Susanna 1

¹Babil'de yaşayan Yoakim adında bir adam vardı.

²Yoakim, Hilkiya'nın kızı olan, son derece güzel ve Rab'den korkan Süzanna adında bir kadınla evlendi.

³Süzanna'nın anne babası doğru kişilerdi ve kızlarını Musa'nın Yasası uyarınca eğitmişlerdi.

⁴Yoakim son derece zengindi ve evinin bitişiğinde büyük bir bahçesi vardı. Yoakim herkesten daha saygın olduğu için Yahudiler onun evinde toplanırlardı.

⁵O yıl halk arasından iki ihtiyar yargıç olarak atandı. Egemen Rab onlar hakkında şöyle demişti: "Halkı yönettikleri sanılan ihtiyar yargıçlar aracılığıyla Babil'den yasa tanımazlık çıktı."

⁶Bunlar sürekli Yoakim'in evinde bulunurlardı ve davası olan herkes onlara gelirdi.

⁷Gün ortasında halk dağılınca, Süzanna kocasının bahçesine girip yürüyüş yapardı.

⁸İki ihtiyar onun her gün bahçeye girip yürüdüğünü görürlerdi ve ona karşı şehvete kapıldılar.

⁹Kendi zihinlerini saptırdılar, göğe bakmamak ve adil yargıları anımsamamak için gözlerini başka yöne çevirdiler.

¹⁰İkisi de onun yüzünden derinden sarsılmıştı, ama birbirlerine çektikleri acıyı açıklayamıyorlardı.

¹¹Çünkü onunla cinsel ilişkide bulunma arzularını açıklamaktan utanıyorlardı.

¹²Yine de onu görmek için her gün hırsla gözetliyorlardı.

¹³Bir gün birbirlerine, "Hadi eve gidelim, çünkü öğle yemeği vakti geldi" dediler ve çıkıp birbirlerinden ayrıldılar.

¹⁴Ama geri dönüp aynı yerde buluştular. Birbirlerini sorgulayıp nedenini araştırınca şehvetlerini itiraf ettiler. Bunun üzerine, onu yalnız bulabilecekleri uygun bir zamanı birlikte kararlaştırdılar.

¹⁵Onlar uygun bir gün gözetlerken, Süzanna önceki günler gibi sadece iki genç hizmetçi kızla içeri girdi. Hava sıcak olduğu için bahçede yıkanmak istedi.

¹⁶Gizlenmiş ve onu gözetlemekte olan iki ihtiyardan başka orada kimse yoktu.

¹⁷Süzanna hizmetçi kızlara, "Bana zeytinyağıyla temizlik merhemleri getirin ve yıkanabilmem için bahçenin kapılarını kapayın" dedi.

¹⁸Kızlar onun dediğini yaptılar; bahçenin kapılarını kapayıp kendilerine buyrulanları getirmek için yan kapılardan dışarı çıktılar. İhtiyarlar gizlendiği için onları görmediler.

¹⁹Hizmetçi kızlar çıkar çıkmaz, iki ihtiyar ayağa kalkıp Süzanna'ya doğru koştular.

²⁰"Bak, bahçenin kapıları kapalı, bizi kimse görmüyor" dediler, "Seni arzuluyoruz; bize razı ol ve bizimle yat.

²¹Yoksa seninle birlikte bir gencin olduğunu ve bu yüzden hizmetçi kızları yanından uzaklaştırdığını söyleyerek aleyhinde tanıklık ederiz."

²²Süzanna içini çekerek şöyle dedi: "Her yönden sıkışıp kaldım. Bunu yaparsam benim için ölümdür; yapmazsam da elinizden kurtulamam.

²³Bunu yapmayıp elinize düşmek, Rab'bin önünde günah işlemekten benim için daha iyidir."

²⁴Süzanna yüksek sesle bağırdı; iki ihtiyar da onun karşısında bağırmaya başladılar.

²⁵Onlardan biri koşup bahçenin kapılarını açtı.

²⁶Evdekiler bahçedeki çığlığı işitince, ona ne olduğunu görmek için yan kapıdan içeri daldılar.

²⁷İhtiyarlar kendi iddialarını anlatınca, hizmetkarlar çok utandılar; çünkü Süzanna hakkında hiçbir zaman böyle bir şey söylenmemişti.

²⁸Ertesi gün halk, Süzanna'nın kocası Yoakim'in evinde toplandığında, iki ihtiyar da Süzanna'yı ölüme mahkum ettirmek için kötü niyetlerle dolu olarak geldiler ve halkın önünde şöyle dediler:

²⁹"Yoakim'in karısı, Hilkiya'nın kızı Süzanna'yı çağırtın." Onlar da çağırttılar.

