# Judith

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> The Book of Judith
> 
> Jdt 1
> In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who
> reigned in Nineve, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad,
> which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane,
> 
> 2
> And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three
> cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the
> wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits:
> 
> 3
> And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred
> cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation
> threescore cubits:
> 
> 4
> And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to
> the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty
> cubits, for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the
> setting in array of his footmen:
> 
> 5
> Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king
> Arphaxad in the great plain, which is the plain in the borders
> of Ragau.
> 
> 6
> And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill
> country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and
> Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans, and
> very many nations of the sons of Chelod, assembled themselves to
> the battle.
> 
> 7
> Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that
> dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those
> that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Libanus, and
> Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the sea coast,
> 
> 8
> And to those among the nations that were of Carmel, and
> Galaad, and the higher Galilee, and the great plain of Esdrelom,
> 
> 9
> And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and
> beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades,
> and the river of Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the
> land of Gesem,
> 
> 10
> Until ye come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the
> inhabitants of Egypt, until ye come to the borders of Ethiopia.
> 
> 11
> But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the
> commandment of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither
> went they with him to the battle; for they were not afraid of
> him: yea, he was before them as one man, and they sent away his
> ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.
> 
> 12
> Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this
> country, and sware by his throne and kingdom, that he would
> surely be avenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and
> Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all
> the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon,
> and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till ye come to the
> borders of the two seas.
> 
> 13
> Then he marched in battle array with his power against king
> Arphaxad in the seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his
> battle: for he overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his
> horsemen, and all his chariots,
> 
> 14
> And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and
> took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the
> beauty thereof into shame.
> 
> 15
> He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote
> him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.
> 
> 16
> So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his
> company of sundry nations being a very great multitude of men of
> war, and there he took his ease, and banqueted, both he and his
> army, an hundred and twenty days.
> 
> Jdt 2
> And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the
> first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king
> of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on
> all the earth.
> 
> 2
> So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles,
> and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the
> afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.
> 
> 3
> Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the
> commandment of his mouth.
> 
> 4
> And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the
> Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which
> was next unto him, and said unto him.
> 
> 5
> Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth,
> Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee
> men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and
> twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders
> twelve thousand.
> 
> 6
> And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they
> disobeyed my commandment.
> 
> 7
> And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth
> and water: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will
> cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of mine army,
> and I will give them for a spoil unto them:
> 
> 8
> So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and
> the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow:
> 
> 9
> And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the
> earth.
> 
> 10
> Thou therefore shalt go forth. and take beforehand for me all
> their coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou
> shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment.
> 
> 11
> But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them;
> but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou
> goest.
> 
> 12
> For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I
> have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.
> 
> 13
> And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the
> commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have
> commanded thee, and defer not to do them.
> 
> 14
> Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and
> called ail the governors and captains, and the officers of the
> army of Assur;
> 
> 15
> And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord
> had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and
> twelve thousand archers on horseback;
> 
> 16
> And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.
> 
> 17
> And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very
> great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for
> their provision:
> 
> 18
> And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very
> much gold and silver out of the king's house.
> 
> 19
> Then he went forth and all his power to go before king
> Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the
> earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their
> chosen footmen.
> 
> 20
> A great number also sundry countries came with them like
> locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was
> without number.
> 
> 21
> And they went forth of Nineve three days' journey toward the
> plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain
> which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.
> 
> 22
> Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and
> chariots, and went from thence into the hill country;
> 
> 23
> And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of
> Rasses, and the children of Israel, which were toward the
> wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians.
> 
> 24
> Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia,
> and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river
> Arbonai, till ye come to the sea.
> 
> 25
> And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that
> resisted him, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were
> toward the south, over against Arabia.
> 
> 26
> He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up
> their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.
> 
> 27
> Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of
> wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed
> their flocks and herds, also he spoiled their cities, and
> utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men
> with the edge of the sword.
> 
> 28
> Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the
> inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus,
> and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in
> Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him
> greatly.
> 
> Jdt 3
> So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,
> 
> 2
> Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie
> before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.
> 
> 3
> Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of
> wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents
> lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.
> 
> 4
> Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy
> servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.
