THE BOOK OF JUDITH

Chapter 1

Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians overcometh Arphaxad king of the

Medes.

1:1. Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his

dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana,

Arphaxad. . .He was probably the same as is called Dejoces by Herodotus;

to whom he attributes the building of Ecbatana, the capital city of

Media.

1:2. Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy

cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a

hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended

the space of twenty feet.

1:3. And he made the gates thereof according to the height of the

towers:

1:4. And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army and in the

glory of his chariots.

1:5. Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the

Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against

Arphaxad and overcame him,

Nabuchodonosor. . .Not the king of Babylon, who took and destroyed

Jerusalem, but another of the same name, who reigned in Ninive: and is

called by profane historians Saosduchin. He succeeded Asarhaddan in the

kingdom of the Assyrians, and was contemporary with Manasses king of

Juda.

1:6. In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and

the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the

Elicians.

1:7. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was

elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and

Libanus,

1:8. And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the

inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon,

1:9. And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even

to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of

Ethiopia.

1:10. To all these Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent

messengers:

1:11. But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back empty, and

rejected them without honour.

1:12. Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore

by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those

countries.

Chapter 2

Nabuchodonosor sendeth Holofernes to waste the countries of the west.

2:1. In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and

twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house

of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself.

2:2. And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his

officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel:

2:3. And he said that his thoughts were to bring all the earth under

his empire.

2:4. And when this saying pleased them all, Nabuchodonosor, the king,

called Holofernes the general of his armies,

2:5. And said to him: Go out against all the kingdoms of the west, and

against them especially that despised my commandment.

2:6. Thy eye shall not spare any kingdom, and all the strong cities

thou shalt bring under my yoke.

2:7. Then Holofernes called the captains, and officers of the power of

the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the expedition, and the king

commanded him, a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and

twelve thousand archers, horsemen.

2:8. And he made all his warlike preparations to go before with a

multitude of innumerable camels, with all provisions sufficient for the

armies in abundance, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, without

number.

2:9. He appointed corn to be prepared out of all Syria in his passage.

2:10. But gold and silver he took out of the king's house in great

abundance.

2:11. And he went forth he and all the army, with the chariots, and

horsemen, and archers, who covered the face of the earth, like locusts.

2:12. And when he had passed through the borders of the Assyrians, he

came to the great mountains of Ange, which are on the left of Cilicia:

and he went up to all their castles, and took all the strong places.

2:13. And he took by assault the renowned city of Melothus, and

pillaged all the children of Tharsis, and the children of Ismahel, who

were over against the face of the desert, and on the south of the land

of Cellon.

2:14. And he passed over the Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia: and

he forced all the stately cities that were there, from the torrent of

Mambre, till one comes to the sea:

2:15. And he took the borders thereof, from Cilicia to the coasts of

Japheth, which are towards the south.

2:16. And he carried away all the children of Madian, and stripped them

of all their riches, and all that resisted him he slew with the edge of

the sword.

2:17. And after these things he went down into the plains of Damascus

in the days of the harvest, and he set all the corn on fire, and he

caused all the trees and vineyards to be cut down.

2:18. And the fear of them fell upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Chapter 3

Many submit themselves to Holofernes. He destroyeth their cities, and

their gods, that Nabuchodonosor only might be called God.

3:1. Then the kings and the princes of all the cities and provinces, of

Syria, Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia sent their

ambassadors, who coming to Holofernes, said:

3:2. Let thy indignation towards us cease, for it is better for us to

live and serve Nabuchodonosor the great king, and be subject to thee,

than to die and to perish, or suffer the miseries of slavery.

3:3. All our cities and our possessions, all mountains and hills, and

fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses,

and camels, and all our goods, and families are in thy sight:

3:4. Let all we have be subject to thy law,

3:5. Both we and our children are thy servants.

3:6. Come to us a peaceable lord, and use our service as it shall

please thee,

3:7. Then he came down from the mountains with horsemen, in great

power, and made himself master of every city, and all the inhabitants

of the land.