³⁰Süzanna; anne babası, çocukleri ve bütün akrabalarıyla birlikte geldi.

³¹Süzanna çok narin ve görünüşü çok güzel bir kadındı.

³²O yasa tanımaz adamlar, onun güzelliğine doyasıya bakabilmek için örtülü olan yüzünün açılmasını buyurdular.

³³Yanındakiler ve onu görenlerin hepsi ağlıyordu.

³⁴İki ihtiyar halkın ortasında ayağa kalkıp ellerini Süzanna'nın başına koydular.

³⁵Süzanna ise ağlayarak gözlerini göğe dikti; çünkü yüreği Rab'be güveniyordu.

³⁶İhtiyarlar şöyle dediler: "Biz bahçede yalnız başımıza yürürken, bu kadın iki hizmetçi kızla içeri girdi, bahçenin kapılarını kapayıp kızları gönderdi.

³⁷O sırada gizlenmiş olan bir genç onun yanına geldi ve onunla yattı.

³⁸Biz bahçenin bir köşesindeydik, bu yasa tanımazlığı görünce onlara doğru koştuk.

³⁹Onları birlikte yakaladık, ama genci tutamadık; çünkü bizden güçlüydü, kapıyı açıp dışarı fırladı.

⁴⁰Ama bu kadını yakalayıp o gencin kim olduğunu sorduk, bize söylemek istemedi. Bunlara tanığız."

⁴¹Kurul, halkın ihtiyarları ve yargıçları oldukları için onlara inandı ve Süzanna'yı ölüme mahkum etti.

⁴²Süzanna yüksek sesle bağırarak şöyle dedi: "Ey gizli olan her şeyi bilen, her şeyi daha var olmadan önce gören sonsuz Tanrı!

⁴³Benim hakkımda yalan tanıklık ettiklerini sen biliyorsun. İşte, bu adamların bana karşı uydurduğu kötü şeylerin hiçbirini yapmadığım halde ölüyorum."

⁴⁴Rab onun sesini işitti.

⁴⁵Süzanna ölüme götürülürken, Tanrı, Daniel adında genç bir delikanlının kutsal ruhunu harekete geçirdi.

⁴⁶Daniel yüksek sesle, "Ben bu kadının kanından suçsuzum!" diye bağırdı.

⁴⁷Bütün halk ona dönüp, "Bu söylediğin söz ne anlama geliyor?" diye sordu.

⁴⁸Daniel onların ortasında durup şöyle dedi: "Ey İsrailoğulları, bu kadar akılsız mısınız? Bir İsrail kızını sorgulamadan ve gerçeği tam olarak öğrenmeden mi mahkum ettiniz?

⁴⁹Mahkeme yerine geri dönün; çünkü bunlar onun hakkında yalan tanıklık ettiler."

⁵⁰Bunun üzerine bütün halk aceleyle geri döndü. İhtiyarlar Daniel'e, "Gel, aramıza otur ve bize açıkla; çünkü Tanrı sana ihtiyarlık onurunu verdi" dediler.

⁵¹Daniel onlara, "Bu iki adamı birbirlerinden uzaklaştırın, onları sorgulayacağım" dedi.

⁵²Birbirlerinden ayrıldıklarında, Daniel onlardan birini çağırıp ona şöyle dedi: "Ey kötülük içinde yaşlanmış adam! Geçmişte işlediğin günahlar şimdi ortaya çıktı.

⁵³Suçsuzları mahkum edip suçluları salıvererek adaletsiz kararlar veriyordun; oysa Rab, 'Suçsuz ve doğru kişiyi öldürmeyeceksin' demiştir.

⁵⁴Şimdi madem onu gördün, söyle bakalım: Onları hangi ağacın altında birlikte konuşurken gördün?" Adam, "Bir sakız ağacının altında" dedi.

⁵⁵Daniel, "Kendi başının üzerine çok doğru yalan söyledin!" dedi, "Çünkü Tanrı'nın meleği, Tanrı'dan aldığı buyrukla seni ortadan ikiye biçecektir."

⁵⁶Onu uzaklaştırıp diğerinin getirilmesini buyurdu ve ona şöyle dedi: "Ey Kenan soyu, Yahuda soyu değil! Güzellik seni aldattı ve şehvet yüreğini saptırdı.

