First ReadingDaniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
From the Book of Daniel
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.