The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children: 3B
Susanna and the Elders: 13
Bel and the Dragon: 14
The Septuagint (LXX) version of Daniel contains three sections not found in the Hebrew version of the text. These are known as “The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children” (often placed as vv. 3:24–90), “Susanna and the Elders” (Ch. 13), and “Bel and the Dragon” (Ch. 14). All three are included in the LSV, with “The Prayer of Azariah” versified as 3B:1–68, which can be read between verses 3:23 and 3:24 of the standard text of Daniel. This particular book is an account of the prayer of Azariah (Abednego) while in the midst of the fire and the song that he and his two other companions sung in praise to God while in the furnace. “Susanna and the Elders” portrays the lovely and virtuous wife Susanna as sexually accosted by two conniving elders. They falsely accuse her of adultery, but the prophet Daniel cross-examines them, exposing them as liars, and then they are put to death. “Bel and the Dragon” recounts Daniel’s confrontation with the followers of the false god Bel during the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, which results in their execution. Later in the narrative Daniel slays a much-revered dragon and is thrust into a lion’s den as a result. God intervenes to deliver him.
They walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord. Then Azariah stood and prayed like this—opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said: “Blessed are You, O Lord, You God of our fathers! Your Name is worthy to be praised and glorified forevermore; For You are righteous in all the things that You have done. Yes, all Your works are true. Your ways are right, and all Your judgments are truth. In all the things that You have brought on us, and on the holy city of our fathers, Jerusalem, || You have executed true judgments. For according to truth and justice You have brought all these things on us because of our sins. For we have sinned and committed iniquity in departing from You. In all things we have trespassed, and not obeyed Your commands or kept them. We have not done as You have commanded us, that it might go well with us. Therefore all that You have brought on us, and everything that You have done to us, || You have done in true judgment. You delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, || And to an unjust king who is the most wicked in all the world. And now we cannot open our mouth. Shame and reproach have come on Your servants and those who worship You. Do not utterly deliver us up, for Your Name’s sake. Do not annul Your covenant. Do not cause Your mercy to depart from us, || For the sake of Abraham who is loved by You, || And for the sake of Isaac Your servant, and Israel Your holy one, To whom You promised that You would multiply their offspring as the stars of the sky, || And as the sand that is on the seashore. For we, O Lord, have become less than any nation, || And are kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. There is not at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt-offering, || Or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to offer before You, and to find mercy. Nevertheless, in a contrite heart and a humble spirit let us be accepted, Like the burnt-offerings of rams and bullocks, and like tens of thousands of fat lambs—So let our sacrifice be in Your sight this day, that we may wholly go after You, || For they will not be ashamed who put their trust in You. And now we follow You with all our heart. We fear You and seek Your face. Do not put us to shame; but deal with us after Your kindness, || And according to the multitude of Your mercy. Deliver us also according to Your marvelous works, and give glory to Your Name, O Lord. Let all those who harm Your servants be confounded. Let them be ashamed of all their power and might, and let their strength be broken. Let them know that You are the Lord, the only God, || And [are] glorious over the whole world.” The king’s servants who put them in did not stop making the furnace hot with naphtha, pitch, tinder, and small wood, so that the flame streamed out forty-nine cubits above the furnace. It spread and burned those Chaldeans whom it found around the furnace. But the Messenger of the Lord came down into the furnace together with Azariah and his fellows, and He struck the flame of the fire out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all. It neither hurt nor troubled them. Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying, “Blessed are You, O Lord, You God of our fathers, || To be praised and exalted above all forever! Blessed is Your glorious and holy Name, || To be praised and exalted above all forever! Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory, || To be praised and glorified above all forever! Blessed are You who see the depths and sit on the cherubim, || To be praised and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, || To be praised and extolled above all forever! Blessed are You in the expanse of Heaven, || To be praised and glorified forever! O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you heavens, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you messengers of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you waters that are above the sky, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you sun and moon, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you stars of the heavens, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O every shower and dew, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you winds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you fire and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you winter and summer, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you nights and days, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you light and darkness, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you cold and heat, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you frost and snow, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O let the earth bless the Lord! Let it praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you mountains and hills, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you things that grow on the earth, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O sea and rivers, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you springs, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you whales and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you birds of the air, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O all you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you children of men, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O let Israel bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever. O you priests of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you servants of the Lord, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O you who are holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever! O Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, bless the Lord! Praise and exalt Him above all forever; For He has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death! He has delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame. He has delivered us out of the midst of the fire. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy is forever. O all you who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise Him, and give Him thanks; for His mercy is forever!”
