The Prophet Daniel

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Then king Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather together the governors, magistrates and judges, generals and sovereigns and commanders, and all the leaders of the regions, to come together for the dedication of the statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had raised.

Then the governors, magistrates and judges, generals and sovereigns and nobles, who were appointed to power, and all the leaders of the regions were brought together so as to convene for the dedication of the statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had raised. And so they stood before the statue that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

And a herald proclaimed loudly, “To you it is said, to you peoples, tribes, and languages,

that in the hour when you will hear the sound of the trumpet and the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, you must fall down and adore the gold statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(a)

But if anyone will not bow down and adore, in the same hour he will be cast into a furnace of burning fire.”

After this, therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, all the peoples, tribes, and languages fell down and adored the gold statue, which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused

And soon, about the same time, some influential Chaldeans came and accused the Jews,(b)

and they said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.

You, O king, have established a decree, so that every man who might hear the sound of the trumpet, the pipe and the lute, the harp and the psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, will prostrate himself and adore the gold statue.

But if any man will not fall down and adore, he would be cast into a furnace of burning fire.

Yet there are influential Jews, whom you have appointed over the works of the region of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have scorned your decree. They do not worship your gods, and they do not adore the gold statue which you have raised up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in fury and in wrath, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought, and so, without delay, they were brought before the king.

And king Nebuchadnezzar addressed them and said, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the gold statue, which I have set up?

Therefore, if you are prepared now, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, lute, harp and psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, prostrate yourselves and adore the statue which I have made. But if you will not adore, in the same hour you will be cast into the furnace of burning fire. And who is the God that will rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, “It is not right for us to obey you in this matter.

For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to rescue us from the oven of burning fire and to free us from your hands, O king.

But even if he will not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your gods, nor adore the gold statue, which you have raised up.”

The Fiery Furnace

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the appearance of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated to seven times its usual fire.

And he ordered the strongest men of his army to bind the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire.

And immediately these men were bound, and along with their coats, and their hats, and their shoes, and their garments, were cast into the middle of the furnace of burning fire.(c)

But the king’s order was so urgent that the furnace was heated excessively. As a result, those men who had cast in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were killed by the flame of the fire.

But these three men, that is, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, having been bound, fell down in the middle of the oven of burning fire.

And they were walking in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.(d)

Then Azariah, while standing, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and your name is praiseworthy and glorious for all ages.

For you are just in all the things that you have accomplished for us, and all your works are true, and your ways are right, and all your judgments are true.

For you have made equally true judgments in all the things that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. For in truth and in judgment, you have brought down all these things because of our sins.

For we have sinned, and we have committed iniquity in withdrawing from you, and we have offended in all things.

And we have not listened to your precepts, nor have we observed or done as you have ordered us, so that it might go well with us.

Therefore, everything that you have brought upon us, and all that you have done for us, you have done in true judgment.

And you have delivered us into the hands of our enemies: traitors, unjust and most wicked, and to a king, unjust and most wicked, even more so than all others on earth.(e)

And now we are not able to open our mouths. We have become a shame and a disgrace to your servants and to those who worship you.

Do not hand us over forever, we ask you, because of your name, and do not abolish your covenant.

And do not withdraw your mercy from us, because of Abraham, your beloved, and Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one.

You have spoken with them, promising that you would multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore.

For we, O Lord, are diminished more than all other peoples, and we are brought low throughout all the earth, this day, because of our sins.

Neither is there, at this time, a leader, or a ruler, or a prophet, nor any holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first fruits, in your eyes,

so that we may be able to find your mercy. Nevertheless, with a contrite soul and humble spirit, let us be accepted.

Just as in the holocausts of rams and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, in order to please you. For there is no shame for those who trust in you.

And now we follow you wholeheartedly, and we fear you, and we seek your face.

Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in agreement with your clemency and according to the multitude of your mercies.

And rescue us by your wonders and give glory to your name, O Lord.

And let all those be confounded who lead your servants towards evil. May they be confounded by all your power and may their strength be crushed.

And may they know that you are the Lord, the only God, and glorious above the world.”

And they did not cease, those attendants of the king who had cast them in, to heat the furnace with oil, and flax, and pitch, and brush.(f)

And the flame streamed forth above the furnace for forty-nine cubits.

And the fire erupted and burnt those of the Chaldeans within its reach near the furnace.

But the angel of the Lord descended with Azariah and his companions into the furnace; and he cast the flame of the fire out of the furnace.

And he made the middle of the furnace like the blowing of a damp wind, and the fire did not touch them, nor afflict them, nor bother them at all.

Then these three, as if with one voice, praised and glorified and blessed God, in the furnace, saying:

“Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers: praiseworthy, and glorious, and exalted above all forever. And blessed is the holy name of your glory: praiseworthy, and exalted above all, for all ages.

Blessed are you in the holy temple of your glory: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom: praiseworthy above all and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you who beholds the abyss and sits upon the cherubim: praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.(g)

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven: praiseworthy and glorious forever.

All works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

All waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

All powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Every rain and dew, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Every breath of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.(h)

Fire and steam, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Dews and frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Sleet and winter, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.(i)

Ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

May the land bless the Lord: and praise and exalt him above all forever.

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

All things that grow in the land, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Whales and all things that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

All things that fly in the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

All beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

May Israel bless the Lord: and praise and exalt him above all forever.

Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.(j)

(k)

Those who are holy and humble in heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.

Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from the underworld, and saved us from the hand of death, and freed us from the midst of the burning flame, and rescued us from the midst of the fire.

Give thanks to the Lord because he is good: because his mercy is forever.

All those who are pious, bless the Lord, the God of gods: praise him and acknowledge him because his mercy is for all generations.”

Then king Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and he quickly got up and said to his nobles: “Did we not cast three men shackled into the midst of the fire?” Answering the king, they said, “True, O king.”(l)

He answered and said, “Behold, I see four men unbound and walking in the midst of the fire, and no harm is in them, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of God.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the entrance of the furnace of burning fire, and he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the supreme God, come out and approach.” And immediately Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went out from the midst of the fire.

And when the governors, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the powerful of the king had gathered together, they considered these men because the fire had no power against their bodies, and not a hair of their head had been scorched, and their pants had not been affected, and the smell of the fire had not passed onto them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar, bursting out, said, “Blessed is their God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who believed in him. And they altered the verdict of the king, and they delivered up their bodies, so that they would not serve or adore any god except their God.

Therefore, this decree is established by me: that every people, tribe, and language, whenever they have spoken blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will perish and their homes will be destroyed. For there is no other God who is able to save in this way.”

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in the whole world, may peace be increased with you.(m)

(n)

The supreme God has accomplished signs and wonders with me. Therefore, it has pleased me to proclaim(o)

100

his signs, which are great, and his wonders, which are mighty. For his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power continues from generation to generation.

Footnotes

(a)3:5 The list of the names of the musical instruments is somewhat modernized. In ancient times, the assortment of musical instruments would have been quite different from those of today.(Conte)

(b)3:8 These were not merely “homines,” men, but “viri,” that is, men of some influence.(Conte)

(c)3:21 The word braccis is translated by the Douay-Rheims as coats; however, the word could be bracis, meaning pants, especially in view of the subsequent verse (3:94), where pants are mentioned as being unaffected by the fire. On the other hand, braccis could refer to the arms, that is, to a covering for the arms, in which case “coats” would be an apt translation. Since a different word is used for pants in verse 94, and since the word “vestibus” would already include pants, coats seems to fit the context better.(Conte)

(d)3:24 And they walked, etc:Here St. Jerome takes notice, that from this verse, to ver. 91, was not in the Hebrew in his time. But as it was in all the Greek Bibles, (which were originally translated from the Hebrew,) it is more than probable that it had been formerly in the Hebrew or rather in the Chaldaic, in which the book of Daniel was written. But this is certain: that it is, and has been of old, received by the church, and read as canonical scripture in her liturgy, and divine offices.(Challoner)

(e)3:32 The word praevaricatorum is difficult to translate succinctly. It refers to one who is supposed to be an advocate or helper, but who colludes with ones enemies (perhaps secretly) instead; in other words, one who betrays trust. Traitor is a fairly close translation; prevaricator in English is too different in meaning from praevaricatorum.(Conte)

(f)3:46 Naphtha refers to any type of oil which comes from the ground, such as mineral oil or “rock oil;” stuppa refers to tow (coarse flax which is used for spinning) or, more generally, to the chaff leftover when the grain is removed from flax; pice is pitch or tar; malleolis is brush or, more generally, any kind of light kindling used for burning.(Conte)

(g)3:55 Or, who beholds the abyss even while sitting on the cherubims.(Conte)

(h)3:65 Spiritus can mean the breath of life within living things (but not the soul), or it can refer to wind or the air or breath from one’s mouth. In this case, a translation is used which permits multiple interpretations.(Conte)

(i)3:69 Gelu can mean frost, ice, snow, icy or snowy weather, cold, or cold weather. In this case, since other types of cold are mentioned in other places (cold, frost, ice, snow), the translation “sleet” nicely combines “ice” and “snowy or icy weather” and “cold weather” in one word.(Conte)

(j)3:86 In the ancient view, the human person is body, soul, and the breath of life (spiritus). At death, the body is buried in a grave, the soul (hopefully) goes to heaven, and the breath of life merely ceases to exist. Thus, spiritus is not another way of referring to the soul, nor is it a separated second soul-like substance, but merely the condition of a body which is alive and which obviously ceases at death. In the modern view, the human person is body and soul. We take for granted the understanding that during life the body has life and at death that bodily life ceases.(Conte)

(k)3:86 Some have claimed that the human person is tripartite (consisting of three parts) based on a misunderstanding of passages in Scripture that refer to spirit as well as soul. Some passages have been misunderstood because they say that man’s spirit ceases to exist when he dies. Such passages are correctly stating that the breath of life (spiritus) ceases to exist upon death; but these passages are not denying the immortality of the soul (animae).(Conte)

(l)3:91 The word optimatibus means aristocrats or nobles. Taken more literally, it refers to the king’s “best.”(Conte)

(m)3:98 In the Latin vulgate text, a word in all capital letters is used to begin a quotation from a letter.(Conte)

(n)3:98 Nebuchadnezzar, etc:These last three verses are a kind of preface to the following chapter, which is written in the style of an epistle from the king.(Challoner)

(o)3:99 Excelsus is repeatedly used to refer to God in the book of Daniel. Some texts translate this the same as the word Altissimus (Most High). But a better translation uses a different wording, Supreme God or the Supreme One, when translating excelsus Deus or the word Excelsus by itself.(Conte)