\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Susanna}

{\MT THE HISTORY OF SUSANNA,

\par }{\IMI set apart from the beginning of
{\IT{Daniel}}, because it is not in Hebrew, as neither the narration of
{\IT{Bel and the Dragon}}.



\par }\OneChap {\MM \VerseOne{1}{\SC{There}} dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:

\VS{2}and he took a wife, whose name
{\ADD{was}} Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair
{\ADD{woman}}, and one that feared the Lord.

\VS{3}Her parents also
{\ADD{were}} righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

\VS{4}Now Joacim was a great rich
{\ADD{man}}, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all
{\ADD{others}}.

\VS{5}The same year were appointed two
{\ADD{of the}} ancients of the people
{\ADD{to be}} judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

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

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

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

\VS{9}And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that
{\ADD{they}} might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

\VS{10}And albeit they both were wounded with her
{\ADD{love}}, yet
{\ADD{durst}} not one shew another his grief.

\VS{11}For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

\VS{12}Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

\VS{13}And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

\VS{14}So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back
{\ADD{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.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}And 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.

\VS{16}And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

\VS{17}Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

\VS{18}And they did as she bade
{\ADD{them}}, and shut the garden doors, and went out
{\ADD{themselves}} at privy doors to fetch the
{\ADD{things}} that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

\VS{19}Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

\VS{20}Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no
{\ADD{man can}} see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.

\VS{21}If
{\ADD{thou wilt}} not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away
{\ADD{thy}} maids from thee.

\VS{22}Then Susanna sighed, and said, I
{\ADD{am}} straited on every side: for if I do this
{\ADD{thing}}, it is death unto me: and if I do
{\ADD{it}} not, I cannot escape your hands.

\VS{23}It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do
{\ADD{it}}, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

\VS{24}With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

\VS{25}Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.

\VS{26}So when the
{\ADD{servants}} of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at a privy door, to see what was done unto her.

\VS{27}But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came
{\ADD{also}} full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

\VS{29}and said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim’s wife. And
{\ADD{so}} they sent.

\VS{30}So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

\VS{31}Now Susanna was a very delicate
{\ADD{woman}}, and beauteous to behold.

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

\VS{33}Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

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

\VS{35}And she weeping looked up towards heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

\VS{36}And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this
{\ADD{woman}} came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.

\VS{37}Then a young man, who
{\ADD{there}} was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

\VS{38}Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing
{\ADD{this}} wickedness, ran unto them.

\VS{39}And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.

\VS{40}But having taken this
{\ADD{woman}}, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these
{\ADD{things}} do we testify.

\VS{41}Then the assembly believed them, as
{\ADD{those that were}} the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.


\par }{\PP \VS{42}Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all
{\ADD{things}} before they be:

\VS{43}thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I
{\ADD{must}} die; whereas I never did such
{\ADD{things}} as these
{\ADD{men}} have maliciously invented against me.

\VS{44}And the Lord heard her voice.

\VS{45}Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name
{\ADD{was}} Daniel:

\VS{46}who cried with a loud voice, I
{\ADD{am}} clear from the blood of this
{\ADD{woman}}.

\VS{47}Then all the people turned them towards him, and said, What
{\ADD{mean}} these words that thou hast spoken?

\VS{48}So he standing in the midst of them, said,
{\ADD{Are ye}} such fools, ye sons of Israel,
{\ADD{that}} without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?

\VS{49}Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false witness against her.

\VS{50}Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew
{\ADD{it}} us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

\VS{51}Then said Daniel unto them, Put these
{\ADD{two}} aside one far from another, and I will examine them.

\VS{52}So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O
{\ADD{thou}} that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come
{\ADD{to light:}}

\VS{53}for 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.

\VS{54}Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell
{\ADD{me}}, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.

\VS{55}And Daniel said,
{\ADD{Very}} well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for
{\ADD{even}} now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.

\VS{56}So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O
{\ADD{thou}} seed of Canaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.

\VS{57}Thus 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.

\VS{58}Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under a holm tree.

\VS{59}Then 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.

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

\VS{61}And they arose against the two elders, (for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth;)

\VS{62}and according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to
{\ADD{their}} neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

\VS{63}Therefore 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.

\VS{64}From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.


\par }