The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

CHAP. III.

1 The King setteth vp a golden image, 8 Certeine are accused because thei despised the Kings commande∣ment, and are put into a burning ouen. 25 By belefe in God they are deliuered frō the fyre. 26 Nebuchad-nez∣zar confesseth the power of God after the sight of the miracle.

1 NEbuchad-nezzár the King madea 1.1 an image of golde, whose height (was) threscore cubites, (and) the breadth ther of six cubites, he set it vp in the plaine of Durá, in the prouince of Babél.

2 Then Nebuchad-nezzár the King sent for the to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes, the iudges, the re∣ceiuers, the counsullers, the officers, and all the gouerners of the prouinces, that they shulde come to theb 1.2 dedicatiō of the image, which Nebuchad-nezzár thec 1.3 King had set vp.

3 So the nobles, princes, and dukes, the iud ges, the receiuers, the counsellers, the offi∣cers, and all the gouerners of the prouin ces were assembled vnto the dedicating of the image, that Nebuchad-nezzár the King had set vp and they stode before the image, which Nebuchad-nezzár had set vp

4 Then an herald cryed aloud, Be it knowen to you, ô people,d 1.4 nations, and langages,

5 That when ye heare the soūde of the cor∣net, trumpet, harpe, sacke but, psalteris, dulcimer, and all iustruments of musicke, ye fall downe and worship the goldē ima∣ge, that Nebuchad-〈◊〉〈◊〉 the King ha∣the set vp.

6 And whosoeuer falleth not downe and worshippeth, shal the same houre be cast into the middes of an hote fyrie fornace.

7 Therefore assone as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, sackebut, psalterie, and all instruments of musicke, all the people, nations, and langa ges fel downe, and worshiped the golden image, that Nebuchad-nezzár the King had set vp.

8 ¶ By reason whereof at that same time co me men of the Caldeans, and grieuously ac cused the Iewes.

9 (For) they spake and said to the King Ne∣buchad-nezzár, O King, liue for euer.

10 Thou, ô King, hast made a decre, that eue∣rie man that shal heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpes, sacke but, psalte∣rie, and dulcimer, and all instrumēts of mu∣sicke, shal fall downe and worship the gol∣den image.

11 And who soeuer falleth not downe, and worshippeth, that he shulde be cast into the middes of an hote fyrie fornace.

12 There are certeine Iewes whome thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babél,e 1.5 Shadrách, Meshàch, and Abed∣nego: these men, ô King, haue not regarded thy commandement, nether wil they serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image, that thou hast set vp.

13 ¶ Then Nebuchad-nezzár in (his) angre and wrath commanded that they shulde bring Shadrách, Meshách, and Abednegó: so these men were broght before the King.

14 (And) Nebuchad-nezzár spake, and said vnto them, What disordre? wil not you, Sha∣drách, Meshách, ād Abednegó serue my god nor worship the golden image, that I haue set vp?

15 f 1.6 Now therefore are ye ready when ye hea re the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, sackebut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all in∣struments of musicke, to fall downe, and wor ship the image, which I haue made? for if ye worship it not, ye shalbe cast immediatly in∣to the middes of an hote firie fornace: for who is that God that can deliuer you out of mine hands?

16 Shadrách, Meshách, and Abednegó answe red and said to the King, O Nebuchadnezzár weg 1.7 are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 Beholde, our God whome we serue, ish 1.8 a∣ble to deliuer vs from the hote fyrie for na∣ce, and he wil deliuer vs out of thine hand, ô King.

18 But if not, be it knowē to thee, ô King, that we wil not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set vp.

19 ¶ Then was Nebuchad-nezzár ful of rage, and the forme of his visage was changed a∣gainst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Meshách, and Abednegó: (therefore) he charged and commanded that they shulde heate the fornace at once seueni 1.9 times more then it was wonte to be heat,

20 And he charged the moste valiant men of warre that were in his armie, to binde Shadrach, Meshách, and Abednegó, (&) to cast them into the hote fyrie fornace.

21 So these men were bounde in their coa∣tes, their hosen, & their clokes, with their (other) garments, and cast into the middes of the hote fyrie fornace.

22 Therefore, because the Kings comman∣dement was straite, that the fornace shul∣de be exceading hote, the flame of the fyre slew those men that broght forthe Sha∣drach, Meshách, and Abednegó.

23 And these thre men Shadrách, Meshách and Abednegó fel downe bounde into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 middes ofthe hote fyrie fornace.

24 ¶ Them Nebuchad-nezzár the King was astonied & rose vp in haste, (and) spake, & said vnto his counsellers, Did not we cast thre men bounde into the middes of the fyre? Who answered and said vnto the

King, It is true, ô King.

25 (And) he answered, and said, Lo, I se foure men loose, walking in the middes of the fyre, and they haue no hurt, and the forme of the fourth is like thek 1.10 sonne of God.

26 Then the King Nebuchad-nezzár came nere to the mouth of the hote fyrie forna ce, (&) spake and said, Shadrách, Meshách and Abednegó, the seruants of the hie God go forthe and come (hether:) so Shadrách, Meshách and Abednegól 1.11 came forthe of the middes of the fyre.

