Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/372

 fall into  your  hands,  without  doing  it,  than  to  sin  in  the  sight  of the  Lord.”

She then  cried  out  with  a loud  voice;  but  the  elders  cried out against  her. One of  them  ran  to  the  orchard-gate,  and  opened it that  the  people  might  enter.

Then he  and  his  companion  falsely  accused  Susanna  of  the very crime  they  had  proposed  to  her. Next day,  accompanied by her  parents  and  children,  and  other  relatives,  Susanna  was brought before  the  tribunal  of  justice,  where  she  was  condemned and sentenced  to  death. But she,  weeping,  looked  up  to  heaven, for her  heart  had  confidence  in  God.

And the  Lord  heard  her  prayer. As she  was  led  out  to death, Daniel,  inspired  from  above,  exclaimed: “I  am  clean  from the blood  of  this  woman.”  Then  all  the  people  began  to  ask him: “What  meaneth  this  word  that  thou  hast  spoken?”  He told  them  to  return  to  judgment,  because  the  elders  had  borne false witness  against  Susanna. Then the  people  went  back  in haste. But Daniel  ordered  the  two  accusers  to  be  brought  in separately.

This being  done,  he  said  to  the  first  that  came:  “O  thou that art  grown  old  in  evil  days,  now  are  thy  sins  come  out. Tell me, under  what  tree  thou  sawest  them  conversing  together?”  He said:  “Under  a mastic-tree.” Daniel  replied:  “Thou  hast  lied against thy  own  head.”  Then  he  sent  him  away,  and  had  the other brought  in,  whom  he  asked:  “Tell  me,  under  what  tree didst thou  take  them  conversing  together?”  He  answered:  “Under a holm -tree.” Daniel  replied:  “Thou  hast  lied  against  thy own head.”

The people  saw  by  the  contrary  statements  of  the  old  men that their  testimony  was  false,  and  rising  up  against  them,  they put them  both  to  death. Susanna was  restored  to  her  joyful husband and  children,  and  they  and  all  the  people  blessed  God, who always  saves  and  protects  those  who  place  their  hopes  in Him. Whereupon Daniel  became  great in  the  sight  of  the  people.