21. But if you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you and, for this reason, you sent your maids away from you."
22. Susanna sighed and said, "I am closed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death to me; yet if I do not do it, I will not escape your hands.
23. But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord."
24. And Susanna cried out with a loud voice, but the elders also cried out against her.
25. And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.
26. And so, when the servants of the house heard the outcry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was happening.
27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there had never been anything of this kind said about Susanna. And it happened on the next day,
28. when the people came to Joakim her husband, that the two appointed elders also came, full of wicked plans against Susanna, in order to put her to death.
29. And they said before the people, "Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." And immediately they sent for her.
30. And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.
31. Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.
32. But those wicked ones commanded that her face should be uncovered, (for she was covered,) so that at least they might be satisfied with her beauty.
33. Therefore, her own and all who knew her wept.
34. Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.
35. And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.