1 ¹ There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. 1 ² And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. 1 ³ Her parents were righteous, and had taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 1 ⁴ Joakim was very rich, and had a spacious garden adjoining his house; and the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honoured of them all.

1 ⁵ In that year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: "Iniquity came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people." 1 ⁶ These men were frequently at Joakim's house, and all who had suits at law came to them.

1 ⁷ When the people departed at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk. 1 ⁸ The two elders used to see her every day, going in and walking about, and they began to desire her. 1 ⁹ And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering righteous judgments. 1 ¹⁰ Both were overwhelmed with passion for her, but they did not tell each other of their distress, 1 ¹¹ for they were ashamed to disclose their lustful desire to possess her. 1 ¹² And they watched eagerly, day after day, to see her.

1 ¹³ They said to each other, "Let us go home, for it is mealtime." 1 ¹⁴ And when they went out, they parted from each other. But turning back, they met again; and when each pressed the other for the reason, they confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they could find her alone.

1 ¹⁵ Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was very hot. 1 ¹⁶ And no one was there except the two elders, who had hid themselves and were watching her. 1 ¹⁷ She said to her maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors so that I may bathe." 1 ¹⁸ They did as she said, shut the garden doors, and went out by the side doors to bring what they had been commanded; and they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

1 ¹⁹ When the maids had gone out, the two elders rose and ran to her, and said 1 ²⁰ "Look, the garden doors are shut, no one sees us, and we are in love with you; so give your consent, and lie with us. 1 ²¹ If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away."

1 ²² Susanna sighed deeply, and said, "I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. 1 ²³ I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord."

1 ²⁴ Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her. 1 ²⁵ And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. 1 ²⁶ When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. 1 ²⁷ And when the elders told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed, for nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.