 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.

He responded with awe, "Look, I see four men, unbound and unharmed, strolling within the flames. The fourth, astonishingly, resembles 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.

Nebuchadnezzar approached the blazing furnace, his voice trembling with awe, "Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, faithful servants of the Almighty, step out, come to me." And so, they emerged unscathed from the heart 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.

The royal advisors, leaders, and officers all gathered and were astounded. They saw these men, untouched by the flames - not a single hair on their heads was singed, their clothes were unscathed, and they didn't even carry the scent of smoke.

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.

Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed with awe, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to save his faithful servants. They defied my command and risked their lives, refusing to worship any god but their own."

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.

I declare, anyone from any nation or language who speaks ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces, and their homes will be reduced to ruins. For there is no other God who can save like this.

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

The king, filled with admiration, elevated Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to higher positions within Babylon.