Song of the Three Holy Children 1

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.

And they walked in the midst of the fire — truth's consuming judgment burning round the state that will not bow — praising the Source, and blessing the indwelling LORD.

2Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,

Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner, and, opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, said:

3Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:

Blessed art Thou, O indwelling LORD, God of our fathers: Thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:

4For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth.

for Thou art righteous in all the things that Thou hast done to us — Thou art right order in all Thy doings; yea, true are all Thy works, Thy ways are right, and all Thy judgments truth.

5In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins.

In all the things that Thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem — the established center of spiritual consciousness, here set apart wholly to the divine order — Thou hast executed true judgment, the divine order confronting the state at once: for according to truth and judgment didst Thou bring all these things upon us, because of our sins, our errors, our acting apart from the order.

6For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee.

For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from Thee.

7In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us.

In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed Thy commandments — the articulations of Thy law — nor kept them, neither done as Thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us.

8Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.

Wherefore all that Thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that Thou hast done to us, Thou hast done in true judgment.

9And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.

And Thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of the Source, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world — a ruling state twisted wholly away from the order.

10And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee.

And now we cannot open our mouths; we are become a shame and reproach to Thy servants, and to them that worship Thee.

11Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name’s sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant:

Yet deliver us not up wholly, for Thy name's sake; neither disannul Thou Thy covenant — the law of relationship written into our state between Thee and the soul:

12And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham’s sake, for thy servant Isaac’s sake, and for thy holy Israel’s sake;

and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, for Thy beloved Abraham's sake — for Faith's sake — for Thy servant Isaac's sake — for the joy-child of promise — and for Thy holy Israel's sake — for the sake of the spiritual man who has striven and prevailed:

13To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore.

to whom Thou hast spoken and promised, that Thou wouldest multiply their seed — their word-idea, their offspring-states — as the stars of heaven, the fixed knowledges of truth, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore.

14For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.

For we, O indwelling LORD, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world, because of our sins.

15Neither 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 find mercy.

Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet — the forth-telling faculty — or leader, or burnt offering — the whole state yielded up — or sacrifice — a faculty yielded to Thee — or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before Thee, and to find mercy.

16Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted.

Nevertheless, in a contrite heart and an humble spirit, let us be accepted.

17Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee.

Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs — the innocent, yielded life — so let our sacrifice be in Thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after Thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in Thee.

18And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face.

And now we follow Thee with all our heart; we fear Thee, and seek Thy face — Thy presence, where Thou meetest the mind.

19Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.

Put us not to shame: but deal with us after Thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of Thy mercies.

20Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed;

Deliver us also according to Thy marvellous works, and give glory to Thy name, O indwelling LORD; and let all them that do Thy servants hurt be ashamed:

21And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;

and let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;

22And let them know that thou art Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.

and let them know that Thou art the indwelling LORD, the only God — the one Source — and glorious over the whole world.

23And the king’s servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;

And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood: the servants of the sense-ruling state feeding the fire-chamber without ceasing.

24So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.

So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.

25And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.

And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace: the fire turned upon the very servants of the sense-state that fed it.

26But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven;

But the angel of the indwelling LORD — a divine idea ministering between the higher and lower consciousness — came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven;

27And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.

and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind — a cool, moving breath in the heart of the fire — so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.

28Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,

Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed the Source in the furnace, saying:

29Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou, O indwelling LORD, God of our fathers, and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

30And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

And blessed is Thy glorious and holy name — Thy name set apart, wholly of the divine order — and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

31Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thine holy glory — in the established sanctuary-state filled with the manifested weight of Thy Presence — and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

32Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths — the subconscious deep, all that is not yet brought to light — and sittest upon the cherubims, the guarding faculties; and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

33Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom — on the seat of ruling authority in the realm Thy rule governs — and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

34Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the firmament of heaven — in the expanse of awareness in the inner realm — and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.

35O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye works of the indwelling LORD — every state and faculty His order has brought forth — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

36O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye heavens — the inner realms, the higher mind — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

37O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye angels of the indwelling LORD — divine ideas ministering between the higher and lower consciousness — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

38O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye waters that be above the heaven — spiritual truths held in the higher mind — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

39O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye powers of the indwelling LORD — every strength of the state held in His order — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

40O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye sun and moon — the greater light, Divine Love-Wisdom itself, and the lesser light, reflected faith — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

41O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye stars of heaven — the fixed knowledges of truth, by which the mind steers in darkness — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

42O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O every shower and dew — truth descending, in downpour and in gentle settling — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

43O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye winds — the moving influences of the Breath — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

44O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye fire and heat — truth's consuming judgment, and the ardour of the state — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

45O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye winter and summer — the cold, hidden season of the state, and its warm, open season — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

46O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye dews and storms of snow — truth settling gently, and purity driven in storm — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

47O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye nights and days — the hidden states and the illuminated states — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

48O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye light and darkness — understanding dawning, and consciousness not yet illuminated — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

49O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye ice and cold — the state frozen and withheld from warmth — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

50O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye frost and snow — the chill that stills the state, and purity laid white upon it — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

51O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye lightnings and clouds — sudden flashes of divine illumination, and gathered thoughts that veil the light — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

52O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O let the earth bless the indwelling LORD — the outer life, the formed world — praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

53O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye mountains and little hills — exalted states, and the lesser heights of consciousness — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

54O all ye things that grow on the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye things that grow on the earth — every tender thought of truth springing up in the outer life — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

55O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye fountains — sources of truth rising clear within the state — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

56O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye seas and rivers — the great subconscious reservoir, and the currents of life and thought that flow through the state — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

57O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye whales, and all that move in the waters — the great powers of the deep mind, and every animated faculty stirring in the reservoir of thought — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

58O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye fowls of the air — soaring thoughts, aspirations in flight above the outer world — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

59O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye beasts and cattle — the untamed animal nature, and the tamed affections that serve the life — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

60O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye children of men — the faculties of the Complete Man — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

61O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O Israel — the spiritual man, who has striven and prevailed — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

62O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye priests of the indwelling LORD — the mediating faculties, trained to stand between the Source and the other faculties — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

63O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye servants of the indwelling LORD — the serving faculties of the sanctuary — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

64O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye spirits and souls of the righteous — the breaths and living states of those in right relation to the divine order — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

65O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye holy and humble men of heart — states set apart, wholly of the divine order, and humbled at the center — bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

66O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us.

O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the indwelling LORD: praise and exalt Him above all for ever: for He hath delivered us from hell — the shadow-state of faculties asleep in death — and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath He delivered us.

67O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the indwelling LORD, because He is gracious — His unmerited inflow of divine life and favour never fails: for His mercy endureth for ever.

68O all ye that worship the Lord bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O all ye that worship the indwelling LORD, bless the God of gods — the Source above every formed image men call a god — praise Him, and give Him thanks: for His mercy endureth for ever.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.