1  But when they had ceased speaking, it happened that Holofernes, being very indignant, said to Achior

1  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  “Because you have prophesied to us, saying that the people of Israel may be defended by their God, and so as to reveal to you that there is no God, except Nebuchadnezzar

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  when we will have struck them all as one man, then you also will pass away with them by the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel will perish into perdition with you.

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  And you will be shown that Nebuchadnezzar is the lord of the whole earth. And then, the sword of my army will pass through your sides, and, being stabbed, you will fall among the wounded of Israel, and you will breathe no longer, when you have been destroyed with them.

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 furthermore, if you consider your prophecy to be true, do not let your countenance fall, and let the paleness that has taken hold of your face depart from you, if you claim that these my words cannot be fulfilled.

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  But so that you may know that you will experience these things together with them, behold, from this hour you will be associated with their people, so that, when they receive the punishment that they deserve from my sword, you will fall under the same vengeance.”

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 instructed his servants to apprehend Achior, and to lead him through to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the sons of Israel.

11  And, taking him, the servants of Holofernes traveled through the plains. But when they approached close to the mountains, the slingers of stones went forth against them.

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  Then, diverting by the side of the mountain, they tied Achior, hands and feet, to a tree, and so they abandoned him, bound with ropes, and they returned to their lord.

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  Thereafter, the sons of Israel, descending from Bethulia, came to him. Releasing him, they brought him to Bethulia. And so, standing him in the midst of the people, they interrogated him as to what event caused the Assyrians to abandon him, bound.

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  In those days, the rulers of that place were Uzziah, the son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris, also called Gothoniel.

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 so, in the midst of the elders and in the sight of everyone, Achior explained all that he had said in reply to the questioning of Holofernes, and in what manner the people of Holofernes wanted to have him killed because of this word,

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 how Holofernes himself, being angry, had ordered him to be handed over to the Israelites, for this reason: so that when he would prevail over the sons of Israel, then he would also command Achior himself to be executed by diverse torments, because he had said that the God of heaven is their defender.

18  And when Achior had declared all these things, all the people fell on their faces, adoring the Lord, and, communing together with mourning and weeping, they poured out their prayers with one mind to the Lord,

19  saying: “O Lord, God of heaven and earth, behold their arrogance, and gaze upon our humility, and attend to the face of your holy ones, and reveal that you do not abandon those who rely on you, and that those who rely on themselves and who glory in their own strength, you humble.”

19  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.

20  And so, when their weeping was ended, and the prayer of the people throughout the entire day was completed, they consoled Achior,

21  saying: “The God of our fathers, whose power you have predicted, will give to you this in return: that you, instead, will see the destruction of them.

22  Truly, when the Lord our God will give this freedom to his servants, may God also be with you in our midst, so that, just as it pleases you, everyone who is with you may keep company with us.”

22  Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto God. saying,

23  Then Uzziah, after the council was ended, received him into his own house, and he made him a great supper.

23  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.

24  And all the elders were invited; together they refreshed themselves at the completion of their fast.

24  Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.

25  In truth, after this, all the people were called together, and they prayed throughout the entire night within the assembly, petitioning help from the God of Israel.

25  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.

7:1  But Holofernes, on another day, instructed his army to ascend against Bethulia.

1  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.

7:2  Moreover, there were one hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers, and twenty-two thousand horsemen, besides the contingents of those men who had been taken captive, and all the youths who had been abducted from the provinces and the cities.

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.

7:3  All these prepared themselves together to fight against the sons of Israel, and they came through the foothills of the mountain, even to the apex, which looks down upon Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, up to Chelmon, which is opposite Esdrelon.

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.

7:4  But the sons of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, prostrated themselves upon the ground, scattering ashes over their heads, praying with one accord that the God of Israel would show his mercy upon his people.

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.

7:5  And, taking up their arms of war, they set up positions at the places that lead along a narrow footpath between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.

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.

7:6  Now Holofernes, while circling around, discovered that the fountain that flowed in to them, led directly through an aqueduct on the south side, beyond the city. And he instructed their aqueduct to be cut off.

6  But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,

7:7  Even so, there were springs not far from the walls, from which they were seen to draw water secretly, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.

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.

7:8  But the sons of Ammon and Moab approached Holofernes, saying: “The sons of Israel do not trust in their lances, nor in their arrows, but the mountains are their defense, and the steep hills and precipices constitute their fortifications.

