1:1 anno tertio regni Ioachim regis Iuda venit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis Hierusalem et obsedit eam

1:1 In the third year of the reign of Joakim, king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem, and beseiged it. And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God, and blessing the Lord. Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim: And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers; and Cyrus, the Persian, received his kingdom. And Daniel was the king's guest, and was honoured above all his friends.

1:2 et tradidit Dominus in manu eius Ioachim regem Iudae et partem vasorum domus Dei et asportavit ea in terram Sennaar in domum dei sui et vasa intulit in domum thesauri dei sui

1:2 And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim, the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god. Then Azarias standing up, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said: And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God. Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel: and there was spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.

1:3 et ait rex Asfanaz praeposito eunuchorum suorum ut introduceret de filiis Israhel et de semine regio et tyrannorum

1:3 And the king spoke to Asphenez, the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes, Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever: For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses. The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not adore Bel?

1:4 pueros in quibus nulla esset macula decoros forma et eruditos omni sapientia cautos scientia et doctos disciplina et qui possent stare in palatio regis ut doceret eos litteras et linguam Chaldeorum

1:4 Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and tongue of the Chaldeans. For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true. 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. And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and hath power over all flesh.

1:5 et constituit eis rex annonam per singulos dies de cibis suis et de vino unde bibebat ipse ut enutriti tribus annis postea starent in conspectu regis

1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king. For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers: for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things upon us for our sins. And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a living god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?

1:6 fuerunt ergo inter eos de filiis Iuda Danihel Ananias Misahel et Azarias

1:6 Now there was among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: and we have trespassed in all things: These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that hand any matters of judgment came to them. Then Daniel smiled, and said: O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any time.

1:7 et inposuit eis praepositus eunuchorum nomina Daniheli Balthasar et Ananiae Sedrac Misaheli Misac et Azariae Abdenago

1:7 And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago. And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well with us. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard. And the king being angry, called for his priests, and said to them: If you tell me not who it is that eateth up these expenses, you shall die.

1:8 proposuit autem Danihel in corde suo ne pollueretur de mensa regis neque de vino potus eius et rogavit eunuchorum praepositum ne contaminaretur

1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. Wherefore, all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment: And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her: But if you can shew that Bel eateth these things, Daniel shall die, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel said to the king: Be it done according to thy word.

1:9 dedit autem Deus Daniheli gratiam et misericordiam in conspectu principis eunuchorum

1:9 And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and most wicked beyond all that are upon the earth. And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. Now the priests of Bel were seventy, beside their wives, and little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.

1:10 et ait princeps eunuchorum ad Danihel timeo ego dominum meum regem qui constituit vobis cibum et potum qui si viderit vultus vestros macilentiores prae ceteris adulescentibus coaevis vestris condemnabitis caput meum regi

1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord, the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths, your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king. And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame, and a reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee. So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other. And the priests of Bel said: Behold, we go out: and do thou, O king, set on the meats, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thy own ring:

1:11 et dixit Danihel ad Malassar quem constituerat princeps eunuchorum super Danihel Ananiam Misahel et Azariam

1:11 And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, and abolish not thy covenant. For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her: And when thou comest in the morning, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, that hath lied against us.

1:12 tempta nos obsecro servos tuos diebus decem et dentur nobis legumina ad vescendum et aqua ad bibendum

1:12 Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: And take not away thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, thy beloved, and Isaac, thy servant, and Israel, thy holy one: And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other: And they little regarded it, because they had made under the table a secret entrance, and they always came in by it, and consumed those things.

1:13 et contemplare vultus nostros et vultus puerorum qui vescuntur cibo regio et sicut videris facies cum servis tuis

1:13 And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea shore. Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out, they departed one from another. So it came to pass after they were gone out, the king set the meats before Bel: and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought ashes, and he sifted them all over the temple before the king: and going forth, they shut the door, and having sealed it with the king's ring, they departed.

1:14 qui audito sermone huiuscemodi temptavit eos diebus decem

1:14 And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. 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 together upon a time, when they might find her alone. But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, with their wives, and their children: and they eat and drank up all.

