8At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.
10You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.
11And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded you: they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So they brought these men before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?
15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well; but if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God who shall deliver you out of my hands?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves in this matter.
17If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up.
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed towards Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; he spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20And he commanded the most mighty men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.