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,

7:9  Therefore, so that you may be able to overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs so that they may not draw water from them, and you will put them to death without the sword, or at least, being weary, they will hand over their city, which they suppose to be, by its position in the mountains, unable to be conquered.”

9  Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in thine army.

7:10  And these words were pleasing before Holofernes and before his attendants, and so he stationed a hundred men around every spring.

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.

7:11  And when they had kept this watch through twenty full days, the cisterns and collections of waters failed among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was within the city not enough to satisfy them for even one day, because water was given out to the people daily by measure.

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.

7:12  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

7:13  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.

7:14  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.

7:15  Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.

7:16  And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.

7:17  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.

7:18  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.

7:19  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.

7:20  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.

7:21  And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by measure.

7:22  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.

7:23  Then, all the men and women, youths and little ones, gathering together before Uzziah, all with one voice together,

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,

7:24  said: “May God be judge between us and you, for you have done evil with us, in not being willing to speak peacefully with the Assyrians, and because of this, God has sold us into their hands.

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.

7:25  And therefore, there is no one to help us, while we are prostrated before their eyes with thirst and great destruction.

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.

7:26  And now, gather together all who are in the city, so that we may willingly deliver everyone of us to the people of Holofernes.

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.

7:27  For it is better that as captives, being alive, we should bless the Lord, than that we should die and become a disgrace to all flesh, after we have seen our wives and our children die before our eyes.

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.

7:28  We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who takes vengeance upon us according to our sins, so that now you may deliver the city into the hand of the military of Holofernes. And may our end be brief, by the edge of the sword, that would be made longer by the dryness of thirst.”

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.

7:29  And when they had said these things, there happened a great weeping and a loud lamentation within the assembly. From everyone and for many hours, with one voice, they cried out to God, saying

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.

7:30  “We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly, we have committed iniquity.

7:31  May you have mercy on us, for you are pious, or with your own scourges avenge our iniquities, but do not be willing to deliver those trusting in you to a people who are ignorant of you,

7:32  so that they may not say among the Gentiles, ‘Where is their God?’ ”

7:33  And when, being weary from these outcries, and tired from these weepings, they became silent,

7:34  Uzziah, rising up covered in tears, said: “Be steadfast in soul, brothers, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.

Jdt7:30  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.

7:35  For perhaps he will break off his indignation and give glory to his own name.

Jdt7:31  And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word.

7:36  But if, with five days passing, help does not arrive, we will accomplish the words that you have spoken.”

Jdt7:32  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.

8:1  And it happened that these words were heard by Judith, a widow who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Melchiel, the son of Enan, the son of Nathaniel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon, the son of Ruben.

1  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.

8:2  And her husband was Manasseh, who died in the days of the barley harvest.

2  And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest.

8:3  For he was standing over those who bound sheaves in the field, and the heat overcame his head, and he died in Bethulia, his own city, and he was buried there with his fathers.

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.

8:4  But Judith, his bereaved, was a widow now for three years and six months.

4  So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.

8:5  And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her house, in which she stayed enclosed with her handmaids.

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.

8:6  And she had haircloth around her waist, and she fasted all the days of her life, except Sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the house of Israel.

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.

8:7  Moreover, she was exceedingly elegant in appearance, and her husband left her many riches, and an abundant household, as well as the ownership of plentiful herds of oxen and flocks of sheep.

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.

8:8  And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the Lord very much, nor was there anyone who spoke an ill word about her.

8  And there was none that gave her an ill word; ar she feared God greatly.

8:9  And so, when she heard that Uzziah had promised that he would hand over the city with the passing of five days, she sent to the elders Chabris and Charmis.

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;

8:10  And they came to her, and she said to them: “What is this word, by which Uzziah has consented to hand over the city to the Assyrians, if within five days no help arrives for us?

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.

8:11  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.

8:12  And who are you to test the Lord?

12  And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men?

8:13  This is not a word that will provoke mercy, but rather one that may excite wrath and enkindle fury.

13  And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any thing.

8:14  You have set a time limit for the mercy of the Lord, and you have established a day for him, according to your choice.

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.

8:15  But, since the Lord is patient, let us be repentant about this same matter, and let us beg his indulgence with many tears.

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.

8:16  For God will not threaten like man, nor will he be inflamed to anger like a son of man.

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.

8:17  And, for this reason, let us humble our souls before him, and, continuing to serve him in a spirit of humility,

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.

8:18  let us speak to the Lord with tears, so that he may act according to his will in his mercy toward us. So then, just as our heart is disturbed by their arrogance, so also may we glory in our humility.