1:15 post dies autem decem apparuerunt vultus eorum meliores et corpulentiores prae omnibus pueris qui vescebantur cibo regio

1:15 And after ten days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat. Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first fruits before thee, 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. And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him.

1:16 porro Malassar tollebat cibaria et vinum potus eorum dabatque eis legumina

1:16 So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse. That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless, in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be accepted. And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves, and were beholding her. And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered: They are whole, O king.

1:17 pueris autem his dedit Deus scientiam et disciplinam in omni libro et sapientia Daniheli autem intellegentiam omnium visionum et somniorum

1:17 And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams. As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee. So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried out with a loud voice: Great art thou, O Bel, and there is not any deceit with thee.

1:18 conpletis itaque diebus post quos dixerat rex ut introducerentur introduxit eos praepositus eunuchorum in conspectu Nabuchodonosor

1:18 And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nabuchodonosor. And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek thy face. 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. And Daniel laughed: and he held the king, that he should not go in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are.

1:19 cumque locutus eis fuisset rex non sunt inventi de universis tales ut Danihel Ananias Misahel et Azarias et steterunt in conspectu regis

1:19 And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood in the king's presence. Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said: And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and children. And the king was angry.

1:20 et omne verbum sapientiae et intellectus quod sciscitatus est ab eis rex invenit in eis decuplum super cunctos ariolos et magos qui erant in universo regno eius

1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom. And deliver us, according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: 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. Then he took the priests, and their wives, and their children: and they shewed him the private doors by which they came in, and consumed the things that were on the table.

1:21 fuit autem Danihel usque ad annum primum Cyri regis

1:21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. And let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, let them be confounded in all thy might, and let their strength be broken: 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 form thee. The king, therefore, put them to death, and delivered Bel into the power of Daniel: who destroyed him and his temple.

1:22 And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious over all the world. 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. And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians worshipped him.

1:23 Now the king's servants that had cast them in, ceased not to heat the furnace with brimstone and tow, and pitch, and dry sticks, But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. And the king said to Daniel: Behold, thou canst not say now, that this is not a living god: adore him, therefore.

1:24 And the flame mounted up above the furnace nine and forty cubits: With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her. And Daniel said: I adore the Lord, my God: for he is the living God: but that is no living god.

1:25 And it broke forth, and burnt such of the Chaldeans as it found near the furnace. And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or club. And the king said, I give thee leave.

1:26 But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, 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. Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and boiled them together: and he made lumps, and put them into the dragon's mouth, and the dragon burst asunder. And he said: Behold him whom you worship.

1:27 And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, nor did them any harm. 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, And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the dragon, and he hath put the priests to death.

1:28 Then these three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God, in the furnace, saying: 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. And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house.

1:29 Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all, in all ages. And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent. And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being constrained by necessity: he delivered Daniel to them.

1:30 Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly glorious for ever. And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred. And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six days.

1:31 Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised and exalted above all for ever. Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not given unto them, that they might devour Daniel.

1:32 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 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. Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers.

1:33 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever. Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept. And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon, to Daniel, who is in the lions' den.

1:34 All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head. And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den.

1:35 O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. And she weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord. And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon, over the den, in the force of his spirit.

1:36 O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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, ans sent away the maids from her. And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee.

1:37 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her. And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee.

1:38 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. And Daniel arose, and eat. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place.

1:39 O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out: And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions.

1:40 O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions' den.

1:41 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. The multitude believed them, as being the elders, and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him.

1:42 O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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,

1:43 O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:44 O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever. And the Lord heard her voice.

1:45 O ye dews and hoar frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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:

1:46 O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of this woman.

1:47 O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?

1:48 O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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?

1:49 O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.

1:50 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:51 O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever. And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.

1:52 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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:

1:53 O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:54 O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. Now then if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together: He said: Under a mastic tree.

1:55 O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:56 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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 tee, and lust hath perverted thy heart:

1:57 O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:58 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. Now, therefore, tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree.

1:59 O ye sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:60 O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all for ever. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.

1:61 O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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,

1:62 O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.

1:63 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 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.

1:64 O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thence forward.

1:65 O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, ad saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire.

1:66 O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.

1:67 O all ye religious, bless the Lord, the God of gods: praise him, and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.