Daniel

Stories of Daniel and his friends in exile and visions about future kingdoms and God's sovereignty.

Chapter 3

1 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 made a huge golden statue, 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits wide, and put it in a big open area called the Plain of Dura in the land of Babylon.

2 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.

*Then King Nebuchadnezzar called many important people - leaders, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, advisors, and local rulers - to a special event for a big statue that he had made.

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 Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

*Then all important leaders and officials, including those who judge, manage money, give advice, and oversee areas, came together for the dedication of the big statue King Nebuchadnezzar made. They all stood in front of this statue.

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

*Then a messenger loudly announced, You are ordered, everyone, groups, and tongues,

5 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 sounds of trumpets, flutes, harps, trumpets with a long tube, lyres, and other musical instruments, you must bow down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has put up.

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

*Whoever does not bow down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing hot fire.

7 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.

*So when everyone heard the music from instruments like trumpets, flutes, harps, and others, all the people, different nations, and various languages bowed down and worshiped the big gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had put up.

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

*So at that time, some Chaldeans approached and accused the Jews.

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

*They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever."

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 musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

*You, King, have made a rule saying that anyone who hears music from instruments like trumpet, flute, harp, trumpet-like instrument, lute, and sweet instrument, plus all types of music, must bow down and worship the golden statue.

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

*And whoever does not bow down and worship, will be thrown into a blazing hot fire.

12 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.

*There are some Jews in Babylon's government, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who don't respect you, King. They don't follow your gods or worship the gold statue you made.

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

*Then, angry and furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So, they brought these men in front of him.

14 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 asked, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you won't serve my gods or worship the gold statue I put 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 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?

*Now, when you hear sounds from trumpets, flutes, harps, trumpets, lyres, or dulcimers - all types of music - if you bow down to the image I made, that's fine. But if you don't, you'll be thrown immediately into a fiery furnace; and who is the God that can save you from my hands?

16 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 told King Nebuchadnezzar, "We won't carefully answer you about this."

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.

*If true, the God we worship can save us from the hot, fiery furnace. He will also rescue us from your control, 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.

*But if not, you should know, King, that we won't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

19 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.

*Then Nebuchadnezzar became very angry at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he ordered the furnace to be made much hotter than usual - seven times hotter.

20 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 told his strongest soldiers to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the very hot fire pit.

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.

*Then, they tied up the men with their clothes, including their hats and other things they wore, and threw them into the middle of a very hot firey 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 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

*Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace very hot, the flames of the fire killed the men who tried to take Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in it.

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

*These three men, named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were tied up and thrown into a hot, fiery fire.

24 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.

*Then King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed and quickly got up, saying to his advisors, "Didn't we throw three bound men into the middle of the fire?" They replied, "Yes, 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.

*He replied, "I see four free men walking in the fire without harm, and the fourth one looks like the Son of God."

26 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.

*Then King Nebuchadnezzar approached the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the highest God, come out and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from 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.

*The leaders, officials, and captains, along with the king's advisors, gathered together and saw these men. These men had bodies that fire couldn't harm, not a single hair on their heads was singed, their clothes didn't change, and they didn't smell like fire.

28 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.

*Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praised is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent an angel to save his faithful servants, who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and risked their lives not to serve or worship any other 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 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.

*So I declare that anyone who says bad things about the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be punished, and their homes will become a place for garbage. This is because there is no other god who can save like this.

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

*Then, the king gave higher positions to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the area of Babylon where they worked.

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