1 O rei Nabucodonozor fez uma estátua de ouro, de 30 metros de altura e 3 metros de largura; mandou erguê-la na planície de Dura na província da Babilónia. 2 Seguidamente mandou mensagens a todos os governantes, altas individualidades, chefes militares, juízes, administradores das finanças públicas, conselheiros, autarcas e governadores de províncias do seu império, convidando-os a estarem presentes na consagração da sua estátua. 3 Depois dessas pessoas terem chegado, e quando estavam diante do monumento, 4 um arauto proclamou: "Ó povos de todas as nações e línguas, esta é a ordem do rei. 5 Quando ouvirem a música, o conjunto instrumental formado pelos clarins, flautas, harpas, sambucas, saltérios, gaitas-de-fole e toda a espécie de instrumentos, deverão prostrar-se até ao chão para adorar a estátua de ouro do rei Nabucodonozor. 6 Seja quem for que recusar obedecer a esta ordem será imediatamente lançado numa fornalha ardente!"

7 Assim, logo que a tal banda começou a tocar, toda a gente, de todas as nações, línguas e religiões se inclinou até à terra e adorou a estátua.

8 Aconteceu, no entanto, que alguns funcionários foram ter com o rei, acusando certos judeus de terem recusado adorar.

9 "Que vossa Majestade viva para sempre!", disseram eles ao rei Nabucodonozor. 10 "Fizeste uma lei ordenando que toda a gente deveria inclinar-se em adoração perante a tua estátua de ouro, no momento em que a banda começasse a tocar. 11 E qualquer pessoa que recusasse fazê-lo seria lançada num forno de chamas ardentes. 12 Há contudo uns judeus, chamados Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, a quem deste responsabilidades no governo da Babilónia, que te ofenderam, recusando servir o ídolo do teu deus ou adorar a estátua de ouro que ergueste."

13 Então Nabucodonozor, furioso e enraivecido, deu ordens para que esses três homens fossem trazidos à sua presença. 14 "É verdade, Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego", perguntou-lhes, "que se recusaram servir os meus deuses e adorar a estátua de ouro que mandei erguer? 15 Se assim é, vou dar-vos mais uma oportunidade. Quando a música começar a tocar, se se inclinarem para adorar a estátua, fica tudo bem, mas se recusarem fazê-lo serão lançados no forno flamejante, nessa mesma hora. Veremos se há algum outro deus que vos possa livrar das minhas mãos!"

16 Os três homens responderam: "Ó Nabucodonozor, não precisamos de te responder sobre isso! 17 Se formos lançados dentro da fornalha, o nosso Deus será capaz de nos libertar. Ele nos livrará das tuas mãos! 18 Mas mesmo que não nos livre, fica sabendo, ó majestade, que nunca serviremos os teus deuses nem adoraremos a estátua de ouro que mandaste edificar!"

19 Nabucodonozor encheu-se de furor, o seu rosto ficou vermelho de ira e mandou acender o forno e aquecê-lo sete vezes mais do que habitualmente. 20 Fez vir uns homens dos mais fortes do seu exército, para atarem os três judeus, e deu ordem para que os lançassem na fornalha. 21 E assim aconteceu, depois de serem ligados com cordas fortes foram deitados às chamas, completamente vestidos, com a própria roupa que traziam. 22 Como o soberano, na sua fúria, tinha ordenado um aquecimento excecional do forno, as chamas saíam para o exterior e chegaram a matar os soldados, quando estes atiravam os três homens lá para dentro. 23 Dessa forma, Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego caíram atados dentro do forno de fogo ardente.

24 Mas de repente, Nabucodonozor, que estava a olhar para a cena, deu um salto de espanto e exclamou para os seus conselheiros: "Não foram três os indivíduos que deitámos para dentro da fornalha?"

"Sim, é claro, majestade!", retorquiram.

25 "Então olhem bem! Eu estou a ver quatro homens desatados, passeando no meio do fogo e as chamas nada lhes fazem! Reparem que o quarto tem o aspeto de um filho dos deuses!"

26 Nabucodonozor aproximou-se da porta aberta do forno e gritou: "Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, servos do Deus altíssimo! Saiam daí! Venham cá!" E eles saíram do meio do fogo.

27 Os príncipes, os governadores, os capitães e os conselheiros juntaram-se à volta dos três homens e constataram que o fogo em nada os tinha afetado; nem mesmo um cabelo da sua cabeça se tinha queimado; as suas roupas não estavam sequer chamuscadas e nem cheiravam a queimado.

28 Disse o rei Nabucodonozor: "Bendito seja o Deus de Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, porque mandou o seu anjo para livrar os seus servos que confiaram nele e recusaram obedecer à ordem do rei, preferindo antes morrer do que servir e adorar qualquer outro deus além do seu Deus. 29 Por isso, faço agora outro decreto pelo qual qualquer pessoa, seja de que nação, língua ou religião for, que disser qualquer frase ofensiva contra o Deus de Sadraque, de Mesaque e de Abednego será despedaçado e a sua casa feita num montão de ruínas, pois não há outro deus que possa livrar como este!"

30 Então o rei fez prosperar estes três homens e promoveu-os a cargos superiores no governo da província da Babilónia.

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,*3.4 aloud: Chaldee, with might*3.4 it…: Chaldee, they command 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:*3.5 dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:*3.10 dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.*3.12 have…: Chaldee, have set no regard upon thee

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?*3.14 true: or, of purpose 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?*3.15 dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.*3.19 full: Chaldee, filled 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.*3.20 most…: Chaldee, mighty of strength 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.*3.21 coats: or, mantles*3.21 hats: or, turbans 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.*3.22 commandment: Chaldee, word*3.22 flame: or, spark 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.*3.24 counsellors: or, governors 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.*3.25 they…: Chaldee, there is no hurt in them

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.*3.26 mouth: Chaldee, door 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.*3.29 I make…: Chaldee, a decree is made by me*3.29 any…: Chaldee, error*3.29 cut…: Chaldee, made pieces 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.*3.30 promoted: Chaldee, made to prosper