Prima lettura
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
A man lived in Babylon, and his name was Joakim. He took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were also righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a beautiful garden next to his house. The Jews used to come to him, because he was more honorable than all others. The same year, two of the elders of the people were appointed to be judges, such as the Lord spoke of, that wickedness came from Babylon from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people. These were often at Joakim's house. All that had any lawsuits came to them. When the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk. The two elders saw her going in every day and walking; and they were inflamed with lust for her. They perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven, nor remember just judgments. It happened, as they watched on an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and she desired to wash herself in the garden; for it was hot. There was nobody there except the two elders who had hid themselves and watched her. Then she said to her maids, "Bring me olive oil and ointment, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash myself." Now when the maids had gone out, the two elders rose up and ran to her, saying, "Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with you. Therefore consent to us, and lie with us. If you will not, we will testify against you, that a young man was with you; therefore you sent your maids away from you." Then Susanna sighed, and said, "I am trapped; for if I do this thing, it is death to me. If I don't do it, I can't escape your hands. It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord." With that Susanna cried with a loud voice; and the two elders cried out against her. Then one of them ran and opened the garden doors. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed; for there was never such a report made of Susanna. It came to pass on the next day, when the people assembled to her husband Joakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death, and said before the people, "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, Joakim's wife." So they sent; and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. Therefore her friends and all who saw her wept. Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head. She, weeping, looked up toward heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, "As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. Then a young man who was hidden there came to her and lay with her. And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness and ran to them. And when we saw them together, we couldn't hold the man; for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leaped out. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us. We testify these things. Then the assembly believed them, as those who were elders of the people and judges; so they condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, "O everlasting God, you know the secrets, and know all things before they happen. You know that they have testified falsely against me. Behold, I must die, even though I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me." The Lord heard her voice. Therefore when she was led away to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel. He cried with a loud voice, "I am clear from the blood of this woman!" Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, "What do these words that you have spoken mean?" So he, standing in the midst of them, said, "Are you all such fools, you sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you have condemned a daughter of Israel? Return again to the place of judgment; for these have testified falsely against her." Therefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, "Come, sit down among us, and show it to us, seeing God has given you the honor of an elder." Then Daniel said to them, "Put them far apart from each another, and I will examine them." So when they were put apart one from another, he called one of them, and said to him, "O you who have become old in wickedness, now your sins have returned which you have committed before, in pronouncing unjust judgment, condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; although the Lord says, 'You shall not kill the innocent and righteous.' Now then, if you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them companying together?" He answered, "Under a mastick tree." And Daniel said, "You have certainly lied against your own head; for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God and will cut you in two." So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said to him, "O you seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart. Thus you have dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear were intimate with you; but the daughter of Judah would not tolerate your wickedness. Now therefore tell me, under which tree did you take them being intimate together?" He answered, "Under an evergreen oak tree." Then Daniel said to him, "You have also certainly lied against your own head; for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you." With that, all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. Then they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false testimony out of their own mouth. According to the law of Moses they did to them what they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor. They put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day.