[:en]King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold 90 feet high and 9 feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. They were commanded to fall down and worship the image upon hearing the sound of all kinds of music. Those who disobeyed will be thrown into the blazing furnace.
Since Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego refused to fall down and worship the image, some astrologers told the king and the king summoned them. But Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego replied to the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, o king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (vs. 16-18)
Furious with rage, the king ordered the furnace heated 7 times hotter than usual. He commanded some the the strongest soldiers to tie them up and throw them into the furnace. Because the furnace was so hot, the soldiers fell into the blazing furnace and died.
When the king saw 4 men walking around in the fire unbound and unharmed, he ordered them to come out of the fire. When they came out, their bodies were unharmed, their robes were not scorched and there was no smell of fire on their clothes. The king saw the miracle and admired their dedication to the Lord. He then decreed that whoever would say anything against the god of Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their house burned. Then the king promoted them in the province of Babylon.
Stay firm in your faith to the Lord![:]