> 
> 5
> So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after
> this manner.
> 
> 6
> Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army,
> and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them
> chosen men for aid.
> 
> 7
> So they and all the country round about received them with
> garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.
> 
> 8
> Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their
> groves: for he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land,
> that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that
> all tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.
> 
> 9
> Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over
> against the great strait of Judea.
> 
> 10
> And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he
> tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the
> carriages of his army.
> 
> Jdt 4
> Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all
> that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the
> Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had
> spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.
> 
> 2
> Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were
> troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:
> 
> 3
> For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the
> people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels,
> and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the
> profanation.
> 
> 4
> Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the
> villages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba,
> and Esora, and to the valley of Salem:
> 
> 5
> And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the
> high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them,
> and laid up victuals for the provision of war: for their fields
> were of late reaped.
> 
> 6
> Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in
> Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and
> Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open
> country, near to Dothaim,
> 
> 7
> Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for
> by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to
> stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight,
> for two men at the most.
> 
> 8
> And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had
> commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel,
> which dwelt at Jerusalem.
> 
> 9
> Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency,
> and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:
> 
> 10
> Both they, and their wives and their children, and their
> cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants
> bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.
> 
> 11
> Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the
> inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes
> upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face
> of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,
> 
> 12
> And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent
> earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and
> their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to
> destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, and
> for the nations to rejoice at.
> 
> 13
> So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their
> afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and
> Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.
> 
> 14
> And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood
> before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had
> their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt
> offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,
> 
> 15
> And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with
> all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel
> graciously.
> 
> Jdt 5
> Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the
> army of Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war,
> and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had
> fortified all the tops of the high hills and had laid
> impediments in the champaign countries:
> 
> 2
> Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of
> Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the
> sea coast,
> 
> 3
> And he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who
> this people is, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are
> the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their
> army, and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is
> set over them, or captain of their army;
> 
> 4
> And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more
> than all the inhabitants of the west.
> 
> 5
> Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let
> my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I
> will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people, which
> dwelleth near thee, and inhabiteth the hill countries: and there
> shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.
> 
> 6
> This people are descended of the Chaldeans:
> 
> 7
> And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they
> would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the
> land of Chaldea.
> 
> 8
> For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the
> God of heaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out
> from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and
> sojourned there many days.
> 
> 9
> Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where
> they sojourned, and to go into the land of Chanaan: where they
> dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very
> much cattle.
> 
> 10
> But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went
> down into Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished,
> and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number
> their nation.
> 
> 11
> Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt
> subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in
> brick, and made them slaves.
> 
> 12
> Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of
> Egypt with incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of
> their sight.
> 
> 13
> And God dried the Red sea before them,
> 
> 14
> And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades-Barne, and cast
> forth all that dwelt in the wilderness.
> 
> 15
> So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed
> by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan
> they possessed all the hill country.
> 
> 16
> And they cast forth before them the Chanaanite, the
> Pherezite, the Jebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the
> Gergesites, and they dwelt in that country many days.
> 
> 17
> And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered,
> because the God that hateth iniquity was with them.
> 
> 18
> But when they departed from the way which he appointed them,
> they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led
> captives into a land that was not their's, and the temple of
> their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by
> the enemies.
> 
> 19
> But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from
> the places where they were scattered, and have possessed
> Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill
> country; for it was desolate.
> 
> 20
> Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error
> against this people, and they sin against their God, let us
> consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we
> shall overcome them.
> 
> 21
> But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now
> pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them,
> and we become a reproach before all the world.
> 
> 22
> And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people
> standing round about the tent murmured, and the chief men of
> Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab,
> spake that he should kill him.
> 
> 23
> For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the
> children of Israel: for, lo, it is a people that have no
> strength nor power for a strong battle
> 
> 24
> Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall
> be a prey to be devoured of all thine army.
> 
> Jdt 6
> And when the tumult of men that were about the council was
> ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Assur said
> unto Achior and all the Moabites before all the company of other
> nations,
> 
> 2
> And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that
> thou hast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said, that
> we should not make war with the people of Israel, because their
> God will defend them? and who is God but Nabuchodonosor?
