Daniel 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,	1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim.
2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;	2 And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.
3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.	3 Her parents were righteous, and had taught 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 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.
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 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."
6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.	6 These men were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had suits at law came to them.
7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.	7 When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk.
8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.	8 The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire 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 minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments.
10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,	10 Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress,
11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.	11 for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her.
12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.	12 And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.
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 They said to each other, "Let us go home, for it is mealtime."
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 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.
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 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.
16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.	16 And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were watching her.
17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."	17 She said to her maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may bathe."
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 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.
19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.	19 When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose 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 "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.
21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."	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."
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 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.
23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."	23 I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord."
24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,	24 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her.
25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.	25 And one of them ran and opened the garden doors.
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 When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her.
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 And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.
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 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.
29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,	29 They said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim."
30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.	30 So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and all her kindred.
31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,	31 Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance.
32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.	32 As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they might feed upon her beauty.
33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.	33 But her family and friends and all who saw her wept.
34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.	34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and 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 toward heaven, for her heart trusted 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 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.
37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.	37 Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her.
38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.	38 We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them.
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 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.
40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,	40 So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify."
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 assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; 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 dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be,
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 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!"
44 The Lord heard her prayer.	44 The Lord heard her cry.
45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,	45 And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel;
46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."	46 and he cried with a loud voice, "I am innocent of the blood of this woman."
47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"	47 All the people turned to him, and said, "What is this that you have said?"
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 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?
49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."	49 Return to the place of judgment. For these men 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 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."
51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."	51 And Daniel said to them, "Separate them far from each other, 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 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,
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 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.'
54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."	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."
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, "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."
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 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.
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 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.
58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."	58 Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?" He answered, "Under an evergreen oak."
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, "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."
60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.	60 Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who hope 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 against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness;
62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.	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.
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 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.
64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.	64 And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people.