12. P Ps. 148. 11, 7 Ps. 135. 19. ye t Cp. ver. 16. Dan. 1. 6, 7. 1 Macc. 2. 59. 8. Lord: praise and exalt him above all for holy and humble of heart, bless ye the ever. 5900 all ye beasts and cattle, Lord: praise and exalt him above all bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him for ever. 660) Ananias, Azarias, and above all for ever. 60 pO ye children of Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt exalt him above all for ever: for he him above all for ever. 61190 let Israel hath rescued us from hell, and saved "See Ps. 116. bless the Lord: praise and exalt him us from the hand of death: he hath deliabove all for ever. 6270 ye priests 2of vered us out of the midst of the furnace the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and and burning flame, even out of the midst exalt him above all for ever. 6370 ye of the fire hath he delivered us. 670Cp. See Ps. 113. servants 2 of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: praise and exalt him above all for ever. for his mercy endureth for ever. 680 all 64 80 ye spirits and souls of the right-ye that worship the Lord, bless the God p. 136. 2. eous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: him above all for ever. 650 ye that are for his mercy endureth for ever. Ps. 134. 1. 1. Cp. Heb. 12. 23. 1 Macc. 4. 24. See PB. 136. 1. THE HISTORY OF SUSANNA, Set apart from the beginning of DANIEL, because it is not in the Hebrew, Cp. Luke 8. 3. & ver. 31. € Luke 1. 6. ever. 7, 15. /Cp. ver. 41, 50. See Judith 6. 16. 9 Cp. Jer. 29.23. b с 1 THERE dwelt a man in Babylon, and his name was Joakim: and he took a wife, whose name was a Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord. 3 Her parents also were righteous, and d Deut. 6. 7. taught their daughter daccording to the law of Moses. 4 Now Joakim was a great 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 And the same year there 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 were accounted to govern the people. 6 These kept much at JoaCp. Ex. 22. kim's house: and hall 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. 8 And the two elders beheld her going in every day, and walking; and they were inflamed with love for her. 9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgements. 10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief. For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. 12 Yet they watched jealously 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. 14 So when 9 (mg.). i ver. 56. 1 Some MSS, read O Israel, bless ye. 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 asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone. 15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in as aforetime with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was ver. 4, 7. hot. 16 And there was nobody there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her. 17 Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me. 18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: and they saw not the elders, because they were hid. 19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying, 20 Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and Cp. Job 24 we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us. a 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 from thee. 22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, 'I am straitened on Cp. 2 Sam. every side: for if I do this thing, mit is death unto me: and if I do it not, I cannot escape your hands. 23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not 3 Or, the grave Gr. Hades. "Cp. Gen. 39. 9. Cp. ver. 6. P ver. 2. 7 Cp. Gen. 24. 65. * See Lev. 24. 14. p Cp. Num. 32. 23. Cp. Prov. 18. 5. Ex. 23. 7. mean these words that thou hast spoken? 48 So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned va Cp. ver. 57. daughter of Israel? 49 Return again to the place of judgement: for these have borne false witness against her. 50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder. 51 Then said Daniel unto them, Put them asunder 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 are thy sins come home to thee which thou hast committed aforetime, 53 in pronouncing unjust judgement, and condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and Cited from righteous shalt thou not slay. 54 Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree. 55 And Daniel said, Right well hast thou lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God and shall cut thee in two. 56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou d seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust ehath perverted thine heart. 57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Judah would not abide your wickedness. 58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under a holm tree. 59 Then said Daniel unto him, Right well hast thou also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee See ver. 55. in two, that he may destroy you. 60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saveth them that hope in him. 61 And they Cp. ver. 35. arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness out of their own mouth: 62 and according to Deut. 19. 