1And they were walking about in the midst of the flame, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord.
2Then Azariah stood and prayed in this way, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
3“Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our fathers, and praiseworthy; and your name is glorified forever.
4For you are righteous in all that you have done, and all your works are true, your ways are straight, and all your judgments are truth.
5You have executed true judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon the holy city of our fathers, Jerusalem. For in truth and judgment you have brought all these things upon us on account of our sins.
6For we have sinned and acted lawlessly by turning away from you, and we have sinned in all things.
7We have not listened to your commandments, nor have we kept them, nor have we done as you commanded us, so that it might go well with us.
8And all that you have brought upon us and all that you have done to us, you have done in true judgment.
9You have handed us over into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful apostates, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the earth.
10And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and reproach have come upon your servants and those who worship you.
11Do not hand us over completely for your name’s sake, and do not annul your covenant,
12and do not take your mercy away from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, and for the sake of Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one,
13to whom you promised to multiply their descendants like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore.
14For, Master, we have become fewer than all the nations, and we are humbled in all the earth today on account of our sins.
15And at this time there is no ruler or prophet or leader, nor burnt offering, nor sacrifice, nor offering, nor incense, nor a place to make an offering before you and find mercy.
16But may we be accepted with a crushed soul and a spirit of humility.
17As with a burnt offering of rams and bulls, and with myriads of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be before you today, and let us follow you completely, for there will be no shame for those who trust in you.
18And now we follow with our whole heart; we fear you and seek your face.
19Do not put us to shame, but deal with us according to your forbearance and according to the abundance of your mercy.
20Deliver us according to your wondrous works, and give glory to your name, Lord.
21Let all who do evil to your servants be turned to shame; let them be disgraced and stripped of all their power, and let their strength be crushed.
22Let them know that you alone are Lord God, glorious over the whole world.”
23And the king’s servants who had thrown them in did not cease stoking the furnace with naphtha, pitch, tow, and vine branches.
24And the flame poured out above the furnace to a height of forty-nine cubits,
25and it broke through and burned up those of the Chaldeans whom it found around the furnace.
26But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace.
27And he made the middle of the furnace like a moist, whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all, nor grieve them, nor disturb them.
28Then the three, as with one voice, began to sing hymns, and to glorify and bless God in the furnace, saying:
29“Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our fathers, and praiseworthy and highly exalted forever. And blessed is your holy and glorious name, and highly praised and highly exalted for all ages.
30Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, and supremely praised and supremely glorious forever.
31Blessed are you who looks upon the deeps, seated upon the cherubim; and worthy of praise and highly exalted forever.
32Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom; and supremely praised and highly exalted forever.
33Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven; and worthy of praise and glorified forever.
34Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; praise and highly exalt him forever.
35Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord; praise and highly exalt him forever.
36Bless the Lord, you heavens; praise and highly exalt him forever.
37Bless the Lord, you waters and all that is above the heavens; praise and highly exalt him forever.
38Let all the powers bless the Lord; praise and highly exalt him forever.
39Bless the Lord, sun and moon; praise and highly exalt him forever.
40Bless the Lord, you stars of heaven; praise and highly exalt him forever.
41Let every rain and dew bless the Lord; praise and highly exalt him forever.
42Bless the Lord, all you winds; praise and highly exalt him forever.
43Bless the Lord, fire and heat; praise and highly exalt him forever.
44Bless the Lord, cold and heat; praise and highly exalt him forever.
45Bless the Lord, frost and snow; praise and highly exalt him forever.
46Bless the Lord, nights and days; praise and highly exalt him forever.
47Bless the Lord, light and darkness; praise and highly exalt him forever.
48Bless the Lord, lightning and clouds; praise and highly exalt him forever.
49Let the earth bless the Lord; let it praise and highly exalt him forever.
50Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; praise and highly exalt him forever.
51Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth; praise and highly exalt him forever.
52Bless the Lord, you springs; praise and highly exalt him forever.
53Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; praise and highly exalt him forever.
54Bless the Lord, you great sea creatures and all that moves in the waters; praise and highly exalt him forever.
55Bless the Lord, all you birds of the air; praise and highly exalt him forever.
56Bless the Lord, all you wild animals and livestock; praise and highly exalt him forever.
57Bless the Lord, you children of humanity; praise and highly exalt him forever.
58Bless the Lord, O Israel; praise and highly exalt him forever.
59Bless the Lord, you priests; praise and highly exalt him forever.
60Bless the Lord, you servants; praise and highly exalt him forever.
61Bless the Lord, you spirits and souls of the righteous; sing hymns and highly exalt him forever.
62Bless the Lord, you holy and humble in heart; sing hymns and highly exalt him forever.
63Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael; sing hymns and highly exalt him forever. For he delivered us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death; he rescued us from the midst of the burning, fiery furnace, and from the midst of the fire he rescued us.
64Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
65Bless the God of gods, all you who worship the Lord; sing hymns and give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.”
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