1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide: he put it up in the valley of Dura, in the land of Babylon.2 And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to get together all the captains, the chiefs, the rulers, the wise men, the keepers of public money, the judges, the overseers, and all the rulers of the divisions of the country, to come to see the unveiling of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up.3 Then the captains, the chiefs, the rulers, the wise men, the keepers of public money, the judges, the overseers, and all the rulers of the divisions of the country, came together to see the unveiling of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up; and they took their places before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had put up.4 Then one of the king's criers said in a loud voice, To you the order is given, O peoples, nations, and languages,5 That when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, comes to your ears, you are to go down on your faces in worship before the image of gold which Nebuchadnezzar the king has put up:6 And anyone not falling down and worshipping will that same hour be put into a burning and flaming fire.7 So at that time, all the people, when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and all sorts of instruments, came to their ears, went down on their faces in worship before the image of gold which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up.8 At that time certain Chaldaeans came near and made a statement against the Jews.9 They made answer and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O King, have life for ever.10 You, O King, have given an order that every man, when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, comes to his ears, is to go down on his face in worship before the image of gold:11 And anyone not falling down and worshipping is to be put into a burning and flaming fire.12 There are certain Jews whom you have put over the business of the land of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men have not given attention to you, O King: they are not servants of your gods or worshippers of the gold image which you have put up.13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his wrath and passion gave orders for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to be sent for. Then they made these men come in before the king.14 Nebuchadnezzar made answer and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you will not be servants of my god or give worship to the image of gold which I have put up?15 Now if you are ready, on hearing the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, to go down on your faces in worship before the image which I have made, it is well: but if you will not give worship, that same hour you will be put into a burning and flaming fire; and what god is there who will be able to take you out of my hands?16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answering Nebuchadnezzar the king, said, There is no need for us to give you an answer to this question.17 If our God, whose servants we are, is able to keep us safe from the burning and flaming fire, and from your hands, O King, he will keep us safe.18 But if not, be certain, O King, that we will not be the servants of your gods, or give worship to the image of gold which you have put up.19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of wrath, and the form of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: and he gave orders that the fire was to be heated up seven times more than it was generally heated.20 And he gave orders to certain strong men in his army to put cords on Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and put them into the burning and flaming fire.21 Then these men had cords put round them as they were, in their coats, their trousers, their hats, and their clothing, and were dropped into the burning and flaming fire.22 And because the king's order was not to be put on one side, and the heat of the fire was so great, the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were burned to death by the flame of the fire.23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, with the cords about them, went down into the burning and flaming fire.24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar, full of fear and wonder, got up quickly, and said to his wise men, Did we not put three men in cords into the fire? and they made answer and said to the king, True, O King.25 He made answer and said, Look! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not damaged; and the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods.26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the burning and flaming fire: he made answer and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, you servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the fire.27 And the captains, the chiefs, and the rulers, and the king's wise men who had come together, saw these men, over whose bodies the fire had no power, and not a hair of their heads was burned, and their coats were not changed, and there was no smell of fire about them.28 Nebuchadnezzar made answer and said, Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent his angel and kept his servants safe who had faith in him, and who put the king's word on one side and gave up their bodies to the fire, so that they might not be servants or worshippers of any other god but their God.29 And it is my decision that any people, nation, or language saying evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, will be cut to bits and their houses made waste: because there is no other god who is able to give salvation such as this.30 Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego even greater authority in the land of Babylon.

