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¹ Nebuchad-nezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and ye breadth thereof sixe cubites: he set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babylon. ² Then Nebuchad-nezzar the king sent to gather together the Princes, the Gouernours, and the Captaines, the Iudges, the Treasurers, the Counsellers, the Sherifes, and all the rulers of the Prouinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchad-nezzar the King had set vp. ³ Then the Princes, the Gouernours and Captaines, the Iudges, the Treasurers, the Counsellers, the Sherifes, and all the rulers of the Prouinces were gathered together vnto the dedicatio of the image, that Nebuchadnezzar the King had set vp, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set vp. ⁴ Then an herauld cryed aloud, To you it is commaunded, O people, nations, and languages, ⁵ That at what time yee heare the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, dulcimer, and all kinds of musicke, yee fall downe, and worship the golden image that Nebuchad-nezzar the King hath set vp: ⁶ And who so falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same houre bee cast into the middest of a burning fierie furnace. ⁷ Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and all kindes of musicke, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell downe and worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchad-nezzar the King had set vp.

⁸ Wherefore at that time certaine Caldeans came neere, and accused the Iewes. ⁹ They spake and sayd to the King Nebuchad-nezzar, O King, liue for euer. ¹⁰ Thou, O King, hast made a decree, that euery man that shal heare the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musicke, shall fall downe and worship the golden image: ¹¹ And who so falleth not downe & worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fierie furnace. ¹² There are certain Iewes whom thou hast set ouer the affaires of the prouince of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: these men, O King, haue not regarded thee, they serue not thy gods, nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set vp. ¹³ Then Nebuchad-nezzar in his rage and furie commaunded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: then they brought these men before the King. ¹⁴ Nebuchad-nezzar spake and said vnto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Doe not yee serue my gods, nor worship the golden image which I haue set vp? ¹⁵ Now if ye be ready that at what time yee heare the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all kindes of musicke, ye fall downe, and worship the image which I haue made, well: but if yee worship not, ye shall be cast the same houre into the midst of a fierie furnace, and who is that God that shall deliuer you out of my handes? ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king; O Nebuchad-nezzar, we are not carefull to answere thee in this matter. ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom wee serue, is able to deliuer vs from the burning fierie furnace, and he will deliuer vs out of thine hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, bee it knowen vnto thee, O king, that we will not serue thy gods, nor worship thy golden image, which thou hast set vp.

¹⁹ Then was Nebuchad-nezzar full of furie, and the forme of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: therefore he spake and commanded, that they should heat the furnace one seuen times more then it was wont to be heat. ²⁰ And hee commaunded the most mighty men that were in his armie, to binde Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fierie furnace. ²¹ Then these men were bound in their coates, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fierie furnace. ²² Therefore because the Kings commandement was vrgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that tooke vp Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell downe bound into the midst of the burning fierie furnace.²⁴ Then Nebuchad-nezzar the king was astonied, and rose vp in haste, and spake and said vnto his counsellers, Did not wee cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said vnto the king; True, O king. ²⁵ He answered and said, Loe, I see foure men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they haue no hurt, and the forme of the fourth is like the sonne of God. ²⁶ Then Nebuchad-nezzar came neere to the mouth of the burning fierie furnace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ye seruants of the most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth of the midst of the fire. ²⁷ And the princes, gouernours, and captaines, and the kings counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, vpon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an haire of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchad-nezzar spake and said; Blessed bee the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his Angel, and deliuered his seruants that trusted in him, and haue changed the Kings word, and yeelded their bodies, that they might not serue nor worship any God, except their owne God. ²⁹ Therefore I make a decree, That euery people, nation, and language, which speake any thing amisse 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 deliuer after this sort. ³⁰ Then the King promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the prouince of Babylon.