THERE dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim : 2 and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord. Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to • Now Joacim was a very rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house ; and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

5 The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from 'ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people. These kept much at Joacim's house, and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk. And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking ; so that their lust was infamed toward her. 9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor re. member just judgments. 10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief. 1 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

13 And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time. So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place ; and after that they had askeᾷ one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot. 16 And there was nobody there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her. Η Then she said to και maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash.

ΚΑΙ ἦν ἀνὴρ οἰκῶν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωακείμ. Καὶ ἔλαβε γυναῖκα ἡ ὄνομα Σωσάννα, θυγάτηρ Χελκίου, 2 καλὴ σφόδρα, καὶ φοβουμένη τὸν Κύριον. Καὶ οἱ γονεῖς αὐ- 3 τῆς δίκαιοι, καὶ ἐδίδαξαν τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ. Καὶ ἦν Ἰωακεὶμ πλούσιος σφόδρα, καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ 4 παράδεισος γειτνιῶν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν προσήγοντο οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐνδοξότερον πάντων.

Καὶ ἀπεδείχθησαν δύο πρεσβύτεροι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ κριταὶ 5 ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ, περὶ ὧν ἐλάλησεν ὁ δεσπότης, ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἀνομία ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος ἐκ πρεσβυτέρων κριτῶν, οἱ ἐδόκουν κυβερνᾷν τὸν λαόν. Οὗτοι προσεκαρτέρουν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ 6 Ἰωακεὶμ, καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάντες οἱ κρινόμενοι.

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἀπέτρεχεν ὁ λαὸς μέσον ἡμέρας, εἶσε. 7 πορεύετο Σωσάννα, καὶ περιεπάτει ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς. Καὶ ἐθεώρουν αὐτὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτεροι 8 καθ ̓ ἡμέραν εἰσπορευομένην, καὶ περιπατοῦσαν, καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ διέστρεψαν τὸν ἑαυτῶν νοῦν, καὶ 9 ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, μηδὲ μνημονεύειν κριμάτων δικαίων. Καὶ ἦσαν 10 ἀμφότεροι κατανενυγμένοι περὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἀνήγγειλαν ἀλλήλοις τὴν ὀδύνην ἑαυτῶν· Οτι ᾐσχύνοντο ἀναγγείλαι 11 τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἤθελον συγγενέσθαι αὐτῇ. Καὶ 12 παρετηροῦσαν φιλοτίμως καθ' ἡμέραν ὁρᾷν αὐτήν.

Καὶ εἶπαν ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ, πορευθῶμεν δὴ εἰς οἶκον, 13 ὅτι ἀρίστου ὥρα ἐστί. Καὶ ἐξελθόντες διεχωρίσθησαν ἀπ' 14 ἀλλήλων, καὶ ἀνακάμφαντες ἦλθον ἐπιτοαυτὸ, καὶ ἀνετάζοντες ἀλλήλους τὴν αἰτίαν, ὡμολόγησαν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν· καὶ τότε κοινῇ συνετάξαντο καιρὸν, ὅτε αὐτὴν δυνήσονται εὑρεῖν μόνην.

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ παρατηρεῖν αὐτοὺς ἡμέραν εὔθετον, 15 εἰσῆλθέ ποτε καθὼς χθὲς καὶ τρίτης ἡμέρας μετὰ δύο μόνων κορασίων, καὶ ἐπεθύμησε λούσασθαι ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, ὅτι καῦμα ἦν. Καὶ οὐκ ἦν οὐδεὶς ἐκεῖ πλὴν οἱ δύο πρεσβύτε- 16 ροι κεκρυμμένοι, καὶ παρατηροῦντες αὐτήν. Καὶ εἶπε τοῖς 17 κορασίοις, ἐνέγκατε δή μοι ἔλαιον καὶ σμήγματα, καὶ τας θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου κλείσατε, ὅπως λούσωμαι.

Καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς εἶπε, καὶ ἀπέκλεισαν τὰς θύρας τοῦ 18 παραδείσου, καὶ ἐξῆλθαν κατὰ τὰς πλαγίας θύρας, ἐνέγκαι τὰ προστεταγμένα αὐταῖς, καὶ οὐκ εἴδοσαν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, ὅτι ἦσαν κεκρυμμένοι.