3:8. And from all the cities he took auxiliaries valiant men, and

chosen for war,

3:9. And so great a fear lay upon all those provinces, that the

inhabitants of all the cities, both princes and nobles, as well as the

people, went out to meet him at his coming.

3:10. And received him with garlands, and lights, and dances, and

timbrels, and flutes.

3:11. And though they did these things, they could not for all that

mitigate the fierceness of his heart:

3:12. For he both destroyed their cities, and cut down their groves.

3:13. For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him to destroy all the

gods of the earth, that he only might be called God by those nations

which could be brought under him by the power of Holofernes.

3:14. And when he had passed through all Syria Sobal, and all Apamea,

and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans into the land of Gabaa,

3:15. And he took possession of their cities, and stayed there for

thirty days, in which days he commanded all the troops of his army to

be united.

Chapter 4

The children of Israel prepare themselves to resist Holofernes. They

cry to the Lord for help.

4:1. Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Juda,

hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him.

4:2. Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the

same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to

other cities and their temples.

4:3. And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and

seized upon all the tops of the mountains:

4:4. And they compassed their towns with walls and gathered together

corn for provision for war.

4:5. And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against

Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom

there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of

the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to

Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the

mountains.

4:6. And the children of Israel did as the priests of the Lord Eliachim

had appointed them.

4:7. And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and

they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their

wives.

4:8. And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little

children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar

of the Lord they covered with haircloth.

4:9. And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that

their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off,

and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that

they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles.

4:10. Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all Israel

and spoke to them,

4:11. Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you

continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the

Lord.

4:12. Remember Moses the servant of the Lord overcame Amalec that

trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in

his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting

with the sword, but by holy prayers:

4:13. So all the enemies of Israel be, if you persevere in this work

which you have begun.

4:14. So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the

Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.

4:15. So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered

the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon

their head.

4:16. And they all begged of God with all their heart, that he would

visit his people Israel.

Chapter 5

Achior gives Holofernes an account of the people of Israel.

5:1. And it was told Holofernes the general of the army of the

Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared themselves to resist,

and had shut up the ways of the mountains.

5:2. And he was transported with exceeding great fury and indignation,

and he called all the princes of Moab and the leaders of Ammon.

5:3. And he said to them: Tell me what is this people that besetteth

the mountains: or what are their cities, and of what sort, and how

great: also what is their power, or what is their multitude: or who is

the king over their warfare:

5:4. And why they above all that dwell in the east, have despised us,

and have not come out to meet us, that they might receive us with

peace?

5:5. Then Achior captain of all the children of Ammon answering, said;

If thou vouchsafe, my lord, to hear, I will tell the truth in thy sight

concerning this people, that dwelleth in the mountains, and there shall

not a false word come out of my mouth.

5:6. This people is of the offspring of the Chaldeans.

5:7. They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the

gods of their fathers, who were in the land of the Chaldeans.

5:8. Wherefore forsaking the ceremonies of their fathers, which

consisted in the worship of many gods,

5:9. They worshipped one God of heaven, who also commanded them to

depart from thence, and to dwell in Charan. And when there was a famine

over all the land, they went down into Egypt, and there for four

hundred years were so multiplied, that the army of them could not be

numbered.

5:10. And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and made slaves of

them to labour in clay and brick, in the building of his cities, they

cried to their Lord, and he struck the whole land of Egypt with divers

plagues.

5:11. And when the Egyptians had cast them out from them, and the

plague had ceased from them, and they had a mind to take them again,

and bring them back to their service,

5:12. The God of heaven opened the sea to them in their flight, so that

the waters were made to stand firm as a wall on either side, and they

walked through the bottom of the sea and passed it dry foot.

5:13. And when an innumerable army of the Egyptians pursued after them

in that place, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there was

not one left, to tell what had happened to posterity.

5:14. After they came out of the Red Sea, they abode in the deserts of

mount Sina, in which never man could dwell, or son of man rested.

