DANIEL
Susanna
There was a man who dwelt in Babylon, whose name was Joachim. 2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; a very beautiful woman, who feared the Lord. 3 Her parents also were righteous, and they taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 And Joachim was very rich, and had a garden adjoining his house; and the Jews resorted to him, because he was more honoured than all other. 5 In that year two elders of the people were appointed judges, concerning whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon, from elder judges, who presumed to govern the people.” 6 They attended continually at Joachim’s house, and all who required judgements came to them. 7 And it came to pass that when the people departed at mid-day, Susanna went in and walked in her husband’s garden. 8 And the two elders saw her every day, going in and walking, and they became inflamed with lust for her. 9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look up to heaven, nor remember righteous judgments. 10 And they were both pierced to the heart concerning her, but did not tell each other of their pain; 11 for they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to consort with her; 12 but they watched intently day by day to see her. 13 And each said to the other, “Let us go home now, for it is dinner time,” and they went out, and were separated, each from the other. 14 And they turned back and came to the same place, and enquiring of each other the cause, they confessed their lust, then together they arranged a time when they might find her alone. 15 And it came to pass, as they watched closely for a suitable day, that she went in as before with only two maidservants; and she desired to bathe in the garden, for it was hot. 16 And there was no one there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17 And she said to her maidservants, “Bring me oil and soap, and shut the garden doors, that I may bathe myself.” 18 And they did as she said and shut the garden doors, and went out by the side doors to bring the things which she had commanded them; but they did not see the elders, because they were hidden. 19 And it came to pass that when the maidservants went out, the two elders rose up and ran to her, 20 and said, “Behold, the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; and we have a desire for you, therefore consent to us, and lie with us; 21 and if not, we will bear witness against you, that a young man was with you, therefore you sent your maidservants away from you.” 22 And Susanna groaned aloud, and said, “I am hemmed in on every side, for if I do this, it is death for me; and if I do not do it, I cannot escape your hands. 23 It is better for me not to do it, and to fall into your hands, than to sin before the Lord.” 24 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders also cried out against her. 25 And one of them ran, and opened the garden door; 26 and when they of the house heard the outcry in the garden, they rushed in by the side doors, to see what had happened to her; 27 but when the elders had given their account, the servants were very ashamed, for such a thing had never been said about Susanna.
28 And it came to pass on the next day, when the people came together to Joachim her husband, that the two elders also came full of wicked intentions against Susanna to put her to death; 29 and they said before the people, “Send for Susanna the daughter of Hilkiah, who is Joachim’s wife,” and they sent. 30 And she came with her parents, and her children, and all her kindred. 31 Now Susanna was very delicate, and beautiful to behold; 32 and the wicked men commanded to unveil her (for she was veiled), that they might be filled with her beauty; 33 and those with her, and all who saw her wept. 34 Then the two elders rose up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head; 35 and weeping, she looked up to heaven, for her heart was confident in the Lord. 36 And the elders said, “As we walked in the garden alone, she came in with two maidservants; and she shut the doors of the garden, and sent the maidservants away; 37 and a young man came to her, who was hidden, and lay with her. 38 Then we, being in the corner of the garden and seeing this wickedness, ran to them; and seeing them consorting together, 39 the young man we could not hold, for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and escaped; 40 but we laid hold of this woman and asked her who the young man was, 41 but she was not willing to tell us; to these things we bear witness.” And the assembly believed them, as elders of the people and judges; and they condemned her to death. 42 And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O everlasting God, who knows secrets, and who knows all things before they come to pass, 43 you know they have borne false witness against me; and behold, I shall die, though I have done nothing such as these men have maliciously devised against me.”
44 And the Lord heard her voice; 45 and as she was being led to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young man whose name was Daniel; 46 and he cried with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.” 47 And all the people turned to him, and said, “What is this thing which you have spoken?” 48 And standing in their midst, he said, “Are the sons of Israel such fools, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you have condemned a daughter of Israel? 49 Return to the place of judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.” 50 And all the people returned with haste, and the elders said to him, “Come, sit down among us, and teach us, for God has given you the status of an elder.” 51 And Daniel said to them, “Separate these two far from each other, and I will examine them.” 52 And when they were separated one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him, “’You have grown old in wicked days, and now your sins have arrived, which you committed formerly, 53 for in judging, you judge unjustly, condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free,’ saith the Lord; ‘you shall not kill the innocent and righteous.’ 54 Now therefore, since you saw her, speak! Under what tree did you see them consorting together?” And he said, “Under a mastic tree.” 55 And Daniel said, “Surely you have lied against your own head, for already the angel of God has received God’s judgement to cut you in two.” 56 And putting him aside, he called for the other to be brought, and said to him, “Seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart. 57 You have so dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they consorted with you for fear; but the daughter of Judah would not abide your wickedness. 58 Now therefore tell me, under what tree did you catch them consorting together?” And he said, “Under an oak tree.” 59 And Daniel said to him, “Surely you also have lied against your own head, for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you utterly.” 60 And all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who trust in him. 61 And they arose against the two elders, for by their own mouth Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; and they did to them as they had intended to do to their neighbour, 62 dealing with them according to the law of Moses; and they put them to death, and so innocent blood was saved that day. 63 And Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joachim her husband, and all their kindred, because no dishonorable thing was found in her. 64 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day forth.