19

Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐξήλθοσαν τὰ κοράσια, καὶ ἀνέστησαν 20 οἱ δύο πρεσβύται, καὶ ἐπέδραμον αὐτῇ, καὶ εἶπον, ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ παραδείσου κέκλεινται, καὶ οὐδεὶς θεωρεῖ ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ σου ἐσμέν· διὸ συγκατάθου ἡμῖν, καὶ γενοῦ μεθ ̓ 21 ἡμῶν. Εἰ δὲ μὴ, καταμαρτυρήσομέν σου, ὅτι ἦν μετὰ σοῦ νεανίσκος, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐξαπέστειλας τὰ κοράσια ἀπὸ σοῦ. Καὶ ἀνεστέναξε Σωσάννα, καὶ εἶπε, στενά μοι πάντοθεν ἐάν τε γὰρ τοῦτο πράξω, θάνατός μοι ἐστίν· ἐάν τε μὴ 23 πράξω, οὐκ ἐκφεύξομαι τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν. Αἱρετώτερόν μοι ἐστὶ μὴ πράξασαν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν, ἢ ἁμαρτεῖν 24 ἐνώπιον Κυρίου. Καὶ ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σωσάννα· ἐβόησαν δὲ καὶ οἱ δύο πρεσβύται κατέναντι αὐτῆς.

22

Ἡ δὲ Σωσάννα ἦν τρυφερὰ σφόδρα, καὶ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει. 32 Οἱ δὲ παράνομοι ἐκέλευσαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτὴν, ἦν γὰρ κατακεκαλυμμένη, ὅπως ἐμπλησθῶσι τοῦ κάλλους αὐτῆς. 33 Εκλαιον δὲ οἱ παρ ̓ αὐτῆς, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἰδόντες αὐτήν. 34 ̓Αναστάντες δὲ οἱ δύο πρεσβύται ἐν μέσῳ τῷ λαῷ, ἔθηκαν 35 τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς. Ἡ δὲ κλαίουσα ἀνέβλεψεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ὅτι ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς πεποιθυία ἐπὶ Κυρίῳ.

36

τῷ

Εἶπον δὲ οἱ πρεσβύται, περιπατούντων ἡμῶν ἐν παραδείσῳ μόνων, εἰσῆλθεν αὕτη μετὰ δύο παιδισκῶν, καὶ ἀπέκλεισε τὰς θύρας τοῦ παραδείσου, καὶ ἀπέλυσε τὰς 37 παιδίσκας. Καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτὴν νεανίσκος ὃς ἦν κεκρυμ38 μένος, καὶ ἀνέπεσε μετ' αὐτῆς. Ἡμεῖς δὲ ὄντες ἐν τῇ γωνία τοῦ παραδείσου, ἰδόντες τὴν ἀνομίαν, ἐδράμομεν ἐπ' αὐτούς. Καὶ ἰδόντες συγγινομένους αὐτοὺς, ἐκείνου μὲν οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐγκρατεῖς γενέσθαι, διὰ τὸ ἰσχύειν αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ 40 ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἀνοίξαντα τὰς θύρας ἐκπεπηδηκέναι. Ταύτης δὲ ἐπιλαβόμενοι, ἐπηρωτῶμεν, τίς ἦν ὁ νεανίσκος· καὶ οὐκ 41 ἠθέλησεν ἀγγεῖλαι ἡμῖν· ταῦτα μαρτυροῦμεν. Καὶ ἐπί. στευσεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συναγωγὴ ὡς πρεσβυτέροις τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ κριταῖς· καὶ κατέκριναν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν.

39

42

̓Ανεβόησε δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Σωσάννα, καὶ εἶπεν, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ αἰώνιος, ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης, ὁ εἰδὼς τὰ πάντα πριν 43 γενέσεως αὐτῶν, σὺ ἐπίστασαι ὅτι ψευδῆ μου κατεμαρτύρησαν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποθνήσκω μὴ ποιήσασα μηδὲν ὧν οὗτοι Καὶ εἰσήκουσε Κύριος τῆς 44 ἐπονηρεύσαντο κατ ̓ ἐμοῦ.

φωνῆς αὐτῆς.

22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am strait

ened on every side: for it I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not, I cannot es. into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in cape your hands. 23 It is better for me to fall the sight of the Lord. Η With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

400. 25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden 26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at ο Butlers had declared their a private door, to what was done unto her. matter, the servants were greatly ashamed

for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

the people were assembled to her husband 28 And it came to pass the next day, when Joacim, the two elders came also full of mis. chievous imagination against Susanna to put μer to death; and said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent. * So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst head. And she weeping looked up toward

of the people, and laid their hands upon her

heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

35 And the elders said, As we walked in the maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids away. * Then a young man, who there Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, was hid, came unto her, and lay with her. seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.

