The image of gold and the blazing furnace
1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,3:1 That is, about 27 metres high and 2.7 metres wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’
7Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8At this time some astrologers3:8 Or Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘May the king live for ever! 10Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.’
13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude towards them changed. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’
They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’
25He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.’
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Mũhianano wa Thahabu, na Icua rĩa Mwaki
13:1 Isa 46:6; Hab 2:19Na rĩrĩ, Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru nĩathondekithirie mũhianano wa thahabu, wa mĩkono mĩrongo ĩtandatũ3:1 nĩ ta mita 27 kũraiha na igũrũ, na mĩkono ĩtandatũ3:1 nĩ ta mita igĩrĩ na robo ithatũ (2:75) kwarama, na akĩũhaandithia werũ-inĩ wa Dura kũu bũrũri wa Babuloni. 23:2 Dan 6:7Nebukadinezaru agĩcooka agĩĩta anene, na anyabara, na abarũthi, na ataari a mũthamaki, na aigi kĩgĩĩna, na aciirithania, na mawakiri, na anene a mabũrũri make mothe moke kĩamũro-inĩ gĩa kwamũra mũhianano ũcio aahandithĩtie. 3Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, anene, na anyabara, na abarũthi, na ataari a mũthamaki, na aigi kĩgĩĩna, na aciirithania, na mawakiri, na anene othe a mabũrũri makĩgomana nĩ ũndũ wa kwamũra mũhianano ũcio Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru aahaandithĩtie, nao makĩrũgama mbere yaguo.
43:4 Dan 4:1; Kũg 10:11Nake mũhuhi coro akĩanĩrĩra na mũgambo mũnene, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Inyuĩ andũ a iruka ciothe na a ndũrĩrĩ ciothe, na a mĩario yothe ta thikĩrĩriai ũrĩa mũthamaki aathanĩte mwĩke. 53:5 Kũg 13:12Rĩrĩa mũrĩigua mũgambo wa coro, na mĩtũrirũ, na thethe, na kĩnanda gĩa kĩnũbi, na kĩnanda kĩa mũgeeto, na mĩtũrirũ ĩrĩa mĩariĩ, o hamwe na ũini wa mĩthemba yothe-rĩ, o rĩmwe mwĩgũithie thĩ mũhooe mũhianano ũcio wa thahabu ũrĩa Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru aahaandithĩtie. 63:6 Jer 29:22; Math 13:42, 50Mũndũ ũrĩa wothe ũtekwĩgũithia thĩ na ahooe, o hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩegũikio icua-inĩ rĩa mwaki ũgwakana mũno.”
7Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, rĩrĩa andũ acio maiguire mũgambo wa coro, na mĩtũrirũ, na thethe, na kĩnanda gĩa kĩnũbi, na kĩnanda kĩa mũgeeto, na ũini wa mĩthemba yothe, andũ othe, na ndũrĩrĩ, na andũ a mĩario yothe makĩĩgũithia thĩ, makĩhooya mũhianano ũcio wa thahabu ũrĩa Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru aahaandithĩtie.
83:8 Isa 19:3; Dan 2:10Ihinda o rĩu arori a njata amwe makĩyumĩria, magĩcuuka Ayahudi, 93:9 Neh 2:3makĩĩra Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru atĩrĩ, “Wee mũthamaki ũrotũũra tene na tene! 10Atĩrĩrĩ, wee mũthamaki nĩũrutĩte uuge waku, ũkoiga atĩ rĩrĩa mũndũ o wothe akaigua mũgambo wa coro, na mĩtũrirũ, na thethe, na kĩnanda gĩa kĩnũbi, na kĩnanda kĩa mũgeeto, na mĩtũrirũ ĩrĩa mĩariĩ, na ũini wa mĩthemba yothe no nginya egũithie thĩ, ahooe mũhianano ũcio wa thahabu, 11na ũkoiga atĩ mũndũ ũrĩa wothe ũtekwĩgũithia thĩ aũhooe, nĩagaikio icua-inĩ rĩa mwaki ũgwakana mũno. 123:12 Dan 2:49; Esit 3:3No rĩrĩ, nĩ harĩ Ayahudi amwe arĩa wee ũigĩte a kũrora maũndũ ma bũrũri wa Babuloni, na nĩo Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, arĩa matakũiguaga, wee mũthamaki. Matitungatagĩra ngai ciaku, kana makahooya mũhianano wa thahabu ũcio ũhandithĩtie.”
133:13 Dan 2:12Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Nebukadinezaru agĩcinwo nĩ marakara, nake agĩtũmanĩra Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego mareehwo harĩ we. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio makĩreehwo mbere ya mũthamaki, 143:14 Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2nake Nebukadinezaru akĩmooria atĩrĩ, “Nĩ ũhoro wa ma wee Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, atĩ mũtitungatagĩra ngai ciakwa, o na kana mũkahooya mũhianano wa thahabu ũcio handithĩtie? 153:15 Isa 36:18-20; 2Maũ 32:15Rĩu-rĩ, mũngĩĩhaarĩria nĩgeetha rĩrĩa mũrĩigua mũgambo wa coro, na mĩtũrirũ, na thethe, na kĩnanda gĩa kĩnũbi, na kĩnanda kĩa mũgeeto, na mĩtũrirũ ĩrĩa mĩariĩ, na ũini wa mĩthemba yothe, mwĩgũithie thĩ, mũhooe mũhianano ũcio niĩ thondekithĩtie, nĩ wega mũno. No rĩrĩ, mũngĩrega kũhooya mũhianano ũcio-rĩ, nĩmũgũikio o ro rĩmwe icua-inĩ rĩa mwaki ũgwakana mũno. Na rĩrĩ, hihi nĩ ngai ĩrĩkũ ĩngĩhota kũmũhonokia kuuma guoko-inĩ gwakwa?”
