~ Nebuchadnezzar Compels Fake Adoration ~

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold,
ninety feet high and nine feet wide,
and set it up on the plain of Dura
in the province of Babylon.
He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors,
advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates
and all the other provincial officials
to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers,
treasurers, judges, magistrates
and all the other provincial officials
assembled for the dedication of the image
that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up,
and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed,
"This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples,
nations and men of every language:
As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute,
zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music,
you must fall down and worship
the image of god that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Whoever does not fall down and worship
will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound
of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music,
all the peoples, nations and men of every language
fell down and worshiped the image of gold
that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

At this time some astrologers came forward
and denounced the Jews.
They said to King Nebuchadnezzar,
"O king, live forever!"

(Daniel 3:1-9)