etch what she had commanded
them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within.

13:19. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran
to her, and said:

13:20. Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us,
and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us.

13:21. But 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
form thee.

13:22. Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if I
do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape
your hands.

13:23. But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it,
than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

13:24. With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders
also cried out against her.

13:25. And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it.

13:26. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard,
they rushed in by the back door, to see what was the matter.

13:27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly
ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on
the next day,

13:28. When the people were come to Joakim, her husband, the two elders
also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death.

13:29. And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of
Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent.

13:30. And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred.

13:31. Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold.

13:32. But those wicked men commanded that her face should be uncovered,
(for she was covered) that so at least they might be satisfied with her
beauty.

13:33. Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept.

13:34. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid
their hands upon her head.

13:35. And she weeping, looked kup to heaven, for her heart had
confidence in the Lord.

13:36. And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this
woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, ans
sent away the maids from her.

13:37. Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with
her.

13:38. But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this
wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together.

13:39. And him indeed we could not take, because he was st