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, and the innocent blood was saved the same day. 63 Therefore Helkias and ver. 2, 20. his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. 64 And from that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people. do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. 24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her. 25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden doors. 26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door, to see what had befallen her. 27 But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna. 28 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the people assembled to her husband Joakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death; 29 and said before the people, Send for Susanna, Pthe daughter of Helkias, Joakim's wife. So they sent; 30 and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. 31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold. 32 And these wicked men commanded her to be unveiled, (for she was veiled) that they might be filled with her beauty. 33 Therefore her friends and all that 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 Cp. ver. 60. weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord. 36 And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. 37 Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her. 38 And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness, and 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 doors, 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. 41 Then the assembly believed them, as those that were elders of the people and judges: so "Cp. ver. 22. they condemned her to death. 42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, that knowest all See Ps. 139. things before they be: 43 thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me. 44 And the Lord heard her voice. 45 Therefore when she was led away to Cp. 2 Chr. be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel: 46 and he cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman. 47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What Cp. ver. 5. "Ps. 44. 21. Dan. 2. 28, 29. 36. 22 & Hag. 1. 14. * Matt. 27. 24 (Gk.). ver. 59. Cp. Matt. 24. 51 & Luke 12. 46. d Cp. Ezek. 16. 3. ver. 9. Cp. ver. 48. 19. Cp. Prov. 19. 5. BEL AND THE DRAGON. & 10. 1. See Isai. 46. 1. Cp. Dan. 6. 10. 4. <See PB. 42.2 & Rest of f ver. 19. 19. A Cp. ver. 3. AND king Astyages was gathered to Dan. 6. 28 his fathers, and a Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom. a And Daniel lived with the king, and was honoured above all his friends. 3 Now the Babylonians had an idol, called Bel, and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six firkins of wine. 4 And the king did honour to it, and went daily to worship it: but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why dost thou not worship Bel? 5And he said, Because I may not do honour See Ps. 115. to idols dmade with hands, but to ethe living God, who hath created the heaven and the earth, and hath sovereignty over Esth. 16.16. all flesh. 6 Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a living god? or seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day? 7 Then Daniel laughed, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, Ecclus. 30. and brass without, and did never eat or drink anything. 8 So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these expenses, ye shall die. 9 But if ye can shew me that Bel devoureth 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 will get us out: but thou, O king, set on the meat, and mingle the wine and set it forth, Cp. Dan. 6. and shut the door fast, and seal it with thine own signet; 12 and when thou comest in the morning, if thou find not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us. 13 And they little regarded it for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things. 14 And it came to pass, when they were gone forth, the king set the meat before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and they strewed all the temple with them 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. 15 Now 17. in the night came the priests with their Cp. ver. 7. 6. 13. 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, and eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him. 25 Then said Daniel, "I will worship the " See Deut. Lord my God: for he is a living God. 26 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, so the dragon did eat and burst in sunder: and Daniel said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship. 28 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 pulled down Bel, and slain the dragon, and put the priests to the sword. 29 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, the king delivered Daniel unto them: 31P who cast him into the PCp. Dan. lions' den: where he was six days. 32 And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every 1 Or, serpent ° Cp. ver. 22. 6. 16. Cp. Hab. 1. 1 & 3. 1. Cp. Ezek. 8. 3. day two carcases, and two sheep: which 33 Now there was in Jewry the pro- * Cp. 1 Kin. 174 10. 