5:15. There bitter fountains were made sweet for them to drink, and for

forty years they received food from heaven.

5:16. Wheresoever they went in without bow and arrow, and without

shield and sword, their God fought for them and overcame.

5:17. And there was no one that triumphed over this people, but when

they departed from the worship of the Lord their God.

5:18. But as often as beside their own God, they worshipped any other,

they were given to spoil and to the sword, and to reproach.

5:19. And as often as they were penitent for having revolted from the

worship of their God, the God of heaven gave them power to resist.

5:20. So they overthrew the king of the Chanaanites, and of the

Jebusites, and of the Pherezites, and of the Hethites, and of the

Hevites, and of the Amorrhites, and all the mighty ones in Hesebon, and

they possessed their lands, and their cities:

5:21. And as long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it was

well with them: for their God hateth iniquity.

5:22. And even some years ago when they had revolted from the way which

God had given them to walk therein, they were destroyed in battles by

many nations and very many of them were led away captive into a strange

land.

5:23. But of late returning to the Lord their God, from the different

places wherein they were scattered, they are come together and are gone

up into all these mountains, and possess Jerusalem again, where their

holies are.

5:24. Now therefore, my lord, search if there be any iniquity of theirs

in the sight of their God: let us go up to them, because their God will

surely deliver them to thee, and they shall be brought under the yoke

of thy power:

5:25. But if there be no offence of this people in the sight of their

God, we cannot resist them because their God will defend them: and we

shall be a reproach to the whole earth.

5:26. And it came to pass, when Achior had ceased to speak these words,

all the great men of Holofernes were angry, and they had a mind to kill

him, saying to each other:

5:27. Who is this, that saith the children of Israel can resist king

Nabuchodonosor, and his armies, men unarmed, and without force, and

without skill in the art of war?

5:28. That Achior therefore may know that he deceiveth us, let us go up

into the mountains: and when the bravest of them shall be taken, then

shall he with them be stabbed with the sword,

5:29. That every nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is god of the

earth, and besides him there is no other.

Chapter 6

Holofernes in great rage sendeth Achior to Bethulia, there to be slain

with the Israelites.

6:1. And it came to pass when they had left off speaking, that

Holofernes being in a violent passion, said to Achior:

6:2. Because thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: That the nation of

Israel is defended by their God, to shew thee that there is no God, but

Nabuchodonosor:

6:3. When we shall slay them all as one man, then thou also shalt die

with them by the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shall perish

with thee:

6:4. And thou shalt find that Nabuchodonosor is lord of the whole

earth: and then the sword of my soldiers shall pass through thy sides,

and thou shalt be stabbed and fall among the wounded of Israel, and

thou shalt breathe no more till thou be destroyed with them.

6:5. But if thou think thy prophecy true, let not thy countenance sink,

and let the paleness that is in thy face, depart from thee, if thou

imaginest these my words cannot be accomplished.

6:6. And that thou mayst know that thou shalt experience these things

together with them, behold from this hour thou shalt be associated to

their people, that when they shall receive the punishment they deserve

from my sword, thou mayst fall under the same vengeance.

6:7. Then Holofernes commanded his servants to take Achior, and to lead

him to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the children of

Israel.

6:8. And the servants of Holofernes taking him, went through the

plains: but when they came near the mountains, the slingers came out

against them.

6:9. Then turning out of the way by the side of the mountain, they tied

Achior to a tree hand and foot, and so left him bound with ropes, and

returned to their master.

6:10. And the children of Israel coming down from Bethulia, came to

him, and loosing him they brought him to Bethulia, and setting him in

the midst of the people, asked him what was the matter that the

Assyrians had left him bound.

6:11. In those days the rulers there, were Ozias the son of Micha of

the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, called also Gothoniel.

