Daniel 13

1 A man named Joakim lived in Babylon. † 2 He married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman who revered the Lord. 3 Her parents were righteous and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Joakim was very wealthy and had a garden adjoining his house. The Jews came to him because he was more honored than anyone else. 5 That year two elders from among the people were appointed as judges. The Master had spoken about them: “Lawlessness came out of Babylon from elders who were judges and appeared to govern the people.” 6 They regularly stayed at Joakim’s house, and everyone with a legal case came to them. 7 When the people left at midday, Susanna would enter her husband’s garden and walk there. 8 The two elders watched her enter and walk there every day, and they began to desire her. 9 They twisted their own minds and turned their eyes away so that they would not look to heaven or remember righteous judgments. 10 Both were smitten with her, but they did not tell each other their anguish, 11 because they were ashamed to admit their desire to lie with her. 12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her. 13 One said to the other, “Let us go home, because it is time for the midday meal.” They went out and separated from each other. 14 But each turned back and they came to the same place. As they questioned one another about the reason, they admitted their desire. Then together they arranged a time when they could find her alone. 15 As they watched for the right opportunity, she entered as before with only two maids and wanted to wash in the garden because it was hot. 16 No one was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17 She told her maids, “Bring me oil and soap, and shut the garden doors so I can bathe.” 18 They did as she asked, shut the garden doors, and went out through side doors to get what she had requested. They did not see the elders because the men were hidden. 19 As soon as the maids had left, the two elders rose and ran to Susanna. 20 “Look, the garden doors are shut and no one can see us. We desire you, so agree to be with us.” 21 “If you refuse, we will testify that a young man was with you and that this is why you sent your maids away.” 22 Susanna groaned and said, “I am trapped on every side. If I do this, it means death for me; if I refuse, I cannot escape your hands.” 23 “It is better for me not to do it and fall into your hands than to sin in the sight of the Lord.” 24 Then Susanna cried out loudly, and the two elders shouted against her. 25 One of them ran and opened the garden doors. 26 When the household servants heard shouting in the garden, they rushed in through the side door to see what had happened to her. 27 When the elders told their story, the slaves were deeply ashamed, because nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.

28 The next day, when the people assembled at the home of her husband Joakim, the two elders also came, full of their wicked plan to have Susanna put to death. 29 They said before the people, “Send for Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, Joakim’s wife.” So they sent for her. 30 So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her relatives. 31 Susanna was very delicate and beautiful in appearance. 32 The lawbreakers ordered her veil removed, since she was covered, so that they could satisfy themselves with her beauty. 33 Her family and everyone who saw her wept. 34 The two elders stood up before the people and placed their hands on her head. 35 Weeping, she looked up toward heaven because her heart trusted in the Lord. 36 The elders said, “While we were walking alone in the garden, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.” 37 “A young man who had been hiding there came to her and lay with her.” 38 “We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this lawlessness, we ran toward them.” 39 “We saw them together, but we could not restrain the man because he was stronger than we were. He opened the doors and leaped out.” 40 “But we seized this woman and asked who the young man was.” 41 “She refused to tell us. We testify to these things.” The assembly believed them because they were elders of the people and judges, and they condemned her to death. 42 Then Susanna cried out loudly: “Eternal God, you know what is hidden and know everything before it happens.” 43 “You know that they have testified falsely against me. Now I am about to die, though I have done none of the things these men maliciously invented against me.” 44 And the Lord heard her voice.

45 As she was being led away to die, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young man named Daniel. 46 Daniel cried out, “I am innocent of this woman’s blood!” 47 All the people turned toward him and asked, “What is this you have said?” 48 Standing in the middle of them, Daniel said, “Are you so foolish, children of Israel? You have condemned a daughter of Israel without examining the case or learning the truth!” 49 “Return to the court, because these men have testified falsely against her.” 50 Everyone hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, “Come, sit among us and explain this, since God has given you the honor of an elder.” 51 Daniel told them, “Separate the two men far from each other, and I will examine them.” 52 After they were separated, Daniel called one of them and said, “You have grown old in wickedness. Now the sins you committed in the past have come to light.” † 53 “You have given unjust judgments, condemned the innocent, and let the guilty go free, though the Lord says, ‘You must not kill the innocent and righteous.’” 54 Daniel said, “Now then, if you saw her, tell me: under what tree did you see them sleeping together?” The first elder answered, “Under a mastic tree.” 55 Daniel said, “Your lie has truly come back on your own head. God’s messenger has already received God’s sentence and will split you in two.” [a] † 56 Daniel put him aside and ordered the other man brought forward. He told him, “Offspring of Canaan and not Judah, beauty deceived you and desire twisted your heart.” 57 “This is how you have treated the daughters of Israel. They slept with you because they were afraid, but this daughter of Judah would not tolerate your lawlessness.” 58 Daniel said, “Now tell me: under what tree did you catch them sleeping together?” The second elder answered, “Under a holm oak.” 59 Daniel told him, “Your lie too has truly come back on your own head. God’s messenger is waiting with the sword to saw you in two and destroy you both.” [c] 60 Then the whole assembly cried out loudly and blessed God, who rescues those who hope in him. 61 They rose against the two elders because Daniel had proved from their own mouths that they had testified falsely. The assembly did to them what they had maliciously intended for their neighbor. 62 In accordance with the law of Moses, they killed them. In this way innocent blood was rescued that day. 63 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, together with her husband Joakim and all their relatives, because no shameful act was found in her. 64 From that day on, Daniel was held in high regard among the people.