Daniel 13:1-9,5-17, 19-30, 33-62

Reading

1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, 2 who married a woman named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. 3 Her parents were righteous and had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews came to him because he was the most honored of them all.

5 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 frequented Joakim’s house, and all who had legal disputes came to them.

7 When the people departed at noon, Susanna would enter her husband’s garden to walk. 8 Every day the two elders saw her entering and walking about, and they began to desire her. 9 They perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments.

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15 While they were watching for a favorable moment, she entered the garden as usual with two maids only. She wished to bathe in the garden, for it was hot. 16 No one was there except the two elders, who had hidden 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.”

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19 They said, “We saw you lying with a young man, and you sent your maids away so you could be with him.” 20 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 cannot escape your hands. 21 I choose not to do it and fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord.”

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30 Then the assembly called for Susanna, and her parents, her children, and all her relatives came. 33 The two elders stood up before the people and laid their hands on her head.

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34 Through her tears she looked up toward Heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. 35 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. 36 Then a young man, who was hidden, came to her and lay with her. 37 We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness, we ran to them. 38 Although we saw them embracing, we could not hold the man because he was stronger than we, and he opened the doors and fled. 39 Then we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify.” 40 Because they were elders of the people and judges, the assembly believed them and condemned her to death.

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41 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the Lord heard her. 42 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 43 and he cried out with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman!” 44 All the people turned to him and asked, “What is this that you are saying?” 45 He stood in their midst and said, “Are you such fools, O sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? 46 Return to court, for these men have given false evidence against her.”

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49 The whole assembly cried out with a loud voice and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. 50 And they rose against the two elders, for out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; 51 they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbor, 52 acting in accordance with the law of Moses, and they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was saved that day.

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53 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because nothing shameful was found in her. 54 And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people. x`

ChatGPT Response

Here’s an image inspired by the story of Susanna, depicting her false accusation by two elders and her vindication through the wisdom of Daniel.