Restoration Promised for Israel and Judah

30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. ³ For behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”

⁴ These are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

⁸ “And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break the yoke from off their^[a] neck, and I will burst their^[b] bonds, and strangers shall no more make servants of them.^{[c][d] 9} But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. ⁴ But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

⁵ Then I Daniel looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. ⁶ And I^[a] said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” ⁷ The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; and I heard him swear by him who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be accomplished. ⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?” ⁹ He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. ¹¹ And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹² Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. ¹³ But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Susanna’s Beauty Attracts Two Elders

13 ^[b]There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Jo′akim. ² And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilki′ah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. ³ Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. ⁴ Jo′akim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honored of them all.

⁵ In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: “Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.” ⁶ These men were frequently at Jo′akim’s house, and all who had suits at law came to them.

⁷ When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband’s garden to walk. ⁸ The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire her. ⁹ And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments. ¹⁰ Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress, ¹¹ for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her. ¹² And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.

¹³ They said to each other, “Let us go home, for it is mealtime.” ¹⁴ And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back, they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they could find her alone.

The Elders Attempt to Seduce Susanna

¹⁵ Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot. ¹⁶ And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were watching her. ¹⁷ She said to her maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may bathe.” ¹⁸ They did as she said, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

¹⁹ When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said: ²⁰ “Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with you; so give your consent, and lie with us. ²¹ If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.”

²² Susanna sighed deeply, and said, “I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. ²³ I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”

²⁴ Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her. ²⁵ And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. ²⁶ When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. ²⁷ And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.

The Elders Testify against Susanna

²⁸ The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Jo′akim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot to have Susanna put to death. ²⁹ They said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilki′ah, who is the wife of Jo′akim.” ³⁰ So they sent for her. And she came, with her parents, her children, and all her kindred.

³¹ Now Susanna was a woman of great refinement, and beautiful in appearance. ³² As she was veiled, the wicked men ordered her to be unveiled, that they might feed upon her beauty. ³³ But her family and friends and all who 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 The elders said, “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. ³⁷ Then a young man, who had been hidden, came to her and lay with her. ³⁸ We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them. ³⁹ We saw them embracing, but we could not hold the man, for he was too strong for us, and he opened the doors and dashed out. ⁴⁰ So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify.”

⁴¹ The assembly believed them, because they were elders of the people and judges; and they condemned her to death.

⁴² Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O eternal God, who dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be, ⁴³ thou knowest that these men have borne false witness against me. And now I am to die! Yet I have done none of the things that they have wickedly invented against me!”

⁴⁴ The Lord heard her cry. ⁴⁵ And as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel; ⁴⁶ and he cried with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.”

Daniel Rescues Susanna

⁴⁷ All the people turned to him, and said, “What is this that you have said?” ⁴⁸ Taking his stand in the midst of them, he said, “Are you such fools, you sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? ⁴⁹ Return to the place of judgment. For these men have borne false witness against her.”

⁵⁰ Then all the people returned in haste. And the elders said to him, “Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you that right.” ⁵¹ And Daniel said to them, “Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.”

⁵² When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, “You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which you have committed in the past, ⁵³ pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and letting the guilty go free, though the Lord said, ‘Do not put to death an innocent and righteous person.’ ⁵⁴ Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under a mastic tree.”^{[c] 55} And Daniel said, “Very well! You have lied against your own head, for the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately cut^[d] you in two.”

⁵⁶ Then he put him aside, and commanded them to bring the other. And he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust has perverted your heart. ⁵⁷ This is how you both have been dealing with the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your wickedness. ⁵⁸ Now then, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak.”^{[e] 59} And Daniel said to him, “Very well! You also have lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to saw^[f] you in two, that he may destroy you both.”

⁶⁰ Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. ⁶¹ And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; ⁶² and they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbor; acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.

⁶³ And Hilki′ah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did Jo′akim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her. ⁶⁴ And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people.