I. Susanna: - History and Discussion
Introduction : - Harper's Bible Dictionary
Pre-Christian Daniel: - C. B. TKacz (2007)
History of Susanna: - W. O. E. Oesterley (1935)
Two Versions of Susanna: - internet blog
The Concept of Witness in Susanna: - A. A. Trites (2004)
II. Susanna: - Texts and Translations
1. Greek Texts: - Old Greek vs. Theodotion
2. Theodotion's Text: - Theod. Greek & English
3. Old Greek Text: - & English Transl.
4. Latin Text: - Clementine Vulgate
Background and Differences
Susanna, one of the Additions to Daniel in the Greek translations of the Hebrew ot, found after chap. 12 in the Septuagint (lxx) version and at the beginning of Daniel in Theodotion. It was probably composed in Hebrew and appended to some manuscripts of the Hebrew-Aramaic version of Daniel sometime prior to 100 b.c. Susanna is the story of Daniel’s rescue of a young and beautiful woman, condemned to death for adultery as a consequence of a plot by two magistrates to blackmail her into having intercourse with them.
The story opens with the marriage of Susanna to Joakim, in whose house the local court sits (vv. 1-6). Two of the elders or magistrates of the court desire Susanna and look for an opportunity to find her alone (vv. 7-14). As she takes a bath in her garden, they hide and then give her the choice of submitting to them or having them accuse her falsely of adultery (vv. 15-21). Susanna refuses their demands (vv. 22-23). She is accused, tried, and condemned to death (vv. 24-41). In response to her prayer for help, God sends the youth Daniel to aid her (vv. 42-46). He interrogates the two elders separately, proving their guilt, and the court sentences them to death in Susanna’s place (vv. 47-62). The story concludes with Susanna’s parents and husband praising God and the note that this case first established Daniel’s reputation among the Jewish people (vv. 63-64).
The story is a masterpiece of the art of Jewish narrative. Like Tobit, Judith, the Rest of Esther, and the stories in Daniel 1-6, it illustrates how God defends the righteous who call upon him.
The difference in the case of Susanna is that the threat comes from within the Jewish community rather than from outside it.
Susanna also reflects the isolation of upper-class Jewish women in postbiblical times through virtual confinement to the home and the use of the veil in public. Protestants include the book among the Apocrypha, while Catholics consider it part of the canonical text of Daniel.
- Harpers Bible Dictionary
Synopsis
"The structure of the pre-Christian book of Daniel as newly edited in Palestine in the first century B.C. is coherent, often symmetrical, and meaningful and was the version used by Jesus and the early Christians. Origen's and Jerome's reordering of the fourteen-chapter book in conformity with the extant Hebrew, however, vitiated that structure. Susanna's account opened the pre-Christian Palestinian version. That account inaugurates the themes of wisdom and judgment and provides the restoration of right order within the community in exile, a restoration essential for what transpires thereafter. Her experience is the first of four holy ordeals placed symmetrically in the first half of the book and framing the book as a whole. Significantly, the two chapters of Daniel most quoted in the Gospels are the ones that open the two halves of the book: Susanna, and the first vision of Daniel. Those two chapters are linked thematically and by diction, including the pair of unique phrases '[one grown] ancient of evil days' and 'Ancient of Days'. Susanna exemplifies the experiences of the saints – suffering and then vindicated – and also, for the writers of the synoptic Gospels – the experiences of Jesus in his passion."
- C. B. Tkacz, (2007)
The Heythrop Journal vol. 49 Iss.2, pp.181-196
Exerpts from: An Introduction to the Books of the Apocrypha, By W O E Oesterley D D Litt D Copyright W O E Oesterley 1935. First published S.P.C.K. 1935. This edition prepared for katapi by Paul Ingram 2003.
- Susanna is set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the Hebrew, just as the Story of Bel and the Dragon is likewise missing.
I. TITLE
In the one extant MS. of the Septuagint (Cod. Chisianus), which gives also Theodotion's Version, Susanna forms chap. 13 of Daniel, and it has the title Σουσαννα α´ σ´ θ´ - "Sousanna a' s' th'" ( i.e., = texts of Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion).
(The Jewish form of the Greek Bible translated by Aquila (circa 130AD) was undertaken for polemical reasons. As it was translated from the Hebrew books after the fixing of their canonical character, this form of the Greek Old Testament does not contain the books of the Apocrypha. [Thus there are only two versions of Susanna])
The (Latin) Vulgate and the Syro-Hexaplar also place it at the end of Daniel as chap. xiii, though without any title. But the latter has a note at the end: "Completed is Daniel according to the tradition of the Seventy" so that it evidently regarded Susanna as part of the canonical book.
In Theodotion's Version, represented by all the Greek MSS, and by the other Versions, the title varies.
In the great uncials B A Q, Susanna follows immediately after the title of the whole book, "Daniel" (Q: "Daniel according to Theodotion"), but without any special title for Susanna; similarly the Old Latin Version;
Cod.A (Alexandrinus), however, has the subscription: ορασις α´ - orasis a'. Some Greek MSS. have the title "Susanna," others, "The History of Susanna," yet others, "The judgement of Daniel". Fuller titles are given in the cursives 232, "Visions of the prophet Daniel concerning the elders and Susanna," and Ms. 235, "Vision of the very wise Daniel concerning Susanna."
(But there are reasons for thinking that Susanna did not originally occupy this place, see Bludau, "Die Alexandrinische Uebersetzung des Buches Daniel und ihre VerhAltniss zum Massoretischen Text," pp.166 f. (in Bardenhewer's Biblische Studien, ii. Bd., Heft 2 und 3 [1897].)
In Codex Chisianus Theodotion's Version is headed το ειρ αγρυπνος Δανιηλ - "to eir agrupnos Daniel", and Susanna appears as chap. 13. (το ειρ is explained as = the Hebrew העיו' "the Watcher," so that this title would mean "Daniel the sleepless Watcher." [or 'watchman', as in Enoch])
Kay refers to a Codex from Mount Athos, which has the title: αρασις ενδεκα του προφητου Δανιηλ deinde sequitur περι του Αββακουμ. His omnibus praemittitur περι της Συσαννης; and states that chap.xiv of Cod. Chisianus has the superscription; εκ προφητειας Αμβακουμ υιου Ιησου εκ της φυλης Λευι. (In Charles, op. cit., i.638.) It would thus appear that the story was sometimes associated with the name of Habakkuk (cp. Bel and the Dragon, verses 33 ff.).
Susanna is a typical example of Jewish novelistc literature during the Second Temple period; it is a story in the Bible. Where then do we find the story in the Bible? Whereas Susanna appears as Daniel 13 in the Old Greek version (OG), the Theodotion version (Ɵ′) places it before Daniel chapt. 1.
Susanna is not there in the Theodotion version by accident, but it is there because of its significance. Some scholars argue that the story takes place before Daniel 1 in the Theodotion version becuase the story functions as introduction to Daniel in the Theodotion version, the hero of the book (Doran 1988, 864).
In general, the OG version (LXX) is much less polished than the Theodotion version; and Theodotion’s version is somewhat longer than the OG. For these reasons, the translations in the NRSV and NAB basically follow the translation of Theodotion rather than the OG version.
Some scholars believe that the Theodotion version made a separate Greek translation of a different Semitic text (Vorlage) rather than making an editorial revision of the Old Greek because of the use of Semitisms and the simple paratactic syntax (in OG Susanna, over fifty clauses begin with καί; for details, (see John J. Collins, Daniel, Hermeneia [Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993], 427).
The differences of the two versions are as follows:
Focus of Character: OG-Two Elders; Ɵ′- Susanna.
