---
title: "Daniel 13 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/daniel/13/
description: "The history of Susanna and the two elders. This history of Susanna, in all the… Daniel 13 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Daniel 13

Daniel 13 is chapter 13 of 14 in the Book of Daniel. Here are all 65 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The history of Susanna and the two elders. This history of Susanna, in all the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was placed in the beginning of the book of Daniel: till St. Jerome, in his translation, detached it from thence; because he did not find it in the Hebrew: which is also the case of the history of Bel and the Dragon. But both the one and the other are received by the Catholic Church: and were from the very beginning a part of the Christian Bible.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Daniel 13 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
2. And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.
3. For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4. But Joakim was very wealthy, and he had an orchard near his house, and the Jews flocked to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.
5. And two elder judges had been appointed among the people that year, about whom the Lord has said, “Iniquity has come out of Babylon, from the elder judges, who seemed to govern the people.”
6. These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.
7. But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.
8. And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.
9. And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.
10. And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.
11. For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.
12. And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,
13. “Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.
14. And returning again, they came to the same place, and, each asking the other the reason, they admitted their desire. And then they agreed to set a time when they would be able to find her alone.
15. But it happened, while they watched for an opportune day, that she entered at a particular time, just as yesterday and the day before, with only two maids, and she wanted to wash in the orchard, because it was so hot.
16. And there was no one there, except the two elders in hiding, and they were studying her.
17. And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”
18. And they did as she ordered them. And they shut the doors of the orchard and left through a back door to fetch what she required, and they did not know that the elders were hiding within.
19. But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,
20. “Behold, the doors of the orchard are closed, and no one can see us, and we are in desire for you. Because of these things, consent to us and lie with us.
21. But if you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you and, for this reason, you sent your maids away from you.”
22. Susanna sighed and said, “I am closed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death to me; yet if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.
23. But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”
24. And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.
25. And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.
26. And so, when the servants of the house heard the outcry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was happening.
27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there had never been anything of this kind said about Susanna. And it happened on the next day,
28. when the people came to Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.
29. And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.
30. And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.
31. Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.
32. But those wicked ones commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) so that at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.
33. Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.
34. Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.
35. And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.
36. And the appointed elders said, “While we were taking a walk in the orchard alone, this one came in with two maids, and she shut the doors of the orchard, and she sent the maids away from her.
37. And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.
38. Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.
39. And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.
40. But, since we had apprehended this one, we demanded to know who the young man was, but she was unwilling to tell us. On this matter, we are witnesses.”
41. The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42. But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,
43. you know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, though I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously invented against me.”
44. But the Lord heeded her voice.
45. And when she was led away to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.
46. And he cried out with a loud voice, “I am clean of the blood of this one.”
47. And all the people, turning back towards him, said, “What is this word that you are saying?”
48. But he, while standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you so foolish, sons of Israel, that without judging and without knowing what the truth is, you have condemned a daughter of Israel?
49. Return to judgment, because they have spoken false witness against her.”
50. Therefore, the people returned with haste, and the old men said to him, “Come and sit down in our midst and show us, since God has given you the honor of old age.”
51. And Daniel said to them, “Separate these at a distance from one another, and I will judge between them.”
52. And so, when they were divided, one from the other, he called one of them, and he said to him, “You deep-rooted ancient evil, now your sins have come out, which you have committed before,
53. judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and setting free the guilty, though the Lord declares, ‘The innocent and the just you must not put to death.’
54. Now then, if you saw her, declare under which tree you saw them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen mastic tree.”
55. But Daniel said, “Truly, you have lied against your own head. For behold, the angel of God, having received the sentence from him, will split you down the middle.
56. And, having put him aside, he commanded the other to approach, and he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and desire has perverted your heart.
57. Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they, out of fear, consorted with you, but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate your iniquity.
58. Now then, declare to me, under which tree you caught them conversing together.” He said, “Under an evergreen oak tree.”
59. And Daniel said to him, “Truly, you also have lied against your own head. For the angel of the Lord waits, holding a sword, to cut you down the middle and put you to death.”
60. And then the entire assembly cried out in a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
61. And they rose up against the two appointed elders, (for Daniel had convicted them, by their own mouth, of bearing false witness,) and they did to them just as they had wickedly done against their neighbor,
62. so as to act according to the law of Moses. And they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved on that day.