39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out. 40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us : these things do we testify. 4 Then the as. elders and judges of the people: so they consembly believed them, as those that were the demned her to death.

42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice. and said, Ο everlasting God, that knowest the thou knowest that they have borne false secrets, and knowest all things before they be: witness against me, and, behold, I must die; have maliciously invented against me. whereas I never did such things as these men 44 And

the Lord heard her voice.

45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel: 40 cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the

blood of this woman.

50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, εἰς down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder. I Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them.

52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light: & for thou hast pronounced false judgment, and hast condemned the innocent, and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay. 5+ Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? And he said, Under a mastick tree.

55 And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two. 56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart. 57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness. 58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? And he said, Under a holm tree.

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

60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him. o And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them

of false witness by their own mouth: 62 and ac cording to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

63 Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all their kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. From that

day forth was Daniel had in great reputation

in the sight of the people.

Καὶ ἀνέστρεψε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετὰ σπουδῆς· καὶ εἶπαν 50 αὐτῷ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, δεῦρο κάθισον ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀνάγγειλον ἡμῖν, ὅτι σοὶ δέδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ πρεσβεῖον. Καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Δανιὴλ, διαχωρίσατε αὐτοὺς ἀπ ̓ 51 ἀλλήλων μακρὰν, καὶ ἀνακρινῶ αὐτούς.

Ὡς δὲ διεχωρίσθησαν εἷς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑνὸς, ἐκάλεσε τὸν ἕνα 52 αὐτῶν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, πεπαλαιωμένε ἡμερῶν κακῶν, νῦν ἤκασιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου, ἃς ἐποίεις τὸ πρότερον, κρίνων 53 κρίσεις ἀδίκους· καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀθώους κατακρίνων, ἀπολύων δὲ τοὺς αἰτίους, λέγοντος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀθῶον καὶ δίκαιον οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖς. Νῦν οὖν ταύτην εἴπερ εἶδες, εἰπὸν, ὑπὸ τί 54 δένδρον εἶδες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ὑπὸ σχῖνον.

Εἶπε δὲ Δανιὴλ, ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι εἰς τὴν σεαυτοῦ κεφα- 55 λήν· ἤδη γὰρ ἄγγελος φάσιν Θεοῦ λαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, σχίσει σε μέσον. Καὶ μεταστήσας αὐτὸν, ἐκέλευσε προσ- 50 αγαγεῖν τὸν ἕτερον, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, σπέρμα Χαναὰν, καὶ οὐκ Ἰούδα, τὸ κάλλος ἐξηπάτησέ σε, καὶ ἐπιθυμία διέστρεψε τὴν καρδίαν σου. Οὕτως ἐποιεῖτε θυγατράσιν Ἰσραὴλ, 57 καὶ ἐκεῖναι φοβούμεναι ὁμίλουν ὑμῖν· ἀλλ ̓ οὐ θυγάτηρ Ἰούδα ὑπέμεινε τὴν ἀνομίαν ὑμῶν. Νῦν οὖν λέγε μοι, ὑπὸ 58 τί δένδρον κατέλαβες αὐτοὺς ὁμιλοῦντας ἀλλήλοις; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ὑπὸ πρίνον.

Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ Δανιὴλ, ὀρθῶς ἔψευσαι καὶ σὺ εἰς τὴν 59 σεαυτοῦ κεφαλὴν· μένει γὰρ ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὴν ῥομφαίαν ἔχων πρίσαι σε μέσον, ὅπως ἐξολοθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς.

Καὶ ἀνεβόησε πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ 60 εὐλόγησαν τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σώζοντι τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ ̓ αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο πρεσβύτας, ὅτι συνέστησεν 61 αὐτοὺς Δανιὴλ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτῶν ψευδομαρτυρήσαν τας. Καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσαντο τῷ 62 πλησίον· ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ· καὶ ἀπέκτειναν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐσώθη αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

Χελκίας δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ᾔνεσαν περὶ τῆς θυγατρὸς 63 αὐτῶν μετὰ Ἰωακεὶμ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ τῶν συγγενῶν αὐτῶν, ὅτι οὐχ εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα. Καὶ 64 Δανιὴλ ἐγένετο μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ λαοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης, καὶ ἐπέκεινα.

8 Θυμωθεὶς δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκάλεσε τοὺς ἱερεῖς αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, ἐὰν μὴ εἴποιτέ μοι τίς ὁ κατέσθων τὴν 9 δαπάνην ταύτην, ἀποθανεῖσθε. Ἐὰν δὲ δείξητε ὅτι Βήλ κατεσθίει αὐτὰ, ὁ Δανιὴλ ἀποθανεῖται, ὅτι ἐβλασφήμησεν εἰς τὸν Βήλ· καὶ εἶπε Δανιὴλ τῷ βασιλεῖ, γινέσθω κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου.

