Danielis 13

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
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 He was married to a woman called Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and shewas God-fearing, for
3 parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.	3 her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in 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 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.
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 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.'
6 Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.	6 These men were often at Joakim's house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come tothem.
7 Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.	7 At midday, when the people had gone away, Susanna would take a walk in her husband's garden.
8 Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus :	8 The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradual y began todesire her.
9 et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.	9 They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to Heaven, and forgetting the demands ofvirtue.
10 Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum :	10 Both were inflamed by passion for her, but they hid their desire from each other,
11 erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.	11 for they were ashamed to admit the longing to sleep with her,
12 Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum :	12 but they made sure of watching her every day.
13 Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.	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,
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 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.
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 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.
16 et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.	16 There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place.
17 Dixit ergo puellis : Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.	17 She said to the servants, 'Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door 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 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.
19 Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt :	19 Hardly were the maids gone than the two elders sprang up and rushed upon 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 door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in andlet us!
21 Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.	21 Refuse, and we shal both give evidence that a young man was with you and that this was why yousent your maids away.'
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 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.
23 Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.	23 But I prefer to fal innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.'
24 Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna : exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.	24 She then cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame onher,
25 Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.	25 and one of them ran to open the garden door.
26 Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.	26 The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what hadhappened 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 Once the elders had told their story, the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of thissort had ever been said of Susanna.
28 Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.	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.
29 Et dixerunt coram populo : Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.	29 They addressed the company, 'Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.' She wassent for,
30 Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.	30 and came accompanied by her parents, her children and al her relations.
31 Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.	31 Susanna was very graceful and beautiful to look at;
32 At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.	32 she was veiled, so the wretches made her unveil in order to feast their eyes on her beauty.
33 Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.	33 Al her own people were weeping, and so were al the others who saw her.
34 Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.	34 The two elders stood up, with al the people round them, and laid their hands on her head.
35 Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum : erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.	35 Tearful y she turned her eyes to Heaven, her heart confident in God.
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 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.
37 Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.	37 A young man, who had been hiding, went over to her and they lay together.
38 Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.	38 From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towardsthem.
39 Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit :	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.
40 hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis : hujus rei testes sumus.	40 We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was.
41 Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.	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.
42 Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit : Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,	42 She cried out as loud as she could, 'Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before ithappens;
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 given false evidence against me. And now I must die, innocent as I am ofeverything their malice has invented against me!'
44 Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.	44 The Lord heard her cry
45 Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel :	45 and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel
46 et exclamavit voce magna : Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.	46 who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death!'
47 Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit : Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es ?	47 At this al the people turned to him and asked, 'What do you mean by that?'
48 Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait : Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël ?	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?
49 revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.	49 Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence 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 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.'
51 Et dixit ad eos Daniel : Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.	51 Daniel said, 'Keep the men wel apart from each other, for I want to question 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 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,
53 judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino : Innocentem et justum non interficies.	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."
54 Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub schino.	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.'
55 Dixit autem Daniel : Recte mentitus es in caput tuum : ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.	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.'
56 Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei : Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum :	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!
57 sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis : sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.	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!
58 Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub prino.	58 Now then, tel me what sort of tree you surprised them under.' He replied, 'Under an aspen tree.'
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 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.'
60 Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.	60 Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Saviour of those who trust 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 And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their ownmouths.
62 ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.	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.
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 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.
64 Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.	64 From that day onwards, Daniel's reputation stood high with the people.
65 Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.