A man lived in Babylon, and his name was Jehoiakim. He took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very fair woman, and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were also righteous and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses. Now Jehoiakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining to his house. The Jews used to come to him, because he was more honorable than all others. The same year two of the elders of the people were appointed to be judges, such as the Lord spoke of, that wickedness came from Babylon from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people. These were often at Jehoiakim’s house. All that had any suits in law came to them. When the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk. The two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; and they were inflamed with lust for her. They perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to Heaven, nor remember just judgments. And although they both were wounded with lust for her yet dared not show the other his grief. For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. Yet they watched jealously from day to day to see her. The one said to the other, “Let us go home, now; for it is dinner time.” So when they had gone out, they parted company, and turning back again, they came to the same place. After they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust. Then they appointed a time both together, when they might find her alone. It happened, as they watched on an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and she desired to wash herself in the garden; for it was hot. There was nobody there except the two elders who had hid themselves and watched her. Then she said to her maids, “Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash myself.” They did as she asked them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them. They did not see the elders, because they were hidden. Now when the maids had gone out, the two elders rose up, and ran to her, saying, “Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with you. Therefore, consent to us, and lie with us. If you will not, we will testify against you, that a young man was with you; therefore, you sent your maids away from you.” Then Susanna sighed, and said, “I am trapped; for if I do this thing, it is death to me. If I do not do it, I cannot escape your hands. It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.” With that Susanna cried with a loud voice; and the two elders cried out against her. Then one of them ran and opened the garden doors. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door, to see what had happened to her. But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed; for there was never such a report made of Susanna. It came to pass on the next day, when the people assembled to her husband Jehoiakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death, and said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, Jehoiakim’s wife.” So they sent; and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her relatives. Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beautiful to behold. These wicked men commanded her to be unveiled, for she was veiled, that they might be filled with her beauty. Therefore her friends and all who saw her wept. Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people and laid their hands on her head. She, weeping, looked up toward Heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, “As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away. Then a young man, who was hidden there, came to her and lay with her. And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness and ran to them. And when we saw them together, we could not hold the man; for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leapt out. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us. We testify these things.” Then the assembly believed them, as those who were elders of the people and judges; so they condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O perpetual God, You know the secrets, and know all things before they happen, You know that they have testified falsely against me. Behold, I must die, even though I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.” The Lord heard her voice. Therefore when she was led away to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel. He cried with a loud voice, “I am clear from the blood of this woman!” Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, “What do these words that you have spoken mean?” So he, standing in the midst of them, said, “Are you all such fools, you sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you have condemned a daughter of Israel? Return again to the place of judgment; for these have testified falsely against her.” Therefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, “Come, sit down among us, and show it to us, seeing God has given you the honor of an elder.” Then Daniel said to them, “Put them far apart from each another, and I will examine them.” So when they were put apart from one another, he called one of them, and said to him, “O you who have become old in wickedness, now your sins have returned which you have committed before, in pronouncing unjust judgment, condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; although the Lord says, You will not kill the innocent and righteous. Now then, if you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them companying together?” He answered, “Under a mastick tree.” And Daniel said, “You have certainly lied against your own head; for even now the messenger of God has received the sentence of God and will cut you in two.” So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said to him, “O you seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart. Thus you have dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear were intimate with you; but the daughter of Judah would not tolerate your wickedness. Now therefore, tell me, under which tree did you take them being intimate together?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak tree.” Then Daniel said to him, “You have also certainly lied against your own head; for the messenger of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you.” With that, all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. Then they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false testimony out of their own mouth. According to the Law of Moses they did to them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor. They put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day. Therefore Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Jehoiakim her husband, and all the relatives, because there was no dishonesty found in her. And from that day out, Daniel was held in high regard in the sight of the people.