⁵⁷İsrail kızlarına böyle davranıyordunuz ve onlar da korkudan sizinle birlikte oluyorlardı; ama bir Yahuda kızı sizin bu yasa tanımazlığınıza boyun eğmedi.

⁵⁸Şimdi bana söyle: Onları hangi ağacın altında birlikte konuşurken yakaladın?" Adam, "Bir meşe ağacının altında" dedi.

⁵⁹Daniel ona, "Sen de kendi başının üzerine çok doğru yalan söyledin!" dedi, "Çünkü Tanrı'nın meleği, sizi yok etmek için seni ortadan ikiye kesmek üzere elinde kılıçla bekliyor."

⁶⁰Bunun üzerine bütün kurul yüksek sesle bağırdı ve kendilerine umut bağlayanları kurtaran Tanrı'ya övgüler sundular.

⁶¹İki ihtiyara karşı ayaklandılar; çünkü Daniel kendi ağızlarından çıkan sözlerle onların yalan tanıklık ettiğini kanıtlamıştı.

⁶²Musa'nın Yasası uyarınca, komşularına yapmak istedikleri kötülüğü onlara uyguladılar ve onları öldürdüler. Böylece o gün suçsuz bir kan kurtulmuş oldu.

⁶³Hilkiya ile karısı, kızları Süzanna için kocası Yoakim ve bütün akrabalarıyla birlikte Tanrı'ya şükrettiler; çünkü onda hiçbir iffetsizlik bulunmamıştı.

⁶⁴Daniel ise o günden sonra halkın gözünde büyük bir saygınlık kazandı.

¹ΚΑΙ ἦν ἀνὴρ οἰκῶν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωακείμ.

²καὶ ἔλαβε γυναῖκα, ᾗ ὄνομα Σωσάννα, θυγάτηρ Χελκίου, καλὴ σφόδρα καὶ φοβουμένη τὸν Κύριον·

³καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς δίκαιοι καὶ ἐδίδαξαν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ.

⁴καὶ ἦν ᾿Ιωακεὶμ πλούσιος σφόδρα, καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ παράδεισος γειτνιῶν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν προσήγοντο οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐνδοξότερον πάντων.

⁵καὶ ἀπεδείχθησαν δύο πρεσβύτεροι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ κριταὶ ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ, περὶ ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ δεσπότης, ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἀνομία ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ἐκ πρεσβυτέρων κριτῶν, οἳ ἐδόκουν κυβερνᾶν τὸν λαόν.

⁶οὗτοι προσεκαρτέρουν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ᾿Ιωκείμ, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάντες οἱ κρινόμενοι.

⁷καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἀπέτρεχεν ὁ λαὸς μέσον ἡμέρας, εἰσεπορεύετο Σωσάννα καὶ περιεπάτει ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς.

⁸καὶ ἐθεώρουν αὐτὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι καθ᾿ ἡμέραν εἰσπορευομένην καὶ περιπατοῦσαν καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτῆς.

⁹καὶ διέστρεψαν τὸν ἑαυτῶν νοῦν καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων.

¹⁰καὶ ἦσαν ἀμφότεροι κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἀνήγγειλαν ἀλλήλοις τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτῶν,

¹¹ὅτι ᾐσχύνοντο ἀναγγεῖλαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἤθελον συγγενέσθαι αὐτῇ.

¹²καὶ παρετηροῦσαν φιλοτίμως καθ’ ἡμέραν ὁρᾶν αὐτήν.

¹³καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ· πορευθῶμεν δὴ εἰς οἶκον, ὅτι ἀρίστου ὥρα ἐστί. καὶ ἐξελθόντες διεχωρίσθησαν ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων,

¹⁴καὶ ἀνακάμψαντες ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἀνετάζοντες ἀλλήλους τὴν αἰτίαν, ὡμολόγησαν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν· καὶ τότε κοινῇ συνετάξαντο καιρὸν ὅτε αὐτὴν δυνήσονται εὑρεῖν μόνην.

¹⁵καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ παρατηρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἡμέραν εὔθετον εἰσῆλθέ ποτε καθὼς ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας μετὰ δύο μόνων κορασίων καὶ ἐπεθύμησε λούσασθαι ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, ὅτι καῦμα ἦν.

¹⁶καὶ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς ἐκεῖ πλὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι κεκρυμμένοι καὶ παρατηροῦντες αὐτήν.

¹⁷καὶ εἶπε τοῖς κορασίοις· ἐνέγκατε δή μοι ἔλαιον καὶ σμήγματα καὶ τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου κλείσατε, ὅπως λούσωμαι.

