Daniel, 13

1. Havia um homem chamado Joaquin, que habitava na Babilônia.

1. Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

2. Tinha desposado uma mulher chamada Suzana, filha de Helcias, de grande beleza, e piedosa,

2. And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God.

3. porque havia sido educada segundo a Lei de Moisés por pais honestos.

3. For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4. Joaquin era sumamente rico. Junto à sua casa havia um pomar. Os judeus reuniam-se frequentemente em casa dele, porque gozava de uma particular conside­ração entre seus compatriotas.

4. Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them all.

5. Haviam sido nomeados juízes, na­quele ano, dois anciãos do povo, aos quais se aplicava bem a palavra do Senhor: “A iniquidade surgiu, na Babilônia, de anciãos juízes que passavam por dirigentes do povo”.

5. And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: Iniquity came out from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people.

6. Esses dois personagens frequentavam a casa de Joaquin, aonde vinham consultá-los todos aqueles que tinham litígio.

6. These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them.

7. Lá pelo meio-dia, quando toda essa gente tinha ido embora, Suzana vinha passear no jardim de seu marido.

7. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard.

8. Os dois anciãos viam-na, portanto, todos os dias durante seu passeio, tanto que se apaixonaram por ela e,

8. And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her:

9. perdendo a justa noção das coisas, desviaram os olhos para não ver mais o céu e não ter mais presente no espírito a verdadeira regra de comportamento.

9. And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

10. Ambos foram atingidos pelo amor a Suzana, mas sem se confiarem mutuamente sua emoção.

10. So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not make known their grief one to the other:

11. Tinham vergonha de declarar um ao outro o desejo que sentiam de possuí-la.

11. For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, being desirous to have to do with her.

12. Todos os dias, inquietos, procuravam avistá-la.

12. And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other:

13. Uma vez disseram um ao outro: “Vamos para casa; está na hora do almoço”. Saíram cada um para seu lado.

13. Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out they departed one from another.

14. Mas, havendo ambos retrocedido, encontraram-se novamente no mesmo lugar. Perguntando um ao outro qual o motivo de sua volta, confessaram-se sua concupiscência. Combinaram, então, um encontro onde a pudessem surpreender sozinha.

14. And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and asking one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust; and then they agreed upon a time, when they might find her alone.

15. Enquanto calculavam qual seria o momento propício, eis que Suzana chegou como de costume, com duas empregadas, e tomou a resolução de banhar-se, pois fazia calor.

15. And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather.

16. Lá não havia ninguém, salvo os dois anciãos escondidos, que a esprei­tavam.

16. And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and were beholding her.

17. “Trazei-me” – disse ela às duas empregadas – “óleo e unguentos, e fechai as portas do jardim, para eu me banhar.”

17. So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me.

18. O que elas fizeram por sua ordem. As portas do jardim estando fechadas, saíram pela porta do fundo para ir buscar os objetos pedidos, ignorando que os anciãos lá se achavam escondidos.

18. And they did as she bade them: and they shut the doors of the orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch what she had commanded them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within.

19. Apenas saíram, os dois homens precipitaram-se em direção de Suzana.

19. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said:

20. “As portas do jardim estão fechadas” – disseram-lhe –, “ninguém nos vê. Ardemos de amor por ti. Aceita e entrega-te a nós.

20. Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us.

21. Se recusares, iremos denunciar-te: diremos que havia um jovem contigo, e que foi por isso que fizeste sair tuas servas.”

21. But 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. Suzana exclamou tristemente: “Que angústias me envolvem por todos os lados! Consentir? Eu seria condenada à morte! Recusar? Nem assim eu escaparia de vossas mãos!

22. Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape your hands.

23. Não! Prefiro cair, sem culpa alguma, em vossas mãos, do que pecar contra o Senhor”.

23. But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

24. Suzana soltou grandes gritos, e os dois anciãos gritavam também contra ela.

24. With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her.

25. E um deles, correndo às portas do jardim, abriu-as.

25. And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.

26. Com essa balbúrdia, os criados precipitaram-se pela porta do fundo para ver o que havia acontecido.

26. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was the matter.

27. Os anciãos se puseram a falar, e os criados enrubesceram, pois jamais nada de semelhante fora dito de Suzana.

27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on the next day,

28. No dia seguinte, os dois anciãos, cheios de criminosas intenções contra a vida de Suzana, vieram à reunião que se realizava em casa de Joaquin, marido dela.

28. When the people were come to Joakim her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death.

29. Disseram, diante da assembleia: “Mandem buscar Suzana, filha de Helcias, a mulher de Joaquin!”. Foram-na buscar,

29. And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.

30. e ela chegou com seus pais, seus filhos e os membros de sua família.

30. And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.

31. Era delicada e bela de rosto.

31. Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.

32. Aqueles homens perversos exigiam que ela retirasse seu véu – pois estava velada –, a fim de poderem (pelo menos) fartar-se de sua beleza.

32. But those wicked men commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) that so at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.

33. Os seus choravam, assim como seus amigos.

33. Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept.

