Hymn of the Three Youths

Azariah and the Three Youths 26–68 (Additions to Daniel)

2nd or 1st Century BCE

About This Entry

In accord with the norms of Hellenistic piety, the Greek version of the book of Daniel adds a hymn of thanksgiving by Daniel’s three friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, who were saved from death after Nebuchadnezzar had them cast into a fiery furnace. The hymn, along with the penitential prayer of Azariah, is placed between Daniel 3:23 and 3:24.

²⁶But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, ²⁷and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it. The fire did not touch them at all and caused them no pain or distress.

²⁸Then the three with one voice praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace:

²⁹“Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors,

and to be praised and highly exalted forever;

³⁰And blessed is your glorious, holy name,

and to be highly praised and highly exalted forever.

³¹Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,

and to be extolled and highly glorified forever.

³²Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne on the cherubim,

and to be praised and highly exalted forever.

³³Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,

and to be extolled and highly exalted forever.

³⁴Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,

and to be sung and glorified forever.

³⁵“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

³⁶Bless the Lord, you heavens;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

³⁷Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

³⁸Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heavens;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

³⁹Bless the Lord, all you powers of the Lord;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁰Bless the Lord, sun and moon;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴¹Bless the Lord, stars of heaven;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴²“Bless the Lord, all rain and dew;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴³Bless the Lord, all you winds;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁴Bless the Lord, fire and heat;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁵Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁶Bless the Lord, dews and falling snow;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁷Bless the Lord, nights and days;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁸Bless the Lord, light and darkness;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁴⁹Bless the Lord, ice and cold;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁰Bless the Lord, frosts and snows;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵¹Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵²“Let the earth bless the Lord;

let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵³Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁴Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁵Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁶Bless the Lord, you springs;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁷Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁸Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁵⁹Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶⁰“Bless the Lord, all people on earth;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶¹Bless the Lord, O Israel;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶²Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶³Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶⁴Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶⁵Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

⁶⁶“Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael;

sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

For he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the power of death,

and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;

from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.

⁶⁷Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

⁶⁸All who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods,

sing praise to him and give thanks to him,

for his mercy endures forever.”

Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.

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Credits

New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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About This Entry

In accord with the norms of Hellenistic piety, the Greek version of the book of Daniel adds a hymn of thanksgiving by Daniel’s three friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, who were saved from death after Nebuchadnezzar had them cast into a fiery furnace. The hymn, along with the penitential prayer of Azariah, is placed between Daniel 3:23 and 3:24.

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