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.
13. One day they said to each other, “Let us be off for home, it is time for the noon meal.” So they went their separate ways.
14. But both turned back and arrived at the same spot. When they asked each other the reason, they admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could find her alone.
15. One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered as usual, with two maids only, wanting to bathe in the garden, for the weather was warm.
16. Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
17. “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden gates while I bathe.”
18. They did as she said; they shut the garden gates and left by the side gate to fetch what she had ordered, unaware that the elders were hidden inside.
19. As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and ran to her.