Daniel · Chapter 3

[ edit] Nabugodonoſor, kyng, made a goldyne ymage, in heiȝte of ſixty cubitis, in breede of ſix cubitis; and ſette it in þe feeld Duram, of þe prouynce of Babiloyne. And ſo Nabugodonoſor ſente for to gedre ſatrapis, or wijſe men, magiſtratis, and iugis, and duykis, and tirauntis, or ſtrong men, and prefectis, and alle þe princes of cuntrees, þat þei ſhulden cum to gydre to halewyng of þe ymage, whom þe kyng Nabugodonoſor rayſide vp. Þan ſatrapes weren gedrid, mageſtratis, and iugis, and duykis, and tirauntis, and þe beſt men þat weren ordeyned in poweris, and alle princis of cuntrees, þat þei ſhulden cum to gydre to halewyng of þe ymage, whom þe kyng Nabugodonoſor reyſide vp.

Forſoþe þei ſtoden in ſiȝt of þe ymage, whiche kyng Nabugodonoſor hadde putt; and a bedel criede miȝtily, To ȝou it is ſayd, peplis, lynagis, and langagis; in þe hour in whiche ȝe ſhuln heere þe ſown of trumpe, and pipe, and harpe, ſambuke, ſautrie, and ſymfonie, and al kynde of muſikis, ȝe fallynge wirſhipe þe golden ymage, whom Nabugodonoſor, kyng, ordeynyde. Soþeli ȝif eny man not fallynge doun ſhal wirſhip, in þe ſame hour he ſhal be ſent in to a fourneyſe of fijr brennynge.

Þerfore after þeſe þingus, anoon as alle peplis harden þe ſown of trumpe, pype, and harpe, ſambuke, and ſautrie, ſynphonie, and al kynde of muſikis, fallynge alle peplis, lynagis, and langagis, wirſhipiden þe golden ymage, whom Nabugodonoſor, þe kyng, ordeynede. And anoon in þat tyme men Caldeis cummynge to, accuſiden Jewis, and ſaiden to Nabugodonoſor, kyng, Kyng, in to wiþ outen eende lyue þou.

Þou, kyng, haſt putte a decree, or dome, þat eche man þat ſhal heere þe ſown of trumpe, pype, and harpe, ſambuke, and ſautre, and ſynfonye, and al kynde of muſykis, putte doun hym ſelf, and wirſhipe þe golden ymage; forſoþe ȝif eny man not fallynge doun ſhal wirſhipe, be he ſent in to fourneyſe of brennynge fijr. Þerfore men Jewis ben, whom þou haſt ordeynyd vpon werkis of þe cuntree of Babyloyne, Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago. Þeſe men, kyng, diſpiſiden þi decree; þei honouren not þi goddis, and þei worſhipen not þe golden ymage, whom þou reyſidiſt.

Þanne Nabugodonoſor in woodneſſe and in wraþ, comaundide, þat Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago ſhulden be ledde to; whiche anoon ben ledde to in ſiȝt of þe kyng. And Nabugodonoſor, þe kyng, pronounſynge ſaiþ to hem, Verrely wher ȝe, Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, honouren not my goddis, and wirſhipen not þe golden ymage, whom Y reiſide? Now þerfore be ȝe redy, in what euer hour ȝe ſhuln heer ſown of trumpe, pype, harp, ſambuke, ſautrie, and ſynfonye, and of al manere of muſykis, putte ȝe doun ȝou, and wirſhipe þe ymage þat Y made; for ȝif ȝe ſhuln not wirſhip, in þe ſame houre ȝe ſhuln be ſent in to þe fourneys of fijr brennynge; and who is God, þat ſhal delyuere ȝou of myn hond?

Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago anſwerynge ſaiden to kyng Nabugodonoſor, It byhoueþ not vs of þis þing for to anſwere to þee. Loo! ſoþely our God, whom we wirſhipen, may delyuere vs of þe chymneye of brennynge fijre, and of þin hondis delyuere, þou kyng. For ȝif he wole not, be it knowen to þee, kyng, for we honoure not þi goddis, and we wirſhipen not þe golden ymage, whom þou haſt reyſide. Þanne Nabugodonoſor was fulfillid wiþ wodeneſſe, and þe biholdynge of his face is chaungid vpon Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago. And he bad, þat þe fourneyſe ſhulde be ſette on fijre ſeuen fold, hatter þan it was wont for to be tendid.

