1
King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon.
2
He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue.
3
They all came for the dedication, all the important people, and took their places before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
4
A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: "Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen!
5
When you hear the band strike up - all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals - fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.