1Now there was a man living in Babylon, whose name was Joakim.
2And he married a woman named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; she was very beautiful and feared the Lord.
3Her parents were righteous, and they had taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses.
4Now Joakim was very rich, and he had a garden adjoining his house. And the Jews would gather at his house, because he was the most honored of them all.
5And two elders from the people were appointed as judges in that year, about whom the Lord had said, 'Lawlessness has come out of Babylon from the elder judges who were supposed to govern the people.'
6These men were constantly at Joakim's house, and all who had legal disputes came to them there.
7And it happened that when the people departed at midday, Susanna would go in and walk about in her husband's garden.
8And the two elders would see her every day as she entered and walked about, and they began to lust for her.
9And they perverted their minds and turned away their eyes so as not to look to heaven or remember righteous judgments.
10And they were both tormented with passion for her, but they did not tell one another of their pain,
11because they were ashamed to declare their lust, for they wanted to have relations with her.
12And they watched eagerly every day to see her.
13And one said to the other, 'Let us go home now, for it is time for the midday meal.' And they went out and separated from each other.
14But they turned back and came to the same place. And when they questioned each other about the reason, they confessed their lust. And then together they arranged for a time when they might be able to find her alone.
15And it happened, as they were watching for a suitable day, that she entered one day as usual with only two young maids, and she wanted to bathe in the garden, because it was hot.
16And no one was there except the two elders, who were hidden and watching her.
17And she said to the young maids, 'Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors, so that I may bathe.'
18And they did as she said; they shut the garden doors and went out through the side doors to bring what had been commanded them. And they did not see the elders, because they were hidden.
19And it happened that when the young maids had gone out, the two elders got up and ran to her,
20and said, 'Look, the garden doors are shut, and no one sees us. We are filled with lust for you, so consent to us and be with us.'
21'But if not, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and that for this reason you sent your young maids away.'
22Then Susanna groaned and said, 'I am trapped on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.'
23'It is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it than to sin before the Lord.'
24And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders also cried out against her.
25And one of them ran and opened the garden doors.
26When the household servants heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in through the side door to see what had happened to her.
27And when the elders told their story, the servants were greatly ashamed, because such a report had never been made about Susanna.
28And it happened on the next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, that the two elders came, full of their lawless intent against Susanna to put her to death. And they said before the people,
29'Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Joakim.' And they sent for her.
30And she came with her parents, her children, and all her relatives.
31Now Susanna was very delicate and beautiful in appearance.
32But the lawless men ordered her to be unveiled—for she was veiled—so that they might feast their eyes on her beauty.
33Those with her and all who saw her were weeping.
34And the two elders rose in the midst of the people and placed their hands on her head.
35But she, weeping, looked up to heaven, because her heart was trusting in the Lord.
36And the elders said, 'While we were walking alone in the garden, this woman entered with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids.
37And a young man who had been hidden came to her and lay with her.
38We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw the lawless act, we ran toward them.
39And when we saw them together, we were unable to seize the man because he was stronger than us; he opened the doors and escaped.
40But we seized this woman and asked who the young man was.
41But she refused to tell us. This is what we testify.' And the assembly believed them, since they were elders of the people and judges, and they condemned her to die.
42But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, 'O eternal God, who knows what is secret, who knows all things before they come to be,
43you know that they have testified falsely against me. And behold, I am to die, though I have done none of the things that these men have wickedly contrived against me.'
44And the Lord heard her voice.
45And as she was being led away to be put to death, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy whose name was Daniel.
46And he cried out with a loud voice, 'I am innocent of this woman's blood!'
47And all the people turned toward him and said, 'What is this word that you have spoken?'
48But he stood in their midst and said, 'Are you so foolish, O sons of Israel? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the truth?'
49Return to the place of judgment, for these men have testified falsely against her!'
50So all the people returned with haste. And the elders said to him, 'Come, sit in our midst and explain to us, for God has given you the honor of an elder.'
51And Daniel said to them, 'Separate them far from one another, and I will examine them.'
52So when they were separated from one another, he called one of them and said to him, 'You who have grown old in wicked days, now your sins which you previously committed have come to light,
53judging unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and acquitting the guilty, though the Lord says, "You shall not put to death the innocent and righteous." '
54Now then, if you really saw her, tell me: under what tree did you see them together?' And he said, 'Under a mastic tree.'
55And Daniel said, 'You have told a fine lie against your own life! For the angel of God has already received the sentence from God and will split you in two.'
56And having him removed, he ordered the other to be brought forward. And he said to him, 'You seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart.
57This is how you have been treating the daughters of Israel, and they, out of fear, would submit to you. But a daughter of Judah would not endure your lawlessness.
58Now then, tell me, under what tree did you catch them together?' And he said, 'Under a holm oak.'
59And Daniel said to him, 'You also have told a fine lie against your own life! For the angel of God is waiting with sword in hand to saw you in two, so that he may destroy you both.'
60And the whole assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saves those who hope in him.
61And they rose up against the two elders, because Daniel had convicted them from their own mouths of being false witnesses. And they did to them in the same way they had wickedly schemed against their neighbor,
62in accordance with the law of Moses, and they put them to death. And so innocent blood was saved on that day.
63And Hilkiah and his wife gave praise concerning their daughter, along with Joakim her husband and all their relatives, because no shameful thing was found in her.
64And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that day and onward.
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