And he badde þe ſtrongiſt men of his ooſt, þat þe feet bounden of Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, þei ſhulden ſende hem in to þe fourneyſe of brennynge fijre. And anoon þe ilk men bounden, wiþ armes, and cappis, and ſhoon, and cloþis, weren ſente in to mydil of þe fourneys of brennynge fijre; for whi þe comaundyng of þe kyng conſtreynide. Forſoþe þe fourneys was tendid ful miche; forſoþe flawme of þe fijre ſlewȝ þo men, þat ſenten Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago in to þe fourneyſe. Forſoþe þeſe þree men, Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, fellen doun bounden in mydil of þe chymney of brennynge fijre. And þei walkiden in mydil of þe flawme, heryinge God, and bleſſynge to þe Lord.

Forſoþe Azarie ſtondynge preyede þus; and opnyng his mouþ in mydil of þe fijre, ſaiþ, Bleſſid art þou, Lord God of our fadris, and heryful, or worþi to be preyſide, and þi name glorious in to worldis; for þou art iuſt in alle þingus whiche þou didiſt to vs, and alle þi werkis trewe, and þi wayes riȝt, and alle þi domes verrey. Forſoþe þou haſt don verrey domes, after alle þingus þat þou leddiſt in vpon vs, and vpon þe holy citee of our fadris, Jeruſalem; for in trewþe and dome þou leddiſt yn alle þeſe þingus for oure ſynnes.

Soþely we ſynnyden, and diden wickidly, goynge awey fro þee, and treſpaſſiden in alle þingus, and herden not þin heeſtis, neþer kepten, neþer diden as þou comaundidiſt to vs, þat it were wele to vs. Þerfore alle þingus þat þou leddiſt yn vpon vs, and alle þingus þat þou didiſt to vs, in verre dome þou haſt don; and þou haſt bitaken vs in þe hondis of enmys, wickid and warſt treſpaſſours, and to þe vniuſt kyng, and warſt ouer al erþe. And now we mown not opne þe mouþe; we ben maad confuſioun and ſhenſhip to þi ſeruauntis, and to þeſe þat wirſhipen þee.

We preyen, bitake not vs in to wiþ outen eende, for þi name, and diſtruye not þi teſtament, neþer do awey þi mercye fro vs, for Abram, þi derworþe, and Yſaac, þi ſeruaunt, and Yrael, or Jacob, þin holy; to whiche þou ſpake, bihetynge þat þou ſhuldiſt multiplie þe ſeede of hem as ſterris of heuen, and as grauel þat is in þe brynke of þe ſee. For, Lord, we ben maad litil, more þan alle heþen men, and we ben meeke, or lowe, in eche lond þis day, for oure ſynnes.

And þer is not in þis tyme prince, and duyke, and prophete, neþer brent ſacrifice, neþer ſacrifice, neþer offring, neþer encenſe, ne place of primiſſis byfor þee, þat we mown fynde þi mercye; bot in contrite ſoule, or ynwitt, and in ſpirit of mekeneſſe be we reſceyuyd. As in brend ſacrifice of weþeris and boolis, and as in þouſandis of fat lambren, ſo oure ſacrifice be maad to day in þi ſiȝt, þat it pleſe to þee; for confuſioun, or ſhame, is not to men triſtinge in þee. And now we ſuen þee in al herte, and dreeden þee, and ſeeken þi face. Confounde þou not vs, but do wiþ vs vp þi myldeneſſe, and vp þe mykilneſſe of þi mercy.

And deliuere vs in þi merueylis, and ȝeue glorie to þi name, Lord; and confoundid be alle, þat ſhewen to þi ſeruauntis yuel þingis; be þei confoundid in al þi power, and þe ſtrengþe of hem be broken to gydre; and þei ſhuln wite, for þou art þe Lord God aloone, and glorious vpon þe roundeneſſe of erþes. And þei ceeſiden not, þe miniſtris of þe kyng, þat ſente hem, for to tende þe fourneis wiþ napte, herdis of hemp, or flaxe, and pitche, and kittyngus of vynes. And þe flawme was held out ouer þe fourneys by nyne and fourti cubitis, and brake out, and brent whom of Caldeis it fonde byſidis þe fourneis.

Forſoþe an aungel of þe Lord cam doun wiþ Azarie and his felawis, in to þe fourneys, and ſmote ouere þe flawme of fijre of þe fourneis; and maade þe mydil of þe fourneis as wynde of dewe blowinge; and þe fijre touchide not hem on al manere, neþer made ſorewfull, neþer brouȝte yn eny þing of heuyneſſe. Þanne þeſe þree as of oo mouþe heryeden God, and glorifieden, and bleſſiden God in þe fourneys, ſayinge, Bleſſid art þou, Lord God of oure fadris, and worþi to be heryed, and glorious, and aboue enhaunſid in to worldis; and bleſſid þe name of þi glorie, þe whiche is holy, and worþi to be heried, and aboue reiſid in alle worldis.

