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From: Daniel 3:25, 34-43 (New American Bible)
Daniel 3:2, 11-20 (Revised Standard Version & New Vulgate)
Prayers of the Young Men in the Fiery Furnace
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Commentary:
3:1-68. As we have said, this section comes from the Greek versions and the New Vulgate translates it from Theodotions version; it contains two pieces in verse; the first is a penitential piece, attributed to Azariah only (3:3-22); the second is a canticle of thanksgiving(3:29-68) sung by the three young men. Each piece is introduced by a prose description of the scene in the furnace (3:1-2; 23-28). The whole episode bears out the truth of what God told Israel in Isaiah 43:2: When you walk through fire you shall not be burned.
3:3-22. As is conventional in penitential psalms, this begins by proclaiming that God is just in all his dealings, even when he punishes his people (vv. 3-5; cf. Ps. 32). Then it accepts that the peoples sins justify all that has befallen hem (even giving them over to the most wicked king in all the earth, vv. 6-10: perhaps a reference to Antiochus IV). Finally, it asks for God to take action on the grounds of the Covenant made with their ancestors (vv. 11-13) and the fact that the people have been brought so low and do repent their sins (vv. 14-48); Gods goodness and mercy must now be revealed; his very honor requires that he rescue them (vv. 19-22).