1. In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
2. who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah;
3. her parents were righteous and had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4. Joakim was very rich and he had a garden near his house. The Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all.
5. That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, “Lawlessness has come out of Babylon, that is, from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.”
6. These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.
7. When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.
8. When the elders saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.
9. They perverted their thinking; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.
10. Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,
11. for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.
12. Day by day they watched eagerly for her.