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.

8:19  For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who abandoned their God in order to worship strange gods.

19  For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.

8:20  Because of this crime, they were given over to their enemies: to the sword, and to pillaging, and to confusion. But we know no other God except him.

20  But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will not dispise us, nor any of our nation.

8:21  Let us wait with humility for his consolation, and the Lord our God will requite our blood by the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that will rise up against us, and he will cause them to be without honor.

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.

8:22  And now, brothers, because you are the elders among the people of God, and their very soul hangs upon you, rescue their hearts by your eloquence, so that they may remember that our fathers were tested in order to prove whether or not they truly worshiped their God.

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.

8:23  They are obliged to remember how our father Abraham was tested, and being proved by many tribulations, he was made the friend of God.

23  For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour.

8:24  So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.

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.

8:25  But those who did not accept the trials with the fear of the Lord, and who brought forward their impatience and the disgrace of their murmuring against the Lord,

25  Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us, even as he did our fathers.

8:26  were exterminated by the exterminator, and they perished by serpents.

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.

8:27  And as for us, therefore, let us not revenge ourselves for these things that we suffer.

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.

8:28  But, in considering these same sufferings to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that the scourges of the Lord, by which we are corrected like servants, have occurred for our improvement and not for our destruction.”

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.

8:29  And Uzziah and the elders said to her: “All the things that you have spoken are true, and there is nothing reprehensible in your 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.

8:30  Now, therefore, pray for us, because you are a holy woman, and one fearing God.”

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.

8:31  And Judith said to them: “You know that what I have been able to say is of God.

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.

8:32  So, concerning that which I propose to do, examine whether or not it is from God, and pray that God may act to strengthen my plan.

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.

8:33  You will stand at the gate this night, and I will go forth with my handmaid. And pray that, just as you have said, within five days the Lord may look kindly on his people Israel.

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.

8:34  But I am not willing to have you examine my actions, and, until I report to you, let nothing else be done, except to pray for me to the Lord our God.”

34  But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do.

8:35  And Uzziah, the leader of Judah, said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord be with you to take revenge among our enemies.” So, turning back, they departed.

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.

8:36  So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.

9:1  And when they were gone, Judith entered her place of prayer. And clothing herself with haircloth, she placed ashes on her head. And prostrating herself to the Lord, she cried out to the Lord, saying

1  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,

9:2  “O Lord, God of my father Simeon, you gave him a sword to defend against foreigners, who stood out as violators by their defilement, and who uncovered the thigh of the virgin unto shame.

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

9:3  And you gave their wives into plunder, and their daughters into captivity, and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who were zealous with your zeal. Bring help, I ask you, O Lord my God, to me, a widow.

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;

9:4  For you have acted in the past, and you have decided one thing after another. And what you have willed, this too has happened.

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.

9:5  For all your ways have been prepared, and you have placed your judgments within your providence.

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.

9:6  Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, just as you deigned to look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when their weapons rushed after your servants, trusting in their four-horse chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a multitude of warriors.

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 judgements are in thy foreknowledge.

9:7  But you gazed upon their camp, and darkness wearied them.

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.

9:8  The abyss took hold of their feet, and the waters covered them.

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.

9:9  So may it be with these also, O Lord, who trust in their multitude, and in their swift chariots, and in their pikes, and in their shields, and in their arrows, and the glory in their lances.

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.

9:10  And they do not know that you are our God, who crushes wars from the beginning, and the Lord is your name.

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.

9:11  Raise up your arm, just as from the beginning, and throw down their power by your power. Let their power fall, in their anger, for they promise themselves to violate your sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle of your name, and to cut down by their sword the horn of your altar.

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.

9:12  Act, O Lord, so that his arrogance may be cut off with his own sword.

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

9:13  Let him be seized by the snare of his own eyes in my regard, and may you strike him by the attraction of my lips.

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.

9:14  Give me constancy in my soul, so that I may hold him in contempt, and give me virtue, so that I may overthrow him.

9:15  For this will be a memorial to your name, when he will be overthrown by the hand of a woman.

9:16  For your power, O Lord, is not in numbers, nor is your will with the strength of horses, nor from the beginning have the arrogant been pleasing to you. But the pleas of the humble and the meek have always pleased you.

9:17  O God of the heavens, Creator of the waters, and Lord of all creation, heed me, a miserable thing, pleading you and depending on your mercy.

