1. NEB-U-CHAD-NEZ-ZAR
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.
2. Then Neb-u-chad-nez-zar 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.
3. 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
Neb-u-chad-nez-zar the king had set up; and they stood before the image
that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people,
nations, and languages,
5. That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and
worship the golden image that Neb-u-chad-nez-zar the king hath set up.
6. And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be
cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
7. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the
people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the
golden image that Neb-u-chad-nez-zar the king had set up.
8. Wherefore at that time certain Chal-de-ans came near, and accused the
Jews.
9. They spake and said to the king Neb-u-chad-nez-zar, O king, live for
ever.
10. 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 music shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11. And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the
province of Babylon, Sha-drach,
Me-shack, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee:
they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast
set up.
13. Then Neb-u-chad-nez-zar in his rage and fury commanded to bring
Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men
before the king.
14. Neb-u-chad-nez-zar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O
Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship
the golden image which I have set up?
15. 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
music, 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?
16. Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O
Neb-u-chad-nez-zar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Then was Neb-u-chad-nez-zar full of fury, and the form of his visage
was changed against Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego: therefore he
spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times
more than it was wont to be heated.
20. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind
Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning
fiery furnace.
21. 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.
22. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace
exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up
Sah-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego.
23. And these three men, Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24. Then Neb-u-chad-nez-zar 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.
25. 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.
26. Then Neb-u-chad-nez-zar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace, and spake, and said, Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, ye
servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27. 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.
28.Then Neb-u-chad-nez-zar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of
Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, 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.
29. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language,
which speak any thing amiss against the God of Sha-drach, Me-shach, and
Abed-nego, 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.
30. Then the king promoted Sha-drach, Me-shach, and Abed-nego, in the
province of Babylon.
Dec. 6 Daily
reading schedule.. go to chapter 4
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