1 King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom. 2 Daniel lived with the king and was honored above all his friends. 3 Now the Babylonians had an idol, called Bel, and every day twelve great measures of fine flour, forty sheep, and six firkins of wine were spent on him. 4 And the king honored it and went daily to worship it; but Daniel worshiped his own God. The king said to him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” 5 He said, “Because I may not honor idols made with hands, but only the living God, who has created the sky and the earth, and has sovereignty over all flesh.” 6 Then the king said to him, “Do you not think that Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?” 7 Then Daniel laughed, and said, “O king, do not be deceived; for this is just clay inside, and brass outside, and never ate or drank anything.” 8 So the king was angry, and called for his priests, and said to them, “If you do not tell me who this is who devours these expenses, you will die. 9 But if you can show me that Bel devours them, then Daniel will die; for he has spoken blasphemy against Bel.” Daniel said to the king, “Let it be according to your word.” 10 Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and children. The king went with Daniel into Bel’s temple. 11 So Bel’s priests said, “Behold, we will leave; but you, O king, set out the meat, and mix the wine and set it out, shut the door securely, and seal it with your own signet. 12 When you come in the morning, if you do not find that Bel has eaten everything, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, who speaks falsely against us.” 13 They were not concerned, for under the table they had made a secret entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things. 14 It happened, when they had gone out, the king set the meat before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and they scattered them all over the temple in the presence of the king alone. Then they went out, shut the door, sealed it with the king’s signet, and so departed. 15 Now in the night, the priests came with their wives and children, as they usually did, and ate and drank it all. 16 In the morning, the king arose, and Daniel with him. 17 The king said, “Daniel, are the seals whole?” He said, “Yes, O king, they are whole.” 18 And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked at the table, and cried with a loud voice, “You are great, O Bel, and with you is no deceit at all!” 19 Then Daniel laughed, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, “Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps these are.” 20 The king said, “I see the footsteps of men, women, and children.” Then the king was angry, 21 and took the priests with their wives and children, who showed him the secret doors, where they came in, and consumed the things that were on the table. 22 Therefore the king killed them, and delivered Bel into Daniel’s power, who overthrew him and his temple. 23 In that same place there was a great dragon, which the people of Babylon worshiped. 24 The king said to Daniel, “Will you also say that this is of brass? Behold, he lives, eats, and drinks. You cannot say that he is no living god. Therefore, worship him.” 25 Then Daniel said, “I will worship the Lord my God; for He is a living God. 26 But allow me, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or staff.” The king said, “I allow you.” 27 Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and melted them together, and made lumps of them. He put these in the dragon’s mouth, so the dragon ate and burst apart. Daniel said, “Behold, these are the gods you all worship.” 28 When the people of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, “The king has become a Jew. He has pulled down Bel, slain the dragon, and put the priests to the sword.” 29 So they came to the king, and said, “Deliver Daniel to us, or else we will destroy you and your house.” 30 Now when the king saw that they trapped him, being constrained, the king delivered Daniel to them. 31 They cast him into the lion’s den, where he was six days. 32 There were seven lions in the den, and they had been giving them two carcasses and two sheep every day, which then were not given to them, intending that they would devour Daniel. 33 Now there was in Jewry the prophet Habakkuk, who had made stew, and had broken bread into a bowl. He was going into the field to bring it to the reapers. 34 But the messenger of the Lord said to Habakkuk, “Go, carry the dinner that you have into Babylon—to Daniel in the lions’ den.” 35 Habakkuk said, “Lord, I never saw Babylon. I do not know where the den is.” 36 Then the messenger of the Lord took him by the crown and lifted him up by the hair of his head, and with the blast of his breath set him in Babylon over the den. 37 Habakkuk cried, saying, “O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God has sent you.” 38 Daniel said, “You have remembered me, O God! You have not forsaken those who love you!” 39 So Daniel arose and ate; and the messenger of God immediately set Habakkuk in his own place again. 40 On the seventh day, the king came to mourn for Daniel. When he came to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting. 41 Then the king cried with a loud voice, saying, “Great are You, O Lord, You God of Daniel, and there is no other besides You!” 42 So he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den; and they were devoured in a moment before his face.