¹⁸καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς εἶπε καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἐξῆλθαν κατὰ τὰς πλαγίας θύρας ἐνέγκαι τὰ προστεταγμένα αὐταῖς καὶ οὐκ εἴδοσαν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, ὅτι ἦσαν κεκρυμμένοι.

¹⁹καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξήλθοσαν τὰ κοράσια, καὶ ἀνέστησαν οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται καὶ ἐπέδραμον αὐτῇ

²⁰καὶ εἶπον· ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ παραδείσου κέκλεινται, καὶ οὐδεὶς θεωρεῖ ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ σού ἐσμεν· διὸ συγκατάθου ἡμῖν καὶ γενοῦ μεθ’ ἡμῶν·

²¹εἰ δὲ μή, καταμαρτυρήσομέν σου ὅτι ἦν μετὰ σοῦ νεανίσκος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐξαπέστειλας τὰ κοράσια ἀπὸ σοῦ.

²²καὶ ἀνεστέναξε Σωσάννα καὶ εἶπε· στενά μοι πάντοθεν· ἐάν τε γὰρ τοῦτο πράξω, θάνατός μοί ἐστιν, ἐάν τε μὴ πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν.

²³αἱρετώτερόν μοί ἐστι μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου.

²⁴καὶ ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σωσάννα, ἐβόησαν δὲ καὶ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται κατέναντι αὐτῆς.

²⁵καὶ δραμὼν ὁ εἷς ἤνοιξε τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου.

²⁶ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν τὴν κραυγὴν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ οἱ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας, εἰσεπήδησαν διὰ τῆς πλαγίας θύρας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβεβηκὸς αὐτῇ.

²⁷ἡνίκα δὲ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβῦται τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν, κατῃσχύνθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι σφόδρα, ὅτι πώποτε οὐκ ἐρρήθη λόγος τοιοῦτος περὶ Σωσάννης.

²⁸Καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον ὡς συνῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς ᾿Ιωακείμ, ἦλθον οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται πλήρεις τῆς ἀνόμου ἐννοίας κατὰ Σωσάννης τοῦ θανατῶσαι αὐτὴν καὶ εἶπαν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ λαοῦ·

²⁹ἀποστείλατε ἐπὶ Σωσάνναν θυγατέρα Χελκίου, ἥ ἐστι γυνὴ ᾿Ιωακείμ· οἱ δὲ ἀπέστειλαν.

³⁰καὶ ἦλθεν αὐτὴ καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς·

³¹ἡ δὲ Σωσάννα ἦν τρυφερὰ σφόδρα καὶ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει.

³²οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἐκέλευσαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτήν, ἦν γὰρ κατακεκαλυμμένη, ὅπως ἐμπλησθῶσι τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς·

³³ἔκλαιον δὲ οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ ἰδόντες αὐτήν.

³⁴ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται ἐν μέσῳ τῷ λαῷ ἔθηκαν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς·

³⁵ἡ δὲ κλαίουσα ἀνέβλεψεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ὅτι ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς πεποιθυῖα ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ.

³⁶εἶπον δὲ οἱ πρεσβῦται· περιπατούντων ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ μόνων, εἰσῆλθεν αὕτη μετὰ δύο παιδισκῶν καὶ ἀπέκλεισε τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἀπέλυσε τὰς παιδίσκας·

³⁷καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτὴν νεανίσκος, ὃς ἦν κεκρυμμένος, καὶ ἀνέπεσε μετ’ αὐτῆς.

³⁸ἡμεῖς δὲ ὄντες ἐν τῇ γωνίᾳ τοῦ παραδείσου, ἰδόντες τὴν ἀνομίαν ἐδράμομεν ἐπ’ αὐτούς· καὶ ἰδόντες συγγινομένους αὐτούς,

³⁹ἐκείνου μὲν οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐγκρατεῖς γενέσθαι διὰ τὸ ἰσχύειν αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀνοίξαντα τὰς θύρας ἐκπεπηδηκέναι,

⁴⁰ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι ἐπηρωτῶμεν τίς ἦν ὁ νεανίσκος,

⁴¹καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ἀγγεῖλαι ἡμῖν. ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ ὡς πρεσβυτέροις τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ κριταῖς καὶ κατέκριναν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν.

⁴²ἀνεβόησε δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σωσάννα καὶ εἶπεν· ὁ Θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης, ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν,

⁴³σὺ ἐπίστασαι ὅτι ψευδῆ μου κατεμαρτύρησαν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποθνήσκω μὴ ποιήσασα μηδὲν ὧν οὗτοι ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατ’ ἐμοῦ.

⁴⁴Καὶ εἰσήκουσε Κύριος τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς.

⁴⁵καὶ ἀπαγομένης αὐτῆς ἀπολέσθαι, ὁ Θεὸς ἐξήγειρε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον παιδαρίου νεωτέρου, ᾧ ὄνομα Δανιήλ,

⁴⁶καὶ ἐβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· ἀθῷος ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος ταύτης.

⁴⁷ἐπέστρεψε δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπαν· τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος, ὃν σὺ λελάληκας;

⁴⁸ὁ δὲ στὰς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν· οὕτως μωροὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ; οὐκ ἀνακρίναντες οὐδὲ τὸ σαφὲς ἐπιγνόντες κατεκρίνατε θυγατέρα ᾿Ισραήλ;

⁴⁹ἀναστρέψατε εἰς τὸ κριτήριον· ψευδῆ γὰρ οὗτοι κατεμαρτύρησαν αὐτῆς.

⁵⁰καὶ ἀνέστρεψε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετὰ σπουδῆς. καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι· δεῦρο κάθισον ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀνάγγειλον ἡμῖν, ὅτι σοὶ δέδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ πρεσβεῖον.

⁵¹καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Δανιήλ· διαχωρίσατε αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων μακράν, καὶ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτούς.

⁵²ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν εἷς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑνός, ἐκάλεσε τὸν ἕνα αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν, νῦν ἥκασιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον

⁵³κρίνων κρίσεις ἀδίκους καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀθῴους κατακρίνων, ἀπολύων δὲ τοὺς αἰτίους, λέγοντος τοῦ Κυρίου· ἀθῷον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς·

⁵⁴νῦν οὖν ταύτην εἴπερ εἶδες, εἰπόν· ὑπὸ τί δένδρον εἶδες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὑπὸ σχῖνον.

⁵⁵εἶπε δὲ Δανιήλ· ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· ἤδη γὰρ ἄγγελος Θεοῦ λαβὼν φάσιν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ σχίσει σε μέσον.

⁵⁶καὶ μεταστήσας αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσε προσαγαγεῖν τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σπέρμα Χαναὰν καὶ οὐκ ᾿Ιούδα, τὸ κάλλος ἐξηπάτησέ σε, καὶ ἐπιθυμία διέστρεψε τὴν καρδίαν σου·

⁵⁷οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὡμίλουν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐ θυγάτηρ ᾿Ιούδα ὑπέμεινε τὴν ἀνομίαν ὑμῶν.

⁵⁸νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι· ὑπὸ τί δένδρον κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὑπὸ πρῖνον.

⁵⁹εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ Δανιήλ· ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι καὶ σὺ εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· μένει γὰρ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἔχων πρίσαι σε μέσον, ὅπως ἐξολοθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς.

⁶⁰καὶ ἀνεβόησε πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εὐλόγησαν τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σώζοντι τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ’ αὐτόν.

⁶¹καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο πρεσβύτας, ὅτι συνέστησεν αὐτοὺς Δανιὴλ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτῶν ψευδομαρτυρήσαντας, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσαντο τῷ πλησίον,

⁶²ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

⁶³Χελκίας δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ᾔνεσαν τὸν Θεὸν περὶ τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῶν μετὰ ᾿Ιωακεὶμ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ τῶν συγγενῶν πάντων, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα.

⁶⁴καὶ Δανιὴλ ἐγένετο μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ λαοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπέκεινα.

¹13:1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:

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

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

⁴Now Joacim 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.

⁵The same year 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 seemed to govern the people.

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

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

⁸And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

⁹And they 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 wounded 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: for 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 fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: 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 garden doors, that I may wash me.

¹⁸And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden 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 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.

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 the privy 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, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

²⁹And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim’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 delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

³²And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.

³³Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

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

³⁵And she weeping looked up toward 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 the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

⁴²Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest 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 when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:

⁴⁶Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

⁴⁷Then all the people turned them toward 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 a 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 the elders said unto him, Come, sit 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, The 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 cut thee in two.

⁵⁶So he 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 perverted thine heart.

⁵⁷Thus 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.

⁵⁸Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an 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 cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

⁶⁰With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.

⁶¹And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:

⁶²And 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. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

⁶³Therefore Chelcias 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.