63. But Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her relatives, because there had been found in her no disgrace.
64. And so Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day, and thereafter.
65. And king Astyages was laid to rest with his fathers. And Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.

## Daniel 13 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Et erat vir habitans in Babylone, et nomen ejus Joakim:
2. et accepit uxorem nomine Susannam, filiam Helciæ, pulchram nimis, et timentem Deum:
3. parentes enim illius, cum essent justi, erudierunt filiam suam secundum legem Moysi.
4. Erat autem Joakim dives valde, et erat ei pomarium vicinum domui suæ: et ad ipsum confluebant Judæi, eo quod esset honorabilior omnium.
5. Et constituti sunt de populo duo senes judices in illo anno, de quibus locutus est Dominus: Quia egressa est iniquitas de Babylone a senioribus judicibus, qui videbantur regere populum.
6. Isti frequentabant domum Joakim, et veniebant ad eos omnes qui habebant judicia.
7. Cum autem populus revertisset per meridiem, ingrediebatur Susanna, et deambulabat in pomario viri sui.
8. Et videbant eam senes quotidie ingredientem et deambulantem, et exarserunt in concupiscentiam ejus:
9. et everterunt sensum suum, et declinaverunt oculos suos ut non viderent cælum, neque recordarentur judiciorum justorum.
10. Erant ergo ambo vulnerati amore ejus, nec indicaverunt sibi vicissim dolorem suum:
11. erubescebant enim indicare sibi concupiscentiam suam, volentes concumbere cum ea.
12. Et observabant quotidie sollicitius videre eam. Dixitque alter ad alterum:
13. Eamus domum, quia hora prandii est. Et egressi, recesserunt a se.
14. Cumque revertissent, venerunt in unum: et sciscitantes ab invicem causam, confessi sunt concupiscentiam suam: et tunc in communi statuerunt tempus quando eam possent invenire solam.
15. Factum est autem, cum observarent diem aptum, ingressa est aliquando sicut heri et nudiustertius, cum duabus solis puellis, voluitque lavari in pomario: æstus quippe erat:
16. et non erat ibi quisquam, præter duos senes absconditos, et contemplantes eam.
17. Dixit ergo puellis: Afferte mihi oleum, et smigmata, et ostia pomarii claudite, ut laver.
18. Et fecerunt sicut præceperat: clauseruntque ostia pomarii, et egressæ sunt per posticum ut afferrent quæ jusserat; nesciebantque senes intus esse absconditos.
19. Cum autem egressæ essent puellæ, surrexerunt duo senes, et accurrerunt ad eam, et dixerunt:
20. Ecce ostia pomarii clausa sunt, et nemo nos videt, et nos in concupiscentia tui sumus: quam ob rem assentire nobis, et commiscere nobiscum.
21. Quod si nolueris, dicemus contra te testimonium, quod fuerit tecum juvenis, et ob hanc causam emiseris puellas a te.
22. Ingemuit Susanna, et ait: Angustiæ sunt mihi undique: si enim hoc egero, mors mihi est: si autem non egero, non effugiam manus vestras.
23. Sed melius est mihi absque opere incidere in manus vestras, quam peccare in conspectu Domini.
24. Et exclamavit voce magna Susanna: exclamaverunt autem et senes adversus eam.
25. Et cucurrit unus ad ostia pomarii, et aperuit.
26. Cum ergo audissent clamorem famuli domus in pomario, irruerunt per posticum ut viderent quidnam esset.
27. Postquam autem senes locuti sunt, erubuerunt servi vehementer, quia numquam dictus fuerat sermo hujuscemodi de Susanna. Et facta est dies crastina.
28. Cumque venisset populus ad Joakim virum ejus, venerunt et duo presbyteri, pleni iniqua cogitatione adversus Susannam ut interficerent eam.
29. Et dixerunt coram populo: Mittite ad Susannam filiam Helciæ uxorem Joakim. Et statim miserunt.
30. Et venit cum parentibus, et filiis, et universis cognatis suis.
31. Porro Susanna erat delicata nimis, et pulchra specie.
32. At iniqui illi jusserunt ut discooperiretur (erat enim cooperta), ut vel sic satiarentur decore ejus.
33. Flebant igitur sui, et omnes qui noverant eam.
34. Consurgentes autem duo presbyteri in medio populi, posuerunt manus suas super caput ejus.
35. Quæ flens suspexit ad cælum: erat enim cor ejus fiduciam habens in Domino.
36. Et dixerunt presbyteri: Cum deambularemus in pomario soli, ingressa est hæc cum duabus puellis: et clausit ostia pomarii, et dimisit a se puellas.