Aspect of the Story: OG- Details of her bathing are much less elaborated; Ɵ′- Enhancing the drama and the psychological/erotic aspects of the story.
Epilogue: OG- An exhortation to search for more youths like Daniel; Ɵ′- Susanna’s relatvies give praise and Daniel becomes great.
Minor Elaborations in Ɵ′: v. 11 adds that the elders were ashamed of their lust; vv. 20 and 21 fill in the words of the elders to Susanna; vv. 24-27 have the servants rush into the garden and learn of the accusation; v. 39 explains why the young man escaped; and v. 41 makes the death sentence explicit.
Point of View: OG- Focus of oriented toward social issues and categories; Ɵ′- Emphasis on individual character and ethics.
As Collins insists, even though the diferences should not be exaggerated, the differences of the focus of character and epilogue in both versions cannot be negelected because the different emphasis reflects their different social settings.
John C. Endres analyzes the diffrent settings of the two versions as follows:
The OG version, which is more oriented toward social issues and categories, is often connected with Alexandria, whereas Theodotion, with its emphasis on individual character and ethics, seems more reminiscent of the Hellenistic novella, which also emerged in Diaspora settings (parallel to the Babylonian setting of the story).
The story of Susanna, especially in Ɵ′, is an interesting tale for the study of Diaspora community: God is mentioned or alluded to 15 times in the book’s 64 verses. At two points (vv. 5 and 53), the Jewish scriptures are quoted or paraphrased. From begining to the end, religious interest and elements pervade the story.
The story of Susanna has influenced literature, music, and art. The scene of naked Susanna at her bath, who is being taken advantage of by two wicked judges, is a perfect example for the criticism of the relationship between sex and power.
Exerpt from: The NT Concept of Witness ( 2004), p 50,51
The Story of Susanna is,
'...intended to illustrate the value and necessity of cross-examination of witnesses. It also seeks to vindicate the execution of false witnesses, although their victim may be delivered before his sentence was carried out.' 1
The two lustful elders are accusing witnesses in Susanna's trial; by their testimony they seek to establish her alleged adultery (v 36-41; note the phrase ταυτα μαρτυρουμεν in v. 41, LXX [=OG?]).
The 'elders of the people' are the 'judges' who decide the case and sentence Susanna to death. Before she can be executed however, Daniel raises a protest on her behalf and summons the legal assembly to return to 'the place of judgement' ("Kriterion"] (v. 45-49). There he is invited to act as an 'elder' by participating in the arbitration (v. 50). He does so by separating Susanna's accusers and 'examining' them individually ( , v 51).
Daniel follows the procedure laid down in Deut. 19:18 of making 'diligent inquisition' (R.V.). Under his searching cross-examination the testimony of the accusing witnesses breaks down, for they differ on a point of circumstantial evidence and therefore Daniel is able to convict them of bearing false witness (v. 54,58,61). 2.
Acting in accordance with the O.T. law of malicious witness, the judges put Susanna's accusers to death (v 62), and Susanna is completely vindicated.
Susanna's story is important to this inquiry for several reasons:
(1) It illustrates what has already been observed in the OT, namely, the fact that one person can serve as judge and witness in the same legal assembly. In Susanna the two roles are virtually synonymous, for the judge helps the innocent person by acting as a witness in her defence. 3 Here the witness is not the eye-witness, but rather the advocate [paraclete] who takes the litigant's side and pleads her case.
(2) Susanna's story offers an interesting application of the Law of Malicious Witness mentioned in Deut. 19:16-21. Since this law also appears in the New Testament (cf. Rev. 11:13, 18:20b), here is another link between the idea of witness in the OT and the NT.
(3) Susanna employs καταμαρτυρειν (v. 21, 43, 49) and ψευδομαρτυειν "false witness" (v.62), offering parallels to the Synoptic uses of the same verbs in connection with the trial of Jesus (Mk 14:50,56,57; Mt.26:62, 27:13).
(4) Daniel convicts the false witnesses 'out of their own mouth' (sus. 61). Similar convictions on the basis of one's own evidence appear in the OT and later in the Synoptic Gospels ( 2nd Sam 1:16; Job 9:20; 15:6; Lk. 19:22, Mt. 12:37).
(5) The story highlights a dispute between the Pharisees during the time of Alexander Janneus (105-79 B.C.). As R. H. Charles and others have pointed out (Apoc & Pseud. vol I, 651), the Sadduces advocated carrying out the sentence only if the falsely accused had actually been put to death, while the Pharisees held that the death penalty was in force from the moment when the unjust sentence was passed (Mishnah Makkoth 1.6; Sifre on Deut. 19:19, Gemara, Makkoth 5B). According to the Pharisaic interpretation of Deut. 19:19, the two lustful elders must be executed for malicious witness.
(6) Susanna 51-59 may shed light on the interpretation of Jn 1:48,50. Prof. Moule, commenting on the Susanna story, had directed attention to the importance which the rabbinical tradition attached to the scrupulous examination of evidence (cf. Mishnah Sanhedrin v2 and Bab. Sanhedrin 41a). Thus he interprets 'under the fig tree' in Jn 1:48,50 as indicating 'the accurate knowledge of a person's whereabouts and movements' which is characteristic of a good witness. 4
Many other legal words are used in the Apocrypha and Pseudegrapha which will be encountered later in the New Testament. Two of the most interesting ones are παρακλητος ['paraklete'] and , both of which appear in Pirke IV.13:
He who does one precept gains for himself one advocate,
and he who commits one transgression gains for himself one accuser. 5
The Hebrew words represent παρακλητος and κατηγορος, words which will return to later in considering the concept of witness developed in the Fourth Gospel, 1st John, and Revelation (cf. Jn 5:45, 14:16,26; 15:26, 16:7; 1st Jn 2:1, Rev. 12:10).
Other legal words also appear, sometimes in forensic contexts where the idea of witness is prominent. A list of such words would include κριμα, κρισις, κριτης, κατακρινειν, κατακριμα, αιτια, αντιδικος, ψευδομαρτυρειν, ομολογειν . As these words, generally speaking, are not integrated into any unified concept of witness in the Apoc. and Pseudog., it is not necessary to look at them in great detail. Their importance lies inthe fact that they show the presence of the linguistic raw materials on which the NT writers were to draw in the formulation of their ideas of witness."
- Alison A. Trites, The NT Concept of Witness, p 50,51
Original Footnotes:
1. R.H. Charles, Apoc. and Pseudepigrapha, vol. I, 638. Cf. R.A.F. MacKenzie, The meaning of the Susanna story, CJT, 3 (1957), 211-218 and Sanhedrin 41a.
2. But cf. Sanhedrin 69a.
3. Cf. Leon Morris, The Biblical Doctrine of Judgment (Lond. 1960), p 15-16.
4. C. F. D. Moule, 'A note on "under the fig tree" in John 1:48,50', JTS, NS, 5 (1954), 210-211. Cf. C. H. Dodd, Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel (Camb. 1963), p. 105.
5. R. H. Charles, op cit. vol. II, p705. Cf T.F. Glasson Moses in the Fourth Gospel, (Lon.1964), p. 105.
The word ορθρου only appears in the LXX in a few places, notably,
(1) LXX: the story of the concubine's murder in the book of Judges
(2) LXX: In a few places in the Greek Psalter
(3) LXX: Multiple times in the Greek book of Jeremiah.
(4) LXX: Here in the Old Greek version (only) of Susanna.
(5) NT: Once in verse 8:2 in the Gospel of John,
(i.e., the Pericope de Adultera, Jn 7:53-8:11).
(6) NT: A few times in the books of Luke/Acts.
