Daniel 13

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim.	1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
2 He was married to a woman called Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and shewas God-fearing, for	2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;
3 her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses.	3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 Joakim was a very rich man and had a garden by his house; he used to be visited by a considerablenumber of the Jews, since he was held in greater respect than any other man.	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 Two elderly men had been selected from the people, that year, to act as judges. Of such the Lord hadsaid, 'Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to 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 men were often at Joakim's house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come tothem.	6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.
7 At midday, when the people had gone away, Susanna would take a walk in her husband's garden.	7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
8 The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradual y began todesire her.	8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.
9 They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to Heaven, and forgetting the demands ofvirtue.	9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.
10 Both were inflamed by passion for her, but they hid their desire from each other,	10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,
11 for they were ashamed to admit the longing to sleep with her,	11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.
12 but they made sure of watching her every day.	12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.
13 One day, having parted with the words, 'Let us go home, then, it is time for the midday meal,' theywent off in different directions,	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 only to retrace their steps and find themselves face to face again. Obliged then to explain, theyadmitted their desire and agreed to look for an opportunity of surprising 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 So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only bytwo young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden.	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 There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place.	16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
17 She said to the servants, 'Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.'	17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."
18 They did as they were told, shutting the garden door and going back to the house by a side entranceto fetch what she had asked for; they knew nothing about the elders, for they had concealed themselves.	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 Hardly were the maids gone than the two elders sprang up and rushed upon her.	19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.
20 'Look,' they said, 'the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in andlet 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 Refuse, and we shal both give evidence that a young man was with you and that this was why yousent your maids away.'	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. 'I am trapped,' she said, 'whatever I do. If I agree, it means death for me; if I resist, Icannot get away from you.	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 I prefer to fal innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.'	23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."
24 She then cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame onher,	24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
25 and one of them ran to open the garden door.	25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
26 The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what hadhappened to her.	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 Once the elders had told their story, the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of thissort had ever been said of Susanna.	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 Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, ful of theirwicked plea against Susanna, to have her put 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 They addressed the company, 'Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.' She wassent for,	29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,
30 and came accompanied by her parents, her children and al her relations.	30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
31 Susanna was very graceful and beautiful to look at;	31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,
32 she was veiled, so the wretches made her unveil in order to feast their eyes on her beauty.	32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.
33 Al her own people were weeping, and so were al the others who saw her.	33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.
34 The two elders stood up, with al the people round them, and laid their hands on her head.	34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.
35 Tearful y she turned her eyes to Heaven, her heart confident in God.	35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
36 The elders then spoke, 'While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived withtwo maids. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants.	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 A young man, who had been hiding, went over to her and they lay together.	37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
38 From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towardsthem.	38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.
39 Though we saw them together, we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; heopened the door and took to his heels.	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 We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was.	40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,
41 She refused to tel us. That is our evidence.' Since they were elders of the people and judges, theassembly accepted their word: Susanna was condemned 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 She cried out as loud as she could, 'Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before ithappens;	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 given false evidence against me. And now I must die, innocent as I am ofeverything their malice has 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 The Lord heard her cry	44 The Lord heard her prayer.
45 and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel	45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
46 who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death!'	46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."
47 At this al the people turned to him and asked, 'What do you mean by that?'	47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
48 Standing in the middle of the crowd, he replied, 'Are you so stupid, children of Israel, as to condemna daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth?	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 Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.'	49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."
50 Al the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, 'Come and sit with us and tell us what youmean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.'	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 Daniel said, 'Keep the men wel apart from each other, for I want to question them.'	51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."
52 When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. 'You have grown old inwickedness,' he said, 'and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you,	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 you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of the guilty,although the Lord has said, "You must not put the innocent and upright 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, since you saw her so clearly, tel me what sort of tree you saw them lying under.' Hereplied, 'Under an acacia tree.'	54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."
55 Daniel said, 'Indeed! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received fromhim your sentence and wil cut you in half.'	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 He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, 'Son of Canaan, not ofJudah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray!	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 This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel, and they have been too frightenedto resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness!	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, tel me what sort of tree you surprised them under.' He replied, 'Under an aspen tree.'	58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
59 Daniel said, 'Indeed! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting with a sword torend you in half, and destroy the pair of you.'	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 Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Saviour of those who trust in him.	60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.
61 And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their ownmouths.	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 As the Law of Moses prescribes, they were given the same punishment as they had schemed toinflict on their neighbour. They were put to death. And thus, that day, an innocent life was saved.	62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
63 Hilkiah and his wife gave thanks to God for their daughter Susanna, and so did her husband Joakimand all his relations, because she had been acquitted of anything dishonourable.	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 From that day onwards, Daniel's reputation stood high with the people.	64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.