Wednesday 21 March 2029

14Nebuchadnezzar answered them,“Is it on purpose,Shadrach, Meshach,and Abednego, that you don’t serve my god,nor worship the golden image which I have set up?15Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn,flute, zither, lyre,harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall downand worship the image which I have made, good;but if you don’t worship,you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16Shadrach, Meshach,and Abednego answered the king,“Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17If it happens, our Godwhom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace;and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.18But if not, let it be known to you,O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden imagewhich you have set up.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury,and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego.He spoke, and commandedthat they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.20He commanded certain mighty menwho were in his army to bind Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego,and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

· · · verses 21–90 are not read91Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonishedand rose up in haste.He spoke and said to his counselors,“Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?”

They answered the king, “True, O king.”

92He answered, “Look,I see four men loose,walking in the middle of the fire,and they are unharmed.The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

· · · verses 93–94 are not read95Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said,“Blessed be the God of Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego,who has sent his angeland delivered his servants who trusted in him,and have changed the king’s word,and have yielded their bodies,that they might not serve nor worship any god,except their own God.

52“Blessed are you, O Lord,you God of our fathers,to be praised and exalted above all forever!Blessed is your glorious and holy name,to be praised and exalted above all forever!

53Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,to be praised and glorified above all forever!

54Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,to be praised and extolled above all forever!

55Blessed are you who see the depthsand sit upon the cherubim,to be praised and exalted above all forever.

56Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,to be praised and glorified forever!

31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him,“If you remain in my word,then you are truly my disciples.32You will know the truth,and the truth will make you free.”

33They answered him,“We are Abraham’s offspring,and have never been in bondage to anyone.How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34Jesus answered them,“Most certainly I tell you,everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.35A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever.A son remains forever.36If therefore the Son makes you free,you will be free indeed.37I know that you are Abraham’s offspring,yet you seek to kill me,because my word finds no place in you.38I say the things which I have seen with my Father;and you also do the thingswhich you have seen with your father.”

39They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus said to them,“If you were Abraham’s children,you would do the works of Abraham.40But now you seek to kill me,a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.Abraham didn’t do this.41You do the works of your father.”

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality.We have one Father, God.”

42Therefore Jesus said to them,“If God were your father,you would love me,for I came out and have come from God.For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.