5
Two elders among the people had been appointed as judges that year. It was about them that the Lord had spoken: "Lawless disorder has come out of Babylon, from elders, from judges who were supposed to guide the people."
6
These men spent a lot of time at Joakim's house, and all the people with lawsuits came to them.
7
When the people went away in the middle of the day, Susanna would walk around her husband's private garden.
8
Every day the two elders would see her coming in and walking around, and they desired her sexually.
9
They ceased thinking clearly, neither looking to heaven nor caring about justice.
10
Both of them thought about her and nothing else, but they didn't tell each other their craving,
11
because they were ashamed to admit how they desired her and wanted to be with her.
12
But they were on the lookout every day, eager to get a glimpse of her.
13
One said to the other, "It's time for lunch. Let's go home." They split up and left,
14
but doubling back, they met again at the same place. They started asking each other for an explanation, and so each confessed his desire. Then they plotted together for a time when they would be able to find her alone.
15
When they were watching closely for the right moment, Susanna came by, just as she had the day before and the day before that, alone with her two female servants. She wanted to bathe in the privacy of the garden, since it was hot.