1  There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim

1  And there was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.

2  And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

2  And he received a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, who was very beautiful and God-fearing.

3  Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

3  For her parents, because they were righteous, had educated their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4  Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

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  The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

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 kept much at Joacim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

6  These frequented the house of Joakim, and all came to them, who had need of judgment.

7  Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.

7  But when the people departed at noontime, Susanna went in and walked around in her husband’s orchard.

8  And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

9  And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgements.

10  And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief.

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 declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

12  Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

12  And so they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to the other,

13  And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

13  “Let us go home, for it is lunch time.” And going out, they departed one from another.

14  So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

14  And returning again, they came to the same place, and, each asking the other the reason, they admitted their desire. And then they agreed to set a time when they would be able to find her alone.

15  And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.

15  But it happened, while they watched for an opportune day, that she entered at a particular time, just as yesterday and the day before, with only two maids, and she wanted to wash in the orchard, because it was so hot.

16  And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

17  Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

17  And so she said to the maids, “Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the orchard, so that I may wash.”

18  And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

18  And they did as she ordered them. And they shut the doors of the orchard and left through a back door to fetch what she required, and they did not know that the elders were hiding within.

19  Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

19  But when the maids had departed, the two elders arose and hurried to her, and they said,

20  Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.

20  “Behold, the doors of the orchard are closed, and no one can see us, and we are in desire for you. Because of these things, consent to us and lie with us.

21  If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee.

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  Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.

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  It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

23  But it is better for me to fall unavoidably into your hands, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.”

24  With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

25  Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.

25  And one of them hurried to the door of the orchard and opened it.

26  So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her.

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 when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

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  And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

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 said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim’s wife. And so they sent.

29  And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” And immediately they sent for her.

30  So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

30  And she arrived with her parents, and sons, and all her relatives.

31  Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

31  Moreover, Susanna was exceedingly delicate and beautiful in appearance.

32  And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.

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 friends and all that saw her wept.

34  Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

34  Yet the two appointed elders, rising up in the midst of the people, set their hands upon her head.

35  And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

35  And weeping, she gazed up to heaven, for her heart had faith in the Lord.

36  And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.

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  Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

37  And a young man came to her, who was in hiding, and he lay down with her.

38  Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.

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 when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.

39  And, indeed, we were unable to catch him, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors, he leaped out.

40  But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

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  Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

41  The multitude believed them, just as if they were elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

42  Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be

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  Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

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.”

44  And the Lord heard her voice.

44  But the Lord heeded her voice.