1 Nabuchodonosor rex fecit statuam auream, altitudine cubitorum sexaginta, latitudine cubitorum sex, et statuit eam in campo Dura, provinci Babylonis. 2 Itaque Nabuchodonosor rex misit ad congregandos satrapas, magistratus, et judices, duces, et tyrannos, et prfectos, omnesque principes regionum, ut convenirent ad dedicationem statu quam erexerat Nabuchodonosor rex. 3 Tunc congregati sunt satrap, magistratus, et judices, duces, et tyranni, et optimates, qui erant in potestatibus constituti, et universi principes regionum, ut convenirent ad dedicationem statu, quam erexerat Nabuchodonosor rex. Stabant autem in conspectu statu, quam posuerat Nabuchodonosor rex : 4 et prco clamabat valenter : Vobis dicitur populis, tribubus, et linguis : 5 in hora qua audieritis sonitum tub, et fistul, et cithar, sambuc, et psalterii, et symphoni, et universi generis musicorum, cadentes adorate statuam auream, quam constituit Nabuchodonosor rex. 6 Si quis autem non prostratus adoraverit, eadem hora mittetur in fornacem ignis ardentis. 7 Post hc igitur, statim ut audierunt omnes populi sonitum tub, fistul, et cithar, sambuc, et psalterii, et symphoni, et omnis generis musicorum, cadentes omnes populi, tribus, et lingu adoraverunt statuam auream, quam constituerat Nabuchodonosor rex.8 Statimque in ipso tempore accedentes viri Chaldi accusaverunt Judos : 9 dixeruntque Nabuchodonosor regi : Rex, in ternum vive ! 10 tu, rex, posuisti decretum, ut omnis homo, qui audierit sonitum tub, fistul, et cithar, sambuc, et psalterii, et symphoni, et universi generis musicorum, prosternat se, et adoret statuam auream : 11 si quis autem non procidens adoraverit, mittatur in fornacem ignis ardentis. 12 Sunt ergo viri Judi, quos constituisti super opera regionis Babylonis, Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago : viri isti contempserunt, rex, decretum tuum : deos tuos non colunt, et statuam auream, quam erexisti, non adorant. 13 Tunc Nabuchodonosor, in furore et in ira, prcepit ut adducerentur Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago : qui confestim adducti sunt in conspectu regis. 14 Pronuntiansque Nabuchodonosor rex, ait eis : Verene Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, deos meos non colitis, et statuam auream, quam constitui, non adoratis ? 15 nunc ergo si estis parati, quacumque hora audieritis sonitum tub, fistul, cithar, sambuc, et psalterii, et symphoni, omnisque generis musicorum, prosternite vos, et adorate statuam, quam feci : quod si non adoraveritis, eadem hora mittemini in fornacem ignis ardentis : et quis est Deus, qui eripiet vos de manu mea ? 16 Respondentes Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, dixerunt regi Nabuchodonosor : Non oportet nos de hac re respondere tibi. 17 Ecce enim Deus noster, quem colimus, potest eripere nos de camino ignis ardentis, et de manibus tuis, o rex, liberare. 18 Quod si noluerit, notum sit tibi, rex, quia deos tuos non colimus, et statuam auream, quam erexisti, non adoramus. 19 Tunc Nabuchodonosor repletus est furore, et aspectus faciei illius immutatus est super Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago : et prcepit ut succenderetur fornax septuplum quam succendi consueverat. 20 Et viris fortissimis de exercitu suo jussit ut ligatis pedibus Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, mitterent eos in fornacem ignis ardentis. 21 Et confestim viri illi vincti, cum braccis suis, et tiaris, et calceamentis, et vestibus, missi sunt in medium fornacis ignis ardentis : 22 nam jussio regis urgebat. Fornax autem succensa erat nimis : porro viros illos, qui miserant Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, interfecit flamma ignis. 23 Viri autem hi tres, id est, Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, ceciderunt in medio camino ignis ardentis, colligati.24 Et ambulabant in medio flamm, laudantes Deum, et benedicentes Domino. 25 Stans autem Azarias oravit sic, aperiensque os suum in medio ignis, ait : 26 [Benedictus es, Domine Deus patrum nostrorum,et laudabile, et gloriosum nomen tuum in scula : 27 quia justus es in omnibus, qu fecisti nobis,et universa opera tua vera, et vi tu rect,et omnia judicia tua vera. 28 Judicia enim vera fecistijuxta omnia, qu induxisti super nos,et super civitatem sanctam patrum nostrorum Jerusalem :quia in veritate et in judicio induxisti omnia hcpropter peccata nostra.29 Peccavimus enim, et inique egimus recedentes a te,et deliquimus in omnibus :30 et prcepta tua non audivimus,nec observavimus,nec fecimus sicut prceperas nobisut bene nobis esset. 31 Omnia ergo, qu induxisti super nos,et universa qu fecisti nobis,in vero judicio fecisti ;32 et tradidisti nos in manibus inimicorum nostrorum iniquorum,et pessimorum, prvaricatorumque,et regi injusto, et pessimo ultra omnem terram.33 Et nunc non possumus aperire os :confusio, et opprobrium facti sumus servis tuis,et his qui colunt te.34 Ne, qusumus, tradas nos in perpetuum propter nomen tuum,et ne dissipes testamentum tuum :35 neque auferas misericordiam tuam a nobis,propter Abraham, dilectum tuum,et Isaac, servum tuum,et Isral, sanctum tuum,36 quibus locutus es pollicens quod multiplicares semen eorumsicut stellas cli,et sicut arenam qu est in littore maris ;37 quia, Domine, imminuti sumus plus quam omnes gentes,sumusque humiles in universa terra hodiepropter peccata nostra.38 Et non est in tempore hoc princeps, et dux, et propheta,neque holocaustum, neque sacrificium,neque oblatio, neque incensum,neque locus primitiarum coram te,39 ut possimus invenire misericordiam tuam,sed in animo contrito, et spiritu humilitatis suscipiamur.40 Sicut in holocausto arietum, et taurorum,et sicut in millibus agnorum pinguium,sic fiat sacrificium nostrum in conspectu tuo hodie, ut placeat tibi,quoniam non est confusio confidentibus in te.41 Et nunc sequimur te in toto corde ;et timemus te, et qurimus faciem tuam.42 Nec confundas nos,sed fac nobiscum juxta mansuetudinem tuam,et secundum multitudinem misericordi tu.43 Et erue nos in mirabilibus tuis,et da gloriam nomini tuo, Domine ;44 et confundantur omnes qui ostendunt servis tuis mala :confundantur in omni potentia tua,et robur eorum conteratur :45 et sciant quia tu es Dominus Deus solus,et gloriosus super orbem terrarum.] 