Susanna according to the Septuagint.

The Revised Version of the Greek of Theodotion.

¶1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

¶(1) There dwelt a man in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

2 and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

(2) and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

(3) Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4 Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

(4) Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

5 And the same year there were appointed two of the elders of the people to be judges, concerning whom the Lord had spoken when He said that iniquity went forth from Babylon through elder-judges who were thought worthy to govern the people.

(5) And the same year there were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who were accounted to govern the people.

¶6 And cases from other cities also came before them for decision.

¶(6) These kept much at Joakim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

7 Now these men observing a woman of beautiful form, the wife of one of their own brother-Israelites, who was called Susanna, daughter of Helkias, wife of Joakim, as she walked about in her husband’s garden at eventide,

(7) Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.

8 were inflamed with love for her;

(8) And the two elders beheld her going in every day, and walking; and they were inflamed with love for her.

9 and they perverted their mind and turned away their eyes so as neither to look toward Heaven nor to be mindful of right decisions.

¶(9) And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgements.

¶10 And though both were smitten by desire of her, yet each concealed from the other the evil that possessed them in regard to her; neither was the woman aware of this matter.

(10) And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one show another his grief.

(11) For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

12 And as soon as it was daylight they came stealthily, evading each other, hurrying to see which should be first to show himself to her and to speak with her.

(12) Yet they watched jealously from day to day to see her.

13 And behold! she was taking her walk according to her wont and the one elder had barely arrived, when lo! the other came up. Then the one began to cross-examine his fellow, demanding, ‘Why art thou gone forth so very early, leaving me behind?’

(13) And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

14 With that they made confession each to the other of his painful state.

(14) So 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: and then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

(15) And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in as aforetime with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.

(16) And there was nobody there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

(17) Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

(18) And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: and they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

¶19 Then said the one to the other, Let us repair to her; and having agreed together on a plan, they made advance to her and sought to constrain her.

(19) Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

(20) Behold, 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.

(21) 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 But the daughter of Judah answered them, I know that if I do this, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape from your hands.

(22) Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not, I cannot escape your hands.

23 Yet it is better for me not to do this and to fall into your hands rather than to sin before the Lord.

(23) It is better For me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

(24) With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

(25) Then ran the one, and opened the garden doors.

(26) So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door, to see what had befallen her.

(27) But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

¶28 So these transgressors of the law turned away, vowing vengeance and planning together how they might put her to death. And they came into the synagogue of the city in which they dwelt, where were assembled in council all the Israelites of the place.

(28) And it came to pass on the morrow, when the people assembled to her husband Joakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death;

¶29 Then the two elders and judges arose and said, Send for Susanna, daughter of Helkias, the same who is the wife of Joakim. And straightway they summoned her.

(29) and said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, Joakim’s wife.

30 And when the woman appeared with her father and mother, her bondmen and her bondwomen to the number of five hundred also presented themselves, as well as the four little children of Susanna.

(30) So they sent; and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

31 Now the woman was very delicate.

(31) Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

¶32 Yet the lawless pair ordered that she should be unveiled, that they might sate themselves with the beauty of her attraction.

¶(32) And these wicked men commanded her to be unveiled (for she was veiled) that they might be filled with her beauty.

¶33 Whereat all her attendants and all who knew her began to weep.

(33) Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

34 Then arose the elders and judges and laid their hands upon her head.

(34) Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

¶35 But her heart was stayed upon the Lord her God, and looking upward she wept within herself, saying,35a O Lord the eternal God, who knowest all things before they come into being, Thou knowest that I have not done what these lawless men maliciously allege against me. And the Lord hearkened to her entreaty.

(35) And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

36 Then the two elders affirmed, We were walking about in her husband’s garden,

¶(36) And 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.

37 and as we came round the stadion, we saw this woman dallying with a man; we stood still and observed them consorting together,

(37) Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

38 but they were not aware that we were standing by. Then when each of us had confirmed the other, we said, We must find out who these persons are.

