¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(A)

⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,^(A) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(B) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(C) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^{(D) 6} Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(E)