9:18  Remember, O Lord, your covenant, and put your words in my mouth, and reinforce the plan in my heart, so that your house may continue with your sanctification,

9:19  and so that all the nations may acknowledge that you are God, and there is no other beside you.”

Jdt9:14  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.

10:1  And it happened that, when she had ceased to cry out to the Lord, she arose from the place where she lay prostrate before the Lord.

1  Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and bad made an end of all these words.

10:2  And she called her handmaid, and descending into her house, she took away from herself the haircloth, and she put away from herself the garments of her widowhood,

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,

10:3  and she washed her body, and she anointed herself with the best ointment, and she plaited the hair of her head, and she put a headdress on her head, and she clothed herself with the garments of her elegance, and she put sandals on her feet, and she put on her little bracelets, and lilies, and earrings, and rings, and she adorned herself with all her ornaments.

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.

10:4  And also, the Lord conferred upon her a splendor. For all this dressing up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue. And therefore, the Lord increased this, her beauty, so that she appeared with incomparable honor before the eyes of all.

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.

10:5  And so, she appointed to her handmaid a wineskin, and a vessel of oil, and parched grain, and dried figs, and bread, and cheese, and they departed.

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.

10:6  And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Uzziah and the elders of the city waiting.

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.

10:7  And when they saw her, being astounded, they wondered at her surpassing beauty.

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.

10:8  So, not questioning her at all, they dismissed her to go forth, saying: “May the God of our fathers give you grace, and may he strengthen all the advice of your heart with his virtue, so that Jerusalem may glory over you, and your name may be counted among the holy and the just.”

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.

10:9  And those who were there, all with one voice, said: “Amen. Amen.”

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.

10:10  In truth, Judith was praying to the Lord as she crossed through the gates, she and her handmaid.

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.

10:11  But it happened that, when she descended the mountain at about the break of day, the scouts of the Assyrians met her, and they stopped her, saying, “Where are you coming from? And where are you going?”

11  Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the Assyrians met her,

10:12  And she answered: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews. This is why I have fled from their face: because I realized that in the future they would be given over to you with pillaging, for they hold you in contempt, and they would never be willing to surrender themselves, so that they might find mercy in your sight.

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

10:13  For this reason, I thought to myself, saying: I will go to the face of the leader Holofernes, so that I may reveal to him their secrets, and show him by what means he may be able to prevail over them, without one man of his army being slain.”

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.

10:14  And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and their eyes were astounded, because they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.

14  Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,

10:15  And they said to her: “You have preserved your life by following such an excellent plan, to descend to our lord.

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.

10:16  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.

10:17  But know this, that when you will stand in his sight, he will treat you well, and you will be very pleasing to his heart.” And they led her to the tabernacle of Holofernes, announcing her.

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.

10:18  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.

10:19  And when she had entered before his face, immediately Holofernes was captivated by his eyes.

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.

10:20  And his attendants said to him, “Who can hold the people of the Hebrews in contempt, who have such beautiful women? So, we ought to think it not worthwhile, for their sakes, to fight against them.”

20  And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants and they brought her into the tent.

10:21  And so, Judith looked upon Holofernes, sitting under a canopy, which was woven from purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones.

21  Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.

10:22  So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.

10:23  And, after she had gazed into his face, she showed reverence for him, prostrating herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, at the command of their lord.

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.

11:1  Then Holofernes said to her: “Be steadfast in soul, and do not be terrified in your heart. For I have never harmed a man who was willing to serve king Nebuchadnezzar.

1  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.

11:2  But if your people had not despised me, I would not have lifted up my lance over them.

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.

11:3  But now, tell me, for what reason have you withdrawn from them, and why has it pleased you to come to us?”

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

11:4  For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.

11:5  And Judith said to him: “Receive the words of your maidservant. For, if you will follow the words of your maidservant, the Lord will accomplish an excellent thing by you.

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.

11:6  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.

11:7  For, as Nebuchadnezzar the king of the earth lives, and as his power lives, which is with you for the chastising of all straying souls: not only men serve him through you, but also the beasts of the field are submissive to him.

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.

11:8  For the diligence of your mind is being reported to all nations, and it has been revealed to all of this age that you alone are good and powerful in all his kingdom, and your discipline is being announced beforehand in all the provinces.

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.

11:9  This is not hidden, what Achior has said, nor are we ignorant of what you have ordered to befall him.

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.

11:10  For it is agreed that our God is so offended with sins that he has commanded, through his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them up for their sins.

