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.
36. And the appointed elders said, "While we were talking a walk in the orchard alone, this one came in with two maids, and she shut the doors of the orchard, and she sent the maids away from her.
37. And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.
38. Furthermore, since we were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, we ran up to them, and we saw them consorting together.
39. And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.
40. But, since we had apprehended this one, we demanded to know who the young man was, but she was unwilling to tell us. On this matter, we are witnesses."
41. The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42. But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, "Eternal God, who knows what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen,
43. you know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die, though I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously invented against me."