> 
> 3
> He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face
> of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his
> servants will destroy them as one man; for they are not able to
> sustain the power of our horses.
> 
> 4
> For with them we will tread them under foot, and their
> mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields
> shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps
> shall not be able to stand before us, for they shall utterly
> perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth: for he
> said, None of my words shall be in vain.
> 
> 5
> And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken
> these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no
> more from this day, until I take vengeance of this nation that
> came out of Egypt.
> 
> 6
> And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of
> them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall
> among their slain, when I return.
> 
> 7
> Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill
> country, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the
> passages:
> 
> 8
> And thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.
> 
> 9
> And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall be
> taken, let not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none
> of my words shall be in vain.
> 
> 10
> Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his
> tent, to take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him
> into the hands of the children of Israel.
> 
> 11
> So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp
> into the plain, and they went from the midst of the plain into
> the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under
> Bethulia.
> 
> 12
> And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their
> weapons, and went out of the city to the top of the hill: and
> every man that used a sling kept them from coming up by casting
> of stones against them.
> 
> 13
> Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound
> Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill,
> and returned to their lord.
> 
> 14
> But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto
> him, and loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented
> him to the governors of the city:
> 
> 15
> Which were in those days Ozias the son of Micha, of the tribe
> of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son
> of Melchiel.
> 
> 16
> And they called together all the ancients of the city, and
> all their youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly,
> and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias
> asked him of that which was done.
> 
> 17
> And he answered and declared unto them the words of the
> council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in
> the midst of the princes of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had
> spoken proudly against the house of Israel.
> 
> 18
> Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto
> God. saying,
> 
> 19
> O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low
> estate of our nation, and look upon the face of those that are
> sanctified unto thee this day.
> 
> 20
> Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.
> 
> 21
> And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and
> made a feast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel
> all that night for help.
> 
> Jdt 7
> The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his
> people which were come to take his part, that they should remove
> their camp against Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of
> the hill country, and to make war against the children of
> Israel.
> 
> 2
> Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and
> the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand
> footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and
> other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.
> 
> 3
> And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the
> fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim
> even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which
> is over against Esdraelon.
> 
> 4
> Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of
> them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his
> neighbour, Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for
> neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are
> able to bear their weight.
> 
> 5
> Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had
> kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all
> that night.
> 
> 6
> But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his
> horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in
> Bethulia,
> 
> 7
> And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the
> fountains of their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of
> men of war over them, and he himself removed toward his people.
> 
> 8
> Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and
> all the governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the
> sea coast, and said,
> 
> 9
> Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow
> in thine army.
> 
> 10
> For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in
> their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they
> dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their
> mountains.
> 
> 11
> Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle
> array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people
> perish.
> 
> 12
> Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and
> let thy servants get into their hands the fountain of water,
> which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain:
> 
> 13
> For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence;
> so shall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city,
> and we and our people shall go up to the tops of the mountains
> that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go
> out of the city.
> 
> 14
> So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed
> with fire, and before the sword come against them, they shall be
> overthrown in the streets where they dwell.
> 
> 15
> Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they
> rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.
> 
> 16
> And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and
> he appointed to do as they had spoken.
> 
> 17
> So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them
> five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley,
> and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the
> children of Israel.
> 
> 18
> Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon,
> and camped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they
> sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east over
> against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the
> brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped
> in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their
> tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.
> 
> 19
> Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God,
> because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed
> them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among
> them.
> 
> 20
> Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their
> footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that
> all their vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of
> Bethulia.
> 
> 21
> And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to
> drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by
> measure.
> 
> 22
> Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their
> women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the
> streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there
> was no longer any strength in them.
> 
> 23
> Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of
> the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried
> with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,
> 
> 24
> God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great
> injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of
> Assur.
> 
> 25
> For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their
> hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and
> great destruction.
> 
> 26
> Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city
> for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.
> 
> 27
> For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to
> die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may
> live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor
> our wives nor our children to die.
> 
> 28
> We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and
> our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to
> our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according
> as we have said this day.
> 
> 29
> Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of
> the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud
> voice.
> 
> 30
> Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us
> yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may
> turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.