10  Therefore, O lord and governor, reject 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.

11:11  And since the sons of Israel know that they have offended their God, your trembling is upon them.

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

11:12  Moreover, now also a famine has assailed them, and, by drought of water, they are already counted among the dead.

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

11:13  And finally, they have a plan to put to death their herds, and to drink their blood.

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.

11:14  And the sacred things of the Lord their God, which God instructed them not to touch, among the grain, wine, and oil, these they have decided to expend, and they are willing to consume the things that they ought not to touch with their hands. Therefore, because they do these things, it is certain that they will be given over to perdition.

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.

11:15  And I, your maidservant, knowing this, have fled from them, and the Lord has sent me to report to you these same things.

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.

11:16  For I, your maidservant, worship God even now that I am with you, and your maidservant will go out, and I will pray to God.

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.

11:17  And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and I will return and announce it to you, so that I may bring you through the midst of Jerusalem, and you will hold all the people of Israel, like sheep that have no shepherd, and there will not be so much as one dog that barks against you.

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

11:18  For these things have been told to me through the providence of God.

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.

11:19  And because God has been angry with them, I have been sent to report these same things to you.”

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.

11:20  And so, all these words were pleasing before Holofernes, and before his servants, and they wondered at her wisdom, and they said to one another

20  Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,

11:21  “There is not another woman so great upon the earth: in appearance, in beauty, and in charming words.”

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.

11:22  And Holofernes said to her: “God has done well, who sent you ahead of the people, so that you may give them into our hands.

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.

11:23  And if your promise is good, if your God will do this for me, he will also be my God, and you will be great in the house of Nebuchadnezzar, and your name will be renowned through all the earth.”

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.

12:1  Then he ordered her to enter where his valuables were stored, and he ordered her wait there, and he appointed what should be given to her from his own feast.

1  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.

12:2  And Judith responded to him, and she said: “Now, I am not able to eat from these things which you instructed to be allotted to me, lest an offense come upon me. But I will eat from that which I have brought.”

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.

12:3  And Holofernes said to her, “If these things that you have brought with you should fail you, what shall we do for you?”

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.

12:4  And Judith said, “As your soul lives, my lord, your maidservant will not expend all these things, until God accomplishes by my hand what I have in mind.” And his servants led her into the tabernacle, as he instructed.

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.

12:5  And, as she was entering, she requested that it be permitted to her to go outside at night, before daylight, in order to pray and to petition the Lord.

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,

12:6  And he instructed his chamberlains that she may exit and enter, just as it may please her, to adore her God, for three days.

6  And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.

12:7  And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and she washed herself in a fountain of water.

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.

12:8  And, as she climbed up, she prayed to the Lord God of Israel that he would direct her way, to the liberation of his people.

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.

12:9  And entering, she remained pure in the tabernacle, until she received her own food in the evening.

9  So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.

12:10  And it happened on the fourth day that Holofernes made a supper for his servants, and he said to Vagao his eunuch: “Go, and persuade that Hebrew woman to willingly consent to live with me.

10  And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

12:11  For it is disgraceful among the Assyrians, if a woman mocks a man, acting so as to pass through with immunity from him.”

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.

12:12  Then Vagao entered toward Judith, and he said, “May she not dread, my good young woman, to enter to my lord, so that she may be honored before his face, so that she may eat with him and drink wine with cheerfulness.”

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.

12:13  Judith answered him: “Who am I, that I should contradict my lord?

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.

12:14  All that will be good and best before his eyes, I will do. Moreover, whatever will please him, to me, that will be what is best, all the days of my life.”

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.

12:15  And she arose and dressed herself with her garments, and entering, she stood before his face.

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 for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.

12:16  But the heart of Holofernes was struck. For he was burning with desire for her.

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.

12:17  And Holofernes said to her, “Drink now, and recline with cheerfulness, for you have found favor before me.”

17  Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.

12:18  And Judith said, “I will drink, my lord, because my soul has been magnified this day, beyond all my days.”

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.

12:19  And she accepted and ate and drank in his sight what her handmaid had prepared for her.

19  Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.

12:20  And Holofernes became pleased with her, and he drank very much wine, more than he had ever drunk in his life.

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.

13:1  So then, when it had become late, his servants hurried to their lodgings, and Vagao closed the chamber doors, and he went away.

1  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.

13:2  But they were all drowsy from the wine.

2  And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

13:3  And Judith was alone in the chamber.

13:4  Moreover, Holofernes, being very inebriated, was fast asleep, reclining on his bed.

