Prayer of Azariah in the Furnace

1 [And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord. ] Then Azarias stood vp & prayed on this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, said,

2 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy Name is worthy to be praised, and glorified for euermore.

3 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to vs: yea, true are all thy workes: thy wayes are right, and all thy iudgements trueth.

4 In all the things that thou hast brought vpon vs, and vpon the holy citie of our fathers, euen Ierusalem, thou hast executed true iudgement: for according to trueth and iudgement, didst thou bring all these things vpon vs, because of our sinnes.

5 For wee haue sinned and committed iniquitie, departing from thee.

6 In all things haue we trespassed, and not obeyed thy Commandements, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded vs, that it might goe well with vs.

7 Wherefore all that thou hast brought vpon vs, and euery thing that thou hast done to vs, thou hast done in true iudgement.

8 And thou didst deliuer vs into the hands of lawlesse enemies, most hatefull forsakers [of God] and to an vniust King, and the most wicked in all the world.

9 And now wee can not open our mouthes, we are become a shame, and reproch to thy seruants, and to them that worship thee.

10 Yet deliuer vs not vp wholy for thy Names sake, neither disanull thou thy Couenant:

11 And cause not thy mercy to depart from vs: for thy beloued Abrahams sake: for thy seruant Isaacs sake, and for thy holy Israels sake.

12 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, That thou wouldest multiply their seed as the starres of heauen, and as the sand that lyeth vpon the sea shore.

13 For we, O Lord, are become lesse then any nation, and bee kept vnder this day in all the world, because of our sinnes.

14 Neither is there at this time, Prince, or Prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to finde mercie.

15 Neuerthelesse in a contrite heart, and an humble spirit, let vs be accepted.

16 Like as in the burnt offering of rammes and bullockes, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambes: so let our sacrifice bee in thy sight this day, and [grant] that wee may wholy goe after thee: for they shall not bee confounded that put their trust in thee.

17 And now wee follow thee, with all our heart, wee feare thee, and seeke thy face.

18 Put vs not to shame: but deale with vs after thy louing kindenesse, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.

19 Deliuer vs also according to thy marueilous workes, and giue glory to thy Name, O Lord, and let all them that doe thy seruants hurt be ashamed.

20 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken.

21 And let them know that thou art Lord, the onely God, and glorious ouer the whole world.

22 And the kings seruants that put them in, ceased not to make the ouen hote with rosin, pitch, towe, and small wood.

23 So that the flame streamed forth aboue the fornace, fourtie and nine cubites:

24 And it passed through, and burnt those Caldeans it found about the fornace.

25 But the Angel of the Lord came downe into the ouen, together with Azarias and his fellowes, and smote the flame of the fire out of the ouen:

26 And made the mids of the fornace, as it had bene a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.

27 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the fornace, saying;

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Agere Sequitur Esse