Daniel 3

1 Nabuchodonozor ye king made an image of gold, whiche was threescore cubites hie, and sixe cubites thicke: he set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babylon.

2 Then Nabuchodonozor the king sent foorth to gather together the dukes, lordes, and nobles, the iudges and officers, the deputies, and sherifes, with all the rulers of the prouinces, that they might come to the dedication of the image whiche Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp.

3 So the dukes, lordes, and nobles, the iudges, & officers, deputies, & sherifes, with all the rulers of the prouince, gathered them together vnto the dedicating of the image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp, & they stoode before the image whiche Nabuchodonozor had set vp.

4 Then an herald cryed a loude: To you it is commaunded O people, nations, and languages,

5 That whe ye heare the noyse of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimer, and al maner of instrumentes of musicke, ye fall downe and worship that golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king hath set vp.

6 Whoso then falleth not downe & worshippeth, shall euen the same houre be cast into the mids of a hot firie fornace.

7 Therfore when all the folke heard the noyse of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, and al instrumentes of musicke, then all the people, nations, and languages fell downe and worshipped the golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp.

8 Nowe were there certayne men of the Chaldees, that went euen then, and cried out an accusation of the Iewes.

9 They spake, and sayde vnto the king Nabuchodonozor: O king, liue for euer.

10 Thou O king, hast made a decree, that euery man that shall heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimer, & all instrumentes of musicke, shall fall downe and worship the golden image:

11 And who so then fel not downe, & worshipped not, that he shoulde be cast into the mids of an hot firie fornace.

12 Now are there certayne Iewes, whom thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon: [namely] Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego: these men, O king, regarded not thy commaundement: yea they will not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image that thou hast set vp.

13 Then Nabuchodonozor in his anger and wrath commaunded that Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego should be brought vnto hym: so these men were brought before the king.

14 Then Nabuchodonozor spake vnto them, and sayde: Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego, will not you serue my gods, nor worship the golden image that I haue set vp?

15 Nowe therfore be redy when ye heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimers, and al instrumentes of musicke, to fal downe and worship the image whiche I haue made: for if ye worship it not, ye shalbe cast immediatly into the mids of a hot firie fornace: for who is that God that can deliuer you out of my handes?

16 Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego aunswered the king, and sayd: O Nabuchodonozor, we are not carefull to aunswere thee in this matter:

17 Beholde, our God whom we serue, is able to deliuer vs from the hot firie fornace: and he wil deliuer vs out of thy hande O king.

18 And though he will not, yet shalt thou knowe O king, that we will not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set vp.

19 Then was Nabuchodonozor full of indignation, so that the countenaunce of his face chaunged vpon Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego: therefore he charged and commaunded that they should heate the fornace, one seuen times more then it was wont to be heat.

20 And he charged the most valiaunt men of warre that were in his armie, to bind Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot firie fornace.

21 So these men were bounde in their coates, hosen, head attire, with their other garmentes, and cast into the mids of the hot firie fornace.

22 Therefore, because the kinges commaundement was straite, & the fornace was exceeding hot, the men that put in Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, the flamble of the fire destroyed them.