10

Καὶ ἦσαν ἱερεῖς τοῦ Βὴλ ἑβδομήκοντα ἐκτὸς γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων· καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς μετὰ Δανιὴλ εἰς τὸν 11 οἶκον τοῦ Βήλ. Καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἱερεῖς τοῦ Βὴλ, ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ἀποτρέχομεν ἔξω, σὺ δὲ, βασιλεῦ, παράθες τὰ βρώματα, καὶ τὸν οἶνον κεράσας θὲς, καὶ ἀπόκλεισον τὴν θύραν, καὶ 12 σφράγισον τῷ δακτυλίῳ σου. Καὶ ἐλθὼν πρωί, ἐὰν μὴ εὕρῃς πάντα βεβρωμένα ὑπὸ τοῦ Βὴλ, ἀποθανούμεθα· ή 13 Δανιὴλ ὁ ψευδόμενος καθ ̓ ἡμῶν. Αὐτοὶ δὲ κατεφρόνουν, ὅτι πεποιήκεισαν ὑπὸ τὴν τράπεζαν κεκρυμμένην εἴσοδον, καὶ δι' αὐτῆς εἰσεπορεύοντο διόλου, καὶ ἀνήκουν αὐτά.

AND king Astrages was gathered to his fathers, Daniel conversed with the king, and was honand Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom. And oured above all his friends.

Now the Babylonians had an idol, called

Bel, and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine four, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine. 4 And the king worshipped it, and went daily to adore it: but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king Bel? Who answered and said, Because I said unto him, Why dost not thou worship may not worship idols made with hands, but and the earth, and hath sovereignty over all the living God, who hath created the heaver. Hesh.

Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a living god ? seest thou not Τhen Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not how much he eateth and drinketh every day? deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink any

thing.

8 So the king was wroth, and called for his who this is that devoureth these expences, ye priests, and said unto them, If ye tell me not shall die. But if ye can certify me that Belde. Voureth them, then Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word.

10 Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. So Bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, Ο king, set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it with thine own signet; 12 and to-morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else they little regarded it: for under the table Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us. 13 And they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.

14 So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone: then went they out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king's signet, and so departed. b Now in the night

came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drink up all.

16 In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him. And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yea, O king, they be whole. 1. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with thee is no deceit at all. 19 Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these. 20 And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and children. And then the king was angry, and took the priests with their wives and children, who shewed him the private doors, where they came in, and consumed such things as were upon the table. Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel's power, who destroyed him and his temple.

23 And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped. 24 And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this is of brass ? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.

25 Then said Daniel unto the king, I will wor ship the Lord my God: for he is the living God. * But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave. 27 Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon's mouth, and so the dragon burst in sunder: and Daniel said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship.

* When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and conspired against the king, saying. The king is become a Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the dragon, and put the priests to death. * So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thine house.

30 Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being constrained, he delivered

Daniel unto them who est him ante lions' den : where he was six days. * And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

33 Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had made pottage, and had bro

ken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers. * But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacue, Go,

carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions' den.

35 And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon, neither do I know where the den is. * Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den. " And Habbacuc cried, saying, Ο Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God hath sent thee.

33 And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them

κατὰ τὸ ἔθος αὐτῶν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ κατέφαγον πάντα, καὶ ἐξέπιον.

Καὶ ὤρθρισεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ πρωΐ, καὶ Δανιὴλ μετ' αὐτοῦ. 16 Καὶ εἶπε, σῶοι αἱ σφραγίδες Δανιήλ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε, σῶοι, 17 βασιλεῦ. Καὶ ἐγένετο ἅμα τῷ ἀνοῖξαι τὰς θύρας, ἐπιβλέψας 18 ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν ὁ βασιλεὺς, ἐβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, μέγας εἶ Βὴλ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ σοὶ δόλος οὐδὲ εἷς.

Καὶ ἐγέλασε Δανιὴλ, καὶ ἐκράτησε τὸν βασιλέα, τοῦ 19 μὴ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὸν ἔσω· καὶ εἶπεν, ἴδε δὴ τὸ ἔδαφος, καὶ γνῶθι τίνος τὰ ἴχνη ταῦτα. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, ὁρῶ τὰ 20 ἴχνη ἀνδρῶν, καὶ γυναικῶν, καὶ παιδίων· καὶ ὀργισθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς τότε συνέλαβε τοὺς ἱερεῖς, καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας, καὶ 21 τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔδειξαν αὐτῷ τὰς κρυπτὰς θύρας, δι ̓ ὧν εἰσεπορεύοντο, καὶ ἐδαπάνων τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης. Καὶ 22 ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτοὺς ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ ἔδωκε τὸν Βὴλ ἔκδοτον τῷ Δανιήλ· καὶ κατέστρεψεν αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν αὐτοῦ.

