which some join to the end of Daniel, and make it the 13 chapter.
2 The two governors are taken with the love of Susanna. 19 They take her alone in the garden. 20 The solicit her to wickedness. 23 She choses rather to obey God, thou it be to the danger of her life. 34 She is accused. 45 Daniel does deliver her. 62 The governors are put to death.
THERE dwelt a man in Babylon called Ioacim,
And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared God.
Her father and her mother also were godly people, and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses.
Now Ioacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house, and to him resorted the Jews, because he was more honorable than all others
The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord speaks of, that the iniquity came from Babylon, and from the ancient judges, which seemed to rule the people.
These haunted Iaocims house, and all such as had any thing to do in the Law, came thither unto them.
Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.
And the two Elders, saw her that she went in daily and walked, so that their lust was inflamed toward her.
Therefore they turned away their mind and cast down their eyes, and they should not see heaven, nor remember just judgments.
And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one show another his grief.
For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.
Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.
And the one said to the other, Let us go now home, for it is dinner time.
So they went their way, and departed, one from another: yet they returned again, and came into 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.
Now when they had spied out a convenient time, that she went in, as her manner was, with two maids only, and thought to wash herself in the garden (for it was an hot season)
And there was no body there, save the two Elders that had hid themselves, and watched for her:
She said to her maids, Bring me oil and soap, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.
And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at a back door, to set the thing that she had commanded them: but they saw not the Elders, because they were hid.
Now when the maids were gone forth, the two Elders rose up and ran unto her, saying,
Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we burn in love with thee: therefore consent unto us, and lay with us.
If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee, and therefore thou did send away thy maids from thee.
Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am in trouble on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not, I can not escape your hands.
It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, then to sin in the sight of the Lord.
With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two Elders cried out against her.
Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.
So when t he servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the back door, to see what was done unto her.
But when the Elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.
On the morrow after, came the people to Ioacim her husband, and the two Elders came also, full of mischievous imagination against Susanna, to put her to death,
And said before the people, Send for Susanna the daughter of Helcias Ioacims wife. And immediately they sent.
So she came with her father and mother, her children and all her kindred.
Now Susanna was very tender, and fair of face.
And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face (for she was covered) that they might so be satisfied with her beauty.
Therefore they that were about her, and all they that knew her, wept.
Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head,
Which wept and looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord
And the Elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, she came in with two maids, whom she sent away from here, and shut the garden doors.
Then a young man, which there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.
Then we which stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them, and we saw them as they were together,
But we could not hold him: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.
Now when we had taken this woman, we asked her what young man this was, but she would not tell us: of these things are we witnesses.
Then the assembly believed them, as those that were the Elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.
Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knows the secrets, and knows all things before they come to pass,
Thou know, that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, where as I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.
And the Lord heard her voice.
Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young child, whose name was Daniel.
Who cried with a loud voice, I am clean from the blood of this woman.
Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words, that thou hast spoken?
Then Daniel stood in the midst of them, and said, Are ye such fools, o Israelites, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?
Return again to judgment: for they have born false witness against her.
Wherefore the people turned again in all haste, and the Elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and show it us, seeing God hath given thee the office of an Elder.
Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside, one far from another, and I will examine them.
So when they were put asunder, one from another, he called one of them and said unto him, O thou that art old in a wicked life, now thy sins which thou hast committed before time, are come to light.
For thou hast pronounced false judgments, and hast condemned the innocent, and hast let the guilty go free, albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.
Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, under what tree saw thou them accompanying together? Who answered, Under a lentiske [Mastic]* tree.
Then said Daniel, Verily thou hast laid against thine own head: for lo, the Angel of God hath received sentence of God, to cut thee in two.
So put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath subverted thine heart.
Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.
Now therefore tell me under what tree did thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under a prime tree [fancy trimmed tree]*.
Then said Daniel unto him, Verily thou hast also lied against thine head: for the Angel of God waits with the sword to cut thee in two, and so to destroy you both.
With that all the whole assembly cried with a loud voice, and praised God, which saves them that trust in him.
And they arose against the two Elders, (for Daniel had convict them of false witness by their own mouth)
And according to the Law of Moses they dealt with them, as they dealt wickedly against their neighbor, and put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.
Therefore Helcias, and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Iocim her husband, and all the kindred, that there was no dishonesty found in her.
From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.
And King Astyages was laid with his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia reigned in his stead.
*WP4Y
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