The history of Susanna and the two elders. 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.

 1 Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:
Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim :

 2 And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.
et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciae, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum :

 3 For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.
parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.

 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.
Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suae : et ad ipsum confluebant Judaei, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium.

 5 And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: Iniquity came out from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people.
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 These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.
Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.

 7 And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.
Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.

 8 And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her:
Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus :

 9 And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.
et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent caelum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.

 10 So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other:
Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum :

 11 For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her.
erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.

 12 And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:
Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum :

 13 Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out they departed one from another.
Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.

 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 upon a time, when they might find her alone.
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 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.
Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario : aestus quippe erat :

 16 And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and were beholding her.
et non erat ibi quisquam, praeter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.

 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.
Dixit ergo puellis : Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.

 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.
Et fecerunt sicut praeceperat : clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressae sunt per posticum ut afferrent quae jusserat; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.

 19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said:
Cum autem egressae essent puellae, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt :

 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.
Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus : quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum.

 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 from thee.
Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.

 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.
Ingemuit Susanna, et ait : Angustiae sunt mihi undique : si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est : si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.

 23 But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.
Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.

 24 With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.
Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna : exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.

 25 And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.
Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.

 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.
Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.

 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,
Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina.

 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.
Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.

 29 And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.
Et dixerunt coram populo : Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciae uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.

 30 And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.
Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.

 31 Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.
Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.

 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.
At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur ( erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.

 33 Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept.
Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.

 34 But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head.
Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.

 35 And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.
Quae flens suspexit ad caelum : erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.

 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.
Et dixerunt presbyteri : Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est haec cum duabus puellis : et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas.

 37 Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.
Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.

 38 But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together.
Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.

 39 And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors he leaped out:
Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit :

 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.
hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis : hujus rei testes sumus.

 41 The multitude believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.

 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,
Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit : Deus aeterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,

 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.
tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me : et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quae isti malitiose composuerunt adversum me.

 44 And the Lord heard her voice.
Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.

 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.
Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel :

 46 And he cried out with a loud voice I am clear from the blood of this woman.
et exclamavit voce magna : Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.

 47 Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?
Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit : Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es?

 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?
Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait : Sic fatui filii Israel, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israel?

 49 Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.
revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.

 50 So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it us: seeing God hath given thee the honour of old age.
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 And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.
Et dixit ad eos Daniel : Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.

 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:
Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum : Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quae operabaris prius :

 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.
judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino : Innocentem et justum non interficies.

 54 Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree.
Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub schino.

 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.
Dixit autem Daniel : Recte mentitus es in caput tuum : ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.

 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 thee, and lust hath perverted thy heart:
Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei : Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum :

 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.
sic faciebatis filiabus Israel, et illae timentes loquebantur vobis : sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.

 58 Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree.
Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait : Sub prino.

 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.
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 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.
Exclamavit itaque omnis coetus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.

 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,
Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros ( convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,

 62 To fulfill the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.

 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.
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 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thenceforward.
Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.

 65 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.
Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.