Daniel 13

1Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

2And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.

3For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them all.

5And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: Iniquity came out from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people.

6These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.

7And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband’s orchard.

8And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her:

9And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

10So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other:

11For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her.

12And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:

13Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out they departed one from another.

14And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and asking one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust; and then they agreed upon a time, when they might find her alone.

15And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather.

16And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and were beholding her.

17So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me.

18And they did as she bade them: and they shut the doors of the orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch what she had commanded them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within.

19Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said:

20Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us.

21But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee.

22Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape your hands.

23But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

24With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.

25And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.

26So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was the matter.

27But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on the next day,

28When the people were come to Joakim her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death.

29And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.

30And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.

31Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.

32But those wicked men commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) that so at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.

33Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept.

34But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head.

35And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.

36And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, and sent away the maids from her.

37Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.

38But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together.

39And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors be leaped out:

40But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses.

41The multitude believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

42Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come to pass,

43Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously forged against me.

44And the Lord heard her voice.

45And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.

46And he cried out with a loud voice I am clear from the blood of this woman.

47Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?

48But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?

49Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.

50So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it as: seeing God hath given thee the honour of old age.

51And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.

52So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before:

53In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: I The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill.

54Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree.

55And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut thee in two.

56And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thy heart:

57Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.

58Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree.

59And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy you.

60With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.

61And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth,) and they did to them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour,

62To fulfill the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.

63But Helcias and his wife praised God, for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all her kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

64And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thenceforward.

65And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.

1Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim:

2et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciæ, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum:

3parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.

4Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suæ: et ad ipsum confluebant Judæi, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium.

5Et constituti sunt de populo duo senes judices in illo anno, de quibus locutus est Dominus: Quia egressa est iniquitas de Babylone a senioribus judicibus, qui videbantur regere populum.

6Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.

7Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.

8Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus:

9et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.

10Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum:

11erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.

12Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum:

13Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.

14Cumque revertissent, venerunt in unum: et sciscitantes ab invicem causam, confessi sunt concupiscentiam suam: et tunc in communi statuerunt tempus quando eam possent invenire solam.

15Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario: æstus quippe erat:

16et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.

17Dixit ergo puellis: Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.

18Et fecerunt sicut præceperat: clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.

19Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt:

20Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus: quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum.

21Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.

22Ingemuit Susanna, et ait: Angustiæ sunt mihi undique: si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est: si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.

23Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.

24Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna: exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.

25Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.

26Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.

27Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina.

28Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.

29Et dixerunt coram populo: Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.

30Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.

31Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.

32At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.

33Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.

34Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.

35Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum: erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.

36Et dixerunt presbyteri: Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est hæc cum duabus puellis: et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas.

37Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.

38Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.

39Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit:

40hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis: hujus rei testes sumus.

41Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.

42Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit: Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,

43tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me: et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quæ isti malitiose composuerunt adversum me.

44Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.

45Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel:

46et exclamavit voce magna: Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.

47Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit: Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es?

48Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait: Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël?

49revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.

50Reversus est ergo populus cum festinatione, et dixerunt ei senes: Veni, et sede in medio nostrum, et indica nobis: quia tibi Deus dedit honorem senectutis.

51Et dixit ad eos Daniel: Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.

52Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum: Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quæ operabaris prius:

53judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino: Innocentem et justum non interficies.

54Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub schino.

55Dixit autem Daniel: Recte mentitus es in caput tuum: ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.

56Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei: Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum:

57sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis: sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.

58Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub prino.

59Dixit autem ei Daniel: Recte mentitus es et tu in caput tuum: manet enim angelus Domini, gladium habens, ut secet te medium, et interficiat vos.

60Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.

61Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,

62ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.

63Helcias autem et uxor ejus laudaverunt Deum pro filia sua Susanna cum Joakim marito ejus, et cognatis omnibus, quia non esset inventa in ea res turpis.

64Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.

65Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.

1And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.

2And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.

3For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4But Joakim was very wealthy, and he had an orchard near his house, and the Jews flocked to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.

5And two elder judges had been appointed among the people that year, about whom the Lord has said, “Iniquity has come out of Babylon, from the elder judges, who seemed to govern the people.”

6These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.

7But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.

8And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.

9And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.

10And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.

11For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.

12And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,

13“Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.

14And returning again, they came to the same place, and, each asking the other the reason, they admitted their desire. And then they agreed to set a time when they would be able to find her alone.

15But it happened, while they watched for an opportune day, that she entered at a particular time, just as yesterday and the day before, with only two maids, and she wanted to wash in the orchard, because it was so hot.

16And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.

17And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”

18And they did as she ordered them. And they shut the doors of the orchard and left through a back door to fetch what she required, and they did not know that the elders were hiding within.

19But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,

20“Behold, the doors of the orchard are closed, and no one can see us, and we are in desire for you. Because of these things, consent to us and lie with us.

21But if you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you and, for this reason, you sent your maids away from you.”

22Susanna sighed and said, “I am closed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death to me; yet if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.

23But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”

24And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.

25And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.

26And so, when the servants of the house heard the outcry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was happening.

27But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there had never been anything of this kind said about Susanna. And it happened on the next day,

28when the people came to Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.

29And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.

30And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.

31Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.

32But those wicked ones commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) so that at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.

33Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.

34Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.

35And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.

36And the appointed elders said, “While we were taking a walk in the orchard alone, this one came in with two maids, and she shut the doors of the orchard, and she sent the maids away from her.

37And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.

38Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.

39And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.

40But, since we had apprehended this one, we demanded to know who the young man was, but she was unwilling to tell us. On this matter, we are witnesses.”

41The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

42But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,

43you know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, though I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously invented against me.”

44But the Lord heeded her voice.

45And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.

46And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”

47And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that you are saying?”

48But he, while standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you so foolish, sons of Israel, that without judging and without knowing what the truth is, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?

49Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness against her.”

50Therefore, the people returned with haste, and the old men said to him, “Come and sit down in our midst and show us, since God has given you the honor of old age.”

51And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between them.”

52And so, when they were divided, one from the other, he called one of them, and he said to him, “You deep-rooted ancient evil, now your sins have come out, which you have committed before,

53judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and setting free the guilty, though the Lord declares, ‘The innocent and the just you must not put to death.’

54Now then, if you saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”

55But Daniel said, “Truly, you have lied against your own head. For behold, the angel of God, having received the sentence from him, will split you down the middle.

56And, having put him aside, he commanded the other to approach, and he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and desire has perverted your heart.

57Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they, out of fear, consorted with you, but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate your iniquity.

58Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”

59And Daniel said to him, “Truly, you also have lied against your own head. For the angel of the Lord waits, holding a sword, to cut you down the middle and put you to death.”

60And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.

61And they rose up against the two appointed elders, (for Daniel had convicted them, by their own mouth, of bearing false witness,) and they did to them just as they had wickedly done against their neighbor,

62so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on that day.

63But Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her relatives, because there had been found in her no disgrace.

64And so Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thereafter.

65And king Astyages was laid to rest with his fathers. And Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.