> 
> 31
> And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I
> will do according to your word.
> 
> 32
> And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge;
> and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent
> the women and children into their houses: and they were very low
> brought in the city.
> 
> Jdt 8
> Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter
> of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel,
> the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son
> of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of
> Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of
> Salasadal, the son of Israel.
> 
> 2
> And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who
> died in the barley harvest.
> 
> 3
> For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the
> field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and
> died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his
> fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.
> 
> 4
> So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four
> months.
> 
> 5
> And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on
> sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow's apparel.
> 
> 6
> And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves
> of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new
> moons, and the new moons and the feasts and solemn days of the
> house of Israel.
> 
> 7
> She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to
> behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver,
> and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she
> remained upon them.
> 
> 8
> And there was none that gave her an ill word; ar she feared
> God greatly.
> 
> 9
> Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the
> governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had
> heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he
> had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five
> days;
> 
> 10
> Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of
> all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis,
> the ancients of the city.
> 
> 11
> And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now,
> O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words
> that ye have spoken before the people this day are not right,
> touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between God and
> you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies,
> unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.
> 
> 12
> And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand
> instead of God among the children of men?
> 
> 13
> And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any
> thing.
> 
> 14
> For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can
> ye perceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye search
> out God, that hath made all these things, and know his mind, or
> comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord
> our God to anger.
> 
> 15
> For if he will not help us within these five days, he hath
> power to defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy
> us before our enemies.
> 
> 16
> Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not
> as man, that he may be threatened; neither is he as the son of
> man, that he should be wavering.
> 
> 17
> Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him
> to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.
> 
> 18
> For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in
> these days neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among
> us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime.
> 
> 19
> For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and
> for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.
> 
> 20
> But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will
> not dispise us, nor any of our nation.
> 
> 21
> For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our
> sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation
> thereof at our mouth.
> 
> 22
> And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the
> country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn
> upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in
> bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them
> that possess us.
> 
> 23
> For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the
> Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour.
> 
> 24
> Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our
> brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the
> sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us.
> 
> 25
> Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth
> us, even as he did our fathers.
> 
> 26
> Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried
> Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when
> he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother.
> 
> 27
> For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the
> examination of their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on
> us: but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to
> admonish them.
> 
> 28
> Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou
> spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy
> words.
> 
> 29
> For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is
> manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people
> have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine
> heart is good.
> 
> 30
> But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto
> them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves,
> which we will not break.
> 
> 31
> Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly
> woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and
> we shall faint no more.
> 
> 32
> Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing,
> which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our
> nation.
> 
> 33
> Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth
> with my waitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised
> to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by
> mine hand.
> 
> 34
> But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it
> unto you, till the things be finished that I do.
> 
> 35
> Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and
> the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.
> 
> 36
> So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.
> 
> Jdt 9
> Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and
> uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the
> time that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem
> in the house of the Lord Judith cried with a loud voice, and
> said,
> 
> 2
> O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword
> to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a
> maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and
> polluted her virginity to her reproach; for thou saidst, It
> shall not be so; and yet they did so:
> 
> 3
> Wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they
> dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the
> servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;
> 
> 4
> And hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to
> be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among thy dear
> children; which were moved with thy zeal, and abhorred the
> pollution of their blood, and called upon thee for aid: O God, O
> my God, hear me also a widow.
> 
> 5
> For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the
> things which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast
> thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come.
> 
> 6
> Yea, what things thou didst determine were ready at hand, and
> said, Lo, we are here: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy
> judgments are in thy foreknowledge.
> 
> 7
> For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power;
> they are exalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength
> of their footmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and
> sling; and know not that thou art the Lord that breakest the
> battles: the Lord is thy name.
> 
> 8
> Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their
> force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy
> sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name
> resteth and to cast down with sword the horn of thy altar.
> 
> 9
> Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give
> into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have
> conceived.
> 
> 10
> Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince,
> and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by
> the hand of a woman.
> 
> 11
> For thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in
> strong men: for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of
> the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the
> forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope.
