Daniel 13

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim.	1 And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
2 He was married to a woman called Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and shewas God-fearing, for	2 And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.
3 her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses.	3 For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated 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 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.
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 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.”
6 These men were often at Joakim's house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come tothem.	6 These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.
7 At midday, when the people had gone away, Susanna would take a walk in her husband's garden.	7 But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.
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 And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.
9 They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to Heaven, and forgetting the demands ofvirtue.	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.
10 Both were inflamed by passion for her, but they hid their desire from each other,	10 And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.
11 for they were ashamed to admit the longing to sleep with her,	11 For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.
12 but they made sure of watching her every day.	12 And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,
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 “Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.
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 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.
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 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.
16 There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place.	16 And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.
17 She said to the servants, 'Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.'	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.”
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 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.
19 Hardly were the maids gone than the two elders sprang up and rushed upon her.	19 But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,
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 “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.
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 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.”
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 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.
23 But I prefer to fal innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.'	23 But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
24 She then cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame onher,	24 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.
25 and one of them ran to open the garden door.	25 And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.
26 The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what hadhappened to her.	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.
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 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,
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 Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.
29 They addressed the company, 'Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.' She wassent for,	29 And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.
30 and came accompanied by her parents, her children and al her relations.	30 And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.
31 Susanna was very graceful and beautiful to look at;	31 Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.
32 she was veiled, so the wretches made her unveil in order to feast their eyes on her beauty.	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.
33 Al her own people were weeping, and so were al the others who saw her.	33 Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.
34 The two elders stood up, with al the people round them, and laid their hands on her head.	34 Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.
35 Tearful y she turned her eyes to Heaven, her heart confident in God.	35 And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.
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 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.
37 A young man, who had been hiding, went over to her and they lay together.	37 And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.
38 From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towardsthem.	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.
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 And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.
40 We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was.	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.”
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 The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the 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 out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,
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 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.”
44 The Lord heard her cry	44 But the Lord heeded her voice.
45 and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel	45 And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.
46 who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death!'	46 And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”
47 At this al the people turned to him and asked, 'What do you mean by that?'	47 And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that 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 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?
49 Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.'	49 Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness 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 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.”
51 Daniel said, 'Keep the men wel apart from each other, for I want to question them.'	51 And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between 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 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,
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 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.’
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 saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
58 Now then, tel me what sort of tree you surprised them under.' He replied, 'Under an aspen tree.'	58 Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”
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 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.”
60 Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Saviour of those who trust in him.	60 And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
61 And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their ownmouths.	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,
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 so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on 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 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.
64 From that day onwards, Daniel's reputation stood high with the people.	64 And so Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thereafter.
	65 And king Astyages was laid to rest with his fathers. And Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.