23 And these three men Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, fel downe in the mids of the hot firie fornace bounde. (3:24) And they walked in the middest of the flambe, praysing God & magnifiyng the Lorde. (3:25) Then Azarias stoode vp, & prayed on this maner: euen in the middest of the fire opened he his mouth, and sayde: (3:26) Blessed be thou O Lorde God of our fathers, right worthy to be praysed and honoured is that name of thine for euermore: (3:27) For thou art righteous in al the thinges that thou hast done to vs, Yea faythfull are al thy workes, thy wayes are right, and all thy iudgementes true. (3:28) In all ye thinges that thou hast brought vpon vs, and vpon the holy citie of our fathers, euen Hierusalem, thou hast executed true iudgement: yea according to right and equitie hast thou brought all these thinges vpon vs, because of our sinnes. (3:29) For why? we haue offended and done wickedly, departing from thee. (3:30) In all thinges haue we trespassed, & not obeyed thy commaundementes, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast bidden vs, that we may prosper. (3:31) Wherefore all that thou hast brought vpon vs, and euery thing that thou hast done to vs, thou hast done them in true iudgement: (3:32) As in deliuering vs into the handes of our enemies, among vngodly and wicked abhominations, and to an vnrighteous king, yea the most frowarde vpon earth. (3:33) And nowe we may not open our mouthes, we are become a shame and reproofe vnto thy seruauntes, & to them that worship thee. (3:34) Yet for thy names sake [we beseche thee] geue vs not vp for euer, breake not thy couenaunt, (3:35) And take not away thy mercie from vs for thy beloued Abrahams sake, for thy seruaunt Isaacs sake, and for thy holy Israels sake: (3:36) To whom thou hast spoken and promised that thou wouldest multiplie their seede as the starres of heauen, & as the sande that lyeth vpon the sea shore. (3:37) For we O Lord, are become lesse then any people, and be kept vnder this day in all the worlde, because of our sinnes. (3:38) So that nowe we haue neither prince, duke, prophet, burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, incense, nor sanctuarie before thee. (3:39) Neuerthelesse, in a contrite heart and an humble spirite let vs be receaued, that we may obtayne thy mercie. (3:40) Like as in the burnt offering of rammes and bullockes, and like as in thousandes of fat lambes: so let our offering be in thy sight this daye, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion vnto the that put their trust in thee. (3:41) And now we folowe thee with al our heart, we feare thee, and seke thy face. (3:42) Put vs not to shame: but deale with vs after thy louing kindnesse, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. (3:43) Deliuer vs by thy miracles O Lorde, and get thy name an honour: that all they which do thy seruauntes euyl, may be confounded: (3:44) Let them be ashamed thorow thy almightie power, and let their strength be broken: (3:45) That they may knowe, how that thou only art the Lorde God, and honour worthy throughout all the worlde. (3:46) And the kinges seruauntes that put them in, ceassed not to make the ouen hot with wild fire, drie straw, pitche, towe, and fagottes: (3:47) So that the flambe went out of the ouen vpon a fourtie and nyne cubites: (3:48) Yea it toke away and brent vp those Chaldees that it gat holde vpon beside the ouen. (3:49) But the angell of the Lorde came downe into the ouen to Azaria and his felowes, and smote the flambe of the fire out of the ouen, (3:50) And made the middes of the ouen as it had ben a colde winde blowing: so the fire neither touched them, greeued them, nor dyd them hurt. (3:51) Then these three as out of one mouth, praysed, honoured, and blessed God in the fornace, saying: (3:52) Blessed be thou O Lorde God of our fathers: for thou art prayse and honour worthy, yea & to be magnified for euermore. (3:53) Blessed be the holy name of thy glorie, for it is worthy to be praysed & magnified in all worldes. (3:54) Blessed be thou in the holy temple of thy glorie: for aboue all thinges thou art to be praysed, yea and more then worthy to be magnified for euer. (3:55) Blessed be thou in the throne of thy kingdome: for aboue al thou art worthy to be well spoken of, and to be more then magnified for euer. (3:56) Blessed be thou that lokest thorow the deepe, and sittest vpon the Cherubims: for thou art worthy to be praysed, and aboue all to be magnified for euer. (3:57) Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen: for thou art prayse and honour worthy for euer. (3:58) O all ye workes of the Lorde, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:59) O ye angels of the Lorde speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:60) O ye heauens speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:61) O all ye waters that be aboue the firmament speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:62) O all ye powers of the Lorde speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:63) O ye sunne and moone speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:64) O ye starres of heauen, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:65) O ye showres and deaw speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:66) O all ye windes of God, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:67) O ye fire and heate speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:68) O ye winter and sommer speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:69) O ye deawes and frostes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:70) O ye frost and colde speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:71) O ye yce and snowe speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:72) O ye nightes and dayes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:73) O ye light and darkenesse speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:74) O ye lightninges and cloudes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:75) O let the earth speake good of the Lorde: yea let it prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:76) O ye mountaynes and hilles speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set hym vp for euer. (3:77) O all ye greene thinges vpon the earth speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:78) O ye welles speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:79) O ye seas and fluddes speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer. (3:80) O ye whales and all that moue in the waters speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:81) O all ye foules of the ayre speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:82) O all ye beastes and cattel speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:83) O ye children of men speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer. (3:84) O let Israel speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:85) O ye priestes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:86) O ye seruauntes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:87) O ye spirites and soules of the righteous speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:88) O ye holy and humble men of heart, speake ye good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer. (3:89) O Anania, Azaria, and Misael speake ye good of the Lorde, prayse ye him & set him vp for euer: which hath deliuered vs from the hell, kept vs from the hande of death, ridde vs from the middest of the burning flambe, and saued vs euen in the middest of the fyre. (3:90) O geue thankes therefore vnto the Lorde for he is kinde hearted, and his mercie endureth for euer. (3:91) O all deuout men, speake ye good of the Lorde, the God of all goddes: O prayse him and geue him thankes, for his mercie endureth worlde without ende.

24 (3:92) Then Nabuchodonozor the king was astonied, & rose vp in all haste: he spake vnto his counsel, and sayd, Dyd not we cast three men bounde into the mids of the fire? They aunswered and sayde vnto the king: It is true, O king.

25 (3:93) He aunswered & sayde: Lo, I see foure men loose, walking in the mids of ye fire, and they haue no hurt: and the fourme of the fourth is like the sonne of God.

26 (3:94) Upon this went Nabuchodonozor vnto the mouth of the hot firie fornace, he spake also, and sayd: O Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, ye seruauntes of the hye God, go foorth, and come hyther. And so Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego came foorth of the mids of the fire.

27 (3:94) Then the dukes, lordes, and nobles, and the kinges counsel, came together to see these men, vpon whom the fire had no maner of power in their bodies: in so much that the very heere of their head was not burnt, and their clothes vnchaunged, yea there was no smell of fire felt vpon them.

28 (3:95) Then spake Nabuchodonozor, and sayde: Blessed be the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, which hath sent his angel, and deliuered his seruauntes that put their trust in him, and haue altered the kinges commaundement, and ieoparded their bodies, rather then they would serue or worship any God, except their owne God onely.

29 (3:96) Therfore I make a decree, that euery people, nation, & language, which speake any blasphemie against the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, shalbe drawen in peeces, and their houses shalbe made a takes: because there is no God that can deliuer after this sort.

30 (3:97) So the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, in the prouince of Babylon.