Daniel 1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz his chief eunuch, to bring in some of the sons of the captives of Israel, and of the royal seed, and of the nobles: 4 young men in whom was no infirmity, but of fair appearance, understanding all wisdom, having knowledge, intelligent of thought, and such as had strength in them to stand in the palace before the king, and to be taught the letters and tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily portion from the king’s table, and of the wine of his drinking, that they should be nourished three years, and after that to stand before the king. 6 And among them, of the sons of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. 7 And the chief eunuch gave them names: to Daniel, Baltasar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, and with the wine of his drinking; and he requested of the chief eunuch that he might not defile himself. 9 And God brought Daniel into mercy and compassion before the chief eunuch; 10 and the chief eunuch said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, lest he see your faces sullen beside the young men of your age, and you condemn me before the king.” 11 And Daniel said to Amelsad, whom the chief eunuch had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants then, for ten days, and give us pulses to eat, and water to drink; 13 then let our faces appear before you, and the faces of the young men who eat from the king’s table; and according to what you see, deal with your servants.” 14 And he hearkened to them, and tested them for ten days; 15 and at the end of the ten days their faces appeared fairer and firmer in flesh than the young men who ate from the king’s table; 16 so Amelsad took away their food, and the wine for their drink, and gave them pulses. 17 As for these young men, the four of them, God gave them understanding and insight, in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 And at the end of the days of which the king had said to bring them in, the chief eunuch brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king talked with them; and of them all, there were found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and they stood before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding of which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the enchanters and magicians and astrologers that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.
Daniel 2
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. 2 And the king commanded to call the enchanters, magicians, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, to tell the king his dream; and they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” 4 And the Chaldeans said to the king in Syrian, “O king, live for ever; tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing is gone from me; if you will not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be destroyed, and your houses plundered; 6 but if you make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour; only tell me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 And the king answered and said, “Truly I know that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me; 9 therefore if you do not tell me the dream, I will know that you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me, until the time has passed away. Tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, “There is not a man upon the earth that can make known the king’s matter, since no great king or ruler has ever asked such a thing of any enchanter, magician, or Chaldean; 11 for the thing which the king asks is heavy to bear, and there is no one else who can tell it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with all flesh.” 12 Therefore the king, in fury and anger, said, “Destroy all the wise men of Babylon.” 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his friends to destroy them. 14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the king’s chief captain, who went forth to slay the wise men of Babylon, 15 “Captain of the king, why has the decree of destruction come forth from the king?” So Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and besought the king that he would give him time, that he might tell the interpretation to the king. 17 And Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his friends; 18 and they sought mercies of the God of heaven concerning this mystery, that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night; and Daniel blessed the God of heaven, 20 and said,
“May God’s name be blessed from the
ages to the ages,
for wisdom and understanding are his.
21 He changes
times and seasons;
he sets up kings, and removes them.
He gives wisdom
to the wise,
and insight to those who know understanding.
22 He reveals
deep and hidden things,
knowing what is in the darkness,
and the light
is with him.
23 “O God of my fathers, I confess
you and praise you, for you have given me wisdom and power; and you have
made known to me that for which we besought you, and have made known to me the
king’s vision.” 24 And Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to
destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men
of Babylon, but bring me in before the king, and I will tell the king the
interpretation.” 25 Then Arioch hastily brought in Daniel before the king, and
said to him, “I have found a man of the sons of the captivity of Judah, who will
tell the king the interpretation.” 26 And the king answered and said to Daniel,
whose name was Baltasar, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I saw, and its
interpretation?” 27 And Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret
which the king has demanded, no wise men, magicians, enchanters, or diviners can
tell to the king; 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and has
made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what must come to pass in the last days. Your
dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these: 29 As for you, O
king, your thoughts arose upon your bed, what must happen after this; and he who
reveals secrets has made known to you what must come to pass. 30 But as for me,
not through any wisdom that may be in me more than all who live, has this been
revealed; but by reason of making known the interpretation to the king, that you
might know the thoughts of your heart. 31 You saw, O king, and behold an image,
greater than any other image, whose appearance was excellent, stood before you;
and the sight of it was terrible: 32 an image, of which the head was of fine
gold; its hands, breast, and arms of silver; its belly and thighs of bronze; 33
its legs of iron; and its feet, part of iron and part of clay. 34 You saw, until
a stone was cut from the mountain without hands, and it struck the image upon
its feet of iron and clay, and broke them completely to pieces. 35 Then were the
clay, the iron, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces once for
all, and became like dust from a summer threshing floor; and they were carried
away by the force of the wind, and no place was found for them; and the stone
that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled all the earth. 36 This
is the dream, and we will tell its interpretation before the king: 37 You, O
king, are a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given a kingdom, power,
strength, and honour; 38 and in every place where the sons of men dwell, the
beasts of the field, the birds of heaven, and the fish of the sea he has given
into your hand, and made you lord of all. You are the head of gold. 39 And after
you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and a third kingdom, which is
of bronze, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom,
which shall be strong like iron, just as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all
things, so shall it break all things in pieces and subdue. 41 And since you saw
the feet and toes, part of clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided;
but some of the root of the iron shall be in it: just as you saw the iron mixed
with the clay; 42 and the toes of the feet, part of iron and part of clay; so
shall the kingdom be partly strong, but some of it shall be broken. 43 And since
you saw the iron mixed with the clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed
of men; but they will not cleave to them, just as the iron does not mix with the
clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven shall establish a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed; nor will his kingdom be left to another
people, but it shall break in pieces and scatter all these kingdoms; and it
shall stand for ever. 45 Just as you saw that a stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the clay, the iron, the
bronze, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what
must come to pass hereafter; and the dream is true, and its interpretation
honest. 46 Then king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel,
and commanded that they scatter an offering and sweet odours to him. 47 And the
king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly your God is a God of gods, and a Lord
of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you were able to reveal this secret.”
48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him great and many gifts, and set
him over all the region of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise
men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the region of Babylon; but Daniel was
in the court of the king.