16Nao Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego magĩcookeria mũthamaki, makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Wee Nebukadinezaru, ithuĩ tũtibataire kwĩyarĩrĩria tũrĩ mbere yaku igũrũ rĩa ũhoro ũyũ. 173:17 Kĩam 48:16; Ayub 5:19Tũngĩikio icua-inĩ rĩa mwaki ũgwakana mũno-rĩ, Ngai ũrĩa ithuĩ tũtungataga e na ũhoti wa gũtũruta thĩinĩ warĩo, na nĩwe ũgũtũhonokia kuuma guoko-inĩ gwaku, wee mũthamaki. 183:18 Thaam 1:17; Josh 24:15No rĩrĩ, o na angĩaga gũtũhonokia-rĩ, nĩtũkwenda ũmenye, wee mũthamaki, atĩ ithuĩ tũtingĩtungatĩra ngai ciaku, kana tũhooe mũhianano wa thahabu ũcio wee ũhandithĩtie.”
193:19 Alaw 26:18-28Hĩndĩ ĩyo Nebukadinezaru akĩrakara mũno nĩ ũndũ wa Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, na agĩtukia gĩthiithi nĩ ũndũ wao. Agĩcooka agĩathana, akiuga icua rĩu rĩongererwo ngũ nĩguo rĩhiũhe maita mũgwanja ma ũrĩa rĩakoragwo rĩhiũhĩte. 20Nebukadinezaru agĩatha thigari imwe iria ciarĩ na hinya mũno ita-inĩ rĩake ciohe Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, imaikie icua-inĩ rĩu rĩa mwaki wakanĩte mũno. 21Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio, mehumbĩte kanjũ ciao, na thuruarĩ, na iremba, o na nguo icio ingĩ-rĩ, makĩohwo na magĩikio icua-inĩ rĩu rĩa mwaki wakanĩte mũno. 22Watho ũcio wa mũthamaki warĩ wa ihenya mũno, narĩo icua rĩkahiũha mũno, ũũ atĩ nĩnĩmbĩ cia mwaki ũcio cioragire thigari iria cianyiitĩte Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, 23nao andũ acio atatũ, moohetwo makarũmio, makĩgũa icua-inĩ rĩu rĩa mwaki wakanĩte mũno.
24Hĩndĩ ĩyo Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru akĩgega, akĩrũgama na igũrũ o rĩmwe, akĩũria andũ arĩa maamũheaga kĩrĩra atĩrĩ, “Githĩ ti andũ atatũ tuohire na twamaikia mwaki-inĩ?”
Nao makĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Ĩĩ, nĩ ma ũguo nĩguo, mũthamaki.”
25Nake mũthamaki akiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ, ta rorai! Niĩ ndĩrona andũ ana magĩcangacanga mwaki-inĩ, matarĩ ohe kana makahutio nĩ mwaki, nake ũcio wa kana ahaana ta ũmwe wa ariũ a ngai.”
263:26 Dan 4:2, 34Nebukadinezaru agĩkuhĩrĩria mũromo-inĩ wa icua rĩu rĩakanaga mwaki, akĩanĩrĩra, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Inyuĩ Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego, inyuĩ ndungata cia Ngai-Ũrĩa-ũrĩ Igũrũ-Mũno, umĩrai, mũũke haha!”
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego makiumĩra mwaki-inĩ ũcio, 273:27 Ahib 11:32-34; Thab 91:3-11nao anene, na anyabara, na abarũthi, na arĩa maataaraga mũthamaki othe makĩmarigiicĩria, makĩĩonera atĩ mwaki ndwamekĩte ũũru mĩĩrĩ yao, kana rũcuĩrĩ rwa mĩtwe yao rũkahĩa, o na nguo iria mehumbĩte itiahĩte, na matianungaga mwaki o na atĩa.
283:28 Thab 34:7; Atũm 12:11Nake Nebukadinezaru akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ngai wa Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego arogoocwo, ũrĩa ũtũmĩte mũraika wake, ateithũre ndungata ciake! Mamwĩhokire, magĩkararia watho wa mũthamaki, na nĩmekwĩhaarĩirie kũruta mĩoyo yao handũ ha gũtungatĩra kana kũhooya ngai ingĩ, tiga Ngai ũcio wao. 293:29 Dan 6:26-27; Ezar 6:11Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, nĩndaruta watho atĩ andũ a rũrĩrĩ o ruothe kana rwario arĩa makaaria ũndũ o wothe wa gũũkĩrĩra Ngai wa Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego magatinangio icunjĩ, na nyũmba ciao imomorwo ituĩke hĩba ya mahiga, nĩgũkorwo gũtirĩ ngai ĩngĩ ĩngĩhonokania na njĩra ĩno.”
303:30 Dan 2:49Nake mũthamaki agĩtũũgĩria Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego kũu bũrũri wa Babuloni.