Susanna 1:6 fwd (Old Greek )
Susanna 1:1 fwd (Theod.)
ΣΟΥΣΑΝΝΑ
Sus 1:6
............ καὶ ἤρχοντο κρίσεις ἐξ ἄλλων πόλεων πρὸς αὐτούς. 7 /8 οὗτοι ἰδόντες γυναῖκα ἀστείαν τῷ εἴδει, γυναῖκα ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ, ὄνομα Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου γυναῖκα Ιωακιμ, περιπατοῦσαν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς τὸ δειλινὸν καὶ ἐπιθυμήσαντες αὐτῆς 9 διέστρεψαν τὸν νοῦν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων. 10 /11 καὶ ἀμφότεροι ἦσαν κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ οὐ προσεποιεῖτο τὸ κακὸν τὸ ἔχον αὐτοὺς περὶ αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ ἡ γυνὴ ἔγνω τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο. 12 καὶ ὡς ἐγίνετο ὄρθρος, ἐρχόμενοι ἔκλεπτον ἀλλήλους σπεύδοντες, τίς φανήσεται αὐτῇ πρότερος καὶ λαλήσει πρὸς αὐτήν.
13 /14 καὶ ἰδοὺ αὕτη κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς περιεπάτει, καὶ ὁ εἷς τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἐληλύθει, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἕτερος παρεγένετο, καὶ εἷς τὸν ἕτερον ἀνέκρινε λέγων Τί σὺ οὕτως ὄρθρου ἐξῆλθες οὐ παραλαβών με; καὶ ἐξωμολογήσαντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἑκάτερος τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτοῦ.
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19 καὶ εἶπεν εἷς τῷ ἑτέρῳ Πορευθῶμεν πρὸς αὐτήν· καὶ συνθέμενοι προσήλθοσαν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐξεβιάζοντο αὐτήν.
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22 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ Ιουδαία Οἶδα ὅτι ἐὰν πράξω τοῦτο, θάνατός μοί ἐστι, καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν· 23 κάλλιον δέ με μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν ἐνώπιον κυρίου.
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28 Οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἄνδρες ἀπέστρεψαν ἀπειλοῦντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐνεδρεύοντες ἵνα θανατώσουσιν αὐτήν· καὶ ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν τῆς πόλεως, οὗ παρῳκοῦσαν, καὶ συνήδρευσαν οἱ ὄντες ἐκεῖ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ· 29 καὶ ἀναστάντες οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι καὶ κριταὶ εἶπαν Ἀποστείλατε ἐπὶ Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου, ἥτις ἐστὶ γυνὴ Ιωακιμ· οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἐκάλεσαν αὐτήν. 30 ὡς δὲ παρεγενήθη ἡ γυνὴ σὺν τῷ πατρὶ ἑαυτῆς καὶ τῇ μητρί, καὶ οἱ παῖδες καὶ αἱ παιδίσκαι αὐτῆς ὄντες τὸν ἀριθμὸν πεντακόσιοι παρεγένοντο καὶ τὰ παιδία Σουσαννας τέσσαρα· 31 ἦν δὲ ἡ γυνὴ τρυφερὰ σφόδρα. 32 καὶ προσέταξαν οἱ παράνομοι ἀποκαλύψαι αὐτήν, ἵνα ἐμπλησθῶσι κάλλους ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῆς· 33 καὶ ἐκλαίοσαν οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς πάντες καὶ ὅσοι αὐτὴν ᾔδεισαν πάντες. 34 ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ κριταὶ ἐπέθηκαν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς· 35 ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῆς ἐπεποίθει ἐπὶ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνακύψασα ἔκλαυσεν ἐν ἑαυτῇ λέγουσα 35 a Κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι οὐκ ἐποίησα ἃ πονηρεύονται οἱ ἄνομοι οὗτοι ἐπ’ ἐμοί. καὶ εἰσήκουσε κύριος τῆς δεήσεως αὐτῆς. 36 οἱ δὲ δύο πρεσβύτεροι εἶπαν Ἡμεῖς περιεπατοῦμεν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς 37 καὶ κυκλοῦντες τὸ στάδιον εἴδομεν ταύτην ἀναπαυομένην μετὰ ἀνδρὸς καὶ στάντες ἐθεωροῦμεν αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις, 38 καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν ὅτι εἱστήκειμεν. τότε συνειπάμεθα ἀλλήλοις λέγοντες Μάθωμεν τίνες εἰσὶν οὗτοι. 39 καὶ προσελθόντες ἐπέγνωμεν αὐτήν, ὁ δὲ νεανίσκος ἔφυγε συγκεκαλυμμένος, 40 ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι ἐπηρωτῶμεν αὐτήν Τίς ὁ ἄνθρωπος; 41 καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν ἡμῖν, τίς ἦν. ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ πᾶσα ὡς πρεσβυτέρων ὄντων καὶ κριτῶν τοῦ λαοῦ.
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44 /45 Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐκείνης ἐξαγομένης ἀπολέσθαι, καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ ἄγγελος, καθὼς προσετάγη, πνεῦμα συνέσεως νεωτέρῳ ὄντι Δανιηλ.
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48 διαστείλας δὲ Δανιηλ τὸν ὄχλον καὶ στὰς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν Οὕτως μωροί, υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; οὐκ ἀνακρίναντες οὐδὲ τὸ σαφὲς ἐπιγνόντες ἀπεκρίνατε θυγατέρα Ισραηλ;
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51 καὶ νῦν διαχωρίσατέ μοι αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων μακράν, ἵνα ἐτάσω αὐτούς. 52 ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν, εἶπεν Δανιηλ τῇ συναγωγῇ Νῦν μὴ βλέψητε ὅτι οὗτοί εἰσι πρεσβύτεροι, λέγοντες Οὐ μὴ ψεύσωνται· ἀλλὰ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὰ ὑποπίπτοντά μοι. καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν ἕνα αὐτῶν, καὶ προσήγαγον τὸν πρεσβύτερον τῷ νεωτέρῳ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δανιηλ Ἄκουε ἄκουε, πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν· νῦν ἥκασί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον 53 πιστευθεὶς ἀκούειν καὶ κρίνειν κρίσεις θάνατον ἐπιφερούσας καὶ τὸν μὲν ἀθῷον κατέκρινας, τοὺς δὲ ἐνόχους ἠφίεις, τοῦ κυρίου λέγοντος Ἀθῷον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς· 54 νῦν οὖν ὑπὸ τί δένδρον καὶ ποταπῷ τοῦ παραδείσου τόπῳ ἑώρακας αὐτοὺς ὄντας σὺν ἑαυτοῖς; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀσεβής Ὑπὸ σχῖνον. 55 εἶπεν δὲ ὁ νεώτερος Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν· ὁ γὰρ ἄγγελος κυρίου σχίσει σου τὴν ψυχὴν σήμερον. 56 καὶ τοῦτον μεταστήσας εἶπε προσαγαγεῖν αὐτῷ τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ τούτῳ δὲ εἶπεν Διὰ τί διεστραμμένον τὸ σπέρμα σου, ὡς Σιδῶνος καὶ οὐχ ὡς Ιουδα; τὸ κάλλος σε ἠπάτησεν, ἡ μιαρὰ ἐπιθυμία· 57 καὶ οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν Ισραηλ, καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὡμιλοῦσαν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐ θυγάτηρ Ιουδα ὑπέμεινε τὴν νόσον ὑμῶν ἐν ἀνομίᾳ ὑπενεγκεῖν· 58 νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον καὶ ἐν ποίῳ τοῦ κήπου τόπῳ κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ πρῖνον. 59 καὶ εἶπεν Δανιηλ Ἁμαρτωλέ, νῦν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἕστηκεν ἔχων, ἕως ὁ λαὸς ἐξολεθρεύσει ὑμᾶς, ἵνα καταπρίσῃ σε. 60-62 καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ ἀνεβόησεν ἐπὶ τῷ νεωτέρῳ, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ ἰδίου στόματος ὁμολόγους αὐτοὺς κατέστησεν ἀμφοτέρους ψευδομάρτυρας· καὶ ὡς ὁ νόμος διαγορεύει, ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς, καθὼς ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατὰ τῆς ἀδελφῆς. καὶ ἐφίμωσαν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐξαγαγόντες ἔρριψαν εἰς φάραγγα· τότε ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἔρριψε πῦρ διὰ μέσου αὐτῶν. καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. 63 Διὰ τοῦτο οἱ νεώτεροι ἀγαπητοὶ Ιακωβ ἐν τῇ ἁπλότητι αὐτῶν. καὶ ἡμεῖς φυλασσώμεθα εἰς υἱοὺς δυνατοὺς νεωτέρους· εὐσεβήσουσι γὰρ νεώτεροι, καὶ ἔσται ἐν αὐτοῖς πνεῦμα ἐπιστήμης καὶ συνέσεως εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος.
