The historie of Susanna, set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in Hebrew, as neither the narration of Bel and the Dragon. Chapter 1

(Original 1611 KJV Book of Susanna)

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Susanna Chapter 1 Original 1611 Bible Scan

CHAP. I.

16 Two Iudges hide themselues in the garden of Susanna to haue their pleasure of her: 28 which when they could not obteine, they accuse and cause her to be condemned for adulterie, 46 but Daniel examineth the matter againe, and findeth the two iudges false.

¹There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Ioacim.

²And hee tooke a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very faire woman, and one that feared the Lord.

³Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses.

⁴Now Ioacim was a great rich man, and had a faire garden ioyning vnto his house, and to him resorted the Iewes: because he was more honourable then all others.

⁵The same yeere were appointed two of the Ancients of the people to be iudges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickednesse came from Babylon from ancient iudges, who seemed to gouerne the people.

⁶These kept much at Ioacims house: and all that had any suits in lawe, came vnto them.

⁷Now when the people departed away at noone, Susanna went into her husbands garden to walke.

⁸And the two Elders saw her going in euery day and walking: so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

⁹And they peruerted their owne mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not looke vnto heauen, nor remember iust iudgements.

¹⁰And albeit they both were wounded with her loue: yet durst not one shew another his griefe.

¹¹For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to haue to doe with her.

¹²Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

¹³And the one said to the other, Let vs now goe home: for it is dinner time.

¹⁴So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning backe againe 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.

¹⁵And it fell out as they watched a fit time, she went in as before, with two maids onely, and she was desirous to wash her selfe in the garden: for it was hot.¹⁵

¹⁶And there was no body there saue the two Elders, that had hid themselues, and watched her.

¹⁷Then she said to her maids, Bring me oile and washing bals, and shut the garden doores, that I may wash me.

¹⁸And they did as she bad them, and shut the garden doores, and went out themselues at priuie doores to fetch the things that she had commaunded them: but they saw not the Elders, because they were hid.¹⁸

¹⁹Now when the maids were gone forth, the two Elders rose vp, and ran vnto her, saying,

²⁰Behold, the garden doores are shut, that no man can see vs, and we are in loue with thee: therefore consent vnto vs, and lie with vs.

²¹If thou wilt not, we will beare witnesse against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maides from thee.

²²Then Susanna sighed and said, I am straited on euery side: for if I doe this thing, it is death vnto me: and if I doe it not, I cannot escape your hands.

²³It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not doe it: then to sinne in the sight of the Lord.

²⁴With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two Elders cried out against her.

²⁵Then ranne the one, and opened the garden doore.

²⁶So when the seruants of the house heard the crie in the garden, they rushed in at a priuie doore to see what was done vnto her.

²⁷But when the Elders had declared their matter, the seruants were greatly ashamed: for there was neuer such a report made of Susanna.

²⁸And it came to passe the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Ioacim, the two Elders came also full of mischieuous imagination against Susanna to put her to death,

²⁹And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Ioacims wife. And so they sent.

³⁰So she came with her father and mother, her children and all her kinred.

³¹Now Susanna was a very delicate woman and beauteous to behold.

³²And these wicked men commanded to vncouer her face (for she was couered) that they might be filled with her beautie.

³³Therefore her friends, and all that saw her, wept.

³⁴Then the two Elders stood vp in the mids of the people, and laid their hands vpon her head.

³⁵And she weeping looked vp towards heauen: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

³⁶And the Elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in, with two maides, and shut the garden doores, & sent the maides away.

³⁷Then a young man who there was hid, came vnto her & lay with her.

³⁸Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickednesse, ran vnto them.

³⁹And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger then we, and opened the doore, and leaped out.

⁴⁰But hauing taken this woman, we asked who the young man was: but she would not tell vs: these things doe we testifie.

⁴¹Then the assembly beleeued them, as those that were the Elders and Iudges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

⁴²Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said: O euerlasting God that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:

⁴³Thou knowest that they haue borne false witnesse against me, and behold I must die: whereas I neuer did such things, as these men haue maliciously inuented against me.

⁴⁴And the Lord heard her voice.

⁴⁵Therefore when she was led to be put to death: the Lord raised vp the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel,

⁴⁶Who cried with a loud voice: I am cleare frō the blood of this woman.

⁴⁷Then all the people turned them towards him, & said: what meane these words that thou hast spoken?

⁴⁸So he standing in the mids of them, said, Are ye such fooles ye sonnes of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, ye haue condemned a daughter of Israel?

⁴⁹Returne againe to the place of iudgement: for they haue borne false witnesse against her

⁵⁰Wherefore all the people turned againe in hast, and the Elders said vnto him, Come sit downe among vs, and shew it vs, seeing God hath giuen thee the honour of an Elder.

⁵¹Then said Daniel vnto them, Put these two aside one farre from another, and I will examine them.

⁵²So when they were put asunder one from another, hee called one of them, and said vnto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickednesse: now thy sinnes which thou hast committed aforetime, are come [to light.]

⁵³For thou hast pronounced false iudgement, and hast condemned the innocent, and hast let the guiltie goe free, albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.⁵³

⁵⁴Now then if thou hast seene her: tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? who answered, Under a masticke tree.⁵⁴

⁵⁵And Daniel said, Uery wel; Thou hast lied against thine owne head: for euen now the Angel of God hath receiued the sentence of God, to cut thee in two.

⁵⁶So hee put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, & said vnto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Iuda, beauty hath deceiued thee, and lust hath peruerted thine heart.

⁵⁷Thus haue yee dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for feare companied with you: but the daughter of Iuda would not abide your wickednesse.

⁵⁸Now therefore tell mee, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? who answered, Under a holme tree.⁵⁸

⁵⁹Then said Daniel vnto him, Well: thou hast also lied against thine owne head: for the Angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

⁶⁰With that all the assembly cried out with a lowd voice, and praised God who saueth them that trust in him.

⁶¹And they arose against the two Elders, (for Daniel had conuicted them of false witnesse by their owne mouth)

⁶²And according to the Law of Moses, they did vnto them in such sort as they malitiously intended to doe to their neighbour: And they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saued the same day.⁶²

⁶³Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Ioacim her husband, and all the kinred: because there was no dishonestie found in her.

⁶⁴From that day foorth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.

Original 1611 KJV Sidenote References for Susanna Chapter 1

¹⁵ Gr. as yesterday and the day before.
¹⁸ Or, side doores.
⁵³ Exod. 23. 7.
⁵⁴ Gr. lentiske tree.
⁵⁸ Or, kinde of oake.
⁶² Deut. 19. 19. prou. 19.5.

* Some content courtesy of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania

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King James Bible Online

Susanna

1611 King James Version (KJV)

The historie of Susanna, set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in Hebrew, as neither the narration of Bel and the Dragon. Chapter 1

(Original 1611 KJV Book of Susanna)