Καὶ ἦν Δράκων μέγας, καὶ ἐσέβοντο αὐτὸν οἱ Βαβυλώνιοι. 23 Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ Δανιὴλ, μὴ καὶ τοῦτον ἐρεῖς ὅτι 24 χαλκοῦς ἐστιν; ἰδοὺ ζῇ, καὶ ἐσθίει, καὶ πίνει· οὐ δύνασαι εἰπεῖν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν οὗτος θεὸς ζῶν· καὶ προσκύνησον αὐτῷ.

Καὶ εἶπε Δανιὴλ, Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ μου προσκυνήσω, ὅτι 25 οὗτός ἐστι Θεὸς ζῶν. Σὺ δὲ, βασιλεῦ, δός μοι ἐξουσίαν, 26 καὶ ἀποκτενῶ τὸν δράκοντα ἄνευ μαχαίρας καὶ ῥάβδου· καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς δίδωμί σοι. Καὶ ἔλαβεν ὁ Δανιὴλ πίσσαν 27 καὶ στέαρ καὶ τρίχας, καὶ ἥψησεν ἐπιτοαυτό· καὶ ἐποίησε μάζας, καὶ ἔδωκεν εἰς τὸ στόμα τοῦ δράκοντος, καὶ φαγὼν διεῤῥάγη ὁ δράκων· καὶ εἶπεν, ἴδετε τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν.

Καὶ ἐγένετο, ὡς ἤκουσαν οἱ Βαβυλώνιοι, ἠγανάκτησαν 28 λίαν, καὶ συνεστράφησαν ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα, καὶ εἶπαν, Ἰουδαῖος γέγονεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, τὸν Βὴλ κατέσπασε, καὶ τὸν δράκοντα ἀπέκτεινε, καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς κατέσφαξε. Καὶ εἶπαν 29 ἐλθόντες πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, παράδος ἡμῖν τὸν Δανιήλ· εἰ δὲ μὴ, ἀποκτενοῦμέν σε, καὶ τὸν οἶκόν σου.

Καὶ εἶδεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ὅτι ἐπείγουσιν αὐτὸν σφόδρα, καὶ 30 ἀναγκασθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Δανιήλ. Οἱ δὲ ἔβαλον αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων, καὶ ἦν 31 ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας ἕξ. Ησαν δὲ ἐν τῷ λάκκῳ ἑπτὰ λέοντες, καὶ 32 ἐδίδοτο αὐτοῖς τὴν ἡμέραν δύο σώματα καὶ δύο πρόβατα· τότε δὲ οὐκ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς, ἵνα καταφάγωσι τὸν Δανιήλ.

Καὶ ἦν ̓Αμβακοὺμ ὁ προφήτης ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, καὶ αὐτὸς 33 ἥψησεν ἕψεμα, καὶ ἐνέθρυψεν ἄρτους εἰς σκάφην, καὶ ἐπορεύετο εἰς τὸ πεδίον ἀπενέγκαι τοῖς θερισταῖς. Καὶ εἶπεν 34 ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου τῷ ̓Αμβακούμ, ἀπένεγκε τὸ ἄριστον ὃ ἔχεις εἰς Βαβυλῶνα τῷ Δανιὴλ εἰς τὸν λάκκον τῶν λεόντων.

Καὶ εἶπεν ̓Αμβακούμ, Κύριε, Βαβυλῶνα οὐχ ἑώρακα, 35 καὶ τὸν λάκκον οὐ γινώσκω. Καὶ ἐπελάβετο ὁ ἄγγελος 36 Κυρίου τῆς κορυφῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ βαστάσας τῆς κόμης τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἔθηκεν αὐτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἐπάνω τοῦ λάκκου, ἐν τῷ ῥοίζῳ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἐβόησεν 37 ̓Αμβακούμ, λέγων, Δανιὴλ, Δανιὴλ, λάβε τὸ ἄριστον ὃ ἀπέστειλέ σου ὁ Θεός.

Καὶ εἶπε Δανιὴλ, ἐμνήσθης γάρ μου ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ οὐκ 38