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 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, 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, advisers, 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 worshiped 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 forever! 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 toward them changed. He ordered the furnace 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 advisers, “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 advisers 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.
Sanamu Ya Dhahabu Na Moto Mkali
13:1 Isa 41:24; 46:6; Hab 2:19; Yer 16:20Mfalme Nebukadneza alitengeneza sanamu ya dhahabu, yenye kimo cha dhiraa sitini,3:1 Dhiraa sitini ni sawa na mita 27. na upana wa dhiraa sita,3:1 Dhiraa sita ni sawa na mita 2.7. akaisimamisha kwenye tambarare ya Dura katika jimbo la nchi ya Babeli. 23:2 Es 1:1; Dan 6:7Kisha mfalme akaita wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wote wa jimbo kuja kuizindua sanamu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha. 33:3 Rum 1:20-23; Mdo 19:34-35; Mt 7:13Basi wakuu, wasimamizi, watawala, washauri, watunza hazina, waamuzi, mahakimu na maafisa wengine wa jimbo walikusanyika ili kuizindua sanamu ile Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha, nao wakasimama mbele ya hiyo sanamu.
43:4 Dan 6:25; Ufu 10:11; Dan 4:1Ndipo mpiga mbiu akatangaza kwa sauti kubwa, “Enyi watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha, hili ndilo mnaloamriwa kulifanya: 53:5 Dan 4:1Mara mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za sauti za ala za uimbaji, lazima mwanguke chini na kuabudu sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza ameisimamisha. 63:6 Yer 29:22; Ufu 13:15; Mt 13:42, 50; Dan 5:19; 6:7Mtu yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu sanamu hiyo, atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto.”
7Kwa hiyo, mara waliposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, watu wa kabila zote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha wakaanguka chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu ambayo Mfalme Nebukadneza alikuwa ameisimamisha.
83:8 Isa 19:3; Dan 2:10; Ezr 4:12-16Wakati huo baadhi ya Wakaldayo walijitokeza na kuwashtaki Wayahudi. 93:9 Neh 2:3; Dan 6:6; Hos 7:3Wakamwambia Mfalme Nebukadneza, “Ee mfalme, uishi milele! 103:10 Dan 6:12Ee mfalme, umetoa amri kwamba kila mmoja atakayesikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, kinubi, zeze, kinanda, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji lazima aanguke chini na kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu, 11na kwamba yeyote ambaye hataanguka chini na kuiabudu atatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto. 123:12 Dan 2:49; 6:13; Es 3:3Lakini wako baadhi ya Wayahudi ambao umewaweka juu ya mambo ya jimbo la Babeli: yaani, Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambao hawakujali wewe, ee mfalme. Hawaitumikii miungu yako wala kuiabudu ile sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
133:13 Dan 2:12; Mdo 5:25-27; Mk 13:9Mfalme Nebukadneza, akiwa amekasirika na mwenye ghadhabu kali, akawaita Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego. Hivyo watu hawa wakaletwa mbele ya mfalme, 143:14 Isa 46:1; Yer 50:2naye Nebukadneza akawauliza, “Je, ni kweli kwamba ninyi Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego hamuitumikii miungu yangu wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu niliyoisimamisha? 153:15 Isa 36:18-20; Kut 5:22; 2Nya 32:15; 32:15; Kut 5:22Basi wakati mtakaposikia sauti ya baragumu, filimbi, marimba, zeze, kinubi, zumari na aina zote za ala za uimbaji, kama mtakuwa tayari kusujudu na kuiabudu hiyo sanamu niliyoitengeneza, vyema sana. Lakini kama hamtaiabudu, mtatupwa saa iyo hiyo ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto. Naye ni mungu yupi atakayeweza kuwaokoa ninyi, kutoka mkono wangu?”
163:16 Mt 10:18-19; Dan 1:7Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakamjibu mfalme, “Ee Nebukadneza, hatuhitaji kujitetea mbele zako kuhusu jambo hili. 173:17 Mwa 48:16; Za 18:48; Ay 5:19; 2Kor 1:10; Dan 6:20; Yer 1:8Ikiwa tutatupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto, Mungu tunayemtumikia anaweza kutuokoa na moto, naye atatuokoa kutoka mkononi mwako, ee mfalme. 183:18 Kut 1:17; Yos 24:15Lakini hata ikiwa hatatuokoa, ee mfalme, tunataka ufahamu kwamba, hatutaitumikia miungu yako wala kuiabudu sanamu ya dhahabu uliyoisimamisha.”
193:19 Law 26:18-28Ndipo Nebukadneza akawa na ghadhabu kali sana kwa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, nayo nia yake ikabadilika kwao. Akaagiza tanuru ichochewe moto mara saba kuliko kawaida yake 20na kuwaamuru baadhi ya askari wake wenye nguvu zaidi katika jeshi lake kuwafunga Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego na kuwatupa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto. 21Hivyo watu hawa, walifungwa na kutupwa ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamevaa majoho yao, suruali, vilemba na nguo zao nyingine. 22Amri ya mfalme ilikuwa ya haraka sana na tanuru ilikuwa na moto mkali kiasi kwamba miali ya moto iliwaua wale askari waliowapeleka Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego. 23Watu hawa watatu walianguka ndani ya tanuru iwakayo moto wakiwa wamefungwa kwa uthabiti sana.
24Ndipo Mfalme Nebukadneza akashangaa, akainuka kwa haraka na kuwauliza washauri wake, “Je, hawakuwa watu watatu ambao tuliwafunga na kuwatupa ndani ya moto?”
Washauri wakajibu, “Hakika, ee mfalme.”
25Mfalme akasema, “Tazama! Naona watu wanne wakitembeatembea ndani ya moto, hawajafungwa wala kudhurika, naye mtu yule wa nne anaonekana kama mwana wa miungu.”
26Ndipo Nebukadneza akaukaribia mdomo wa ile tanuru iwakayo moto na kupaza sauti, “Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, watumishi wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana, tokeni! Njooni hapa!”
Ndipo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatoka ndani ya moto. 273:27 Dan 6:7; Ebr 11:32-34; Za 91:3-11; Dan 6:23; Isa 43:2Nao maliwali, wasimamizi, watawala na washauri wa mfalme wakakusanyika kuwazunguka. Waliona kwamba moto haukudhuru miili yao, wala unywele wa vichwa vyao haukuungua, majoho yao hayakuungua, wala hapakuwepo na harufu ya moto kwenye miili yao.
283:28 Za 34:7; Mdo 5:19; Kum 31:20; Ay 13:15; Dan 6:22; Za 97:10; Mdo 12:11Ndipo Nebukadneza akasema, “Ahimidiwe Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego, ambaye amemtuma malaika wake na kuwaokoa watumishi wake. Walimtumaini na kukaidi amri ya mfalme, nao wakawa tayari kufa kuliko kutumikia au kuabudu mungu mwingine yeyote isipokuwa Mungu wao. 293:29 Dan 6:26-27; Ezr 6:11Kwa hiyo ninaamuru kwamba watu wa taifa lolote au lugha yoyote watakaosema kitu chochote dhidi ya Mungu wa Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego wakatwe vipande vipande na nyumba zao zifanywe kuwa malundo ya kokoto, kwa maana hakuna mungu mwingine awezaye kuokoa namna hii.”
303:30 Dan 2:49Kisha mfalme akawapandisha vyeo Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego katika jimbo la Babeli.