Καὶ ἦν ἀνὴρ οἰκῶν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιωακιμ. 2 καὶ ἔλαβεν γυναῖκα, ᾗ ὄνομα Σουσαννα θυγάτηρ Χελκιου, καλὴ σφόδρα καὶ φοβουμένη τὸν κύριον· 3 καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς δίκαιοι καὶ ἐδίδαξαν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ. 4 καὶ ἦν Ιωακιμ πλούσιος σφόδρα, καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ παράδεισος γειτνιῶν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν προσήγοντο οἱ Ιουδαῖοι διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐνδοξότερον πάντων. 5 καὶ ἀπεδείχθησαν δύο πρεσβύτεροι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ κριταὶ ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ, περὶ ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ δεσπότης ὅτι Ἐξῆλθεν ἀνομία ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ἐκ πρεσβυτέρων κριτῶν, οἳ ἐδόκουν κυβερνᾶν τὸν λαόν. 6 οὗτοι προσεκαρτέρουν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ Ιωακιμ, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάντες οἱ κρινόμενοι. 7 καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἀπέτρεχεν ὁ λαὸς μέσον ἡμέρας, εἰσεπορεύετο Σουσαννα καὶ περιεπάτει ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς. 8 καὶ ἐθεώρουν αὐτὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι καθ’ ἡμέραν εἰσπορευομένην καὶ περιπατοῦσαν καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτῆς. 9 καὶ διέστρεψαν τὸν ἑαυτῶν νοῦν καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων. 10 καὶ ἦσαν ἀμφότεροι κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἀνήγγειλαν ἀλλήλοις τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτῶν, 11 ὅτι ᾐσχύνοντο ἀναγγεῖλαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἤθελον συγγενέσθαι αὐτῇ. 12 καὶ παρετηροῦσαν φιλοτίμως καθ’ ἡμέραν ὁρᾶν αὐτήν. 13 καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ Πορευθῶμεν δὴ εἰς οἶκον, ὅτι ἀρίστου ὥρα ἐστίν· καὶ ἐξελθόντες διεχωρίσθησαν ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων· 14 καὶ ἀνακάμψαντες ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἀνετάζοντες ἀλλήλους τὴν αἰτίαν ὡμολόγησαν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν· καὶ τότε κοινῇ συνετάξαντο καιρὸν ὅτε αὐτὴν δυνήσονται εὑρεῖν μόνην. 15 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ παρατηρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἡμέραν εὔθετον εἰσῆλθέν ποτε καθὼς ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας μετὰ δύο μόνων κορασίων καὶ ἐπεθύμησε λούσασθαι ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, ὅτι καῦμα ἦν· 16 καὶ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς ἐκεῖ πλὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι κεκρυμμένοι καὶ παρατηροῦντες αὐτήν. 17 καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς κορασίοις Ἐνέγκατε δή μοι ἔλαιον καὶ σμῆγμα καὶ τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου κλείσατε, ὅπως λούσωμαι. 18 καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς εἶπεν καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἐξῆλθαν κατὰ τὰς πλαγίας θύρας ἐνέγκαι τὰ προστεταγμένα αὐταῖς καὶ οὐκ εἴδοσαν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, ὅτι ἦσαν κεκρυμμένοι. 19 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξήλθοσαν τὰ κοράσια, καὶ ἀνέστησαν οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται καὶ ἐπέδραμον αὐτῇ 20 καὶ εἶπον Ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ παραδείσου κέκλεινται, καὶ οὐδεὶς θεωρεῖ ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ σού ἐσμεν· διὸ συγκατάθου ἡμῖν καὶ γενοῦ μεθ’ ἡμῶν· 21 εἰ δὲ μή, καταμαρτυρήσομέν σου ὅτι ἦν μετὰ σοῦ νεανίσκος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐξαπέστειλας τὰ κοράσια ἀπὸ σοῦ. 22 καὶ ἀνεστέναξεν Σουσαννα καὶ εἶπεν Στενά μοι πάντοθεν· ἐάν τε γὰρ τοῦτο πράξω, θάνατός μοί ἐστιν, ἐάν τε μὴ πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν· 23 αἱρετόν μοί ἐστιν μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν ἐνώπιον κυρίου. 24 καὶ ἀνεβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σουσαννα, ἐβόησαν δὲ καὶ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται κατέναντι αὐτῆς. 25 καὶ δραμὼν ὁ εἷς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου. 26 ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν τὴν κραυγὴν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ οἱ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας, εἰσεπήδησαν διὰ τῆς πλαγίας θύρας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβεβηκὸς αὐτῇ. 27 ἡνίκα δὲ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβῦται τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν, κατῃσχύνθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι σφόδρα, ὅτι πώποτε οὐκ ἐρρέθη λόγος τοιοῦτος περὶ Σουσαννης. 28 Καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον ὡς συνῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς Ιωακιμ, ἦλθον οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται πλήρεις τῆς ἀνόμου ἐννοίας κατὰ Σουσαννης τοῦ θανατῶσαι αὐτὴν 29 καὶ εἶπαν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ λαοῦ Ἀποστείλατε ἐπὶ Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου, ἥ ἐστιν γυνὴ Ιωακιμ· οἱ δὲ ἀπέστειλαν. 30 καὶ ἦλθεν αὐτὴ καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς· 31 ἡ δὲ Σουσαννα ἦν τρυφερὰ σφόδρα καὶ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει. 32 οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἐκέλευσαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτήν, ἦν γὰρ κατακεκαλυμμένη, ὅπως ἐμπλησθῶσιν τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς· 33 ἔκλαιον δὲ οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ ἰδόντες αὐτήν. 34 ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται ἐν μέσῳ τῷ λαῷ ἔθηκαν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς· 35 ἡ δὲ κλαίουσα ἀνέβλεψεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ὅτι ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς πεποιθυῖα ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ. 36 εἶπαν δὲ οἱ πρεσβῦται Περιπατούντων ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ μόνων εἰσῆλθεν αὕτη μετὰ δύο παιδισκῶν καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἀπέλυσεν τὰς παιδίσκας· 37 καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὴν νεανίσκος, ὃς ἦν κεκρυμμένος, καὶ ἀνέπεσε μετ’ αὐτῆς. 38 ἡμεῖς δὲ ὄντες ἐν τῇ γωνίᾳ τοῦ παραδείσου ἰδόντες τὴν ἀνομίαν ἐδράμομεν ἐπ’ αὐτούς· 39 καὶ ἰδόντες συγγινομένους αὐτοὺς ἐκείνου μὲν οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐγκρατεῖς γενέσθαι διὰ τὸ ἰσχύειν αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀνοίξαντα τὰς θύρας ἐκπεπηδηκέναι, 40 ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι ἐπηρωτῶμεν, τίς ἦν ὁ νεανίσκος, 41 καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ἀναγγεῖλαι ἡμῖν. ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ ὡς πρεσβυτέροις τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ κριταῖς καὶ κατέκριναν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν. 42 ἀνεβόησεν δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σουσαννα καὶ εἶπεν Ὁ θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν, 43 σὺ ἐπίστασαι ὅτι ψευδῆ μου κατεμαρτύρησαν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποθνῄσκω μὴ ποιήσασα μηδὲν ὧν οὗτοι ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατ’ ἐμοῦ. 44 Καὶ εἰσήκουσεν κύριος τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς. 45 καὶ ἀπαγομένης αὐτῆς ἀπολέσθαι ἐξήγειρεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον παιδαρίου νεωτέρου, ᾧ ὄνομα Δανιηλ, 46 καὶ ἐβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Καθαρὸς ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος ταύτης. 47 ἐπέστρεψεν δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπαν Τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος, ὃν σὺ λελάληκας; 48 ὁ δὲ στὰς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν Οὕτως μωροί, οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; οὐκ ἀνακρίναντες οὐδὲ τὸ σαφὲς ἐπιγνόντες κατεκρίνατε θυγατέρα Ισραηλ; 49 ἀναστρέψατε εἰς τὸ κριτήριον· ψευδῆ γὰρ οὗτοι κατεμαρτύρησαν αὐτῆς. 50 καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετὰ σπουδῆς. καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Δεῦρο κάθισον ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀνάγγειλον ἡμῖν· ὅτι σοὶ δέδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πρεσβεῖον. 51 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Δανιηλ Διαχωρίσατε αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων μακράν, καὶ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτούς. 52 ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν εἷς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑνός, ἐκάλεσεν τὸν ἕνα αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν, νῦν ἥκασιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον 53 κρίνων κρίσεις ἀδίκους καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀθῴους κατακρίνων ἀπολύων δὲ τοὺς αἰτίους, λέγοντος τοῦ κυρίου Ἀθῷον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς· 54 νῦν οὖν ταύτην εἴπερ εἶδες, εἰπόν Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον εἶδες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ σχῖνον. 