Apocrypha: Susanna
1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was
Joakim. 2 He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named
Susanna, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the
Lord. 3 Her parents were righteous, and had trained their
daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Joakim was very
rich, and had a fine garden adjoining his house; the Jews
used to come to him because he was the most honoured of
them all.
5 That year two elders from the people were appointed as
judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: ‘Wickedness
came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who
were supposed to govern the people.’ 6 These men were
frequently at Joakim’s house, and all who had a case to be
tried came to them there.
7 When the people left at noon, Susanna would go into her
husband’s garden to walk. 8 Every day the two elders used
to see her, going in and walking about, and they began to
lust for her. 9 They suppressed their consciences and turned
away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering
their duty to administer justice. 10 Both were overwhelmed
with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their
distress, 11 for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful
desire to seduce her. 12 Day after day they watched eagerly
to see her.
13 One day they said to each other, ‘Let us go home, for it
is time for lunch.’ So they both left and parted from each
other. 14 But turning back, they met again; and when each
pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust.
Then together they arranged for a time when they could find
her alone.
15 Once, while they were watching for an opportune day,
she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to
bathe in the garden, for it was a hot day. 16 No one was there
except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were
watching her. 17 She said to her maids, ‘Bring me olive oil and
ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I can bathe.’
18 They did as she told them: they shut the doors of the
garden and went out by the side doors to bring what they
had been commanded; they did not see the elders, because
they were hiding.
19 When the maids had gone out, the two elders got up and
ran to her. 20 They said, ‘Look, the garden doors are
shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire
for you; so give your consent, and lie with us. 21 If you
refuse, we will testify against you that a young man
was with you, and this was why you sent your maids
away.’
22 Susanna groaned and said, ‘I am completely trapped.
For if I do this, it will mean death for me; if I do not, I
cannot escape your hands. 23 I choose not to do it; I will
fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the
Lord.’
24 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the
two elders shouted against her. 25 And one of them ran
and opened the garden doors. 26 When the people in
the house heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed
in at the side door to see what had happened to her. 27 And
when the elders told their story, the servants felt very much
ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about
Susanna.
28 The next day, when the people gathered at the house
of her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of their
wicked plot to have Susanna put to death. In the presence
of the people they said, 29 ‘Send for Susanna daughter of
Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.’ 30 So they sent for her. And she
came with her parents, her children, and all her relatives.
31 Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement and
beautiful in appearance. 32 As she was veiled, the scoundrels
ordered her to be unveiled, so that they might feast their
eyes on her beauty. 33 Those who were with her and all who
saw her were weeping.
34 Then the two elders stood up before the people and laid
their hands on her head. 35 Through her tears she looked
up towards Heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36 The
elders said, ‘While we were walking in the garden alone, this
woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and
dismissed the maids. 37 Then a young man, who was hiding
there, came to her and lay with her. 38 We were in a corner
of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to
them. 39 Although we saw them embracing, we could not
hold the man, because he was stronger than we are, and he
opened the doors and got away. 40 We did, however, seize
this woman and asked who the young man was, 41 but she
would not tell us. These things we testify.’
Because they were elders of the people and judges, the
assembly believed them and condemned her to death.
42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, ‘O
eternal God, you know what is secret and are aware of all
things before they come to be; 43 you know that these men
have given false evidence against me. And now I am to die,
though I have done none of the wicked things that they
have charged against me!’
44 The Lord heard her cry. 45 Just as she was being led off
to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad
named Daniel, 46 and he shouted with a loud voice, ‘I want no
part in shedding this woman’s blood!’
47 All the people turned to him and asked, ‘What is this you
are saying?’ 48 Taking his stand among them he said, ‘Are
you such fools, O Israelites, as to condemn a daughter of
Israel without examination and without learning the facts?
49 Return to court, for these men have given false evidence
against her.’
50 So all the people hurried back. And the rest of the elders
said to him, ‘Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has
given you the standing of an elder.’ 51 Daniel said to them,
‘Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.’
52 When they were separated from each other, he
summoned one of them and said to him, ‘You old relic
of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which
you have committed in the past, 53 pronouncing unjust
judgements, condemning the innocent and acquitting the
guilty, though the Lord said, “You shall not put an innocent
and righteous person to death.” 54 Now then, if you really
saw this woman, tell me this: Under what tree did you see
them being intimate with each other?’ He answered, ‘Under
a mastic tree.’ 55 And Daniel said, ‘Very well! This lie has
cost you your head, for the angel of God has received the
sentence from God and will immediately cut you in two.’
56 Then, putting him to one side, he ordered them to bring
the other. And he said to him, ‘You offspring of Canaan
and not of Judah, beauty has beguiled you and lust has
perverted your heart. 57 This is how you have been treating
the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you
through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate
your wickedness. 58 Now then, tell me: Under what tree
did you catch them being intimate with each other?’ He
answered, ‘Under an evergreen oak.’ 59 Daniel said to him,
‘Very well! This lie has cost you also your head, for the angel
of God is waiting with his sword to split you in two, so as to
destroy you both.’
60 Then the whole assembly raised a great shout and
blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. 61 And they
took action against the two elders, because out of their own
mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness;
they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their
neighbour. 62 Acting in accordance with the law of Moses,
they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was spared
that day.
63 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter
Susanna, and so did her husband Joakim and all her
relatives, because she was found innocent of a shameful
deed. 64 And from that day onwards Daniel had a great
reputation among the people.