|
Susanna
Set
apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the Hebrew, as neither
the Narration of Bel and the Dragon.
[1]
There dwelt a man in
Babylon
, called Joacim:
[2] And he took a wife, whose
name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that
feared the Lord.
[3] Her parents also were
righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.
[4] Now Joacim was a great rich
man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews;
because he was more honourable than all others.
[5] The same year were appointed
two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that
wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the
people.
[6] These kept much at Joacim's
house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.
[7] Now when the people departed
away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.
[8] And the two elders saw her
going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.
[9] And they perverted their own
mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor
remember just judgments.
[10] And albeit they both were
wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief.
[11] For they were ashamed to
declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.
[12] Yet they watched diligently
from day to day to see her.
[13] And the one said to the
other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.
[14] So when they were gone out,
they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same
place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged
their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her
alone.
[15] And it fell out, as they
watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was
desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.
[16] And there was no body there
save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.
[17] Then she said to her maids,
Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.
[18] And they did as she bade
them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch
the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because
they were hid.
[19] Now when the maids were gone
forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,
[20] Behold, the garden doors are
shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent
unto us, and lie with us.
[21] 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.
[22] Then Susanna sighed, and
said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto
me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.
[23] It is better for me to fall
into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.
[24] With that Susanna cried with
a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.
[25] Then ran the one, and opened
the garden door.
[26] So when the servants of the
house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what
was done unto her.
[27] But when the elders had
declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never
such a report made of Susanna.
[28] And it came to pass the next
day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came
also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;
[29] And said before the people,
Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent.
[30] So she came with her father
and mother, her children, and all her kindred.
[31] Now Susanna was a very
delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.
[32] And these wicked men
commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled
with her beauty.
[33] Therefore her friends and
all that saw her wept.
[34] Then the two elders stood up
in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.
[35] And she weeping looked up
toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.
[36] And the elders said, As we
walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the
garden doors, and sent the maids away.
[37] Then a young man, who there
was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.
[38] Then we that stood in a
corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.
[39] And when we saw them
together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the
door, and leaped out.
[40] But having taken this woman,
we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we
testify.
[41] Then the assembly believed
them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned
her to death.
[42] Then Susanna cried out with
a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest
all things before they be:
[43] Thou knowest that they have
borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did
such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.
[44] And the Lord heard her
voice.
[45] Therefore when she was led
to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose
name was Daniel:
[46] Who cried with a loud voice,
I am clear from the blood of this woman.
[47] Then all the people turned
them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?
[48] So he standing in the midst
of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of
Israel
, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a
daughter of
Israel
?
[49] Return again to the place of
judgment: for they have borne false witness against her.
[50] Wherefore all the people
turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us,
and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.
[51] Then said Daniel unto them,
Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them.
[52] So when they were put
asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that
art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime
are come to light.
[53] For thou hast pronounced
false judgment and hast condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free;
albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.
[54] Now then, if thou hast seen
her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who
answered, Under a mastick tree.
[55] And Daniel said, Very well;
thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath
received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.
[56] So he put him aside, and
commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not
of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.
[57] Thus have ye dealt with the
daughters of
Israel
, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide
your wickedness.
[58] Now therefore tell me, Under
what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm
tree.
[59] Then said Daniel unto him,
Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth
with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.
[60] With that all the assembly
cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.
[61] And they arose against the
two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:
[62] And according to the law of
Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to
their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved
the same day.
[63] Therefore Chelcias and his
wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all
the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.
[64] From that day forth was
Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.
|