6:12. And Achior related in the midst of the ancients, and in the

presence of all the people, all that he had said being asked by

Holofernes: and how the people of Holofernes would have killed him for

this word,

6:13. And how Holofernes himself being angry had commanded him to be

delivered for this cause to the Israelites: that when he should

overcome the children of Israel, then he might command Achior also

himself to be put to death by diverse torments, for having said: The

God of heaven is their defender.

6:14. And when Achior had declared all these things, all the people

fell upon their faces, adoring the Lord, and all of them together

mourning and weeping poured out their prayers with one accord to the

Lord,

6:15. Saying: O Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their pride, and

look on our low condition, and have regard to the face of thy saints,

and shew that thou forsakest not them that trust on thee, and that thou

humblest them that presume of themselves, and glory in their own

strength.

6:16. So when their weeping was ended, and the people's prayer, in

which they continued all the day, was concluded, they comforted Achior,

6:17. Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power thou hast set forth,

will make this return to thee, that thou rather shalt see their

destruction.

6:18. And when the Lord our God shall give this liberty to his

servants, let God be with thee also in the midst of us: that as it

shall please thee, so thou with all thine mayst converse with us.

6:19. Then Ozias, after the assembly was broken up, received him into

his house, and made him a great supper.

6:20. And all the ancients were invited, and they refreshed themselves

together after their fast was over.

6:21. And afterwards all the people were called together, and they

prayed all the night long within the church, desiring help of the God

of Israel.

The church. . .That is, the synagogue or place where they met for

prayer.

Chapter 7

Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia. The distress of the besieged.

7:1. But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to go up

against Bethulia.

7:2. Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand

footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations

of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of

the provinces and cities of all the youth.

7:3. All these prepared themselves together to fight against the

children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which

looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, unto

Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon.

7:4. But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them,

prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads,

praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy

upon his people.

7:5. And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the

places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains,

and they guarded them all day and night.

7:6. Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain

which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the

city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.

7:7. Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of

which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a

little rather than to drink their fill.

7:8. But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The

children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but

the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices

guard them.

7:9. Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle,

set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and

thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out

they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is

situate in the mountains, to be impregnable.

7:10. And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he

placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.

7:11. And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the

cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of

Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy

them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people

by measure.

7:12. Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering

themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,

7:13. Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil

against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the

Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.

7:14. And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down

before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.

7:15. And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our

own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.

7:16. For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless

the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh,

after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.

7:17. We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our

fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring

you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes,

that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made

longer by the drought of thirst.

7:18. And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and

lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice

they cried to God, saying:

7:19. We have sinned with our fathers, we have done unjustly, we have

committed iniquity:

7:20. Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our

iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in

thee to a people that knoweth not thee,

7:21. That they may not say among the Gentiles: Where is their God?

7:22. And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these

weepings, they held their peace,

7:23. Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my

brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.

7:24. For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and will give

glory to his own name.

7:25. But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will do the

things which you have spoken.

Chapter 8

The character of Judith: her discourse to the ancients.

8:1. Now it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words,

who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the

son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon,

the son of Raphaim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchias, the son of

Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon,

the son of Ruben:

Simeon the son of Ruben. . .In the Greek, it is the son of Israel. For

Simeon the patriarch, from whom Judith descended, was not the son, but

the brother of Ruben. It seems more probable that the Simeon and the

Ruben here mentioned are not the patriarchs: but two of the descendants

of the patriarch Simeon: and that the genealogy of Judith, recorded in

this place, is not carried up so high as the patriarchs. No more than

that of Elcana the father of Samuel, 1 Kings 1.1, and that of king

Saul, 1 Kings 9.1.

8:2. And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of the barley

harvest:

8:3. For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and

the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and

was buried there with his fathers.

8:4. And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and six months.

8:5. And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her

house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.

8:6. And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of

her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the

house of Israel.

8:7. And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great

riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen,

and flocks of sheep.

8:8. And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the

Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of

her.

8:9. When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would

deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients

Chabri and Charmi.

8:10. And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by

which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if

within five days there come no aid to us?

8:11. And who are you that tempt the Lord?

