The Koine Bible

And there was a man dwelling in Babylon, and his name was Joakim

And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, very beautiful and fearing the Lord.

And her parents were righteous, and they taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

And Joakim was very rich, and he had a garden adjoining his house, and the Jews were brought to him because he was more distinguished than all others.

And two elders from the people were appointed as judges in that year, concerning whom the Master spoke, that lawlessness came out from Babylon, from elders, judges who seemed to govern the people.

These were persisting in the house of Joachim, and all those being judged used to come to them.

And it happened, when the people were running away at midday, Susanna would go in and walk in the garden of her husband

And the two elders kept watching her every day, going in and walking about, and they became inflamed with desire for her.

And they twisted their own mind and turned aside their eyes so as not to look toward heaven nor to remember righteous judgments

And both of them were pierced with longing for her, and they did not tell one another their anguish.

because they were ashamed to disclose their desire, because they wanted to have relations with her

And they watched eagerly every day to see her

And they said one to the other, Let us go indeed into the house, for it is the time of the meal; and having gone out, they separated from one another.

And having turned back they came together, and examining one another the cause, they confessed their desire, and then together they agreed on a time when they would be able to find her alone

And it happened, while they were watching her day after day, that one day, as on the day before yesterday and the third day, she went in, with only two maidens, and desired to bathe in the garden, because it was hot.

And there was no one there except the two elders, hidden and watching her.

And she said to the maids, Bring me now oil and soap, and shut the doors of the garden, that I may wash myself.

And they did as he said, and shut the doors of the garden, and went out by the side doors to bring what had been commanded them, and they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

And it happened, as the maidens had gone out, the two elders rose up and rushed upon her

And they said, Behold, the doors of the garden are shut and no one sees us, and we are in desire of you; therefore consent to us and be with us.

But if not, we will bear false witness against you that there was a young man with you, and for this reason you sent the girls away from you.

And Susanna groaned and said, I am hard pressed on every side; for if I do this, it is death for me; and if I do not do it, I shall not escape your hands.

It is better for me, not having done it, to fall into your hands than to sin before the Lord.

And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders also cried out against her

And one ran and opened the doors of the garden.

And when those from the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in through the side door to see what had happened to her

And when the elders had spoken their words, the servants were greatly put to shame, because such a word had never before been spoken concerning Susanna.

And it happened on the next day, when the people came together to her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of lawless intent against Susanna, to put her to death.

And they said before the people, Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, who is wife of Joachim; and they sent.

And she came, and her parents, and her children, and all her relatives.

Now Susanna was very delicate and beautiful in appearance.

But the lawless men ordered her to be uncovered, for she was veiled, so that they might be filled with desire for her beauty

And those beside her were weeping, and all who saw her.

And the two elders, standing up in the midst of the people, laid their hands on her head

And she, weeping, looked up to heaven, because her heart had trusted in the Lord.

And the elders said: As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two maidservants, and she shut the doors of the garden and sent away the maidservants

And a young man came to her, who was hidden, and lay down with her

But we, being in the corner of the orchard, having seen the lawlessness, ran upon them

And when they saw them being together, we were not able to restrain him, because he was stronger than us, and having opened the doors, he had leaped out.

But having seized this one, we were asking who the young man was

and she did not wish to report these things to us, we bear witness, and the assembly believed them as to elders of the people and judges, and they condemned her to die

And Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, O eternal God, the knower of hidden things, the one who knows all things before their coming into being

You know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I am dying, though I did nothing of the things these men devised against me.

And the Lord heard her voice

And as she was being led away to be destroyed, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy, younger, whose name was Daniel.

And he cried out with a loud voice, I am clean from the blood of this woman.

And all the people turned back to him and said, What is this word that you have spoken?

And he, standing in the midst of them, said: So foolish, sons of Israel, not having examined, nor having known the clear, have you condemned a daughter of Israel.

Return to the judgment place, for these men have borne false witness against her.

And all the people returned in haste, and the elders said to him, Come, sit in our midst and tell us, because God has given you the eldership.

And Daniel said to them, Separate them from each other far apart, and I will examine them.

And when they had been separated one from the other, he called one of them and said to him: Old man of evil days, now your sins have come, which you were doing formerly.

you who judge unjust judgments and condemn the innocent, but release the guilty, while the Lord says: You shall not put to death the innocent and the righteous

Now therefore, this woman, if you saw her, tell under what tree you saw them speaking with one another. And he said, Under a mastic tree.

And Daniel said, You lied rightly against your own head; for already an angel of God, having received a sentence from God, will split you in the middle.

And after having removed him, he ordered the other to be brought near and said to him, Seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and desire has perverted your heart.

Thus you were doing to the daughters of Israel, and they, being afraid, associated with you; but no daughter of Judah endured your lawlessness.

Now therefore tell me, under what tree did you catch them speaking with one another? And he said, Under a mastick tree.

And Daniel said to him, You have lied also rightly; and it remains upon your own head, for the angel of God, having the sword, is waiting to cut you in two, so that he may destroy you.

And all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, the one saving those who hope in him.

And they rose up against the two elders, because Daniel had convicted them of having borne false witness out of their own mouth, and they did to them as they had wickedly done against their neighbor.

to do according to the law of Moses, and they killed them, and innocent blood was saved on that day

And Chelkias and his wife praised God concerning their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband and all their relatives, because no shameful thing was found in her

And Daniel became great before the people from that day and beyond.