20. And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire.
21. And immediately these men were bound and were cast into the furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their shoes, and their garments.
22. For the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago.
23. But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire.
24. And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.
25. Then Azarias standing up prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
26. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever:
27. For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true.
28. For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem the holy city of our fathers: for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things upon us for our sins.
29. For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: and we have trespassed in all things:
30. And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well with us.
31. Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment:
32. And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and most wicked beyond all that axe upon the earth.
33. And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee.