Open English Translation G DAN Chapter 13

13 A[fn] man lived in Bavel (Babylon), and his name was Yehoyakim. 2 He took a wife, whose name was Shoshanah (Susanna), the daughter of Hilkiyah, a very fair woman, and one who feared the master. 3 Her parents were also righteous, and taught their daughter according to Mosheh’s (Moses’) law. 4 Now Yehoyakim was a great rich man, and had a beautiful garden next to his house. The Yehudim (Jews) used to come to him, because he was more honourable than all others. 5 The same year, two of the people’s elders were appointed to be judges, such as the master spoke of, that wickedness came from Bavel from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people. 6 These were often at Yehoyakim’s house. All that had any lawsuits came to them.

7 When the people departed away at noon, Shoshanah went into her husband’s garden to walk. 8 The two elders saw her going in every day and walking; and they were inflamed with lust for her. 9 They perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven, nor remember just judgements. 10 And although they both were wounded with lust for her, yet dared not show the other his grief. 11 Because they were ashamed to declare their lust, what they desired to do with her. 12 Yet they watched eagerly from day to day to see her. 13 The one said to the other, “Let’s go home, now; for it’s dinner time.” 14 So when they’d gone out, they parted company, and turning back again, they came to the same place. After they’d asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust. Then they appointed a time both together, when they might find her alone.

15 It happened, as they watched on an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and she desired to wash herself in the garden; for it was hot. 16 There was nobody there except the two elders who had hid themselves and watched her. 17 Then she said to her maids, “Bring me olive oil and ointment, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash myself.” 18 They did as she asked them and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she’d commanded them. They didn’t see the elders, because they were hidden.

19 Now when the maids had gone out, the two elders rose up and ran to her, saying, 20 “Listen, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we’re in love with you. Therefore consent to us, and lie with us. 21 If you won’t, we’ll testify against you, that a young man was with you; therefore you sent your maids away from you.”

22 Then Shoshanah (Susanna) sighed, and said, “I’m trapped; for if I do this thing, it’s death to me. If I don’t do it, I can’t escape your hands. 23 It’s better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the master.” 24 With that Shoshanah cried with a loud voice; and the two elders cried out against her. 25 Then one of them ran 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 happened to her. 27 But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed; for there was never such a report made of Shoshanah.

28 The next day, when the people assembled to her husband Yehoyakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Shoshanah to put her to death, 29 and said before the people, “Send for Shoshanah, the daughter of Hilkiyah, Yehoyakim’s wife.” So they sent; 30 and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. 31 Now Shoshanah was a very delicate woman, and beautiful to look at. 32 These wicked men commanded her to be unveiled, for she was veiled, that they might be filled with her beauty. 33 Therefore her friends and all who saw her wept. 34 Then the two elders stood up in the middle of the people and laid their hands on her head. 35 She, weeping, looked up towards heaven; for her heart trusted in the master.

36 The elders said, “As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. 37 Then a young man who was hidden there came to her and lay with her. 38 And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness and ran to them. 39 And when we saw them together, we couldn’t hold the man; for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leapt out. 40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she wouldn’t tell us. We testify these things.

41 Then the assembly believed them, as those who were elders of the people and judges; so they condemned her to death.

42 Then Shoshanah (Susanna) cried out with a loud voice, and said, “Oh eternal God, you know the secrets, and know all things before they happen. 43 You know that they’ve testified falsely against me. Listen, I must die, even though I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.”

44 The master 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 Daniyel. 46 He cried with a loud voice, “I’m clear from the blood of this woman!”

47 Then all the people turned them towards him, and said, “What do these words that you’ve spoken mean?”

48 So he, standing in the middle of them, said, “Are you all such fools, you Israeli men, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you’ve condemned a daughter of Yisrael (Israel)? 49 Return again to the place of judgement; for these have testified falsely against her.”

50 Therefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, “Come, sit down among us, and show it to us, seeing God has given you the honour of an elder.”

51 Then Daniyel said to them, “Put them far apart from each another, and I’ll examine them.” 52 So when they were put apart one from another, he called one of them, and said to him, “Oh you who’ve become old in wickedness, now your sins have returned which you’ve committed before, 53 in pronouncing unjust judgement, condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; although the master says, ‘You mustn’t kill the innocent and righteous.’ 54 Now then, if you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them companying together?”

He answered, “Under a mastick tree.”

55 And Daniyel said, “You’ve certainly lied against your own head; for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God and will cut you in two.” 56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said to him, “Oh you seed of Kena’an (Canaan), and not of Yehudah (Judah), beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart. 57 Thus you have dealt with the daughters of Yisrael (Israel), and they for fear were intimate with you; but the daughter of Yehudah wouldn’t tolerate your wickedness. 58 Now therefore tell me, under which tree did you take them being intimate together?”

He answered, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”

59 Then Daniyel said to him, “You’ve also certainly lied against your own head; for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you.”

60 With that, all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. 61 Then they arose against the two elders, for Daniyel had convicted them of false testimony out of their own mouth. 62 According to Mosheh’s (Moses’) law they did to them what they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour. They put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day. 63 Therefore Hilkiyah and his wife praised God for their daughter Shoshanah (Susanna), with Yehoyakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. 64 And from that day forth, Daniyel had a great reputation in the sight of the people.