8:12. This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may

stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.

8:13. You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have

appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.

8:14. But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this

same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:

8:15. For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to anger like

the son of man.

8:16. And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing

in an humble spirit, in his service:

8:17. Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he

would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their

pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.

8:18. For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook

their God, and worshipped strange gods.

8:19. For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the

sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but

him.

8:20. Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will

require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble

all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to

disgrace.

8:21. And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of

God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your

speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they

might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.

8:22. They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being

proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.

8:23. So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God,

passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.

8:24. But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the

Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring

against the Lord,

8:25. Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents.

8:26. As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things

which we suffer.

8:27. But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins

deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which

like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and

not for our destruction.

8:28. And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou

hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy

words.

8:29. Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one

fearing God.

8:30. And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been able

to say is of God:

8:31. So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and pray

that God may strengthen my design.

8:32. You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my

maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord

may look down upon his people Israel.

8:33. But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I

bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord

our God.

8:34. And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the

Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they

departed.

Chapter 9

Judith's prayer, to beg of God to fortify her in her undertaking.

9:1. And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting

on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before

the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying:

9:2. Lord God of my father Simeon, who gavest him a sword to execute

vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and

uncovered the virgin unto confusion:

Gavest him a sword, etc. . .The justice of God is here praised, in

punishing by the sword of Simeon the crime of the Sichemites: and not

the act of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his father, Gen. 49.5.

Though even with regard to this act, we may distinguish between his

zeal against the crime committed by the ravishers of his sister, which

zeal may be considered just: and the manner of his punishing that

crime, which was irregular and excessive.

9:3. And who gavest their wives to be made a prey, and their daughters

into captivity: and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who

were zealous with thy zeal: assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a

widow.

9:4. For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one thing

after another: and what thou hast designed hath been done.

9:5. For all thy ways are prepared, and in thy providence thou hast

placed thy judgments.

9:6. Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to

look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy

servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a

multitude of warriors.

9:7. But thou lookedst over their camp, and darkness wearied them.

9:8. The deep held their feet, and the waters overwhelmed them.

9:9. So may it be with these also, O Lord, who trust in their

multitude, and in their chariots, and in their pikes, and in their

shields, and in their arrows, and glory in their spears,

9:10. And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars from the

beginning, and the Lord is thy name.

9:11. Lift up thy arm as from the beginning, and crush their power with

thy power: let their power fall in their wrath, who promise themselves

to violate thy sanctuary, and defile the dwelling place of thy name,

and to beat down with their sword the horn of thy altar.

9:12. Bring to pass, O Lord, that his pride may be cut off with his own

sword.

9:13. Let him be caught in the net of his own eyes in my regard, and do

thou strike him by the graces of the words of my lips.

9:14. Give me constancy in my mind, that I may despise him: and

fortitude that I may overthrow him.

9:15. For this will be a glorious monument for thy name, when he shall

fall by the hand of a woman.

9:16. For thy power, O Lord, is not in a multitude, nor is thy pleasure

in the strength of horses, nor from the beginning have the proud been

acceptable to thee: but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath

always pleased thee.

9:17. O God of the heavens, creator of the waters, and Lord of the

whole creation, hear me a poor wretch, making supplication to thee, and

presuming of thy mercy.

9:18. Remember, O Lord, thy covenant, and put thou words in my mouth,

and strengthen the resolution in my heart, that thy house may continue

in thy holiness:

9:19. And all nations may acknowledge that thou art God, and there is

no other besides thee.

Chapter 10

Judith goeth out towards the camp, and is taken, and brought to

Holofernes.

10:1. And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the Lord, that

she rose from the place wherein she lay prostrate before the Lord.

10:2. And she called her maid, and going down into her house she took

off her haircloth, and put away the garments of her widowhood,

10:3. And she washed her body, and anointed herself with the best

ointment, and plaited the hair of her head, and put a bonnet upon her

head, and clothed herself with the garments of her gladness, and put

sandals on her feet, and took her bracelets, and lilies, and earlets,

and rings, and adorned herself with all her ornaments.

