Daniel 1 1 In 从前有一个人住在巴比伦,名叫约雅金, 2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; 3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. 原来她的父母都是义人,常按照梅瑟的法律教育了自己的女儿。 4 Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all. 约雅金是个很富有的人,靠近他的住宅有一个果园;由于他比众人更有声望,犹太人经常到他那里集会。 5 That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of 那一年,有两个长老由人民选为民长,上主曾论及这类人说:"邪恶充塞巴比伦,是由于只在表面上治理人民的长老和民长。" 6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. 这两个人经常到约雅金的家里来;凡有诉讼的,都到这里来见他们。 7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk. 中午时,人民离去以后,苏撒纳常走进她丈夫的果园里散步。 8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. 那两个长老每天见她进去散步,遂对她起了邪念。 9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. 他们昧着良心,转眼不看上天,全不思念正义的裁判。 10 Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble, 他们二人虽然都为了暗恋她而伤感,却不敢彼此披露自己的隐情, 11 for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her. 因为他们都羞于说明自己希望与她交合的欲念。 12 Day by day they watched eagerly for her. 但他们二人仍然天天争着去窥看她。 13 One day they said to each other, "Let us be off for home, it is time for lunch." So they went out and parted; 一天,这人对那人说:"我们现在回家罢,因为已到午饭的时候了。"他们出去以后,便各自走了。 14 but both turned back, and when they met again, they asked each other the reason. They admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could meet her alone. 接着又都走回原来的地方,他们互问走回来的原因之后,便都承认了自己的欲念;于是他们二人同谋,寻找一个能遇到苏撒纳一人独处的时机。 15 One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm. 他们在等待一个适当的机会时,有一天苏撒纳像往日一样,只带着两个婢女进了果园,由于天热,她想在园中沐浴。 16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 那时园中除了这两个藏着窥看她的长老外,没有别人。 17 "Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids, "and shut the garden doors while I bathe." 苏撒纳对婢女说:"将油和香皂给我拿来,关上园门,我要沐浴。" 18 They did as she said; they shut the garden doors and left by the side gate to fetch what she had ordered, unaware that the elders were hidden inside. 她们便遵命去作,关上园门,从侧门出去,去取她吩咐她们的东西,全不知道这两个长老隐藏在那里。 19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. 婢女们一走出去,这两个长老便起来,跑到她面前, 20 "Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. 对她说:"看,园门关了,没有人能看见我们,我们早就爱上了你,你要答应我们,与我们交合罢! 21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you." 22 "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned. "If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. 苏撒纳叹息说:"我真是左右为难!因为我若作了这事,我是必死无疑;我若不作这事,我也难逃你们的手。 23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord." 我不如不作,宁可落在你们手里,也不愿在上主面前犯罪。" 24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, 苏撒纳遂高声喊叫,这两个长老为对付她也喊叫起来, 25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors. 其中一个跑去开了园门。 26 When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. 家人一听见园中的喊声,就急忙从侧门跑进来,要看看她遭遇了什么事。 27 At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. 但是当长老们说出这段话以后,仆人们都感觉羞惭,因为从来没有人说苏撒纳有过这样的事。 28 When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered: 第二天,人民聚集到她丈夫约雅金那里的时候,那两个长老也走来了,满怀恶意,一心要将苏撒纳置于死地。 29 "Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was sent for, 他们在人民面前说:"派人将希耳克雅的女儿,约雅金的妻子,苏撒纳带上来!"差人便去了。 30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. 31 Susanna, very delicate and beautiful, 苏撒纳长得体态轻盈,相貌美丽。 32 was veiled; but those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face so as to sate themselves with her beauty. 这两个坏人命她除去面纱──因为她原是带着面纱的──好让自己饱览她的美色。 33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. 她的亲友和看见她的人都在哭泣。 那两个长老遂在人民中站起来,把手按在苏撒纳的头上。 35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. 她哭着仰视上天,衷心依赖上主。 36 The elders made this accusation: "As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls. 两个长老说:"当时只有我们两人在园中散步,她同两个婢女进来,随即关了园门,并辞退了两个婢女。 一个预先藏在园中的青年人,走到她面前,与她睡在一起。 38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 我们在园中的角落里看见这种丑事,便跑到他们那里。 39 We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. 我们虽然看见他们二人在一起,但我们却不能捉住那个青年,因为他比我们有力,他便开门逃走了。 