1 And there was a man dwelling in Babylon, and his name Joakim:
1 Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:
2 & he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Helcias exceeding fair, and fearing God.
2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.
3 For her parents being just, instructed their daughter according to the law of Moyses.
3 For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 And Joakim was very rich, and he had an orchard near unto his house: and to him the Jews resorted together, because he was the more honorable of 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 honorable of them all.
5 And there were two ancients appointed judges in that year, of whom our Lord spake: That iniquities came out of Babylon from the senior judges, that seemed to rule the people.
5 And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people.
6 These frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had judgements came to them.
6 These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.
7 And when the people returned at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.
7 And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband’s orchard.
8 and the ancients saw her daily going in, and walking: and they were inflamed to the concupiscence of 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 subverted their sense, and declined their eyes that they would not see heaven, nor remember just judgements.
9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.
10 They were both therefore wounded with the love of her, neither did they shew their grief one to the other:
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 shew one another their concupiscence, being desirous to lie with 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 every day carefully to see her. And one said to the other:
12 And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:
13 Let us go home, because it is the hour of dinner. And going forth they departed one from another.
13 Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out, they departed one from another.
14 And when they were returned, they came into one place: and asking of each other the cause, they confessed their concupiscence: and then in commune they appointed a time, when they might 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 together upon a time, when they might find her alone.
15 And it came to pass, when they observed a fit day, she went in on a time as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, & would be washed in the orchard: for it was an hot season.
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 there was none there, but the two ancients hid, & beholding her.
16 And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves, and were beholding her.
17 She therefore said to the maids: Fetch me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may be washed.
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 And they did as she had commanded: and they shut the doors of the orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch the thing that she had commanded; and they knew not that the ancients were hid within.
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 But when the maids were gone forth, the two ancients arose, 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 Lo the doors of the orchard be shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in the concupiscence of thee: wherefore consent to us, 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 and if thou wilt not, we will give testimony against thee, that there was a young man with thee, and for this cause thou didst send out thy maids from thee.
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, and said: Perplexities are to me on every side: for if I shall do this, it is death to me: and if I do it 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 But it is better for me without the act to fall into your hands, than to sin in the sight of our 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 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice: but the ancients also cried out against her.
24 With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.
25 And one ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.
25 And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.
26 when the servants therefore of the house had heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door, to see what it was.
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 after the ancients spake, the servants were ashamed exceedingly: because never had there been such a word said of Susanna. And the morrow came.
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 And when the people was come to Joakim her husband, the two ancients also came full of unjust cogitation against Susanna, to put her 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 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And forthwith they sent.
29 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.
30 And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kin.
30 And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred.
31 Moreover Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful of face.
31 Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.
32 But those wicked men commanded that she should be uncovered (for she was covered) that so at least they might be satisfied with 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 Her friends therefore wept, & all that had known her.
33 Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept.
34 But the two ancients rising up in the midst of the people, 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 Who weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in our Lord.
35 And she weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.
36 And the ancients said: When we walked alone in the orchard, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard: and she sent away the maids from her.
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 And a young man that was hid came to her, and lay with her.
37 Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.
38 But we being in a corner of the orchard, seeing the iniquity, ran to them, and saw them lie together.
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 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than we, and opening the doors he lept out:
39 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out:
40 but her when we apprehended, we asked what youngman it was, and she would not tell us, of this thing we are witnesses.
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 multitude believed them as the ancients and the judges of the people, 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 But Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: Eternal God, which art the knower of hidden things before they come to pass,
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 they have borne false witness against me: and lo I die, whereas I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously forged 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 And our Lord heard her voice.
44 And the Lord heard her voice.
45 and when she was led to death, our Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was 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 out with a loud voice: I am clean from the blood of this woman.
46 And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of this woman.
47 And all the people turning to him, said: What is this word, that thou hast spoken?
47 Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?
48 Who when he stood in the midst of them, said: So foolish ye children of Israel, not judging, nor discerning that which is the truth, have you condemned the daughter of Israel?
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 ye to judgement, because they have spoken false testimony against her.
49 Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.
50 The people therefore returned with speed, and the ancients said to him: Come, and sit in the midst of us, and tell us: because God hath given thee the honour of old age.
50 So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and show it us: seeing God hath given thee the honor of old age.
51 And Daniel said to the people: Separate them far one from another, and I will discover them.
51 And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.
52 When they were therefore divided one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him: O thou inveterated of evil days, now are thy sins come, which thou didst commit before:
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 judging unjust judgements, oppressing innocents, and dismissing offenders, our Lord saying: The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill.
53 In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: ¹The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill.
54 Now then if thou sawest her, tell under what tree thou sawest them talking together. Who said: Under a schine 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: Well hast thou lied against thine own head: for behold the Angel of God taking the sentence of him, shall cut thee in the midst.
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 And removing him away, he commanded that the other should come, and he said to him: Seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and concupiscence hath subverted thy 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 so did you to the daughters of Israel, and they fearing spake to you: but the daughter of Juda did not abide your iniquity.
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 therefore tell me, under what tree thou tookest them speaking one to another. Who said: Under a prine tree.
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: Well hast thou also lied against thine own head: for the Angel of our Lord tarrieth, having a sword, that he may cut thee in the midst, and kill you.
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 Therefore all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, which saveth them that 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 up against the two elders (for Daniel had convinced them by their own mouth to have given false testimony) and they did to them as they had dealt naughtily against their neighbour,
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 neighbor,
62 to do according to the law of Moyses: & they killed them, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
62 ²To fulfill the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
63 But Helcias, and his wife praised God, for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all her kin, because there was no unhonest thing 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 Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, & thence forward.
64 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thence forward.
65 And king Astyages was laid to his fathers, & Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.
65 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.