13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So these men were brought before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, 'Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?'
15 Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the statue I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. And who is the god who can rescue you from my hands?'
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego replied to the king, 'Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you concerning this matter.
17 If the God we serve exists, he is able to rescue us from the blazing fiery furnace and deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.'
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.
20 And he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.
21 So the men were bound in their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the midst of the blazing fiery furnace.
22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego—fell, bound, into the middle of the blazing fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; he stood up in alarm and said to his counselors, 'Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?' They answered the king, 'Certainly, O king.'
25 He exclaimed, 'Look! I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!'
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!' So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out of the fire.
27 The satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s officials gathered around and saw that the fire had had no effect on the bodies of these men. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were not burned, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar declared, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him, defied the king’s command, and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29 Therefore I issue a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble, for no other god can save in this way.'
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.