6. 19. saying, O Daniel, Daniel, stake the din- 6. 26. 6. 24. THE PRAYER OF MANASSES WHEN HE WAS HOLDEN CAPTIVE IN BABYLON, a Matt. 6. 9. 6. Cp. Ec clus. 10. 19. 4 See Job 38. 8-11. Eph. 3. 8. Isai. 59. 12. Cp. Ezra 9.6 33. 11. O LORD Almighty, a that art in heaven, | sands of the sea. My transgressions are multiplied, 50 Lord: my transgres- Joel 2. 13. Ecclus. 2. 11. See Ps. 86. 15. 7. 10. Cp. Wisdom 12. 19. Cp. Ps. 40. 12. 21. 2, 11 detestable things. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and "I acknowledge mine Ps. 51. 3. iniquities: but, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. Isai. 44. 23. For thou, O Lord, art the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. And I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: Pfor all the host of heaven doth sing thy praise, and a thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 4 The "Some authorities 8 Or, stumblingblocks 1 Gr. Ambakoum. 2 Or, order Or, array Gen. 2. 1 (Gk.). 3 Gr. of the evils of men. See Ps. 63. 9. PCp. Ps. 103, 21 & 148. 2. 11 Chr. 29. 11. 1 Esd. 4. 59. Matt. 6. 13 (ing.). THE FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 4 ch. 6. 2. b ch. 8. 5. See Gen. 10. 4. 38, 52. AND it came to pass, after that | joined themselves to the Gentiles, and of Philip, who came out of the land of Chittim, and smote Darius king of the Persians and Medes, it came to pass, after he had smitten him, that he reigned in his stead, in former time, over 1 Greece. And he fought many battles, and won many strongholds, and slew the kings of the earth, 3 and went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of a multitude of nations. Cp. ch. 11. And the earth was quiet before him, and he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up, 4 and he gathered together an exceeding strong host, and ruled over countries and nations and principalities, and they became tributary unto him. 5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die. 6 And he called his servants, which were honourable, which had been brought up with him from his youth, and he divided unto them his kingdom, while he was yet alive. 7 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. 8 And his servants bare rule, each one in his place. 9 And they did all put ddiadems upon themselves after that he was dead, and so did their sons after them many years: and they multiplied evils in the earth. d ch. 6. 15 & 8. 14. Cp. Deut. 29. 18. 12 Macc. 2. & 4.7 13. 13. A ver. 34. ch. 6. 21 & 7.5 & 9. 23 & 10. 61 & 11. 21. i Cp. Judg. 2.2. 10 And there came forth out of them a esinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he reigned in 2the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days came there forth out of Israel transgressors of the See Deut. law, and persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the 3 Gentiles that are round about us; for since we were parted from them many evils have befallen us. 12 And the saying was good in their eyes. 13 And certain of the people were forward herein and i went to the king, and he gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem according to the laws of the & Gentiles; 15 and they made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and See 2 Macc. 4. 7-10. *Cp.2 Macc. 4. 9, 12. Cp. 1 Cor. 7. 18. "See 1 Kin. 21. 20. 11. 25 & 2 Macc. 5. 1. 16 And the kingdom was well ordered in the sight of Antiochus, and he thought to reign over Egypt, that he might reign over the two kingdoms. 17 And he "Cp. Dan. entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and with elephants, and with horsemen, and with a great navy; 18 and he made war against PPtolemy king of Egypt; and Ptolemy was put to shame before him, and fled; and many fell wounded to death. 19 And ch. 10. 51. they got possession of the strong cities in the land of Egypt; and he took the spoils of Egypt. • ch. 3. 34 2 Macc. 4. 21 & 9, 29. Ý Cp. ch. 16. 8. 2 Macc. 5. 11-16. 1-3. * See Ex. 25. 31-37. "See Ex. 25. 23-30. * Ex. 25. 29. See Ex. 26. 31-33. * Cp. ch. 4. 57. 9. Cp. ch. 2. 20 And Antiochus, after that he had smitten Egypt, rreturned in the hun-See dred and forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a 5 great multitude, 21 and entered presumptuously into the sanctuary, and took the golden altar, and the candlestick See Ex. 30. of the light, and all that pertained thereto, az and the table of the shewbread, and the cups to pour withal, and the bowls, and the golden censers, and the veil, and the crowns, and the adorning of gold which was on the face of the temple, and he scaled it all off. 23 And he took the silver and the gold and the precious vessels; and he took the hidden treasures which he found. 24 And when he had taken all, he went away into his own land, and he made a great slaugh- See 2 Macc. ter, and spake very presumptuously. 25 And there came great mourning upon Israel, in every place where they were; 26 and the rulers and elders groaned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed. 27a Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she that sat in the mar riage chamber was in heaviness. 28 And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame. |