So that person becomes strong\par like a tree planted by streams of water\par He is like a tree that makes fruit\par at the right time.\par He is like a tree with leaves that don’t die.\par Everything he does is successful.\par
Then Ashpenaz gave those young men from Judah Babylonian names. Daniel’s new name was Belteshazzar. Hananiah’s new name was Shadrach. Mishael’s new name was Meshach. And Azariah’s new name was Abednego.
Daniel asked the king to make Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego important officials over the province of Babylon. And the king did as Daniel asked. And Daniel himself became one of the important people that stayed near the king.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a gold idol made. That idol was 60 cubits {\cf2\super [18]} high and 6 cubits {\cf2\super [19]} wide. Then he set the idol up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
There are some Jews that did not pay attention to your order, king. You made those Jews important officials in the province of Babylon. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They don’t worship your gods. And they didn’t bow down and worship the gold idol you set up.”
“The Lord God of Israel promised that your father’s family would serve him forever. But now the Lord says this, ‘That will never be! I will honor people who honor me. But bad things will happen to people who refuse to respect me.