Chapter 27

¹ And the elders said: “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maidservants, and shut the doors of the garden, and dismissed the maidservants; and a young man came to her who had been hidden, and lay down with her. Now we, being in a corner of the garden and seeing the lawlessness, ran upon them; and seeing them in the act together, we were not able to take hold of him, because he was stronger than we, and he opened the doors and leaped out; but laying hold of her, we asked who the young man was, and she would not tell us. This we testify.” And they believed them as elders of the people and judges, and condemned her to death.

² We must therefore in every matter become steadfast, neither giving heed to false words nor, being easily carried away by the persons of rulers, yielding to them, knowing that we have an account to render to God; but rather, attaining the truth and seeking out the exactness of the faith, we must be well-pleasing to God.

³ For the sons of Israel of old, being easily persuaded by their rulers and not examining the truth, became guilty of murder, having unjustly condemned Susanna.

⁴ But she, calling upon the Avenger from heaven, cried out, saying: “O eternal God, who knows the hidden things, who knows all things before their coming to be, you know that they have testified falsely against me; and behold, I am dying, though I have done none of the things these men have wickedly devised against me.” And God heard her voice.

⁵ For as many as call upon him from a pure heart, them God hears; but as many as call in guile and hypocrisy, from these he turns away his face.