1. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a gold statue to be built twenty-seven metres high and nearly three metres wide. He had it set up in Dura Valley near the city of Babylon,
2. and he commanded his governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, and his other officials to come from everywhere in his kingdom to the dedication of the statue.
3. So all of them came and stood in front of it.
4. Then an official stood up and announced:People of every nation and race, now listen to the king's command!
5. Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments will soon start playing. When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6. Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace.
7. As soon as the people heard the music, they bowed down and worshipped the gold statue that the king had set up.
8. Some Babylonians used this as a chance to accuse the Jews to King Nebuchadnezzar.
9. They said, “Your Majesty, we hope you live for ever!
10. You commanded everyone to bow down and worship the gold statue when the music played.
11. And you said that anyone who did not bow down and worship it would be thrown into a flaming furnace.
12. Sir, you appointed three men to high positions in Babylon Province, but they have disobeyed you. Those Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to worship your gods and the statue you have set up.”
13. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said,
14. “I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up.
15. Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don't, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”