If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.32.
As she was veiled …: In the Greek text this clause appears to be an insertion (it is not in the Septuagint). Without it, the implication is that Susanna is stripped naked. (The next clause is literally “the lawless ones ordered her uncovered”; compare Ezek 16.37-39; Hos 2.3, 10.) Somewhere along the line a scribe or editor may have endeavored to shield Susanna from this indignity. As our text reads, however, only her veil is removed, so that the men can see her face and perhaps hair. New American Bible makes this clear by rendering the second clause as “those wicked men ordered her to uncover her face.” Collins has a full note on this, which involves relevant rabbinic sources. The “veil” was some sort of cover made from cloth or some other material that she could see through. She was veiled may also be expressed as “her face was covered with a veil” or “a veil covered her face.”
The wicked men ordered her to be unveiled: The most natural interpretation of the Greek here is that the men ordered someone to remove Susanna’s veil, although it can be taken to mean, as in New American Bible, that she is told to remove it. The first interpretation is more likely, and the clause may also be rendered in the active voice by saying “The two evil men ordered them to remove the veil from her face.” Or direct speech may be used: “The two evil men said, ‘Take off her veil.’ ”
That they might feast upon her beauty: Something of their lust should come through in translation if possible. Good News Translation is all right with “so that they might enjoy looking at her.” “So that they might enjoy a good look at her” (similarly Contemporary English Version) might be a little better. Susanna is defenseless now, and even though they cannot satisfy their lustful desires, they can enjoy the luxury of a long look without hiding behind the bushes.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• A veil covered her face. But the two evil men ordered them to remove the veil so that they might get one last good look at her.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.