Judith
Bible, King James Version
Judith
Jdt.1
[
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
[
1] 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
[
1] 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
[
1] 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
[
1] 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
[
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] 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
[
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.
[
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
[
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.
[
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
[
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,
[
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
[
1] 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
[
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.
[
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
[
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.
[
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
[
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.
[
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
[
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.
[
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
[
1] 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
[
1] 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.