10:4. And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this dressing

up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the

Lord increased this her beauty, so that she appeared to all men's eyes

incomparably lovely.

10:5. And she gave to her maid a bottle of wine to carry, and a vessel

of oil, and parched corn, and dry figs, and bread and cheese, and went

out.

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

the ancients of the city waiting.

10:7. And when they saw her they were astonished, and admired her

beauty exceedingly.

10:8. But they asked her no question, only they let her pass, saying:

The God of our fathers give thee grace, and may he strengthen all the

counsel of thy heart with his power, that Jerusalem may glory in thee,

and thy name may be in the number of the holy and just.

10:9. And they that were there said, all with one voice: So be it, so

be it.

10:10. But Judith praying to the Lord, passed through the gates, she

and her maid.

10:11. And it came to pass, when she went down the hill, about break of

day, that the watchmen of the Assyrians met her, and stopped her,

saying: Whence comest thou or whither goest thou?

10:12. And she answered: I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fled

from them, because I knew they would be made a prey to you, because

they despised you, and would not of their own accord yield themselves,

that they might find mercy in your sight.

Because I knew, etc. . .In this and the following chapter, some things

are related to have been said by Judith, which seem hard to reconcile

with truth. But all that is related in scripture of the servants of God

is not approved by the scripture; and even the saints in their good

enterprises may sometimes slip into venial sins.

10:13. For this reason I thought with myself, saying: I will go to the

presence of the prince Holofernes, that I may tell him their secrets,

and shew him by what way he may take them, without the loss of one man

of his army.

10:14. And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and

their eyes were amazed, for they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.

10:15. And they said to her: Thou hast saved thy life by taking this

resolution, to come down to our lord.

10:16. And be assured of this, that when thou shalt stand before him,

he will treat thee well, and thou wilt be most acceptable to his heart.

And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, telling him of her.

10:17. And when she was come into his presence, forthwith Holofernes

was caught by his eyes.

10:18. And his officers said to him: Who can despise the people of the

Hebrews, who have such beautiful women, that we should not think it

worth our while for their sakes to fight against them?

10:19. And Judith seeing Holofernes sitting under a canopy, which was

woven of purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones:

10:20. After she had looked on his face, bowed down to him, prostrating

herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, by

the command of their master.

Chapter 11

Judith's speech to Holofernes.

11:1. Then Holofernes said to her: Be of good comfort, and fear not in

thy heart: for I have never hurt a man that was willing to serve

Nabuchodonosor the king.

11:2. And if thy people had not despised me, I would never have lifted

up my spear against them.

11:3. But now tell me, for what cause hast thou left them, and why it

hath pleased thee to come to us?

11:4. And Judith said to him: Receive the words of thy handmaid, for if

thou wilt follow the words of thy handmaid, the Lord will do with thee

a perfect thing.

11:5. For as Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth liveth, and his power

liveth which is in thee for chastising of all straying souls: not only

men serve him through thee, but also the beasts of the field obey him.

11:6. For the industry of thy mind is spoken of among all nations, and

it is told through the whole world, that thou only art excellent, and

mighty in all his kingdom, and thy discipline is cried up in all

provinces.

11:7. It is known also what Achior said, nor are we ignorant of what

thou hast commanded to be done to him.

11:8. For it is certain that our God is so offended with sins, that he

hath sent word by his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them

up for their sins.

11:9. And because the children of Israel know they have offended their

God, thy dread is upon them.

11:10. Moreover also a famine hath come upon them, and for drought of

water they are already to be counted among the dead.

11:11. And they have a design even to kill their cattle, and to drink

the blood of them.

11:12. And the consecrated things of the Lord their God which God

forbade them to touch, in corn, wine, and oil, these have they purposed

to make use of, and they design to consume the things which they ought

not to touch with their hands: therefore because they do these things,

it is certain they will be given up to destruction.