(38) And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness, and ran unto them.

39 So we came forward and her we recognized; but the young man escaped us being concealed by a mask.

(39) And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold; for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leaped out.

40 And having arrested her, we put the question, Who is the fellow?

(40) But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

41 but she refused to tell us who he was. These things we declare as witnesses. And the whole synagogue believed them inasmuch as they were elders and judges of the people.

(41) Then the assembly believed them, as those that were elders of the people and judges: so they condemned her to death.

(42) Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O ever-lasting God, that knowest the secrets, that knowest all things before they be:

(43) thou 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.

¶44–45 And as she was being led away to be destroyed, behold! there came an angel of the Lord; and as it had been commanded him, the angel bestowed a spirit of discernment upon a young man, this being Daniel.

¶(44) And the Lord heard her voice.(45) Therefore when she was led away to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel:

(46) and he cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

(47) Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?

48 Then separating the crowd Daniel stationed himself in the midst of them and said, Are ye so foolish, O sons of Israel, that without examination and knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel to die?

(48) So 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 a daughter of Israel?

(49) Return again to the place of judgement: for these have borne false witness against her.

(50) Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and show it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

51a Now therefore take these men apart from each other, that I may cross-examine them.

¶51b And when they were separated, Daniel said to the synagogue: Now consider not that these men are elders nor say, They can never be false; but I will examine them with reference to that which is suggested to me.

(51) Then said Daniel unto them, Put them asunder one far from another, and I will examine them.

52 And he summoned one of the two, so they brought forward the elder before the young man. Then said Daniel to him: Hearken, hearken, thou ancient of evil days! now have overtaken thee thy sins which thou hast committed in time past.

(52) So 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 are thy sins come home to thee which thou hast committed aforetime,

¶53 Being trusted to hear and to decide capital cases, thou hast both condemned the innocent and hast acquitted the guilty, although the Lord saith: ‘The innocent and the righteous slay thou not.’

(53) in pronouncing unjust judgement, and condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.

¶54 Now therefore under what tree and at what sort of place in the garden hast thou seen them together? The impious man answered, Under a mastick tree.

(54) Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.

55 Then said the youth, Right well hast thou borne false witness against thine own soul; for the angel of the Lord will cleave thy soul this day.

(55) And Daniel said, Right well hast thou lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God and shall cut thee in two.

¶56 Then removing the one he gave command to bring the other before him, to whom he said: Wherefore is the seed that is in thee become perverted as that of Sidon and not as that of Judah? beauty has beguiled thee, base passion!

¶(56) So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.

57 Even so were ye wont to do with daughters of Israel, who through their fear companied with you; but a daughter of Judah scorned to endure your pestilent licence.

(57) Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Judah would not abide your wickedness.

58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree and in which spot of the enclosure didst thou detect them consorting together? Who answered, Under a holm tree.

¶(58)Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under a holm tree.

59 Then said Daniel, Thou sinner! even now the angel of the Lord is standing with drawn sword, till the people shall make an end of thee, that he may cut thee to pieces.

(59) Then said Daniel unto him, Right well hast thou also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

¶60–62a Then the whole synagogue shouted aloud in praise of the young man because from their own mouth he had proved them both to be confessedly false witnesses. And they dealt with them according as the Law prescribes, doing to them just as they maliciously intended against their sister.

So when they had gagged them, they led them out and hurled them into a chasm; then the angel of the Lord cast fire in the midst of them. And thus was innocent blood kept safe on that day.

62b For this cause the young men are beloved of Jacob by reason of their sincerity.62c And as for us, let us watch over young men that they may become men of worth, for so young men will be God-fearing, and there shall be in them a spirit of knowledge and discernment for ever and ever.

¶(60) With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saveth them that hope in him.(61) And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness out of their own mouth:(62) and according 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, and the innocent blood was saved the same day.

(63) Therefore Helkias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

(64) And from that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.