1. And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
2. And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.
3. For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4. But Joakim was very wealthy, and he had an orchard near his house, and the Jews flocked to him, because he was the most honorable of them all.
5. And two elder judges had been appointed among the people that year, about whom the Lord has said, "Iniquity has come out of Babylon, from the elder judges, who seemed to govern the people."
6. These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.
7. But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband's orchard.
8. And the elders saw her entering and walking around every day, and they were inflamed with desire towards her.
9. And they perverted their reason and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor call to mind just judgments.
10. And so they were both wounded by the love of her, yet they did not reveal their grief to one another.
11. For they were ashamed to reveal to each other their desire, wanting to lie with her.
12. And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,