55 εἶπεν δὲ Δανιηλ Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· ἤδη γὰρ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ λαβὼν φάσιν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ σχίσει σε μέσον. 56 καὶ μεταστήσας αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν προσαγαγεῖν τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Σπέρμα Χανααν καὶ οὐκ Ιουδα, τὸ κάλλος ἐξηπάτησέν σε, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία διέστρεψεν τὴν καρδίαν σου· 57 οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν Ισραηλ, καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὡμίλουν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐ θυγάτηρ Ιουδα ὑπέμεινεν τὴν ἀνομίαν ὑμῶν· 58 νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ πρῖνον. 59 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Δανιηλ Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι καὶ σὺ εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· μένει γὰρ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἔχων πρίσαι σε μέσον, ὅπως ἐξολεθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς. 60 καὶ ἀνεβόησεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εὐλόγησαν τῷ θεῷ τῷ σῴζοντι τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ’ αὐτόν. 61 καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο πρεσβύτας, ὅτι συνέστησεν αὐτοὺς Δανιηλ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτῶν ψευδομαρτυρήσαντας, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσαντο τῷ πλησίον, 62 ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. 63 Χελκιας δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ᾔνεσαν τὸν θεὸν περὶ τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῶν Σουσαννας μετὰ Ιωακιμ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ τῶν συγγενῶν πάντων, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα. 64 καὶ Δανιηλ ἐγένετο μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ λαοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπέκεινα. ΔΑΝΙΗΛ (LXX)
Susanna 1:1 fwd (Theod.)
Susanna 1:1 fwd (English)
Καὶ ἦν ἀνὴρ οἰκῶν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιωακιμ. 2 καὶ ἔλαβεν γυναῖκα, ᾗ ὄνομα Σουσαννα θυγάτηρ Χελκιου, καλὴ σφόδρα καὶ φοβουμένη τὸν κύριον· 3 καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς δίκαιοι καὶ ἐδίδαξαν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ. 4 καὶ ἦν Ιωακιμ πλούσιος σφόδρα, καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ παράδεισος γειτνιῶν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν προσήγοντο οἱ Ιουδαῖοι διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐνδοξότερον πάντων. 5 καὶ ἀπεδείχθησαν δύο πρεσβύτεροι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ κριταὶ ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ, περὶ ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ δεσπότης ὅτι Ἐξῆλθεν ἀνομία ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ἐκ πρεσβυτέρων κριτῶν, οἳ ἐδόκουν κυβερνᾶν τὸν λαόν. 6 οὗτοι προσεκαρτέρουν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ Ιωακιμ, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάντες οἱ κρινόμενοι. 7 καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἀπέτρεχεν ὁ λαὸς μέσον ἡμέρας, εἰσεπορεύετο Σουσαννα καὶ περιεπάτει ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς. 8 καὶ ἐθεώρουν αὐτὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι καθ’ ἡμέραν εἰσπορευομένην καὶ περιπατοῦσαν καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτῆς. 9 καὶ διέστρεψαν τὸν ἑαυτῶν νοῦν καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων. 10 καὶ ἦσαν ἀμφότεροι κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ ἀνήγγειλαν ἀλλήλοις τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτῶν, 11 ὅτι ᾐσχύνοντο ἀναγγεῖλαι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἤθελον συγγενέσθαι αὐτῇ. 12 καὶ παρετηροῦσαν φιλοτίμως καθ’ ἡμέραν ὁρᾶν αὐτήν. 13 καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ Πορευθῶμεν δὴ εἰς οἶκον, ὅτι ἀρίστου ὥρα ἐστίν· καὶ ἐξελθόντες διεχωρίσθησαν ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων· 14 καὶ ἀνακάμψαντες ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἀνετάζοντες ἀλλήλους τὴν αἰτίαν ὡμολόγησαν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν· καὶ τότε κοινῇ συνετάξαντο καιρὸν ὅτε αὐτὴν δυνήσονται εὑρεῖν μόνην. 15 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ παρατηρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἡμέραν εὔθετον εἰσῆλθέν ποτε καθὼς ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας μετὰ δύο μόνων κορασίων καὶ ἐπεθύμησε λούσασθαι ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, ὅτι καῦμα ἦν· 16 καὶ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς ἐκεῖ πλὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι κεκρυμμένοι καὶ παρατηροῦντες αὐτήν. 17 καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς κορασίοις Ἐνέγκατε δή μοι ἔλαιον καὶ σμῆγμα καὶ τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου κλείσατε, ὅπως λούσωμαι. 18 καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς εἶπεν καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἐξῆλθαν κατὰ τὰς πλαγίας θύρας ἐνέγκαι τὰ προστεταγμένα αὐταῖς καὶ οὐκ εἴδοσαν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, ὅτι ἦσαν κεκρυμμένοι. 19 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξήλθοσαν τὰ κοράσια, καὶ ἀνέστησαν οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται καὶ ἐπέδραμον αὐτῇ 20 καὶ εἶπον Ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ παραδείσου κέκλεινται, καὶ οὐδεὶς θεωρεῖ ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ σού ἐσμεν· διὸ συγκατάθου ἡμῖν καὶ γενοῦ μεθ’ ἡμῶν· 21 εἰ δὲ μή, καταμαρτυρήσομέν σου ὅτι ἦν μετὰ σοῦ νεανίσκος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐξαπέστειλας τὰ κοράσια ἀπὸ σοῦ. 22 καὶ ἀνεστέναξεν Σουσαννα καὶ εἶπεν Στενά μοι πάντοθεν· ἐάν τε γὰρ τοῦτο πράξω, θάνατός μοί ἐστιν, ἐάν τε μὴ πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν· 23 αἱρετόν μοί ἐστιν μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν ἐνώπιον κυρίου. 24 καὶ ἀνεβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σουσαννα, ἐβόησαν δὲ καὶ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται κατέναντι αὐτῆς. 25 καὶ δραμὼν ὁ εἷς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου. 26 ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν τὴν κραυγὴν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ οἱ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας, εἰσεπήδησαν διὰ τῆς πλαγίας θύρας ἰδεῖν τὸ συμβεβηκὸς αὐτῇ. 27 ἡνίκα δὲ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβῦται τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν, κατῃσχύνθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι σφόδρα, ὅτι πώποτε οὐκ ἐρρέθη λόγος τοιοῦτος περὶ Σουσαννης. 28 Καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον ὡς συνῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς Ιωακιμ, ἦλθον οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται πλήρεις τῆς ἀνόμου ἐννοίας κατὰ Σουσαννης τοῦ θανατῶσαι αὐτὴν 29 καὶ εἶπαν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ λαοῦ Ἀποστείλατε ἐπὶ Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου, ἥ ἐστιν γυνὴ Ιωακιμ· οἱ δὲ ἀπέστειλαν. 30 καὶ ἦλθεν αὐτὴ καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς· 31 ἡ δὲ Σουσαννα ἦν τρυφερὰ σφόδρα καὶ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει. 32 οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἐκέλευσαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτήν, ἦν γὰρ κατακεκαλυμμένη, ὅπως ἐμπλησθῶσιν τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς· 33 ἔκλαιον δὲ οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς καὶ πάντες οἱ ἰδόντες αὐτήν. 34 ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ δύο πρεσβῦται ἐν μέσῳ τῷ λαῷ ἔθηκαν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς· 35 ἡ δὲ κλαίουσα ἀνέβλεψεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ὅτι ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς πεποιθυῖα ἐπὶ τῷ κυρίῳ. 36 εἶπαν δὲ οἱ πρεσβῦται Περιπατούντων ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ μόνων εἰσῆλθεν αὕτη μετὰ δύο παιδισκῶν καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου καὶ ἀπέλυσεν τὰς παιδίσκας· 37 καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὴν νεανίσκος, ὃς ἦν κεκρυμμένος, καὶ ἀνέπεσε μετ’ αὐτῆς. 38 ἡμεῖς δὲ ὄντες ἐν τῇ γωνίᾳ τοῦ παραδείσου ἰδόντες τὴν ἀνομίαν ἐδράμομεν ἐπ’ αὐτούς· 39 καὶ ἰδόντες συγγινομένους αὐτοὺς ἐκείνου μὲν οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐγκρατεῖς γενέσθαι διὰ τὸ ἰσχύειν αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀνοίξαντα τὰς θύρας ἐκπεπηδηκέναι, 40 ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι ἐπηρωτῶμεν, τίς ἦν ὁ νεανίσκος, 41 καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ἀναγγεῖλαι ἡμῖν. ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ ὡς πρεσβυτέροις τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ κριταῖς καὶ κατέκριναν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν. 42 ἀνεβόησεν δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σουσαννα καὶ εἶπεν Ὁ θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν, 43 σὺ ἐπίστασαι ὅτι ψευδῆ μου κατεμαρτύρησαν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποθνῄσκω μὴ ποιήσασα μηδὲν ὧν οὗτοι ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατ’ ἐμοῦ. 44 Καὶ εἰσήκουσεν κύριος τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς. 45 καὶ ἀπαγομένης αὐτῆς ἀπολέσθαι ἐξήγειρεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον παιδαρίου νεωτέρου, ᾧ ὄνομα Δανιηλ, 46 καὶ ἐβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Καθαρὸς ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος ταύτης. 47 ἐπέστρεψεν δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπαν Τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος, ὃν σὺ λελάληκας; 48 ὁ δὲ στὰς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν Οὕτως μωροί, οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; οὐκ ἀνακρίναντες οὐδὲ τὸ σαφὲς ἐπιγνόντες κατεκρίνατε θυγατέρα Ισραηλ; 49 ἀναστρέψατε εἰς τὸ κριτήριον· ψευδῆ γὰρ οὗτοι κατεμαρτύρησαν αὐτῆς. 50 καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετὰ σπουδῆς. καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Δεῦρο κάθισον ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀνάγγειλον ἡμῖν· ὅτι σοὶ δέδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πρεσβεῖον. 51 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Δανιηλ Διαχωρίσατε αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων μακράν, καὶ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτούς. 52 ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν εἷς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑνός, ἐκάλεσεν τὸν ἕνα αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν, νῦν ἥκασιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον 53 κρίνων κρίσεις ἀδίκους καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀθῴους κατακρίνων ἀπολύων δὲ τοὺς αἰτίους, λέγοντος τοῦ κυρίου Ἀθῷον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς· 54 νῦν οὖν ταύτην εἴπερ εἶδες, εἰπόν Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον εἶδες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ σχῖνον. 55 εἶπεν δὲ Δανιηλ Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· ἤδη γὰρ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ λαβὼν φάσιν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ σχίσει σε μέσον. 56 καὶ μεταστήσας αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν προσαγαγεῖν τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Σπέρμα Χανααν καὶ οὐκ Ιουδα, τὸ κάλλος ἐξηπάτησέν σε, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία διέστρεψεν τὴν καρδίαν σου· 57 οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν Ισραηλ, καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὡμίλουν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐ θυγάτηρ Ιουδα ὑπέμεινεν τὴν ἀνομίαν ὑμῶν· 58 νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ πρῖνον. 59 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Δανιηλ Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι καὶ σὺ εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφαλήν· μένει γὰρ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἔχων πρίσαι σε μέσον, ὅπως ἐξολεθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς. 60 καὶ ἀνεβόησεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εὐλόγησαν τῷ θεῷ τῷ σῴζοντι τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ’ αὐτόν. 61 καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο πρεσβύτας, ὅτι συνέστησεν αὐτοὺς Δανιηλ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτῶν ψευδομαρτυρήσαντας, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσαντο τῷ πλησίον, 62 ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. 63 Χελκιας δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ᾔνεσαν τὸν θεὸν περὶ τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῶν Σουσαννας μετὰ Ιωακιμ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ τῶν συγγενῶν πάντων, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα. 64 καὶ Δανιηλ ἐγένετο μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ λαοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπέκεινα. ΔΑΝΙΗΛ (LXX)
1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim: 2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord. 3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others. 5 The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that: 'wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people'. 6 These kept much at Joacim's house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them. 7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk. 8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her. 9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. 10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief. 11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. 12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her. 13 And the one said to the other, "Let us now go home: for it is dinner time." 14 So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back 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. 15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she wished to bathe herself in the garden: for it was hot. 16 And there was nobody there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her. 17 Then she said to her maids, "Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may bathe." 18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid. 19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying, 20 "Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us. 21 If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee." 22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, "I am blocked on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands. 23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord." 24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her. 25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden door. 26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her. 27 But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna. 28 And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death; 29 And said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife." And so they sent. 30 So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. 31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold. 32 And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty. 33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept. 34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head. 35 And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36 And the elders said, "As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. 37 Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her. 38 Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them. 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. 40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify." 41 Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death. 42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, "O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be: 43 Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me." 44 And the Lord heard her voice. 45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel: 46 Who cried with a loud voice, "I am clear from the blood of this woman." 47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, "What mean these words that thou hast spoken?" 48 So he standing in the midst of them said, "Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel? 49 Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false witness against her." 50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, "Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder." 51 Then said Daniel unto them, "Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them." 52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, "O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light. 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.' 54 Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? " - Who answered, "Under a mastick tree." 55 And Daniel said, "Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two." 56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, "O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart. 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. 58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together?" Who answered, "Under an holm tree." 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." 60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him. 61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth: 62 And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day. 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. 64 From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.
