Before the furnace

13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego be brought in. Then these men were brought before the king.

14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my god and do not bow down to the golden image that I have set up?”

15Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, and bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, in that very hour you will be thrown into the midst of a blazing furnace of fire. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need to give you an answer concerning this matter.”

17If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will deliver us from your hand, O king.

18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not bow down to the golden image that you have set up.