13:5  And Judith told her handmaid to stand outside before the chamber, and to watch.

Jdt13:3  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.

13:6  And Judith stood in front of the bed, praying with tears, and her lips moved in silence,

Jdt13:4  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.

13:7  saying: “Confirm me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour look kindly upon the works of my hands, so that, just as you promised, you may raise up Jerusalem, your city, and so that, believing through you that this plan is able to be accomplished, I may succeed.”

Jdt13:5  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.

13:8  And when she had said this, she approached the pillar, which was at the head of the bed, and she released his blade, which was hanging tied to it.

Jdt13:6  Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his fauchion from thence,

13:9  And when she had unsheathed it, she grabbed him by the hair of his head, and she said, “Confirm me, O Lord God, in this hour.”

Jdt13:7  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.

13:10  And she struck him twice on his neck, and she cut off his head, and she took off his canopy from the pillars, and she rolled away the trunk of his body.

Jdt13:8  And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.

13:11  And after a little while, she went out, and she delivered the head of Holofernes to her handmaid, and she ordered her to put it in her bag.

Jdt13:9  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;

13:12  And the two went out, according to their custom, as if to prayer, and they passed through the camp, and having circled around the valley, they came to the gate of the city.

Jdt13:10  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.

13:13  And Judith, from a distance, spoke to the watchmen on the walls, “Open the gates, for God is with us, and he has acted with his power in Israel.”

Jdt13:11  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.

13:14  And it happened that, when the men had heard her voice, they called the elders of the city.

Jdt13:12  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.

13:15  And all rushed toward her, from the least to the greatest. For, until then, they held no hope that she would return.

Jdt13:13  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.

13:16  And, enflaming the lights, they gathered all around her. But she climbed up to a higher place, and she ordered them to be made silent. And when all had quieted down,

13:17  Judith said: “Praise the Lord our God, who has not abandoned those who hope in him.

Jdt13:14  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.

13:18  And by me, his handmaid, he has fulfilled his mercy, which he promised to the house of Israel. And he has killed the enemy of his people, by my hand this night.”

13:19  Then, taking the head of Holofernes from the bag, she displayed it to them, saying: “Behold, the head of Holofernes the leader of the military of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, under which he reclined in his drunkenness, where the Lord our God struck him by the hand of a woman.

Jdt13:15  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.

13:20  But, as the Lord himself lives, his angel has been my guardian both from my departure, and while staying there, and when returning from there. And the Lord has not permitted me, his handmaid, to be defiled, but he has called me back to you without the pollution of sin, rejoicing in his victory, in my escape, and in your liberation.

Jdt13:16  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.

13:21  Confess everything to him, for he is good, for his mercy is with every generation.”

13:22  Then everyone adored the Lord, and they said to her, “The Lord has blessed you by his power, because, through you, he has reduced our enemies to nothing.”

Jdt13:17  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.

13:23  Furthermore, Uzziah, the leader of the people of Israel, said to her: “O daughter, you have been blessed by the Lord, the most high God, above all the women on earth.

Jdt13:18  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.

13:24  Blessed is the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who has guided you in harming the head of the leader of our enemies.

Jdt13:19  For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for ever.

13:25  For he has so magnified your name this day, that your praise will not retire from the mouth of men, who will be mindful of the power of the Lord forever, because you have risked your life for the sake of the distress and tribulation of your people, and you have prevented our ruin before the sight of our God.”

Jdt13:20  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.

13:26  And all the people said: “Amen. Amen.”

13:27  And so, Achior was called, and he drew near, and Judith said to him: “The God of Israel, to whom you gave testimony, has avenged himself on his enemies. He has cut down the head of all unbelievers, by my hand this night.

13:28  And, so that you may determine that this is so, behold, the head of Holofernes, who, in the contempt of his pride, despised the God of Israel and threatened Israel with ruin, saying, ‘When the people of Israel have been captured, I will instruct your sides to be pierced through with a sword.’ ”

13:29  Then Achior, seeing the head of Holofernes, and being distressed by fear, fell upon his face on the ground, and his soul became agitated.

13:30  In truth, after this, when he had recovered his breath, he fell down before her feet, and he showed reverence for her, and he said

13:31  “Blessed are you by your God, in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in every nation that will hear of your name, the God of Israel will be magnified over you.”

14:1  Then Judith said to all the people: “Hear me, brothers. Suspend this head over our walls.

1  Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.