> 
> 12
> I pray thee, I pray thee, O God of my father, and God of the
> inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of
> the waters, king of every creature, hear thou my prayer:
> 
> 13
> And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe,
> who have purposed cruel things against thy covenant, and thy
> hallowed house, and against the top of Sion, and against the
> house of the possession of thy children.
> 
> 14
> And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art
> the God of all power and might, and that there is none other
> that protecteth the people of Israel but thou.
> 
> Jdt 10
> Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel,
> and bad made an end of all these words.
> 
> 2
> She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and
> went down into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath
> days, and in her feast days,
> 
> 3
> And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off
> the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with
> water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided
> the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her
> garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of
> Manasses her husband.
> 
> 4
> And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her
> bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and
> all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the
> eyes of all men that should see her.
> 
> 5
> Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil,
> and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with
> fine bread; so she folded all these things together, and laid
> them upon her.
> 
> 6
> Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and
> found standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris
> and Charmis.
> 
> 7
> And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and
> her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very
> greatly, and said unto her.
> 
> 8
> The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and
> accomplish thine enterprizes to the glory of the children of
> Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped
> God.
> 
> 9
> And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be
> opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things
> whereof ye have spoken with me. So they commanded the young men
> to open unto her, as she had spoken.
> 
> 10
> And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid
> with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she
> was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley,
> and could see her no more.
> 
> 11
> Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first
> watch of the Assyrians met her,
> 
> 12
> And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and
> whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a
> woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be
> given you to be consumed:
> 
> 13
> And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your
> army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way,
> whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without
> losing the body or life of any one of his men.
> 
> 14
> Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance,
> they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,
> 
> 15
> Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come
> down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his
> tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have
> delivered thee to his hands.
> 
> 16
> And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine
> heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will
> entreat thee well.
> 
> 17
> Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her
> and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
> 
> 18
> Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her
> coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as
> she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of
> her.
> 
> 19
> And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of
> Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who
> would despise this people, that have among them such women?
> surely it is not good that one man of them be left who being let
> go might deceive the whole earth.
> 
> 20
> And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his
> servants and they brought her into the tent.
> 
> 21
> Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was
> woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.
> 
> 22
> So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent
> with silver lamps going before him.
> 
> 23
> And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all
> marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down
> upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took
> her up.
> 
> Jdt 11
> Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort,
> fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing
> to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.
> 
> 2
> Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains
> had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear
> against them: but they have done these things to themselves.
> 
> 3
> But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art
> come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good
> comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:
> 
> 4
> For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do
> the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.
> 
> 5
> Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant,
> and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will
> declare no lie to my lord this night.
> 
> 6
> And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will
> bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not
> fail of his purposes.
> 
> 7
> As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his
> power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every
> living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also
> the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the
> air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his
> house.
> 
> 8
> For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is
> reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all
> the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of
> war.
> 
> 9
> Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy
> council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved
> him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.
> 
> 10
> Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay
> it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not
> be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they
> sin against their God.
> 
> 11
> And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his
> purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath
> overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger
> whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:
> 
> 12
> For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant,
> and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and
> purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden
> them to eat by his laws:
> 
> 13
> And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths
> of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the
> priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the
> which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as
> to touch with their hands.
> 
> 14
> For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that
> dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the
> senate.
> 
> 15
> Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do
> it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same
> day.
> 
> 16
> Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from
> their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee,
> whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall
> hear it.
> 
> 17
> For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven
> day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee,
> and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will
> pray unto God, and he will tell me when they have committed
> their sins:
> 
> 18
> And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go
> forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that
> shall resist thee.
> 
> 19
> And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou
> come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst
> thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no
> shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee:
> for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and
> they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.
> 
> 20
> Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and
> they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,
> 
> 21
> There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the
> other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.
> 
> 22
> Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send
> thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and
> destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.
> 
> 23
> And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty
> in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God
> shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king
> Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.
> 
> Jdt 12
> Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set;
> and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and
> that she should drink of his own wine.
> 
> 2
> And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an
> offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I
> have brought.
> 
> 3
> Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail,
> how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of
> thy nation.
> 
> 4
> Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine
> handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the
> Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.
> 
> 5
> Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent,
> and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward
> the morning watch,
> 
> 6
> And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that
> thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.
