Daniel 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.	1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
2 And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.	2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;
3 For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.	3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 But 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.	4 Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all.
5 And 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.”	5 That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."
6 These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.	6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.
7 But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.	7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
8 And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.	8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.
9 And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.	9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.
10 And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.	10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,
11 For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.	11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.
12 And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,	12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.
13 “Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.	13 One day they said to each other, "Let us be off for home, it is time for lunch." So they went out and parted;
14 And 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.	14 but both turned back, and when they met again, they asked each other the reason. They admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could meet her alone.
15 But 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.	15 One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
16 And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.	16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
17 And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”	17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."
18 And 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.	18 They did as she said; they shut the garden doors and left by the side gate to fetch what she had ordered, unaware that the elders were hidden inside.
19 But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,	19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.
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.	20 "Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us.
21 But 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.”	21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."
22 Susanna 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.	22 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned. "If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
23 But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”	23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."
24 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.	24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
25 And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.	25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
26 And 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.	26 When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
27 But 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,	27 At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.
28 when 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.	28 When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered:
29 And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.	29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,
30 And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.	30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
31 Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.	31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,
32 But 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.	32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.
33 Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.	33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.
34 Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.	34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.
35 And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.	35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
36 And the appointed elders said, “While we were talking 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.	36 The elders made this accusation: "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
37 And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.	37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
38 Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.	38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.
39 And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.	39 We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off.
40 But, 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.”	40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,
41 The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.	41 but she refused to tell us. We testify to this." The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42 But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,	42 But Susanna cried aloud: "O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be:
43 you 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.”	43 you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me."
44 But the Lord heeded her voice.	44 The Lord heard her prayer.
45 And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.	45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
46 And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”	46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."
47 And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that you are saying?”	47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
48 But 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?	48 He stood in their midst and continued, "Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence?
49 Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness against her.”	49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."
50 Therefore, 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.”	50 Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, "Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age."
51 And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between them.”	51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."
52 And 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,	52 After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: "How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term:
53 judging 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.’	53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, "The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'
54 Now then, if you saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”	54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."
55 But 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.	55 "Under a mastic tree," he answered. "Your fine lie has cost you your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two."
56 And, 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.	56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. "Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah," Daniel said to him, "beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.
57 Thus 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.	57 This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
58 Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”	58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
59 And 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.”	59 "Under an oak," he said. "Your fine lie has cost you also your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both."
60 And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.	60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.
61 And 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,	61 They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
62 so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on that day.	62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
63 But 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.	63 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, as did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because she was found innocent of any shameful deed.
64 And so Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thereafter.	64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.
65 And king Astyages was laid to rest with his fathers. And Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.