¶There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joakim.

And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very fair woman and one who feared the Lord.

Her parents also were righteous and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Now Joakim was a great rich man and had a beautiful garden next to his house; and the Jews turned to him for help, because he was more honorable than all others.

¶The same year, two of the elders of the people were appointed to be judges, such ones as the Lord spoke of, “Wickedness came from Babylon, from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.”

These spent much time at Joakim’s house, and all those who had any lawsuits came to them.

Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.

And the two elders saw her going in every day and walking, so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor remember just judgments.

And although they both were wounded with her love, yet each 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 diligently from day to day to see her.

And the one said to the other,^[a] “Let us go home now, for it is dinner time.,” and at leaving they parted from each other,

So when they had gone out, they each parted from the other, and on turning doubling back again they (both) came (again) to the same place at the same time;^[a] and after they had askeding each one another the reason,^[b] they acknowledged admitted their lust, and then in collusion^[c] they both appointed coordinated themselves a time when they might will be able to find her alone.

¶And it happened, as they watched for a fitting opportune time, that she went in as before with two maids only, and she intended to wash herself in the garden, for it was hot.

And there was no one there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and watched her.

Then she said to her maids, “Bring me oil and washing balls and shut the garden doors, so that I may wash myself.”

And they did as she asked them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves through private doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them; but they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

Now when the maids were gone, the two elders rose up and ran to her, saying,

“Behold, the garden doors are shut, so 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 bear witness against you that a young man was with you, and therefore you sent your maids away from you.”

Then Susanna sighed anguished and said, “I am hemmed in on every side; for if I do this thing, it is death to me; and 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 the one ran and opened the garden door.

So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in through the private door to see what had happened to her.