> 
> 7
> Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay
> her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the
> night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a
> fountain of water by the camp.
> 
> 8
> And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to
> direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.
> 
> 9
> So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did
> eat her meat at evening.
> 
> 10
> And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own
> servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
> 
> 11
> Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all
> that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is
> with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.
> 
> 12
> For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let
> such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her
> not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.
> 
> 13
> Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to
> her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my
> lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be
> merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of
> the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.
> 
> 14
> Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should
> gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do
> speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.
> 
> 15
> So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her
> woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the
> ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received
> of Bagoas far her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon
> them.
> 
> 16
> Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart
> was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired
> greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from
> the day that he had seen her.
> 
> 17
> Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with
> us.
> 
> 18
> So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is
> magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was
> born.
> 
> 19
> Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had
> prepared.
> 
> 20
> And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine
> than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.
> 
> Jdt 13
> Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to
> depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the
> waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their
> beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
> 
> 2
> And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying
> along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.
> 
> 3
> Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her
> bedchamber, and to wait for her. coming forth, as she did daily:
> for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to
> Bagoas according to the same purpose.
> 
> 4
> So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber,
> neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said
> in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon
> the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
> 
> 5
> For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute
> thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are
> risen against us.
> 
> 6
> Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at
> Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,
> 
> 7
> And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his
> head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.
> 
> 8
> And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she
> took away his head from him.
> 
> 9
> And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the
> canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave
> Holofernes his head to her maid;
> 
> 10
> And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went
> together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they
> passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the
> mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
> 
> 11
> Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open,
> open now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his
> power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he
> hath even done this day.
> 
> 12
> Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste
> to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders
> of the city.
> 
> 13
> And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it
> was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the
> gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood
> round about them.
> 
> 14
> Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God,
> praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the
> house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands
> this night.
> 
> 15
> So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said
> unto them, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of
> the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in
> his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a
> woman.
> 
> 16
> As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went,
> my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet
> hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.
> 
> 17
> Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed
> themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed
> be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the
> enemies of thy people.
> 
> 18
> Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the
> most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be
> the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth,
> which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the
> chief of our enemies.
> 
> 19
> For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of
> men, which remember the power of God for ever.
> 
> 20
> And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to
> visit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life
> for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin,
> walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said;
> So be it, so be it.
> 
> Jdt 14
> Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and
> take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your
> walls.
> 
> 2
> And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall
> come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go
> forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain
> over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the
> watch of the Assyrians; but go not down.
> 
> 3
> Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their
> camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and shall
> run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear
> shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.
> 
> 4
> So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue
> them, and overthrow them as they go.
> 
> 5
> But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite,
> that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel,
> and that sent him to us as it were to his death.
> 
> 6
> Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when
> he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in
> the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his
> spirit failed.
> 
> 7
> But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith's feet,
> and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the
> tabernacles of Juda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name
> shall be astonished.
> 
> 8
> Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in
> these days. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the
> people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth
> until that hour she spake unto them.
> 
> 9
> And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a
> loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.
> 
> 10
> And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done,
> he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his
> foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.
> 
> 11
> And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of
> Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and
> they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.
> 
> 12
> But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their leaders,
> which came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of
> their rulers.
> 
> 13
> So they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that had
> the charge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves
> have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may
> be utterly destroyed.
> 
> 14
> Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for
> he thought that he had slept with Judith.
> 
> 15
> But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the
> bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head
> was taken from him.
> 
> 16
> Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and
> sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.
> 
> 17
> After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he
> found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,
> 
> 18
> These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the
> Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of king
> Nabuchodonosor: for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground
> without a head.
> 
> 19
> When the captains of the Assyrians' army heard these words,
> they rent their coats and their minds were wonderfully troubled,
> and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.
> 
> Jdt 15
> And when they that were in the tents heard, they were
> astonished at the thing that was done.
> 
> 2
> And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no
> man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing
> out all together, they fled into every way of the plain, and of
> the hill country.
> 
> 3
> They also that had camped in the mountains round about
> Bethulia fled away. Then the children of Israel, every one that
> was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.