46 Et non cessabant qui miserant eos ministri regis succendere fornacem, naphtha, et stuppa, et pice, et malleolis, 47 et effundebatur flamma super fornacem cubitis quadraginta novem : 48 et erupit, et incendit quos reperit juxta fornacem de Chaldis. 49 Angelus autem Domini descendit cum Azaria, et sociis ejus in fornacem : et excussit flammam ignis de fornace, 50 et fecit medium fornacis quasi ventum roris flantem, et non tetigit eos omnino ignis, neque contristavit, nec quidquam molesti intulit. 51 Tunc hi tres quasi ex uno ore laudabant, et glorificabant, et benedicebant Deum in fornace, dicentes : 52 [Benedictus es, Domine Deus patrum nostrorum :et laudabilis, et gloriosus, et superexaltatus in scula.Et benedictum nomen glori tu sanctum :et laudabile, et superexaltatum in omnibus sculis.53 Benedictus es in templo sancto glori tu :et superlaudabilis, et supergloriosus in scula.54 Benedictus es in throno regni tui :et superlaudabilis, et superexaltatus in scula.55 Benedictus es, qui intueris abyssos, et sedes super cherubim :et laudabilis, et superexaltatus in scula.56 Benedictus es in firmamento cli :et laudabilis et gloriosus in scula.57 Benedicite, omnia opera Domini, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.58 Benedicite, angeli Domini, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.59 Benedicite, cli, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.60 Benedicite, aqu omnes, qu super clos sunt, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.61 Benedicite, omnes virtutes Domini, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.62 Benedicite, sol et luna, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.63 Benedicite, stell cli, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.64 Benedicite, omnis imber et ros, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.65 Benedicite, omnes spiritus Dei, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.66 Benedicite, ignis et stus, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.67 Benedicite, frigus et stus, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.68 Benedicite, rores et pruina, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.69 Benedicite, gelu et frigus, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.70 Benedicite, glacies et nives, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.71 Benedicite, noctes et dies, Dominolaudate et superexaltate eum in scula.72 Benedicite, lux et tenebr, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.73 Benedicite, fulgura et nubes, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.74 Benedicat terra Dominum :laudet et superexaltet eum in scula.75 Benedicite, montes et colles, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.76 Benedicite, universa germinantia in terra, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.77 Benedicite, fontes, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.78 Benedicite, maria et flumina, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.79 Benedicite, cete, et omnia qu moventur in aquis, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.80 Benedicite, omnes volucres cli, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.81 Benedicite, omnes besti et pecora, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.82 Benedicite, filii hominum, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.83 Benedicat Isral Dominum :laudet et superexaltet eum in scula.84 Benedicite, sacerdotes Domini, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.85 Benedicite, servi Domini, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.86 Benedicite, spiritus et anim justorum, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.87 Benedicite, sancti et humiles corde, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula.88 Benedicite, Anania, Azaria, Misal, Domino :laudate et superexaltate eum in scula :quia eruit nos de inferno,et salvos fecit de manu mortis :et liberavit nos de medio ardentis flamm,et de medio ignis eruit nos.89 Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus :quoniam in sculum misericordia ejus.90 Benedicite, omnes religiosi, Domino Deo deorum :laudate et confitemini ei, quia in omnia scula misericordia ejus.]91 Tunc Nabuchodonosor rex obstupuit, et surrexit propere, et ait optimatibus suis : Nonne tres viros misimus in medium ignis compeditos ? Qui respondentes regi, dixerunt : Vere, rex. 92 Respondit, et ait : Ecce ego video quatuor viros solutos, et ambulantes in medio ignis, et nihil corruptionis in eis est, et species quarti similis filio Dei. 93 Tunc accessit Nabuchodonosor ad ostium fornacis ignis ardentis, et ait : Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, servi Dei excelsi, egredimini, et venite. Statimque egressi sunt Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago de medio ignis. 94 Et congregati satrap, et magistratus, et judices, et potentes regis contemplabantur viros illos, quoniam nihil potestatis habuisset ignis in corporibus eorum, et capillus capitis eorum non esset adustus, et sarabala eorum non fuissent immutata, et odor ignis non transisset per eos. 95 Et erumpens Nabuchodonosor, ait : Benedictus Deus eorum, Sidrach videlicet, Misach, et Abdenago : qui misit angelum suum, et eruit servos suos, qui crediderunt in eum : et verbum regis immutaverunt, et tradiderunt corpora sua ne servirent, et ne adorarent omnem deum, excepto Deo suo. 96 A me ergo positum est hoc decretum : ut omnis populus, tribus, et lingua, qucumque locuta fuerit blasphemiam contra Deum Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, dispereat, et domus ejus vastetur : neque enim est alius deus, qui possit ita salvare. 97 Tunc rex promovit Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago in provincia Babylonis.98 Nabuchodonosor rex, omnibus populis, gentibus, et linguis, qui habitant in universa terra, pax vobis multiplicetur. 99 Signa, et mirabilia fecit apud me Deus excelsus. Placuit ergo mihi prdicare 100 signa ejus, quia magna sunt : et mirabilia ejus, quia fortia : et regnum ejus regnum sempiternum, et potestas ejus in generationem et generationem.