Scripture Readings

Daniel 3:1-23; Song of the Three: 1-66 with verses (Vespers, 15th reading)

1

King Nebuchadnez’zar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2

Then King Nebuchadnez’zar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnez’zar had set up.

3

Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, were assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnez’zar had set up.

4

And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

5

that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnez’zar has set up;

6

and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace”.

7

Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnez’zar had set up.

8

Therefore at the time certain Chalde’ans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

9

They said to King Nabuchadnez’zar, “O king live for ever!

10

You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;

11

and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

12

There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed’nego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

13

Then Nebuchadnez’zar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed’nego brought. Then they brought these men before the king.

14

Nebuchadnez’zar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed’nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?

15

Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”

16

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed’nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnez’zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17

If it be so, our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18

But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

19

Then Nebuchadnez’zar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed’nego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20

And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21

Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace.

22

Because the king’s order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

24

And they walked about in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord.

25

Then Azariah ^{[This section is from the Greek Septuagint, which uses the names Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed’nego) in place of the Hebrew-Babylonian forms]} stood and offered this prayer, in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:

26

“Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise; and Thy name is glorified for ever.

27

“For Thou art just in all that Thou has done to us, and all Thy works are true and Thy ways right, and all Thy judgments are truth.

28

“Thou has executed true judgments in all that Thou hast brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, for in truth and justice Thou has brought all this upon us because of our sins.

29

“For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from Thee, and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed Thy commandments;

30

we have not observed them or done them, as Thou has commanded us that it might go well with us.

31

“So all that Thou hast brought upon us, and all that Thou hast done to us, Thou has done in true judgment.

32

“Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.

33

And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and disgrace have befallen Thy servants and worshipers.

34

“For Thy name’s sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break Thy covenant,

35

and do not withdraw Thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham Thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac Thy servant and Israel Thy holy one,

36

to whom Thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea.

37

“For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.

38

“And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before Thee or to find mercy.

39

“Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted,

40

as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs; such may our sacrifice be in Thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow Thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in Thee.

41

“And now with all our heart we follow Thee, we fear Thee and seek Thy face.

42

“Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in Thy forbearance and in Thy abundant mercy.

43

“Deliver us in accordance with Thy marvelous works, and give glory to Thy name, O Lord!

44

“Let all who do harm to Thy servants be put to shame; let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, and let their strength be broken.

45

“Let them know that Thou art the Lord, the only God, glorious over the whole world.”

46

Now the king’s servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naptha, pitch, tow, and brush.

47

And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits,

48

and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about in the furnace.

49

But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace,

50

and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.

51

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

52

“Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever; “And blessed is Thy glorious, holy name, and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;

53

“Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy holy glory, and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.

54

“Blessed art Thou, who sittest upon cherubim and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.

55

“Blessed art Thou upon the throne of Thy kingdom, and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.

56

“Blessed art Thou in the firmament of heaven, and to be sung and glorified for ever.”

57

Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord.

58

Bless the Lord, you heavens,

59

Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord.

60

Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven.

61

Bless the Lord, all powers.

62

Bless the Lord, sun and moon.

63

Bless the Lord, stars of heaven.

64

Bless the Lord, all rain and dew.

65

Bless the Lord, all winds.

66

Bless the Lord, fire and heat.

67

Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat.

68

Bless the Lord, dews and snows.

69

Bless the Lord, nights and days.

70

Bless the Lord, light and darkness.

71

Bless the Lord, ice and cold.

72

Bless the Lord, frosts and snows.

73

Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds.

74

Let the earth bless the Lord.

75

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills.

76

Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth.

77

Bless the Lord, you springs.

78

Bless the Lord, seas and rivers.

79

Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters.

80

Bless the Lord, all birds of the air.

81

Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle.

82

Bless the Lord, you sons of men.

83

Bless the Lord, O Israel.

84

Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord.

85

Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord.

86

Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous.

87

Bless the Lord, you are holy and humble in heart.

88

Bless the Lord, Ananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.