Bible, Revised Standard Version

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Susanna

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Sus.1

[2] And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very
beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.
[3] Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to
the law of Moses.
[4] Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house;
and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored of them
all.
[5]

In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges.
Concerning them the Lord had said: "Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from
elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people."

[6] These men were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had suits at
law came to them.
[7]

When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's
garden to walk.

[8] The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about,
and they began to desire her.
[9] And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking
to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments.
[10] Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each
other of their distress,
[11] for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her.

[12] And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.
[13]

They said to each other, "Let us go home, for it is mealtime."

[14] And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back,
they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they
confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they
could find her alone.
[15]

Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before
with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very
hot.

[16] And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and
were watching her.
[17] She said to her maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the
garden doors so that I may bathe."
[18] They did as she said, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side
doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the
elders, because they were hidden.
[19]

When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said:

[20] "Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love
with you; so give your consent, and lie with us.
[21] If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with
you, and this was why you sent your maids away."
[22]

Susanna sighed deeply, and said, "I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do
this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your
hands.

[23] I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin
in the sight of the Lord."
[24]

Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted
against her.

[25] And one of them ran and opened the garden doors.
[26] When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they
rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her.
[27] And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly
ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.
[28]

The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim,
the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to
death.

[29] They said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of
Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim."
[30] So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children,
and all her kindred.
[31]

Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance.

[32] As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that
they might feed upon her beauty.
[33] But her family and friends and all who saw her wept.
[34]

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

[35] And she, weeping, looked up toward heaven, for her heart trusted in
the Lord.
[36] The elders said, "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman
came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids.
[37] Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her.
[38] We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we
ran to them.
[39] We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too
strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out.
[40] So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she
would not tell us. These things we testify."
[41]

The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and
judges; and they condemned her to death.

[42]

Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, "O eternal God, who
dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come
to be,

[43] thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And
now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly
invented against me!"
[44]

The Lord heard her cry.

[45] And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy
spirit of a young lad named Daniel;
[46] and he cried with a loud voice, "I am innocent of the blood of this
woman."
[47]

All the people turned to him, and said, "What is this that you have said?"

[48] Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, "Are you such fools,
you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without
examination and without learning the facts?
[49] Return to the place of judgment. For these men have borne false
witness against her."
[50]

Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, "Come,
sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right."

[51] And Daniel said to them, "Separate them far from each other, and I
will examine them."
[52]

When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said
to him, "You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which
you have committed in the past,

[53] pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and letting the
guilty go free, though the Lord said, `Do not put to death an innocent and
righteous person.'
[54] Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you
see them being intimate with each other?" He answered, "Under a mastic
tree."
[55] And Daniel said, "Very well! You have lied against your own head, for
the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately
cut you in two."
[56]

Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he said
to him, "You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you
and lust has perverted your heart.

[57] This is how you both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel,
and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would
not endure your wickedness.
[58] Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate
with each other?" He answered, "Under an evergreen oak."
[59] And Daniel said to him, "Very well! You also have lied against your
own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw you in two,
that he may destroy you both."
[60]

Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who
hope in him.

[61] And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths
Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness;
[62] and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their
neighbor; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to
death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.
[63]

And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did
Joakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found
in her.

[64] And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the
people.
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