11:13. And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them, and the Lord

hath sent me to tell thee these very things.

11:14. For I thy handmaid worship God even now that I am with thee, and

thy handmaid will go out, and I will pray to God,

11:15. And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and

I will come and tell thee, so that I may bring thee through the midst

of Jerusalem, and thou shalt have all the people of Israel, as sheep

that have no shepherd, and there shall not so much as one dog bark

against thee:

11:16. Because these things are told me by the providence of God.

11:17. And because God is angry with them, I am sent to tell these very

things to thee.

11:18. And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants, and

they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another:

11:19. There is not such another woman upon earth in look, in beauty,

and in sense of words.

11:20. And Holofernes said to her: God hath done well who sent thee

before the people, that thou mightest give them into our hands:

11:21. And because thy promise is good, if thy God shall do this for

me, he shall also be my God, and thou shalt be great in the house of

Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shall be renowned through all the earth.

Chapter 12

Judith goeth out in the night to pray: she is invited to a banquet with

Holofernes.

12:1. Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures were

laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be

given her from his own table.

12:2. And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these

things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but

I will eat of the things which I have brought.

12:3. And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou hast

brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for thee?

12:4. And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall

not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have

purposed. And his servants brought her into the tent which he had

commanded.

12:5. And when she was going in, she desired that she might have

liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer, and to beseech the

Lord.

12:6. And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out and in,

to adore her God as she pleased, for three days.

12:7. And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and

washed herself in a fountain of water.

12:8. And as she came up, she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel,

that he would direct her way to the deliverance of his people.

12:9. And going in, she remained pure in the tent, until she took her

own meat in the evening.

12:10. And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a

supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: Go, and persuade

that Hebrew woman, to consent of her own accord to dwell with me.

12:11. For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians, if a

woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from him.

12:12. Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be

afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face,

that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.

12:13. And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay my

lord?

12:14. All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And

whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of

my life.

12:15. And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments, and

going in she stood before his face.

12:16. And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was burning with

the desire of her.

12:17. And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be

merry; for thou hast found favour before me.

12:18. And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is

magnified this day above all my days.

12:19. And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had

prepared for her.

12:20. And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank

exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.

Chapter 13

Judith cutteth off the head of Holofernes, and returneth to Bethulia.

13:1. And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their

lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way.

13:2. And they were all overcharged with wine.

13:3. And Judith was alone in the chamber.

13:4. But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being exceedingly

drunk.

13:5. And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the chamber,

and to watch:

13:6. And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the

motion of her lips in silence,

13:7. Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour

look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst

raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I

have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee.

13:8. And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at

his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it.

13:9. And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his

head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour.

13:10. And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and

took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless

body.

13:11. And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of

Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet.

13:12. And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to

prayer, and they passed the camp, and having compassed the valley, they

came to the gate of the city.

13:13. And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls:

Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.

13:14. And it came to pass, when the men had heard her voice, that they

called the ancients of the city.

13:15. And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they

now had no hopes that she would come.

13:16. And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and

she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And

when all had held their peace,

13:17. Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken

them that hope in him.

13:18. And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he

promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his

people by my hand this night.

13:19. Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet,

and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general

of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in

his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a

woman.

13:20. But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both

going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and

the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath

brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his

victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance.

13:21. Give all of you glory to him, because he is good, because his

mercy endureth for ever.

13:22. And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath

blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies

to nought.

13:23. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her:

Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all

women upon the earth.

13:24. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed

thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies.

13:25. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise

shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the

power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by

reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast

prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.

13:26. And all the people said: So be it, so be it.

13:27. And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The

God of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself

of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this

night by my hand.

13:28. And that thou mayst find that it is so, behold the head of

Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride despised the God of

Israel: and threatened them with death, saying: When the people of

Israel shall be taken, I will command thy sides to be pierced with a

sword.

13:29. Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a

great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned

away.

