⁸ Immediately some Chaldeans came forward before the king and made a malicious accusation against the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! ¹⁰ You have issued a decree, Your Majesty, that when the people hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, they are to prostrate themselves and worship the golden statue, ¹¹ and that whoever fails to do so is to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.

¹² “Now there are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, have ignored your command, O king. They do not serve your God, and they refuse to worship the golden statue that you have set up.”