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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 was
desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.
16 And there was no body 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 wash
me.
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 straitened 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.
65 And king Astyages
was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom.
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1- و كان في بابل رجل اسمه يوياقيم.
2- و كان متزوجا امراة اسمها سوسنة ابنة حلقيا
جميلة جدا و متقية للرب.
3- و كان ابواها صديقين فادبا
ابنتهما على حسب شريعة موسى.
4- و كان يواقيم غنيا جدا و كانت
له حديقة تلي داره و كان اليهود يجتمعون اليه لانه كان اوجههم جميعا.
5- و كان قد اقيم شيخان من الشعب
للقضاء في تلك السنة و هما من الذين قال الرب فيهم ان الاثم قد صدر من بابل من
شيوخ قضاة يحسبون مدبري الشعب.
6- و كانا يترددان الى دار
يوياقيم فياتيهما كل ذي دعوى.
7- و كانت سوسنة متى انصرف الشعب
عند الظهر تدخل و تتمشى في حديقة رجلها.
8- فكان الشيخان يريانها كل يوم
تدخل و تتمشى فكلفا بهواها.
9- و اسلما عقولهما الى الفساد و
صرفا اعينهما لئلا ينظرا الى السماء فيذكرا الاحكام العادلة.
10- و كانا كلاهما مشغوفين بها و
لم يكاشف احدهما الاخر بوجده.
11- حياء من كشف هواهما و رغبة
في مضاجعتها.
12- و كانا كل يوم يجدان في
الترقب لكي ينظراها.
13- و ان احدهما قال للاخر لنتصرف الى بيوتنا
فانها ساعة الغذاء فخرجا و تفارقا.
14- ثم انقلبا و رجعا الى الموضع
فسال بعضهما بعضا عن سبب رجوعه فاعترفا بهواهما و حينئذ اتفقا معا على وقت
يمكنهما فيه ان يخلوا بها.
15- و كان في بعض الايام بينما هما مترقبان
اليوم الموافق انها دخلت مثل امس فما قبل و معها جاريتان فقط و ارادت ان تغتسل
في الحديقة لانه كان حر.
16- و لم يكن هناك احد الا الشيخان و هما
مختبئان يترقبانها.
17- فقالت للجاريتين ائتياني
بدهن و غسول و اغلقا ابواب الحديقة لاغتسل.
18- ففعلتا كما امرتهما اغلقتا
ابواب الحديقة و خرجتا من ابواب السر لتاتيا بما امرتا به و لم تعلما ان الشيخين
مختبئان هناك.
19- فلما خرجت الجاريتان قام
الشيخان و هجما عليها و قالا.
20- ها ان ابواب الحديقة مغلقة و
لا يرانا احد و نحن كلفان بهواك فوافقينا و كوني معنا.
21- و الا فنشهد عليك انه كان
معك شاب و لذلك صرفت الجاريتين عنك.
22- فتنهدت سوسنة و قالت لقد ضاق بي الامر من
كل جهة فاني ان فعلت هذا فهو لي موت و ان لم افعل فلا انجو من ايديكما.
23- و لكن خير لي ان لا افعل ثم
اقع في ايديكما من ان اخطا امام الرب.
24- و صرخت سوسنة بصوت عظيم فصرخ
الشيخان عليها.
25- و اسرع احدهما و فتح ابواب
الحديقة.
26- فلما سمع اهل البيت الصراخ في الحديقة
وثبوا اليها من باب السر ليروا ما وقع لها.
27- و لما تكلم الشيخان بكلامهما
خجل العبيد جدا لانه لم يقل قط هذا القول على سوسنة.
28- و في الغد لما اجتمع الشعب
الى رجلها يوياقيم اتى الشيخان مضمرين نية اثيمة على سوسنة ليهلكاها.
29- و قالا امام الشعب ارسلوا
الى سوسنة بنة حلقيا التي هي امراة يوياقيم فارسلوا.
30- فاتت هي و والداها و بنوها و
جميع ذوي قرابتها.
31- و كانت سوسنة ترفة جدا و
جميلة المنظر.
32- فامر هذان الفاجران ان يكشف
وجهها و كانت مبرقعة ليشبعا من جمالها.