34. Os dois anciãos levantaram-se à vista de todos, e pousaram a mão sobre sua cabeça,

34. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head.

35. enquanto ela, debulhada em lágrimas, mas com o coração cheio de confiança no Senhor, olhava para o céu.

35. And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord.

36. Os anciãos disseram então: “Quando passeávamos pelo jardim, ela entrou com duas servas; depois fechou a porta e mandou embora suas acompanhantes.

36. And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, and sent away the maids from her.

37. Então, um jovem que se achava escondido ali, aproximou-se e pecou com ela.

37. Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her.

38. Nós nos encontrávamos em um recanto do jardim. Diante de tal desvergonhamento, corremos para eles e os surpreendemos em flagrante delito.

38. But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together.

39. Não pudemos agarrar o homem, porque era mais forte do que nós, e fugiu pela porta aberta.

39. And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors be leaped out:

40. Ela, nós a apanhamos; mas quando a interrogamos para saber quem era o jovem, recusou-se a responder. Somos testemunhas do fato”.

40. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses.

41. Confiando nesses homens, que eram anciãos e juízes do povo, condenaram Suzana à morte.

41. The multitude believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

42. Então, ela exclamou bem alto: “Deus eterno, vós que penetrais os segredos, que conheceis os acontecimentos antes que aconteçam,

42. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come to pass,

43. sabeis que isso é um falso testemunho que levantaram contra mim. Vou morrer, sem nada ter feito do que maldosamente inventaram de mim”.

43. Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously forged against me.

44. Deus ouviu sua oração.

44. And the Lord heard her voice.

45. Como a levassem para a morte, o Senhor suscitou o espírito íntegro de um adolescente chamado Daniel,

45. And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.

46. que proclamou com vigor: “Sou inocente da morte dessa mu­lher!”.

46. And he cried out with a loud voice I am clear from the blood of this woman.

47. Todo mundo virou-se para ele: “O que significa isso?” – perguntaram-lhe.

47. Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken?

48. Então, no meio de um círculo que se formava, disse: “Israelitas, estais loucos! Eis que condenais uma israelita sem interrogatório, sem conhecer a verdade!

48. But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?

49. Recomeçai o julgamento, porque é um falso testemunho a declaração desses dois homens contra ela”.

49. Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.

50. O povo apressou-se em voltar. Os anciãos disseram a Daniel: “Vem sentar conosco e esclarece-nos, pois Deus te deu o privilégio da velhice!”.

50. So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it as: seeing God hath given thee the honour of old age.

51. “Separai-os um do outro” – exclamou Daniel –, “e eu os julgarei.” Foram separados.

51. And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them.

52. Então, Daniel chamou o primeiro e disse-lhe: “Velho perverso! Eis que agora aparecem os pecados que cometeste outrora em julgamentos injustos,

52. So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before:

53. condenando os inocentes e absolvendo os culpados; no entanto, é Deus quem diz: não farás morrer o inocente e o íntegro.

53. In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: I The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill.

54. Vamos! Se realmente a viste, dize-nos debaixo de qual árvore os viste juntos”. “Debaixo de um lentisco” – respondeu.

54. Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree.

55. “Ótimo!” – continuou Daniel –, “eis a mentira, que pagarás com tua cabeça. Eis aqui o anjo do Senhor que, segundo a sentença divina, vai dividir teu corpo pelo meio.”*

55. And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut thee in two.

56. Afastaram o homem. Daniel mandou vir o outro e disse-lhe: “Filho de Canaã! Tu não és judeu: foi a beleza que te seduziu, e a concupiscência que te perverteu.

56. And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thy heart:

57. Foi assim que sempre fizeste com as filhas de Israel, as quais, por medo, entravam em relação convosco. Mas eis uma filha de Judá que não consentiu no vosso crime.*

57. Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.

58. Vamos, dize-me sob qual árvore os surpreendeste em intimidade”. “Sob um carvalho.”

58. Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together., And he answered: Under a holm tree.

59. “Ótimo!” – respondeu Daniel – “Tu também proferiste uma mentira que vai te custar a vida. Eis aqui o anjo do Se­nhor, que empunha a espada, prestes a serrar-te pelo meio para te fazer perecer.”*

59. And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy you.

60. Logo a assembleia se pôs a clamar ruidosamente e a bendizer a Deus por salvar aqueles que nele põem sua espe­rança.

60. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him.

61. Toda a multidão revoltou-se então contra os dois anciãos os quais, por suas próprias declarações, Daniel provou terem dado falso testemunho.*

61. And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth,) and they did to them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour,

62. De acordo com a Lei de Moisés, aplicaram o tratamento que tinham querido infligir ao seu próximo: foram mortos. Assim, naquele dia, foi poupada uma vida inocente.

62. To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.

63. Helcias e sua mulher louvaram a Deus por sua filha Suzana, com Joaquin, seu marido, e todos os seus parentes, pois nada de desonesto havia sido encontrado em seu proceder.

63. But Helcias and his wife praised God, for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all her kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

64. E Daniel gozou, desde então, de uma alta consideração entre seus concidadãos.

64. And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thenceforward.

65.

65. And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.