Susanna

There dwelt a man in Babylon, called ^aJoacim: ²and he took a wife, whose name was ^bSusanna, the daughter of ^aChelcias, a very ^xfair woman, and one that feared the Lord. ³Her parents also were ^crighteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. ⁴Now Joacim was ^da great rich man, and had a ^efair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others. ^5fThe same year were appointed two of the ^gancients of the people to be judges, such as the ^hLord spake of, ⁱthat wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who ^jseemed to govern the people. ⁶These ^kkept much at Joacim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them. ⁷Now when the people departed away ^lat noon, Susanna went into her husband’s ^egarden to walk. ⁸And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her. ⁹And ^mthey perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. ¹⁰And albeit they both were ⁿwounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief. ¹¹For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. ¹²Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her. ¹³And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: ^lfor it is dinner time. ¹⁴So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

¹⁵And it fell out, as they watched a ^ofit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the ^egarden: for it was hot. ¹⁶And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her. ¹⁷Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the ^egarden doors, that I may wash me. ¹⁸And they did as she bade them, and shut the ^egarden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid. ¹⁹Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying, ²⁰Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us. ²¹If 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. ²²Then Susanna ^psighed, and said, I am straited on every side: for if I do this thing, ^qit is death unto me: and if I do it not, I cannot escape your hands. ²³It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. ²⁴With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her. ²⁵Then ran the one, and opened the garden door. ²⁶So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at a ^rprivy door, to see what was done unto her. ²⁷But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

²⁸And it came to pass the next day, ^swhen the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous ^timagination against Susanna ^qto put her to death. ²⁹And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of ^aChelcias, ^aJoacim’s wife. And so they sent. ³⁰So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. ³¹Now Susanna was a very ^udelicate woman, and ^xbeauteous to behold. ³²And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (^yfor she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty. ³³Therefore ^zher friends and all that saw her wept. ³⁴Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and ^alaid their hands upon her head. ³⁵And she weeping looked up towards heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord. ³⁶And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. ³⁷Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her. ³⁸Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them. ³⁹And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out. ⁴⁰But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify. ⁴¹Then the assembly believed them, as those that were ^bthe elders and judges of the people: so ^cthey condemned her to death.

⁴²Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, ^dthat knowest the secrets, and ^eknowest all things before they be: ⁴³thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me. ⁴⁴And the Lord heard her voice. ⁴⁵Therefore ^fwhen she was led ^cto be put to death, ^gthe Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel: ⁴⁶who cried with a loud voice, ^hI am clear from the blood of this woman. ⁴⁷Then all the people turned them towards him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken? ⁴⁸So he standing in the midst of them, said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned ⁿa daughter of Israel? ⁴⁹Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false witness against her. ⁵⁰Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and ^bthe elders said unto him, Come, ⁱsit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder. ⁵¹Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them. ⁵²So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light: ⁵³for thou hast pronounced false judgment, and hast condemned the innocent, and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, ^jThe innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay. ⁵⁴Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree. ⁵⁵And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to ^kcut thee in two. ⁵⁶So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of ^lCanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath ^mperverted thine heart. ⁵⁷Thus have ye dealt with ⁿthe daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but ⁿthe daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness. ⁵⁸Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under a holm tree. ⁵⁹Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to ^kocut thee in two, that he may destroy you. ⁶⁰With that all ^pthe assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth ^qthem that trust in him. ⁶¹And they arose against the two elders, (for ^rDaniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth;) ⁶²and ^saccording to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day. ⁶³Therefore ^tChelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. ⁶⁴From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.