27 Then the nobles, princes and dukes, and the Kings counsellers came to gether to se these men, because the fyre had no power ouer their bodies: for not an heere of their head was burnt, nether was their coats changed, nor any smel of fyre came vpon them.

28 (Wherefore) Nebuchad-nezzár spake & said,m 1.12 Blessed (be) the God of Shadrách Meshách and Abednegó, who hathe sent his Angel, and deliuered his seruants, that put their trust in him, and haue chāged the Kings commandement, and yelded their bodies rather thē thei wolde serue or wor∣ship anie god, saue their owne God.

29 Therefore I make a decre, that euery peo ple, nacion, and langage, whiche speake anyn 1.13 blasphemie against the God of Sha∣drách, Meshách and Abednegó, shal be drawen in pieces, and their houses shal be made a iakes, because there is no god that can deliuer after this sorte.

30 Then the King promoted Shadráche, Meshách and Abednegó in the prouince of Babél.

31 Nebuchad-nezzár King vnto all people, nacions and langages, that dwell in all theo 1.14 worlde, Peace be multiplied vnto you:

32 I thoght it good to declare the signes and wonders, that the hie God hathe wroght towarde me.

33 How great are his signes, and how migh∣tie are his wondersp 1.15 his kingdome (is) an euerlasting kingdome, and his dominion (is) from generacion to generacion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Vnder pretence of religion, and bo lines in making an image to his idole Bel, he soght his owne ambitiō and vaine glorie: and this declareth that he was not touched with the true feare of God before, but that he confessed him on a sudden motion as the wicked, when thei are ouercome With the greatnes of his Workes The Greke interpre∣ters write, that this Was done 18 yeres after the dreame, & as may appeare the King feared left the Iewes by their re∣ligion shulde ha∣ue altered the sla∣te of his commune wealth, and there∣fore he ment to bring all to one kingdome of reli∣gion, andso rather soght his owne quietnes, then Gods glorie.
• b 1.2

  Shewing, that the idole is not knowē for an ido∣le so long as he is with the workmā but when the cere monies and custo∣mes are recited, & vsed and the con∣sent of the people is there, then of a blake they thinke they haue made a god.
• c 1.3

  This was suffi∣cient with the Wic ked at all times to approue their reli gion, if the Kings autoritie were al ledged for the esta blishemēt thereof not cōsidering, in the meane season what Godsworde did permit.
• d 1.4

  These are the two dangerous weapons where with Satā 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fight against the children of God, the consent of the multitude and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the punishment: for thogh some feared God, yet the mul∣titude, which consented to the wickednes, astonied them: and here he King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not an inward consent, but an outward gesture, that the Iewes might by litle and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 learne to forget their true religion.
• e 1.5

  It semeth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thei named not Daniél because he was greatly in the Kings fauou, thin king if these thre had bene destroy∣ed, they might ha ue had better oc∣casion to accuse Daniél: & this de∣clareth that this policie of erecting this image was in uented by the ma licious flatteters, which soght no∣thing, but the des∣truction of the Ie∣wes, Whome they accused of rebelliō and ingratitude.
• f 1.6

  Signifying, that he wolde receiue them to grace, If they wolde now at the length obey his decre.
• g 1.7

  For they shulde haue done 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to God, if they shul de haue douted in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is holie cause, & therefore they say that they areresol ued to dye for Gods cause.
• h 1.8

  They groūde on two pointes, first in the power and prouidēce of God ouer them, & secon dly on their cause whiche was Gods glorie, and the testi fying of his truete ligion, with their blood & so make open confession, that they Wil not so muche as out∣wardly consene to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• i 1.9

  This declareth that themore, that tyranes rage, and the more Witty the shewethē sel∣urs in inuenting strange, and cruel punishements, the more is glorified God glorified by his sernāts to Who me he giueth pa∣cience and constau cie to abide the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their punishement: for∣ether he deliue reth thē frō death or els for this life giueth thē a better
• k 1.10

  For the Angels were called the sō nes of God, becau se of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉: therefore the King called this Angel, whome God sent to com∣fort his in these great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the sonne of God.
• l 1.11

  This cōmendeth their obediēce vn to God that they wolde not for any feare departe out of this fornace til the time was ap∣pointed, as Noáh remained in the Arke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lord called him forthe.
• m 1.12

  He was moued by the greatnes of the miracle to prai se God, but his heart was not tou 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And here we se that miracles are not sufficient to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men to God, but that do∣ctrine must chie∣fly be adioyned, without the whi∣che there can be no faith.
• n 1.13

  If this heathen King moued by Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wol∣denorse blasphe∣mie vnpunished, but made a Law and set a punishe∣mēt to such e trās∣gresser 〈◊〉〈◊〉 te ought all they that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, take order that suche impie∣tie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not, lest according as their knowledge and charge is greater, so they suffer dou∣ble punishment.
• o 1.14

  Meaning, so far∣re as his dominiō extended.
• p 1.15

  Read Chap. 2. 44