Old Greek
English Transl.
............ καὶ ἤρχοντο κρίσεις ἐξ ἄλλων πόλεων πρὸς αὐτούς. 7 /8 οὗτοι ἰδόντες γυναῖκα ἀστείαν τῷ εἴδει, γυναῖκα ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ, ὄνομα Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου γυναῖκα Ιωακιμ, περιπατοῦσαν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς τὸ δειλινὸν καὶ ἐπιθυμήσαντες αὐτῆς 9 διέστρεψαν τὸν νοῦν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων. 10 /11 καὶ ἀμφότεροι ἦσαν κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ οὐ προσεποιεῖτο τὸ κακὸν τὸ ἔχον αὐτοὺς περὶ αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ ἡ γυνὴ ἔγνω τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο. 12 καὶ ὡς ἐγίνετο ὄρθρος, ἐρχόμενοι ἔκλεπτον ἀλλήλους σπεύδοντες, τίς φανήσεται αὐτῇ πρότερος καὶ λαλήσει πρὸς αὐτήν.
13 /14 καὶ ἰδοὺ αὕτη κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς περιεπάτει, καὶ ὁ εἷς τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἐληλύθει, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἕτερος παρεγένετο, καὶ εἷς τὸν ἕτερον ἀνέκρινε λέγων Τί σὺ οὕτως ὄρθρου ἐξῆλθες οὐ παραλαβών με; καὶ ἐξωμολογήσαντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἑκάτερος τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτοῦ.
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19 καὶ εἶπεν εἷς τῷ ἑτέρῳ Πορευθῶμεν πρὸς αὐτήν· καὶ συνθέμενοι προσήλθοσαν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐξεβιάζοντο αὐτήν.
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22 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ Ιουδαία Οἶδα ὅτι ἐὰν πράξω τοῦτο, θάνατός μοί ἐστι, καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν· 23 κάλλιον δέ με μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν ἐνώπιον κυρίου.
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28 Οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἄνδρες ἀπέστρεψαν ἀπειλοῦντες ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐνεδρεύοντες ἵνα θανατώσουσιν αὐτήν· καὶ ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν τῆς πόλεως, οὗ παρῳκοῦσαν, καὶ συνήδρευσαν οἱ ὄντες ἐκεῖ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ· 29 καὶ ἀναστάντες οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι καὶ κριταὶ εἶπαν Ἀποστείλατε ἐπὶ Σουσανναν θυγατέρα Χελκιου, ἥτις ἐστὶ γυνὴ Ιωακιμ· οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἐκάλεσαν αὐτήν. 30 ὡς δὲ παρεγενήθη ἡ γυνὴ σὺν τῷ πατρὶ ἑαυτῆς καὶ τῇ μητρί, καὶ οἱ παῖδες καὶ αἱ παιδίσκαι αὐτῆς ὄντες τὸν ἀριθμὸν πεντακόσιοι παρεγένοντο καὶ τὰ παιδία Σουσαννας τέσσαρα· 31 ἦν δὲ ἡ γυνὴ τρυφερὰ σφόδρα. 32 καὶ προσέταξαν οἱ παράνομοι ἀποκαλύψαι αὐτήν, ἵνα ἐμπλησθῶσι κάλλους ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῆς· 33 καὶ ἐκλαίοσαν οἱ παρ’ αὐτῆς πάντες καὶ ὅσοι αὐτὴν ᾔδεισαν πάντες. 34 ἀναστάντες δὲ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ κριταὶ ἐπέθηκαν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς· 35 ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῆς ἐπεποίθει ἐπὶ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνακύψασα ἔκλαυσεν ἐν ἑαυτῇ λέγουσα 35 a Κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πρὶν γενέσεως αὐτῶν, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι οὐκ ἐποίησα ἃ πονηρεύονται οἱ ἄνομοι οὗτοι ἐπ’ ἐμοί. καὶ εἰσήκουσε κύριος τῆς δεήσεως αὐτῆς. 36 οἱ δὲ δύο πρεσβύτεροι εἶπαν Ἡμεῖς περιεπατοῦμεν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς 37 καὶ κυκλοῦντες τὸ στάδιον εἴδομεν ταύτην ἀναπαυομένην μετὰ ἀνδρὸς καὶ στάντες ἐθεωροῦμεν αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις, 38 καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν ὅτι εἱστήκειμεν. τότε συνειπάμεθα ἀλλήλοις λέγοντες Μάθωμεν τίνες εἰσὶν οὗτοι. 39 καὶ προσελθόντες ἐπέγνωμεν αὐτήν, ὁ δὲ νεανίσκος ἔφυγε συγκεκαλυμμένος, 40 ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι ἐπηρωτῶμεν αὐτήν Τίς ὁ ἄνθρωπος; 41 καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν ἡμῖν, τίς ἦν. ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ πᾶσα ὡς πρεσβυτέρων ὄντων καὶ κριτῶν τοῦ λαοῦ.
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44 /45 Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐκείνης ἐξαγομένης ἀπολέσθαι, καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ ἄγγελος, καθὼς προσετάγη, πνεῦμα συνέσεως νεωτέρῳ ὄντι Δανιηλ.
