The History of Susanna [in Daniel]
Set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the Hebrew, as neither the Narration of
Bel and the Dragon.
1
2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that
feared the Lord.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
32 And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with
her beauty.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.