9. They said, “Your Majesty, we hope you live for ever!
10. You commanded everyone to bow down and worship the gold statue when the music played.
11. And you said that anyone who did not bow down and worship it would be thrown into a flaming furnace.
12. Sir, you appointed three men to high positions in Babylon Province, but they have disobeyed you. Those Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to worship your gods and the statue you have set up.”
13. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said,
14. “I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up.
15. Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don't, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”
16. The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don't need to defend ourselves.
17. The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace.
18. But even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.”
19. Nebuchadnezzar's face twisted with anger at the three men. And he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.