13:30. But after he had recovered his spirits he fell down at her feet,

and reverenced her, and said:

13:31. Blessed art thou by thy God in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in

every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be

magnified on occasion of thee.

Chapter 14

The Israelites assault the Assyrians, who finding their general slain,

are seized with a panic fear.

14:1. And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye

up this head upon our walls.

14:2. And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms,

and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault.

14:3. Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for the

battle.

14:4. And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of

Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood,

fear shall fall upon them.

14:5. And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them

securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.

14:6. Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought,

leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised

the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with

all the succession of his kindred until this present day.

14:7. And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of

Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went

out with a great noise and shouting.

14:8. And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes.

14:9. And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the

door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his

rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by

their noise.

14:10. For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the

general of the Assyrians.

14:11. But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs

of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the

chamberlains:

14:12. Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes,

have presumed to challenge us to fight.

14:13. Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and

made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping

with Judith.

14:14. But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying,

he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of

Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his

blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his

garments.

14:15. And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her, he ran

out to the people,

14:16. And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of

king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and

his head is not upon him.

14:17. Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this,

they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell

upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.

14:18. And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp.

Chapter 15

The Assyrians flee: the Hebrews pursue after them, and are enriched by

their spoils.

15:1. And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage

and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear

they thought only to save themselves by flight.

15:2. So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head,

leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews,

who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways

of the fields, and the paths of the hills.

15:3. So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after

them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after

them.

15:4. And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went

without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in

one body, defeated all that they could find.

15:5. And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of

Israel.

15:6. And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men

armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword

until they came to the extremities of their confines.

15:7. And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the

Assyrians, and took away the spoils which the Assyrians in their flight

had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly,

15:8. But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them

all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their

cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the

least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.

15:9. And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with

all his ancients to see Judith.

15:10. And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one

voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of

Israel, thou art the honour of our people:

15:11. For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been

strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband

hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath

strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever.

15:12. And all the people said: So be it, so be it.

15:13. And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel

to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.

15:14. But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods

of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments

and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were

delivered to her by the people.

15:15. And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins, and

young men, playing on instruments and harps.

Chapter 16

The canticle of Judith: her virtuous life and death.

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

16:2. Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with

cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name.

16:3. The Lord putteth an end to wars, the Lord is his name.

16:4. He hath set his camp in the midst of his people, to deliver us

from the hand of all our enemies.

16:5. The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the

multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and

their horses covered the valleys.

16:6. He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my

young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins

captives.

16:7. But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him

into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.

16:8. For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the

sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but

Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face.

16:9. For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the

garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel.

16:10. She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with

a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him.

16:11. Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul her

captive, with a sword she cut off his head.

16:12. The Persians quaked at her constancy, and the Medes at her

boldness.

16:13. Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my lowly ones

appeared, parched with thirst.

16:14. The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have

killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before

the face of the Lord my God.

16:15. Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to our

God.

16:16. O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power, and

no one can overcome thee.

16:17. Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and

they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were

created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice.

16:18. The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the

waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face.

16:19. But they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in all things.

16:20. Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the

Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will

visit them.

16:21. For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may

burn, and may feel for ever.

16:22. And it came to pass after these things, that all the people,

after the victory, came to Jerusalem to adore the Lord: and as soon as

they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their

promises.

16:23. And Judith offered for an anathema of oblivion all the arms of

Holofernes, which the people gave her, and the canopy that she had

taken away out of his chamber.

An anathema of oblivion. . .That is, a gift or offering made to God, by

way of an everlasting monument, to prevent the oblivion or forgetting

so great a benefit.

16:24. And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and

for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith.

16:25. And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith

was made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land

of Israel.

16:26. And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man

all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband.

16:27. And on festival days she came forth with great glory.

16:28. And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years,

and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her

husband in Bethulia.

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

16:30. And all the time of her life there was none that troubled

Israel, nor many years after her death.

16:31. But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the

Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the

Jews from that time until this day.