33- و كان اهلها و جميع الذين
يعرفونها يبكون.
34- فقام الشيخان في وسط الشعب و وضعا ايديهما
على راسها.
35- فرفعت طرفها الى السماء و هي
باكية لان قلبها كان متوكلا على الرب.
36- فقال الشيخان اننا كنا نتمشى
في الحديقة وحدنا فاذا بهذه قد دخلت و معها جاريتان و اغلقت ابواب الحديقة ثم
صرفت الجاريتين.
37- فاتاها شاب كان مختبئا و وقع
عليها.
38- و كنا نحن في زاوية من
الحديقة فلما راينا الاثم اسرعنا اليهما و رايناهما متعانقين.
39- اما ذاك فلم نستطيع ان نمسكه
لانه كان اقوى منا ففتح الابواب و فر.
40- و اما هذه فقبضنا عليها و
سالناها من الشاب فابت ان تخبرنا هذا ما نشهد به.
41- فصدقهما المجمع لانهما شيخان
و قاضيان في الشعب و حكموا عليها بالموت.
42- فصرخت سوسنة بصوت عظيم و
قالت ايها الاله الازلي البصير بالخفايا العالم بكل شيء قبل ان يكون.
43- انك تعلم انهما شهدا علي بالزور و ها انا
اموت و لم اصنع شيئا مما افترى علي هذان.
44- فاستجاب الرب لصوتها.
45- و اذ كانت تساق الى الموت نبه الله روحا
مقدسا لشاب حدث اسمه دانيال.
46- فصرخ بصوت عظيم انا بريء من
دم هذه.
47- فالتفت اليه الشعب كله و
قالوا ما هذا الكلام الذي قلته.
48- فوقف في وسطهم و قال اهكذا
انتم اغبياء يا بني اسرائيل حتى تقضوا على بنت اسرائيل بغير ان تفحصوا و تتحققوا
الامر.
49- ارجعوا الى القضاء فان هذين
انما شهدا عليها بالزور.
50- فاسرع الشعب كله و رجع فقال
له الشيخان هلم اجلس بيننا و افدنا فقد اتاك الله مزية الشيوخ.
51- فقال لهم دانيال فرقوهما
بعضهما عن بعض فاحكم فيهما.
52- فلما فرقا الواحد عن الاخر
دعا احدهما و قال له يا ايها المتعتق الايام الشريرة لقد اتت عليك خطاياك التي
ارتكبت من قبل.
53- بقضائك اقضية ظلم و حكمك على
الابرياء و اطلاقكك للمجرمين و قد قال الله البريء و الزكي لا تقتلهما.
54- فالان ان كنت قد رايتها فقل
تحت اي شجرة رايتهما يتحدثان فقال تحت الضروة.
55- فقال دانيال لقد صوبت كذبك
على راسك فملاك الله قد امر من لدن الله بان يشقك شطرين.
56- ثم نحاه و امر باقبال الاخر
فقال له يا نسل كنعان لا يهوذا قد فتنك الجمال و اسلم الهوى قلبك الى الفساد.
57- هكذا كنتما تصنعان مع بنات
اسرائيل و كن يحدثنكما مخافة منكما اما بنت يهوذا فلم تحتمل فجوركما.
58- فالان قل لي تحت اية شجرة
صادفتهما يتحدثان فقال تحت السنديانة.
59- فقال له دانيال و انت ايضا
قد صوبت كذبك على راسك فملاك الله واقف و بيده سيف ليقطعك شطرين حتى يهلككما.
60- فصرخ المجمع كله بصوت عظيم و
باركوا الله مخلص الذين يرجونه.
61- و قاموا على الشيخين و قد
اثبت دانيال من نطقهما انهما شهدا بالزور و صنعوا بهما كما نويا ان يصنعا
بالقريب.
62- عملا بما في شريعة موسى فقتلوهما و خلص
الدم الزكي في ذلك اليوم.
63- فسبح حلقيا و امراته لاجل ابنتهما مع
يوياقيم رجلها و ذوي قرابتهم لانه لم يوجد فيها شيء قبيح.
64- و عظم دانيال عند الشعب من ذلك اليوم فما
بعد.
65- و انضم الملك اسطواج الى ابائه و اخذ كورش
الفارسي ملكه
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