Susanna 1
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1THERE dwelt a man in Babylon called Ioacim, 2And he toke a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a verie faire woman, and one that feared God. 3Her father and her mother also were godlie people, & taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses. 4Now Ioacim was a great riche man, and had a faire garden ioyning vnto his house, and to him resorted the Iewes, because he was more honorable then all others. 5The same yere were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be iudges, suche as the Lord speaketh of, that the iniquitie came from Babylon, & from the ancient iudges, which semed to rule the people. 6These hanted Ioacims house, & all suche as had anie thing to do in the Law, came thither vnto them. 7Now when the people departed away at noone, Susanna went into her housbands garden to walke. 8And the two Elders sawe her that she went in daily and walked, so that their lust was inflamed towarde her. 9Therefore thei turned away their minde, & cast downe their eyes, that thei shulde not se heauen, nor remembre iuste iudgements. 10And albeit thei bothe were wounded with her loue, yet durst not one shewe another his grief. 11For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to haue to do with her. 12Yet they watched diligently from day to day to se her. 13And the one said to the other, Let vs go now home, for it is diner time. 14So they went their way, and departed, one from another: yet they returned againe, and came into the same place, and after that they had asked one another the cause, thei acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time bothe together when they might finde her alone. 15Now when they had spied out a conuenient time, that she went in, as her maner was, with two maides onely, and thoght to wash her self in the garden (for it was an hote season) 16And there was no bodie there, saue the two Elders that had hid them selues, and watched for her: 17She said to her maides, Bring me oyle & sope, and shut the garden dores, that I may wash me. 18And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden dores, and went out them selues at a backe dore, to fet the thing that she had commanded them: but they sawe not the Elders, because they were hid. 19Now when the maides were gone forthe, the two Elders rose vp & ranne vnto her, saying, 20Beholde, the garden dores are shut, that no man can se vs, & we burne in loue with thee: therefore consent vnto vs, and lye with vs. 21If thou wilt not, we wil beare witnes against thee, that a yong man was with thee, and therefore thou didest send away thy maides from thee. 22Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am in trouble on euerie side: for if I do this thing, it is death vnto me: & if I do it not, I can not escape your hands. 23It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, then to sinne in the sight of the Lord. 24With that Susanna cryed with a loude voyce, and the two Elders cryed out against her. 25Then ranne the one, and opened the garden dore. 26So when the seruants of the house heard the crye in the garden, they rushed in at the backe dore, to se what was done vnto her. 27But when the Elders had declared their matter, the seruants were greatly ashamed: for there was neuer suche a reporte made of Susanna. 28On the morow after, came the people to Ioacim her housband, & the two Elders came also, ful of mischieuous imaginacion against Susanna, to put her to death, 29And said before the people, Send for Susanna the daughter of Helcias Ioacims wife. And immediatly they sent. 30So she came with her father & mother, her children and all her kinred. 31Now Susanna was very tender, and faire of face. 32And these wicked men commanded to vncouer her face (for she was couered) that thei might so be satisfied with her beautie. 33Therefore they that were about her, and all they that knewe her, wept. 34Then the two Elders stode vp in the middes of the people, and layed their hands vpon her head, 35Which wept and loked vp towarde heauen: for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36And the Elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, she came in with two maides, whome she sent away from her, and shut the garden dores. 37Then a yong man, which there was hid, came vnto her, and lay with her. 38Then we which stode in a corner of the garden, seing this wickednes, ranne vnto them, and we sawe them as they were together, 39But we colde not holde him: for he was stronger then we, and opened the dore, and leaped out. 40Now when we had taken this woman, we asked her what yong man this was, but she wolde not tel vs: of these things are we witnesses. 41Then the assemblie beleued them, as those that were the Elders and iudges of the people: so thei condemned her to death. 42Then Susanna cryed out with a loude voyce, and said, O euerlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things afore they come to passe, 43Thou knowest, that they haue borne false witnes against me, and beholde, I must dye, where as I neuer did suche things as these men haue maliciously inuented against me. 44And the Lord heard her voyce. 45Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised vp the holie spirit of a yong childe, whose name was Daniel. 46Who cryed with a loude voyce, I am cleane from the blood of this woman. 47Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What meane these wordes, that thou hast spoken? 48Then Daniel stode in the middes of them, and said, Are ye suche fooles, ô Israelites, that without examination, or knowledge of the trueth, ye haue condemned a daughter of Israel? 49haue borne false witnes against her. 50Wherefore the people turned againe in all haste, & the Elders said vnto him, Come, sit downe among vs, & shew it vs, seing God hathe giuen thee the office of an Elder. 51Then said Daniel vnto them, Put these two aside, one farre from another, and I wil examine them. 52So when they were put a sonder, one from another, he called one of them & said vnto him, O thou that art olde in a wicked life, now thy sinnes which thou hast committed afore time, are come to light. 53For thou hast pronounced false iudgements, and hast condemned the innocent, and hast let the giltie go fre, albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay. 54Now then, if thou hast sene her, tel me, vnder what tre sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Vnder a lentiske tre. 55Then said Daniel, Verely thou hast lyed against thine owne head: for lo, the Angel of God hathe receiued the sentence of God, to cut thee in two. 56So put he him aside, & commanded to bring the other, & said vnto him, O thou sede of Chanaan, and not of Iuda, beautie hathe disceiued thee, and lust hathe subuerted thine heart. 57Thus haue ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for feare companied with you: but the daughter of Iuda wolde not abide your wickednes. 58Now therefore tel me vnder what tre didest thou take them companying together? Who answered, Vnder a prime tree. 59Then said Daniel vnto him, Verely thou hast also lyed against thine head: for the Angel of God waiteth with the sworde to cut thee in two, & so to destroie you bothe. 60With that all the whole assemblie cryed with a loude voyce, and praised God, which saueth them that trust in him. 61And they arose against the two Elders, (for Daniel had conuict them of false witnes by their owne mouth) 62And according to the Law of Moyses they delt with them, as they delt wickedly against their neighbour, and put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saued the same day. 63Therefore Helcias, and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Ioacim her housband, and all the kinred, that there was no dishonestie founde in her. 64From that day forthe was Daniel had in great reputacion in the sight of the people. 65And King Astyages was laide with his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia reigned in his steade.
Chapters in Susanna