Daniel 13

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim.	1 Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:
2 And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.	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 parents were righteous, and had taught 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, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored 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 In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: "Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people."	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 were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had suits at law came to them.	6 These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.
7 When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk.	7 And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.
8 The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire her.	8 And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her:
9 And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous 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 Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress,	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 disclose their lustful desire to possess her.	11 For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her.
12 And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.	12 And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:
13 They said to each other, "Let us go home, for it is mealtime."	13 Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out they departed one from another.
14 And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back, they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they could find 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 Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot.	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 And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid 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 She said to her maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may 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, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.	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 When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said:	19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said:
20 "Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with you; so give your consent, 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 a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away."	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 Susanna sighed deeply, and said, "I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands.	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 I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of 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 cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her.	24 With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.
25 And one of them ran and opened the garden doors.	25 And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.
26 When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door 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 And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever 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 The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to death.	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 They said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim."	29 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.
30 So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and all her kindred.	30 And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.
31 Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance.	31 Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.
32 As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they might feed upon 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 But her family and friends and all who saw her wept.	33 Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept.
34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.	34 But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head.
35 And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord.	35 And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.
36 The elders said, "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids.	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 Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her.	37 Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.
38 We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to 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 embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out.	39 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors be leaped out:
40 So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify."	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 The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; 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 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, "O eternal God, who dost discern what is secret, who art 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 thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly invented against 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 cry.	44 And the Lord heard her voice.
45 And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad 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 with a loud voice, "I am innocent of the blood 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 to him, and said, "What is this that you have said?"	47 Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?
48 Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, "Are you such fools, you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts?	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 the place of judgment. For these men have borne false witness against her."	49 Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.
50 Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, "Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right."	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 And Daniel said to them, "Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them."	51 And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.
52 When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, "You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which you have committed in the past,	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 pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and letting the guilty go free, though the Lord said, 'Do not put to death an innocent and righteous person.'	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 really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?" He answered, "Under a mastic tree."	54 Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree.
55 And Daniel said, "Very well! You have lied against your own head, for the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately cut 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 Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he said to him, "You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust has perverted your heart.	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 both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure 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 did you catch them being intimate with each other?" He answered, "Under an evergreen oak."	58 Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together., And he answered: Under a holm tree.
59 And Daniel said to him, "Very well! You also have lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two, that he may destroy 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 Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who 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 And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness;	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 and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbor; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.	62 To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
63 And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did Joakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her.	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 had a great reputation among 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.