Danielis 13

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim :	1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
2 et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciæ, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum :	2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;
3 parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.	3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suæ : et ad ipsum confluebant Judæi, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium.	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 Et constituti sunt de populo duo senes judices in illo anno, de quibus locutus est Dominus : Quia egressa est iniquitas de Babylone a senioribus judicibus, qui videbantur regere populum.	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 Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.	6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.
7 Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.	7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
8 Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus :	8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.
9 et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.	9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.
10 Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum :	10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,
11 erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.	11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.
12 Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum :	12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her.
13 Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.	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 Cumque revertissent, venerunt in unum : et sciscitantes ab invicem causam, confessi sunt concupiscentiam suam : et tunc in communi statuerunt tempus quando eam possent invenire solam.	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 Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario : æstus quippe erat :	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 et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.	16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
17 Dixit ergo puellis : Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.	17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe."
18 Et fecerunt sicut præceperat : clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat ; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.	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 Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt :	19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.
20 Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus : quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum.	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 Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.	21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."
22 Ingemuit Susanna, et ait : Angustiæ sunt mihi undique : si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est : si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.	22 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned. "If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
23 Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.	23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord."
24 Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna : exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.	24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
25 Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.	25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
26 Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.	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 Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina.	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 Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.	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 Et dixerunt coram populo : Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.	29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for,
30 Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.	30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
31 Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.	31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful,
32 At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.	32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty.
33 Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.	33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.
34 Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.	34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head.
35 Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum : erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.	35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
36 Et dixerunt presbyteri : Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est hæc cum duabus puellis : et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas.	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 Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.	37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
38 Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.	38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them.
39 Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit :	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 hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis : hujus rei testes sumus.	40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was,
41 Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.	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 Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit : Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,	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 tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me : et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quæ isti malitiose composuerunt adversum 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 Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.	44 The Lord heard her prayer.
45 Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel :	45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
46 et exclamavit voce magna : Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.	46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman."
47 Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit : Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es ?	47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
48 Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait : Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël ?	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 revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.	49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."
50 Reversus est ergo populus cum festinatione, et dixerunt ei senes : Veni, et sede in medio nostrum, et indica nobis : quia tibi Deus dedit honorem senectutis.	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 Et dixit ad eos Daniel : Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.	51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them."
52 Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum : Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quæ operabaris prius :	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 judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino : Innocentem et justum non interficies.	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 Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub schino.	54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together."
55 Dixit autem Daniel : Recte mentitus es in caput tuum : ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.	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 Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei : Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum :	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 sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis : sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.	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 Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub prino.	58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
59 Dixit autem ei Daniel : Recte mentitus es et tu in caput tuum : manet enim angelus Domini, gladium habens, ut secet te medium, et interficiat vos.	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 Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.	60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.
61 Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,	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 ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.	62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
63 Helcias autem et uxor ejus laudaverunt Deum pro filia sua Susanna cum Joakim marito ejus, et cognatis omnibus, quia non esset inventa in ea res turpis.	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 Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.	64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people.
65 Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.