14:2  And, as soon as the sun rises, let everyone take up his weapons and go out to attack, not going down all the way, but only to seem as if making an assault.

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.

14:3  Then the scouts will have to hurry to awaken their leader for the fight.

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.

14:4  And when their commanders rush into the tabernacle of Holofernes, and they find his headless body wallowing in his blood, fear will fall over them.

4  So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

14:5  And when you realize that they are fleeing, go after them in security, for the Lord will crush them under your feet.”

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.

14:6  Then Achior, seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought, left behind the rituals of the Gentiles. He believed in God, and he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and he was placed among the people of Israel, and so were all the succession of his kindred, even until this present day.

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.

14:7  And soon, at the rising of day, they suspended the head of Holofernes above the walls, and every man took up his weapons, and they went out with a great uproar and howling.

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.

14:8  When the scouts saw this, they rushed to the tent of Holofernes.

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.

14:9  Moreover, those who were in the tent came and made a loud noise before the entrance to the bedchamber, hoping to awaken him by an attempt at skillful noise-making, not by intruding on him, so that Holofernes might be roused from sleep.

9  And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

14:10  For no one dared to knock, or to open and enter, the bedchamber of the powerful leader of the Assyrians.

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.

14:11  But when his commanders and tribunes had arrived, with all the chiefs of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlains

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.

14:12  “Enter and awaken him, for the mice have come out of their holes, intending to challenge us to fight.”

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.

14:13  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.

14:14  Then Vagao, entering his bedchamber, stood before the curtain, and he made a clapping noise with his hands. For he suspected that he was sleeping with Judith.

14  Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Judith.

14:15  But when, with attentiveness, he perceived no motion of anyone reclining, he approached the curtain. And lifting it up, he saw the dead body of Holofernes, without a head, lying on the ground, soaked in his own blood. He cried out with a loud voice and weeping, and he tore his garments.

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.

14:16  And he entered the tent of Judith and did not find her. And he ran out to the people,

16  Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.

14:17  and he said: “One Hebrew woman has caused confusion in the house of Nebuchadnezzar the king. For behold, Holofernes lies on the ground, and his head is not with him.”

17  After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,

14:18  Now when the leaders of the army of the Assyrians had heard this, they all tore their garments, and an intolerable fear and trembling fell over them, and their minds were greatly disturbed.

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.

14:19  And there was an unprecedented outcry in the midst of their camp.

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.

15:1  And when the entire army had heard that Holofernes was beheaded, reason and resolution fled from them, and, being moved by trembling and fear alone, they thought only to flee to safety.

1  And when they that were in the tents heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.

15:2  So then, no one spoke with his neighbor, but hanging their heads and leaving everything behind, they hurried to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they had heard, were advancing against them well-armed. And they fled through the ways of the fields and the paths of the hills.

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.

15:3  And so, the sons of Israel, seeing them fleeing, pursued them. And they went down after them, sounding the trumpets and howling.

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.

15:4  And, since the Assyrians were not united, they rushed headlong in their flight. But the sons of Israel, pursuing like one unit, struck down all they were able to find.

15:5  And so, Uzziah sent messengers through all the cities and regions of Israel.

Jdt15:4  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.

15:6  And then, every region and every city sent their chosen young men with weapons after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword, until they passed through to the extremities of their borders.

Jdt15:5  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.

15:7  But the remainder, who were in Bethulia, entered the camp of the Assyrians and took away the plunder that the Assyrians, in their flight, had left behind, and they were exceedingly burdened.

Jdt15:6  And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Assur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.

15:8  In truth, those who returned victorious to Bethulia brought with them everything that was theirs. So there was no numbering their cattle, and beasts, and everything they could carry, so much so that, from the least to the greatest, all were made rich by their spoils.

Jdt15:7  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.

15:9  But Joachim, the high priest, came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with all his elders to see Judith.

Jdt15:8  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.

15:10  And when she had gone out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: “You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you are the honor of our people.

Jdt15:9  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

15:11  For you have acted manfully, and your heart has been strengthened. For you loved chastity, and, after your husband, you have not known any other. Therefore, also the hand of the Lord has strengthened you, and, therefore, you will be blessed for all eternity.”

Jdt15:10  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.

15:12  And all the people said: “Amen. Amen.”

15:13  But all of thirty days were scarcely enough for the people of Israel to collect the spoils of the Assyrians.

Jdt15:11  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.

15:14  But moreover, all of those things that were clearly the particular possessions of Holofernes they gave to Judith: with gold, and silver, and garments, and gems, and furniture. And these were all delivered to her by the people.