Bleſſid art þou in þe holy temple of þi glorie, and þou aboue preiſeful, and glorious in to worldis. Bleſſid art þou in þe trone of þi rewme, and aboue preyſeful, and aboue reyſid in to worldis. Bleſſid art þou, þat biholdiſt depneſſis, and ſittiſt vpon cherubyn, and preysful, and aboue reyſid in to worldis. Bleſſid art þou in þe firmament of heuen, and preysful, and glorious in to worldis. Bleſſe ȝe, alle þe werkis of þe Lord, to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue enhaunſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Bleſſe ȝe, aungels of þe Lord, to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Bleſſe ȝe, heuens, to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis.

Bleſſe ȝe, alle watris þat ben vp on heuens, to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle vertues of þe Lord, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe him into worldis. Sunne and moone, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preiſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe him in to worldis. Sterris of heuene, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preiſe ȝe, and aboue reiſe ȝe him in to worldis. Reyn and dew, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe him into worldis. Ech ſpirit of God, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Fijre and heete, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis.

Colde and ſumer, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝee, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Dewis and whijt froſt, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe him in to worldis. Byndynge froſt and colde, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Yſſ and ſnowes, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym into worldis. Nyȝtis and days, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Liȝt and derkneſſes, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Leitis and cloudis, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym into worldis.

Bleſſe þe erþe þe Lord; preyſe it, and aboue reyſe hym in to worldis. Mounteyns and ſmale hillis, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle buriownynge þingus in erþe, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Wellis, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Sees and floodes, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Whallis, and alle þingis þat ben moued in watris, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle foulis of heuen, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis.

Alle beeſtis and etable, or litil, beeſtis, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Sonys of men, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym into worldis. Bleſſe Yrael þe Lord; preyſe it, and aboue reyſe him in to worldis. Preſtis of þe Lord, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Seruauntis of þe Lord, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Spiritis and ſoulis of iuſt men, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym into worldis. Holi and meeke in herte, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym into worldis.

Ananyas, Azarias, Myſael, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord; preyſe ȝe, and aboue reyſe ȝe hym in to worldis. Whiche delyuerede vs fro helle, and made ſaaf fro þe hond of deþ, and delyuerede fro þe mydil of þe brennynge flawme, and rauyſhide vs out of þe mydil of þe fyre. Knowleche ȝe to þe Lord, for he is good; for in to þe world þe mercye of hym. Alle religious, bleſſe ȝe to þe Lord, God of goddis; preyſe ȝe, and knowleche ȝe to hym, for in to alle worldis þe mercye of hym. Þanne kyng Nabugodonoſor wondride myche, and roſe haſtiliche, and ſaiþ to his beſt men, Wher we ſenten not þree men bounden to gidre in to mydil of fyre? Whiche anſweringe to þe kyng ſaiden, Verrely, kyng.

Þanne þe king anſwerde, and ſaiþ, Loo! I ſee foure men vnbounden, and walkynge in mydil of þe fyre, and no þing of corrupcioun is in hem; and þe fourme of þe fourþe lijc to þe ſone of God. Þanne Nabugodonoſor, kyng, came to þe dore of þe fourneys of brennynge fyr, and ſaiþ, Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, ſaruauntis of heeȝ lyuyng God, go ȝe out, and cume ȝe. And anoon Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, wenten out of þe mydil of fyr.

And ſatrapis gedrid, and mageſtratis, and domyſmen, and miȝty men of þe kyng, biheelden þoo men, for fijre hadde no þing of power in þe bodys of hem, and an heer of hir hed was not brent to; alſo þe breechis of hem weren not chaungid, and þe ſauer of fijr paſſide not by hem. And Nabugodonoſor breſtinge out ſaiþ, Bleſſid is God of hem, þat is to ſaye, of Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, whiche ſente his aungel, and delyuerde his ſeruauntis þat byleeuyden in to hym, and chaungiden þe word of þe kyng, and ȝauen her bodies, leſt þei ſeruyden, and leſt þei wirſhipiden euery god, outake her God aloone.

Þerfore of me þis decree, or dome, is putt, þat eche peple, and langagis, and lynagis, who euere ſhal ſpeke blasfeme aȝeinus God of Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, periſhe, and his hous be waaſtid; forſoþe þer is non oþer God, þat may þus ſaue. Þanne þe kyng auaunſide Sydrac, Myſac, and Abdenago, in þe prouynce of Babyloyne; and in to eche lond he ſente a piſtle, conteenynge þeſe woordis.