40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was, 我们捉住这女人以后,问她那个青年是谁, 41 but she refused to tell us. We testify to this." The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 她却不肯告诉我们:对于这些事,我们是见证。"会众相信了他们,因为他们是人民的长老和民长,于是便定了苏撒纳的死罪。 42 But Susanna cried aloud: "O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 苏撒纳遂大声呼号说:"永生的天主!你洞察隐秘的事,凡事在发生以前,你已知道了; 43 you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me." 你知道他们对我所作的是假见证;看,现在我要死了,然而我并没有作过,他们恶意对我所捏造的事。" 上主俯听了她的呼声; 45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46 and he cried aloud: "I will have no part in the death of this woman." 他便高声呼喊说:"对于流这女人的血,我是没有罪的!" 47 All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?" 民众转过身来问他说:"你说这话有什么意思呢?" 48 He stood in their midst and continued, "Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of 达尼尔立在民众中间说:"以色列子民!你们怎么这样糊涂?未经审问,不查实情,就定一个以色列女子的罪案吗? 49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her." 你们再回审判厅!因为他们二人作了假见证,诬陷了她。" 50 Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, "Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age." 于是民众急忙回去,众长老对达尼尔说:"请你来,坐在我们中间,明白地告诉我们,因为天主把长老的智慧赐给了你。" 51 But he replied, "Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them." 达尼尔对他们说:"将这两个长老隔离开,让我来审问他们。" 52 After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: "How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: 把他们二人隔开以后,达尼尔叫过其中的一个来,对他说:"你这个一生作恶的老妖,你以前犯的罪,现在已临到你身上了! 53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, "The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.' 你宣布不义的裁判,判定无辜者有罪,释放有罪的人,虽然上主曾说:不可杀害无辜和正义的人。 54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together." 如果你真看见了她,现在你告诉我:你看见他们在一起是在什么树下?"他回答说:"是在乳香树下。" 55 2 "Under a mastic tree," he answered. "Your fine lie has cost you your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two." 达尼尔说:"够了!你在说谎,应砍你的头,因为天主的天使已奉天主的命,要把你斩为两段。" 56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. "Offspring of Canaan, not of 达尼尔叫他退下,命将另一个带上来,对他说:"客纳罕的苗裔而非犹大的苗裔啊!美色迷惑了你,淫欲颠倒了你的心。 57 3 This is how you acted with the daughters of 你们一向这样对待了以色列的女子们,她们由于害怕而与你们交往,但是这个犹大女子,却不能忍受你们的邪恶! 58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together." 现在你告诉我:你发现他们在一起,是在什么树下?"他回答说:"是在樟树下。" 59 "Under an oak," he said. "Your fine lie has cost you also your head," said Daniel; "for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both." 达尼尔对他说:"的确,你也一样在说谎话,也必要砍下你的头!天主的天使手中已拿了利剑在等待着,要将你斩为两段,消灭你们。" 60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him. 全会众遂大声吶喊,赞美天主,因为他拯救了那些仰望他的人。 61 They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 众人都起来攻击那两个长老,因为达尼尔按照他们二人的口供,证实了他们作假见证;他们怎样恶意对待了自己的近人,民众也怎样对待了他们。 62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day. 于是众人按照梅瑟的法律将他们处死;这样,那一天救了无辜者的血。 63 Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, as did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, because she was found innocent of any shameful deed. 为此,希耳克雅和他的妻子为女儿苏撒纳,同苏撒纳的丈夫约雅金和自己全体亲友,一起称谢了天主,因为在苏撒纳身上没有找到什么败德的事。 64 And from that day onward Daniel was greatly esteemed by the people. 从那一天以后,达尼尔在人民面前大受尊重。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1] 13, 1-14, 42: The short stories in these two chapters may have originally been about some other Daniel or Daniels Than the hero of the main part of the book. They exist now only in Greek, but probably were first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic. They are excluded from the Jewish canon of Scripture, but the Church has always included them among the inspired writings. 2 [55] 13, 55-59: The contrast between the mastic tree, which is small, and the majestic oak emphasizes the contradiction between the statements of the two elders. In the Greek text there is a play on words between the names of these two trees and the mortal punishment decreed by Daniel for the elders. 3 [57] 13, 57: Besides the evident moral intent of this story, it appears to have served the purpose of contrasting the northern and the southern kingdoms, |