Jdt15:12  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.

15:15  And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and the virgins, and the young men, playing on wind instruments and stringed instruments.

Jdt15:13  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.

16:1  Then Judith sang this canticle to the Lord, saying

1  Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang after her this song of praise.

16:2  “Call to the Lord with drums, sing to the Lord with cymbals, play for him a new psalm, exalt and invoke his name.

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.

16:3  The Lord crushes wars; the Lord is 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.

16:4  He has set up his camp in the midst of his people, to rescue us from the hand of all our enemies.

16:5  Assur came from the mountains, from the North, with the multitude of his strength. His multitude blockaded the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys.

Jdt16:4  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.

16:6  He told himself that he would set fire to my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, to give my children into plunder and my virgins into captivity.

Jdt16:5  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.

16:7  But the almighty Lord has harmed him, and he has delivered him into the hands of a woman, and he has pierced him through.

Jdt16:6  But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a woman.

16:8  For their powerful one did not fall by young men, nor did the sons of Titan strike him, nor did lofty giants set themselves against him, but Judith, the daughter of Merari, dissolved him with the splendor of her face.

Jdt16:7  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.

16:9  For she put away from herself the garments of widowhood, and she clothed herself with the garments of rejoicing, for the sake of the exultation of the sons of Israel.

Jdt16:8  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.

16:10  She anointed her face with ointment, and she gathered the locks of her hair with a headdress; she accepted a new dress in order to deceive him.

16:11  Her sandals ravished his eyes; her beauty made his soul her captive; with a blade, she cut off his head.

16:12  The Persians were horrified at her constancy, and the Medes at her boldness.

Jdt16:10  The Persians quaked at her boldness, and the Medes were daunted at her hardiness.

16:13  Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my humble ones appeared, parched with thirst.

Jdt16:11  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.

16:14  The sons of the servant girls have pierced them through, and, like fleeing servants, they have killed them. They perished in battle before the face of the Lord, my God.

Jdt16:12  The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and wounded them as fugatives’ children: they perished by the battle of the Lord.

16:15  Let us sing a canticle to the Lord; let us sing a new hymn to our God.

Jdt16:13  I will sing unto the Lord a new song: O Lord, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.

16:16  O Adonai, O Lord, you are great, and splendor is in your virtue, and no one is able to overcome you.

16:17  Let all your creatures serve you. For you spoke, and they became. You sent forth your Spirit, and they were created. And there is no one who can withstand your voice.

Jdt16:14  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.

16:18  The mountains will be moved from the foundations by the waters. The rocks, like wax, will liquefy before your face.

Jdt16:15  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.

16:19  But those who fear you will be great with you, throughout all things.

Jdt16:16  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.

16:20  Woe to the people that rises up against my people. For the Lord almighty will be vindicated against them; in the day of judgment, he will visit them.

Jdt16:17  Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgement, in putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them, and weep for ever.

16:21  For he will bestow fire and worms on their flesh, so that they may burn and have sensations without ceasing.”

16:22  And it happened that, after these things, all the people came to Jerusalem after the victory, to adore the Lord. And as soon as they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their promises.

Jdt16:18  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.

16:23  Moreover, Judith offered all the implements of war from Holofernes, which the people gave to her, and the canopy that she had taken away from his chamber, as an anathema unto oblivion.

Jdt16:19  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.

16:24  But the people were cheerful before the face of the sanctuary, and for three months the gladness of this victory was celebrated with Judith.

Jdt16:20  So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for the space of three months and Judith remained with them.

16:25  And after those days, each one returned to his own house, and Judith became great in Bethulia, and she had great splendor in all the land of Israel.

Jdt16:21  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.

16:26  For chastity was one with her virtue, so that she did not know man all the days of her life, after the passing away of her husband, Manasseh.

Jdt16:22  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.

16:27  And then, on feast days, she came forth with great glory.

16:28  But she remained in her husband’s house for one hundred and five years, and she set her handmaid free. And she passed away and was buried with her husband in Bethulia.

Jdt16:23  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.

16:29  And all the people mourned her, for seven days.

Jdt16:24  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.

16:30  And, during all the time of her life, there was no one who disturbed Israel, nor for many years after her death.

Jdt16:25  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.

16:31  Moreover, the day of the festivity of this victory was accepted by the Hebrews in the numbering of holy days, and it was religiously observed by the Jews, from that time, even to the present day.