Susanna 1
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.