In the summer of the 10th year, King Nebuchadnezzar created a body of gold, the height of it was sixty lactoes, and the breadth of it was six lactoes: and he placed it on the field of Deira, in the land of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent a message to gather the people, and the generals, and the governors, the leaders and the tormentors, and those in power, and all the princes of the countries, to come to renew the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. king. And the rulers, the captains, the generals, the chiefs, the tormentors, the great ones, those who were in power, and all the rulers of the countries gathered together for the renewal of the body, which Nebuchadnezzar had appointed king: and stood before the body, even make Nebuchadnezzar king. And the preacher cried out from the fortress: it is said to you, people, people, tribes, heathens. As soon as you hear the voice of the trumpet, the pipes and the harp, the samvik and the psaltery, and the concords, and all kinds of music, fall down and worship the golden body that you have set Nebuchadnezzar is king. And if he does not bow down, at that hour he will be thrown into a burning furnace.
And when people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the pipes and harps, the samvik and the psaltery, and the accords, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, the nations, fell and worshiped the body the golden one, even if Nebuchadnezzar made him king. Then the Chaldean men came and deceived the Jews, answering the king Nebuchadnezzar: O king, live forever. Thou hast laid down a commandment for the king, that whosoever shall hear the voice of a trumpet, and pipes and harps, and samviks and psalms, and concords, and all kinds of music, shall not fall He will bow down to the golden body and will be thrown into a burning furnace. These are the men of Judah, whom thou hast put in charge of the affairs of the land of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who have not obeyed thy commandment to the king, and have not served thy god, and the body they do not worship the golden one that you have established. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and anger, spoke and brought Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: and brought him before the king.
And Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them: If indeed, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, you do not serve my god, and you do not worship the golden body that you set up. Now, if you prepare by nature, and whenever you hear the voice of the trumpet, the pipes and the harp, the samvik and the psaltery, and the concord, and all kinds of music, fall down and worship the body to the golden one I created. If you do not worship, in that hour you will be cast into a burning furnace: and who is God, who will take you out of my hand? And Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered, saying to King Nebuchadnezzar: You do not require us to answer you about this verb. For there is our God in heaven, whom we serve, who is able to take us out of the burning furnace, and to deliver us to the king from your hand. Otherwise, let it be known to you, the king, that we do not serve your God, and we do not bow to the golden body that you established. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the look of his face changed to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and said: Light the furnace with seven, until it burns to the end.
And the mighty man said with strength: You have bound Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, throw them into the burning furnace. Then the men bound the bysh with their horsetails, and blankets, and boots, and with their clothes, and threw the bysh into the middle of the furnace with a burning fire. Before long, the word of the kings prevailed, and the furnace was kindled beyond measure: and the men who cast down Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they killed with a flame of fire. And the three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell in the middle of the furnace with a burning fire. And I walked in the midst of the fire, singing to God and blessing the Lord. And Azariah stood with them and prayed, and opened his mouth in the midst of the fire, saying: Blessed art thou, O Lord, our father, praised and glorified is thy name forever, for Thou art righteous in all things that Thou hast done for us, and all Thy works are true, and rule Thy ways, and Thy judge all in truth.
And you created true destinies for everyone, even as you brought this sin upon us, and upon the city of our holy father, Jerusalem: for by truth and judgment you brought all this sin upon us for our sakes, for having sinned and lawlessly departed from You, and sinned in all. And we have not obeyed Your commandments, we have not kept them, we have not done as You commanded us, that it may be good for us. And all the great things you have done for us, and all the great things you have brought upon us, you have created true judgment. And you delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, vile apostates: and an unjust king, and more wicked than all the earth. And now we cannot open our mouths, the cold and reproach of Thy servant and those who honor Thee.
For Thy name's sake do not betray us to the end, and do not destroy Thy covenant, and do not leave Thy mercy from us, Abraham, for the sake of Your beloved, and for Isaac Your servant, and for Israel Thy Holy One, in which Thou hast said that thou shalt multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand of the sea, like the Master, let us be humbled above all in the tongue, and we are humility throughout the whole earth today sin for our sake. And in this time there is no prince, and prophet, and leader: lower than the burnt offering, lower than the sacrifice, lower than the offering, lower than the incense, there is no place to eat before You and find mercy. But with a contrite soul and a humble spirit, let us be accepted as in burnt offerings of rams and young ones, and as in the darkness of a fat lamb: so let our sacrifice be before You this day, and It will be accomplished according to You, as there is no cold for those who trust in You. And now we follow with all our hearts, and we fear You, and we seek Your face. Do not put us to shame, but deal with us according to Your meekness, and according to the abundance of Your mercy.
And change us according to Your wonders, and give glory to Your name, Lord. And let all who are Your evil servants be put to shame, and let them be ashamed of all power, and let their strength be broken. And let them understand that You are the Lord God, one, and glorious throughout the whole universe. And without stopping, having thrown them in, the king’s servants burned the furnace with naff and tar, and with raking and courage. And the flame spread over the furnace for fourty-nine lacs. And you will burn them, and you will find them around the cave of the Chaldeans. The Angel of the Lord descended with those who are with Azariah into the cave. And shake off the fiery flame from the furnace, and create the middle of the furnace like the spirit of dew, and the fire will not touch them at all, and do not offend them, lower than the cold. Then these three, with one mouth, girded, and blessed, and glorified God in the cave, saying: Blessed are the Lord God our father, praised and exalted forever. And blessed is the name of Thy holy glory, praised and exalted forever.
Blessed are you in the church of your holy glory, praised and exalted forever. Blessed are you who see the deep, who sits on the Cherubim, and is praised and exalted forever. Blessed are You on the throne of the glory of Your Kingdom, revered and exalted forever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praised and exalted forever.
Reading Daniel's prophecy [3:1–88a]