37. Venitque ad eam adolescens, qui erat absconditus, et concubuit cum ea.
38. Porro nos cum essemus in angulo pomarii, videntes iniquitatem, cucurrimus ad eos, et vidimus eos pariter commisceri.
39. Et illum quidem non quivimus comprehendere, quia fortior nobis erat, et apertis ostiis exilivit:
40. hanc autem cum apprehendissemus, interrogavimus, quisnam esset adolescens, et noluit indicare nobis: hujus rei testes sumus.
41. Credidit eis multitudo quasi senibus et judicibus populi, et condemnaverunt eam ad mortem.
42. Exclamavit autem voce magna Susanna, et dixit: Deus æterne, qui absconditorum es cognitor, qui nosti omnia antequam fiant,
43. tu scis quoniam falsum testimonium tulerunt contra me: et ecce morior, cum nihil horum fecerim, quæ isti malitiose composuerunt adversum me.
44. Exaudivit autem Dominus vocem ejus.
45. Cumque duceretur ad mortem, suscitavit Dominus spiritum sanctum pueri junioris, cujus nomen Daniel:
46. et exclamavit voce magna: Mundus ego sum a sanguine hujus.
47. Et conversus omnis populus ad eum, dixit: Quis est iste sermo, quem tu locutus es?
48. Qui cum staret in medio eorum, ait: Sic fatui filii Israël, non judicantes, neque quod verum est cognoscentes, condemnastis filiam Israël?
49. revertimini ad judicium, quia falsum testimonium locuti sunt adversus eam.
50. Reversus est ergo populus cum festinatione, et dixerunt ei senes: Veni, et sede in medio nostrum, et indica nobis: quia tibi Deus dedit honorem senectutis.
51. Et dixit ad eos Daniel: Separate illos ab invicem procul, et dijudicabo eos.
52. Cum ergo divisi essent alter ab altero, vocavit unum de eis, et dixit ad eum: Inveterate dierum malorum, nunc venerunt peccata tua, quæ operabaris prius:
53. judicans judicia injusta, innocentes opprimens, et dimittens noxios, dicente Domino: Innocentem et justum non interficies.
54. Nunc ergo, si vidisti eam, dic sub qua arbore videris eos colloquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub schino.
55. Dixit autem Daniel: Recte mentitus es in caput tuum: ecce enim angelus Dei, accepta sententia ab eo, scindet te medium.
56. Et, amoto eo, jussit venire alium, et dixit ei: Semen Chanaan, et non Juda, species decepit te, et concupiscentia subvertit cor tuum:
57. sic faciebatis filiabus Israël, et illæ timentes loquebantur vobis: sed filia Juda non sustinuit iniquitatem vestram.
58. Nunc ergo, dic mihi sub qua arbore comprehenderis eos loquentes sibi. Qui ait: Sub prino.
59. Dixit autem ei Daniel: Recte mentitus es et tu in caput tuum: manet enim angelus Domini, gladium habens, ut secet te medium, et interficiat vos.
60. Exclamavit itaque omnis cœtus voce magna, et benedixerunt Deum, qui salvat sperantes in se.
61. Et consurrexerunt adversus duos presbyteros (convicerat enim eos Daniel ex ore suo falsum dixisse testimonium), feceruntque eis sicut male egerant adversus proximum,
62. ut facerent secundum legem Moysi. Et interfecerunt eos, et salvatus est sanguis innoxius in die illa.
63. Helcias autem et uxor ejus laudaverunt Deum pro filia sua Susanna cum Joakim marito ejus, et cognatis omnibus, quia non esset inventa in ea res turpis.
64. Daniel autem factus est magnus in conspectu populi a die illa, et deinceps.
65. Et rex Astyages appositus est ad patres suos, et suscepit Cyrus Perses regnum ejus.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Mon, Mar 15, 2027: Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent — First Reading, Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
- Mon, Apr 3, 2028 (computed): Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent — First Reading, Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).