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48 διαστείλας δὲ Δανιηλ τὸν ὄχλον καὶ στὰς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν Οὕτως μωροί, υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; οὐκ ἀνακρίναντες οὐδὲ τὸ σαφὲς ἐπιγνόντες ἀπεκρίνατε θυγατέρα Ισραηλ;
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51 καὶ νῦν διαχωρίσατέ μοι αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων μακράν, ἵνα ἐτάσω αὐτούς. 52 ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν, εἶπεν Δανιηλ τῇ συναγωγῇ Νῦν μὴ βλέψητε ὅτι οὗτοί εἰσι πρεσβύτεροι, λέγοντες Οὐ μὴ ψεύσωνται· ἀλλὰ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὰ ὑποπίπτοντά μοι. καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν ἕνα αὐτῶν, καὶ προσήγαγον τὸν πρεσβύτερον τῷ νεωτέρῳ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δανιηλ Ἄκουε ἄκουε, πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν· νῦν ἥκασί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον 53 πιστευθεὶς ἀκούειν καὶ κρίνειν κρίσεις θάνατον ἐπιφερούσας καὶ τὸν μὲν ἀθῷον κατέκρινας, τοὺς δὲ ἐνόχους ἠφίεις, τοῦ κυρίου λέγοντος Ἀθῷον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς· 54 νῦν οὖν ὑπὸ τί δένδρον καὶ ποταπῷ τοῦ παραδείσου τόπῳ ἑώρακας αὐτοὺς ὄντας σὺν ἑαυτοῖς; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀσεβής Ὑπὸ σχῖνον. 55 εἶπεν δὲ ὁ νεώτερος Ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν· ὁ γὰρ ἄγγελος κυρίου σχίσει σου τὴν ψυχὴν σήμερον. 56 καὶ τοῦτον μεταστήσας εἶπε προσαγαγεῖν αὐτῷ τὸν ἕτερον· καὶ τούτῳ δὲ εἶπεν Διὰ τί διεστραμμένον τὸ σπέρμα σου, ὡς Σιδῶνος καὶ οὐχ ὡς Ιουδα; τὸ κάλλος σε ἠπάτησεν, ἡ μιαρὰ ἐπιθυμία· 57 καὶ οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν Ισραηλ, καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὡμιλοῦσαν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ οὐ θυγάτηρ Ιουδα ὑπέμεινε τὴν νόσον ὑμῶν ἐν ἀνομίᾳ ὑπενεγκεῖν· 58 νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι Ὑπὸ τί δένδρον καὶ ἐν ποίῳ τοῦ κήπου τόπῳ κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ὑπὸ πρῖνον. 59 καὶ εἶπεν Δανιηλ Ἁμαρτωλέ, νῦν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἕστηκεν ἔχων, ἕως ὁ λαὸς ἐξολεθρεύσει ὑμᾶς, ἵνα καταπρίσῃ σε. 60-62 καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ ἀνεβόησεν ἐπὶ τῷ νεωτέρῳ, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ ἰδίου στόματος ὁμολόγους αὐτοὺς κατέστησεν ἀμφοτέρους ψευδομάρτυρας· καὶ ὡς ὁ νόμος διαγορεύει, ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς, καθὼς ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατὰ τῆς ἀδελφῆς. καὶ ἐφίμωσαν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐξαγαγόντες ἔρριψαν εἰς φάραγγα· τότε ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἔρριψε πῦρ διὰ μέσου αὐτῶν. καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. 63 Διὰ τοῦτο οἱ νεώτεροι ἀγαπητοὶ Ιακωβ ἐν τῇ ἁπλότητι αὐτῶν. καὶ ἡμεῖς φυλασσώμεθα εἰς υἱοὺς δυνατοὺς νεωτέρους· εὐσεβήσουσι γὰρ νεώτεροι, καὶ ἔσται ἐν αὐτοῖς πνεῦμα ἐπιστήμης καὶ συνέσεως εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος.
"...Let us also watch out for capable young sons, for (if) young men are pious, there will be in them a spirit of knowledge and understanding forever and ever (v. 62b)."
This history of Susanna, in all the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was placed in the beginning of the book of Daniel: till St. Jerome, in his translation, detached it from thence; because he did not find it in the Hebrew: which is also the case of the history of Bel and the Dragon. But both the one and the other are received by the Catholic Church: and were from the very beginning a part of the Christian Bible.
Latin (Clem.Vulgate)
English (Douay Transl.)
1 Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim: 2 et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciæ, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum: 3 parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi. 4 Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suæ: et ad ipsum confluebant Judæi, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium. 5 Et constituti sunt de populo duo senes judices in illo anno, de quibus locutus est Dominus: Quia egressa est iniquitas de Babylone a senioribus judicibus, qui videbantur regere populum. 6 Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia. 7 Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui. 8 Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus: 9 et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum. 10 Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum: 11 erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea. 12 Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum: 13 Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se. 14 Cumque revertissent, venerunt in unum: et sciscitantes ab invicem causam, confessi sunt concupiscentiam suam: et tunc in communi statuerunt tempus quando eam possent invenire solam. 15 Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario: æstus quippe erat: 16 et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam. 17 Dixit ergo puellis: Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver. 18 Et fecerunt sicut præceperat: clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos. 19 Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt: 20 Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus: quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum. 21 Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te. 22 Ingemuit Susanna, et ait: Angustiæ sunt mihi undique: si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est: si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras. 23 Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini. 24 Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna: exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam. 25 Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit. 26 Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset. 27 Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina. 28 Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam. 29 Et dixerunt coram populo: Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt. 30 Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis. 31 Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie. 32 At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus. 33 Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam. 34 Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus. 35 Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum: erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino. 36 Et dixerunt presbyteri: Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est hæc cum duabus puellis: et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas. 37 Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea. 38 Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri. 39 Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit: 40 hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis: hujus rei testes sumus. 41 Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem. 42 Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit: Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant, 43 tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me: et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quæ isti malitiose composuerunt adversum me. 44 Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus. 45 Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel: 46 et exclamavit voce magna: Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus. 47 Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit: Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es? 48 Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait: Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël? 49 revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam. 50 Reversus est ergo populus cum festinatione, et dixerunt ei senes: Veni, et sede in medio nostrum, et indica nobis: quia tibi Deus dedit honorem senectutis. 51 Et dixit ad eos Daniel: Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos. 52 Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum: Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quæ operabaris prius: 53 judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino: Innocentem et justum non interficies. 54 Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub schino. 55 Dixit autem Daniel: Recte mentitus es in caput tuum: ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium. 56 Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei: Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum: 57 sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis: sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram. 58 Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub prino. 59 Dixit autem ei Daniel: Recte mentitus es et tu in caput tuum: manet enim angelus Domini, gladium habens, ut secet te medium, et interficiat vos. 60 Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se. 61 Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum, 62 ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa. 63 Helcias autem et uxor ejus laudaverunt Deum pro filia sua Susanna cum Joakim marito ejus, et cognatis omnibus, quia non esset inventa in ea res turpis. 64 Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps. 65 Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.
Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
1 Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim: 2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God. 3 For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them all. 5 And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. 6 These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that hand any maters of judgment came to them. 7 And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard. 8 And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her: 9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. 10 So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other. 11 For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her: 12 And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other: 13 Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out, they departed one from another. 14 And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and asking one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then they agreed together upon a time, when they might find her alone. 15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather. 16 And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves, and were beholding her. 17 So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me. 18 And they did as she bade them: and they shut the doors of the orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch what she had commanded them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within. 19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said: 20 Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us. 21 But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids form thee. 22 Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape your hands. 23 But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. 24 With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her. 25 And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. 26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door, to see what was the matter. 27 But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on the next day, 28 When the people were come to Joakim, her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death. 29 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent. 30 And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred. 31 Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold. 32 But those wicked men commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered) that so at least they might be satisfied with her beauty. 33 Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept. 34 But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head. 35 And she weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord. 36 And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, and sent away the maids from her. 37 Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her. 38 But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. 39 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out: 40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. 41 The multitude believed them, as being the elders, and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come to pass, 43 Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously forged against me. 44 And the Lord heard her voice. 45 And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel: 46 And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of this woman. 47 Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken? 48 But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel? 49 Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her. 50 So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and show it us: seeing God hath given thee the honour of old age. 51 And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them. 52 So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before: 53 In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill. 54 Now then if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together: He said: Under a mastic tree. 55 And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut thee in two. 56 And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived tee, and lust hath perverted thy heart: 57 Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness. 58 Now, therefore, tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree. 59 And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy you. 60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him. 61 And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour, 62 To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day. 63 But Helcias, and his wife, praised God, for their daughter, Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. 64 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thence forward. 65 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers; and Cyrus, the Persian, received his kingdom. Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899