> 
> 4
> Then sent Ozias to Betomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and
> Cola and to all the coasts of Israel, such as should tell the
> things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their
> enemies to destroy them.
> 
> 5
> Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon
> them with one consent, and slew them unto Chobai: likewise also
> they that came from Jerusalem, and from all the hill country,
> (for men had told them what things were done in the camp of
> their enemies) and they that were in Galaad, and in Galilee,
> chased them with a great slaughter, until they were past
> Damascus and the borders thereof.
> 
> 6
> And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of
> Assur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.
> 
> 7
> And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter
> had that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that
> were in the mountains and in the plain, gat many spoils: for the
> multitude was very great.
> 
> 8
> Then Joacim the high priest, and the ancients of the children
> of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good
> things that God had shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to
> salute her.
> 
> 9
> And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one
> accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem,
> thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing
> of our nation:
> 
> 10
> Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done
> much good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be
> thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said,
> So be it.
> 
> 11
> And the people spoiled the camp the space of thirty days: and
> they gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent, and all his plate,
> and beds, and vessels, and all his stuff: and she took it and
> laid it on her mule; and made ready her carts, and laid them
> thereon.
> 
> 12
> Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and
> blessed her, and made a dance among them for her: and she took
> branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with
> her.
> 
> 13
> And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that
> was with her, and she went before all the people in the dance,
> leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in
> their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.
> 
> Jdt 16
> Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel,
> and all the people sang after her this song of praise.
> 
> 2
> And Judith said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto
> my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a new psalm: exalt him, and
> call upon his name.
> 
> 3
> For God breaketh the battles: for among the camps in the
> midst of the people he hath delivered me out of the hands of
> them that persecuted me.
> 
> 4
> Assur came out of the mountains from the north, he came with
> ten thousands of his army, the multitude whereof stopped the
> torrents, and their horsemen have covered the hills.
> 
> 5
> He bragged that he would burn up my borders, and kill my
> young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against
> the ground, and make mine infants as a prey, and my virgins as a
> spoil.
> 
> 6
> But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a
> woman.
> 
> 7
> For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did
> the sons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him:
> but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty
> of her countenance.
> 
> 8
> For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the
> exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed
> her face with ointment, and bound her hair in a tire, and took a
> linen garment to deceive him.
> 
> 9
> Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind
> prisoner, and the fauchion passed through his neck.
> 
> 10
> The Persians quaked at her boldness, and the Medes were
> daunted at her hardiness.
> 
> 11
> Then my afflicted shouted for joy, and my weak ones cried
> aloud; but they were astonished: these lifted up their voices,
> but they were overthrown.
> 
> 12
> The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and
> wounded them as fugatives' children: they perished by the battle
> of the Lord.
> 
> 13
> I will sing unto the Lord a new song: O Lord, thou art great
> and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.
> 
> 14
> Let all creatures serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were
> made, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, and
> there is none that can resist thy voice.
> 
> 15
> For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with
> the waters, the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: yet
> thou art merciful to them that fear thee.
> 
> 16
> For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee,
> and all the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt offering: but he
> that feareth the Lord is great at all times.
> 
> 17
> Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord
> Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in
> putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them,
> and weep for ever.
> 
> 18
> Now as soon as they entered into Jerusalem, they worshipped
> the Lord; and as soon as the people were purified, they offered
> their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their
> gifts.
> 
> 19
> Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the
> people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken
> out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord.
> 
> 20
> So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the
> sanctuary for the space of three months and Judith remained with
> them.
> 
> 21
> After this time every one returned to his own inheritance,
> and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession,
> and was in her time honourable in all the country.
> 
> 22
> And many desired her, but none knew her all the days of her
> life, after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered
> to his people.
> 
> 23
> But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in
> her husband's house, being an hundred and five years old, and
> made her maid free; so she died in Bethulia: and they buried her
> in the cave of her husband Manasses.
> 
> 24
> And the house of Israel lamented her seven days: and before
> she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were
> nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that
> were the nearest of her kindred.
> 
> 25
> And there was none that made the children of Israel any more
> afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.
>
> — *Judith*