¹² There are certain Jews whom you have ^(A)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden statue which you have set up.”

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in ^(B)rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve ^(C)my gods, nor worship the golden statue that I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready, ^(D)at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, ^[a]lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will ^[b]immediately be ^(E)thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and ^(F)what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?”

^16 (G)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. ¹⁷ If it be so, our ^(H)God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; ^[c]and ^(I)He will rescue us from your hand, O king. ^18 (J)But even if He does not, ^(K)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”