Daniel 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,	1 Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:
2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;	2 And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.
3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.	3 For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.
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.	4 Now 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.
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."	5 And 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.
6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.	6 These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.
7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.	7 And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.
8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.	8 And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her:
9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.	9 And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.
10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,	10 So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other:
11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.	11 For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her.
12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.	12 And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:
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;	13 Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out they departed one from another.
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.	14 And 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.
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.	15 And 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.
16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.	16 And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and were beholding her.
17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."	17 So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me.
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.	18 And 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.
19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.	19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said:
20 "Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us.	20 Behold 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.
21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."	21 But 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 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned. "If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.	22 Susanna 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.
23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."	23 But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.
24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,	24 With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.
25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.	25 And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.
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.	26 So 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.
27 At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.	27 But 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,
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:	28 When the people were come to Joakim her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death.
29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,	29 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.
30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.	30 And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.
31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,	31 Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.
32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.	32 But 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.
33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.	33 Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept.
34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.	34 But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head.
35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.	35 And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.
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.	36 And 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.
37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.	37 Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.
38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.	38 But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together.
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.	39 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors be leaped out:
40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,	40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses.
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.	41 The multitude believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42 But Susanna cried aloud: "O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be:	42 Then 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,
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."	43 Thou 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.
44 The Lord heard her prayer.	44 And the Lord heard her voice.
45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,	45 And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.
46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."	46 And he cried out with a loud voice I am clear from the blood of this woman.
47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"	47 Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?
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?	48 But 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?
49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."	49 Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.
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."	50 So 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.
51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."	51 And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.
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:	52 So 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:
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.'	53 In 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.
54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."	54 Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree.
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."	55 And 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.
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.	56 And 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:
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.	57 Thus 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.
58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."	58 Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together., And he answered: Under a holm tree.
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."	59 And 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.
60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.	60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.
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:	61 And 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,
62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.	62 To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
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.	63 But 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.
64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.	64 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thenceforward.
	65 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.