Read & explore together
The Prayer and Song in the Fiery Furnace
This Greek addition to Daniel keeps attention on words spoken in the furnace: Azarias’ prayer of confession and mercy, followed by a shared song that calls every part of creation to bless the Lord.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The passage begins by saying they walked in the fire praising God. Azarias then prays from the midst of the fire, and later the three speak together with one voice. This Greek source preserves a prayer and hymn within the furnace account, ending with thanks for God’s mercy and rescue.
Daniel (Greek) 3:24–45; Daniel (Greek) 3:51–90Main takeaway
This passage shows prayer in distress joining honest confession, humble trust, and wide praise to the Lord.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Praise begins before the requestThe passage opens with praise in the middle of the fire, then Azarias begins to pray. He blesses the Lord, the God of their fathers, and says God’s name is worthy of praise and glory for ever.
Explanation
The passage opens with praise in the middle of the fire, then Azarias begins to pray. He blesses the Lord, the God of their fathers, and says God’s name is worthy of praise and glory for ever. The first focus is God himself.
02Azarias confesses that God is rightAzarias says God is righteous, his works are true, his ways are right, and his judgments are truth.
Explanation
Azarias says God is righteous, his works are true, his ways are right, and his judgments are truth. He also says the troubles brought on Jerusalem and the people came because of their sins. The prayer admits they departed from God and did not obey his commandments.
03He asks for mercy with a humble heartAfter speaking of shame and reproach, Azarias asks God not to utterly give them up, appealing to God’s name, covenant, and mercy.
Explanation
After speaking of shame and reproach, Azarias asks God not to utterly give them up, appealing to God’s name, covenant, and mercy. He says there is no prince, prophet, sacrifice, or place to offer, so he asks that a contrite heart and humble spirit be accepted.
04The prayer seeks God’s gloryAzarias says, “we follow you with all our heart”, “we fear you”, and “seek your face”. He asks for kindness, mercy, and deliverance according to God’s marvellous works.
Explanation
Azarias says, “we follow you with all our heart”, “we fear you”, and “seek your face”. He asks for kindness, mercy, and deliverance according to God’s marvellous works. The prayer ends with the desire that others know the Lord as the only God, glorious over the whole world.
05The song calls all creation to bless the LordThen the three praise God with one mouth. The song blesses God’s name, temple, throne, and heaven, then calls on the heavens, earth, waters, creatures, people, Israel, priests, servants, and the humble to bless the Lord.
Explanation
Then the three praise God with one mouth. The song blesses God’s name, temple, throne, and heaven, then calls on the heavens, earth, waters, creatures, people, Israel, priests, servants, and the humble to bless the Lord. It closes with thanks for mercy and a brief word of rescue.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words does Azarias use to describe God’s works, ways, and judgments?
List the exact terms used where he says God is righteous and his works, ways, and judgments are true and right.
02What does Azarias ask God to accept when offerings and a place to offer are missing?
Look at the verses that mention what is absent, then notice the inward response he asks God to receive.
03How does the song expand the circle of praise?
Trace the call to bless the Lord from heaven and the earth to creatures, people, Israel, and all who worship the Lord.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Daniel (Greek) 3:24–45
24They walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.
25Then Azarias stood, and prayed like this. Opening his mouth in the midst of the fire he said,
26“Blessed are you, O Lord, you God of our fathers! Your name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore;
27for you are righteous in all the things that you have done. Yes, all your works are true. Your ways are right, and all your judgments are truth.
28In all the things that you have brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, Jerusalem, you have executed true judgments. For according to truth and justice you have brought all these things upon us because of our sins.
29For we have sinned and committed iniquity in departing from you.
30In all things we have trespassed, and not obeyed your commandments or kept them. We haven’t done as you have commanded us, that it might go well with us.
31Therefore all that you have brought upon us, and everything that you have done to us, you have done in true judgment.
32You delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king who is the most wicked in all the world.
33And now we can’t open our mouth. Shame and reproach have come on your servants and those who worship you.
34Don’t utterly deliver us up, for your name’s sake. Don’t annul your covenant.
35Don’t cause your mercy to depart from us, for the sake of Abraham who is loved by you, and for the sake of Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
36to whom you promised that you would multiply their offspring as the stars of the sky, and as the sand that is on the sea shore.
37For we, O Lord, have become less than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.
38There isn’t at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to offer before you, and to find mercy.
39Nevertheless in a contrite heart and a humble spirit let us be accepted,
40like the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like ten thousands of fat lambs. So let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, that we may wholly go after you, for they shall not be ashamed who put their trust in you.
41And now we follow you with all our heart. We fear you, and seek your face.
42Put us not to shame; but deal with us after your kindness, and according to the multitude of your mercy.
43Deliver us also according to your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord. Let all those who harm your servants be confounded.
44Let them be ashamed of all their power and might, and let their strength be broken.
45Let them know that you are the Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.”
Daniel (Greek) 3:51–90
51Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying,
52“Blessed are you, O Lord, you God of our fathers, to be praised and exalted above all forever!
53Blessed is your glorious and holy name, to be praised and exalted above all forever!
54Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, to be praised and glorified above all forever!
55Blessed are you who see the depths and sit upon the cherubim, to be praised and exalted above all forever.
56Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, to be praised and extolled above all forever!
57Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, to be praised and glorified forever!
58O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
59O you heavens, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all for ever!
60O you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
61O all you waters that are above the sky, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
62O all you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
63O you sun and moon, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
64O you stars of heaven, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
65O every shower and dew, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
66O all you winds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
67O you fire and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
68O you dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
69O you nights and days, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
70O you light and darkness, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
71O you cold and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
72O you frost and snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
73O you lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
74O let the earth bless the Lord! Let it praise and exalt him above all forever!
75O you mountains and hills, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
76O all you things that grow on the earth, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
77O sea and rivers, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
78O you springs, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
79O you whales and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
80O all you birds of the air, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
81O all you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
82O you children of men, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
83O let Israel bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever.
84O you priests of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
85O you servants of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
86O you spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
87O you who are holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever!
88O Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt him above all forever; for he has rescued us from Hades, and saved us from the hand of death! He has delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame. He has delivered us out of the midst of the fire.
89O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy is forever.
90O all you who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks; for his mercy is forever!” Deliverance from the Furnace