The Book of Judith, Chapter 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,
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.
3   And he made the gates thereof according to the height of
    the towers:
4   And he gloried as a mighty one in the force of his army
    and in the glory of his chariots.
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,
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.
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,
8   And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to
    the inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon,
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.
10  To all these Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent
    messengers:
11  But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back
    empty, and rejected them without honour.
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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   And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and
    his officers of war, and communicated to them the secret
    of his counsel:
3   And he said that his thoughts were to bring all the earth
    under his empire.
4   And when this saying pleased them all, Nabuchodonosor, the
    king, called Holofernes the general of his armies,
5   And said to him: Go out against all the kingdoms of the
    west, and against them especially that despised my
    commandment.
6   Thy eye shall not spare any kingdom, and all the strong
    cities thou shalt bring under my yoke.
7   Then Holofernes called the captains and officers of the
    power of the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the
    expedition, as the king commanded him, a hundred and
    twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and twelve thousand
    archers, horsemen.
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.
9   He appointed corn to be prepared out of all Syria in his
    passage.
10  But gold and silver he took out of the king's house in
    great abundance.
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.
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.
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.
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:
15  And he took the borders thereof from Cilicia to the coasts
    of Japheth, which are towards the south.
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.
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
18  And the fear of them fell upon alit the inhabitants of the
    land.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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:
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   All our cities and our possessions, all mountains and
    hills, and fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of cheep,
    and goats, and horses, and camels, and all our goods, and
    families are in thy sight:
4   Let all we have be subject to thy law.
5   Both we and our children are thy servants.
6   Come to us a peaceable lord, and use our service as it
    shall please thee.
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.
8   And from all the cities he took auxiliaries valiant men,
    and chosen for war.
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.
10  And received him with garlands, and lights, and dances,
    and tumbrels, and flutes.
11  And though they did these things, they could not for all
    that mitigate the fierceness of his heart:
12  For he both destroyed their cities and cut down their
    groves.
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.
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,
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 4

1   Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of
    Juda, hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of
    him.
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.
3   And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as
    Jericho, and seized upon all the tops of the mountains:
4   And they compassed their towns with walls, and gathered
    together corn for provision for war.
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.
6   And the children of Israel did as the priest of the Lord
    Eliachim had appointed them,
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.
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.
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.
10  Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all
    Israel and spoke to them,
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.
12  Remember Moses the servant of the Lord, who 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:
13  So shall all the enemies of Israel be, if you persevere in
    this work which you have begun.
14  So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to
    the Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.
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.
16  And they all begged of God with all their heart, that he
    would visit his people Israel.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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.
2   And he was transported with exceeding great fury and
    indignation, and he called all the princes of Moab and the
    leaders of Amman.
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:
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   Then Achior captain of all the children of Ammon
    answering, said: If thou vouch safe, 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.
6   This people is of the offspring of the Chaldeans.
7   They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they would not
    follow the gods of their fathers, who were in the land of
    the Chaldeans.
8   Wherefore forsaking the ceremonies of their fathers, which
    consisted in the worship of many gods,
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
14  And 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.
15  There bitter fountains were made sweet for them to drink,
    and for forty years they received food from heaven.
16  Wheresoever they went in without bow and arrow, and
    without shield and sword, their God fought for them and
    overcame.
17  And there was no one that triumphed over this people, but
    when they departed from the worship of the Lord their God.
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.
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.
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:
21  And as long as they sinned not in the sight of their God,
    it was well with them: for their God hateth iniquity.
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.
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
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:
25  But if there be no offense of this people in the sight of
    their God, we can not resist them, because their God will
    defend them: and we shall be a reproach to the whole
    earth.
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:
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?
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:
29  That every nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is god of
    the earth, and besides him there is no other.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 6

1   And it came to pass when they had left off speaking, that
    Holofernes being in a violent passion, said to Achior:
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 Nabuehodonosor:
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:
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.
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   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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
11  In those days the rulers there, were Ozias the son of
    Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, called also
    Gothoniel.
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,
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.
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,
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 forsakes not
    them that trust on thee, and that thou humblest them that
    presume of themselves, and glory in their own strength.
16  So when their weeping was ended, and the peoples prayer,
    in which they continued all the day, was concluded, they
    comforted Achior,
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.
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.
19  Then Ozias, after the assembly was broken up, received him
    into his house, and made him a great supper.
20  And all the ancients were invited, and they refreshed
    themselves together after their fast was over.
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 Book of Judith, Chapter 7

1   But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to
    go up against Bethulia.
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.
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 Behlma, unto Chelmon, which is over
    against Esdrelon.
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.
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.
6   Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the
    fountains which supplied them with water, ran through an
    aqueduct without the city on the south side: and he
    commanded their aqueduct to he cut off.
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.
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 defense,
    and the steep hires and precipices guard them.
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.
10  And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and
    he placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.
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.
12  Then all the men and women, young men, and children,
    gathering themselves together to Ozias, all together with
    one voice,
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.
14  And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are
    cast down before their eyes in thirst, and sad
    destruction.
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.
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.
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.
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:
19  We have sinned with our fathers we have done unjustly, we
    have commited iniquity:
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,
21  That they may not say among the gentiles: Where is their
    God?
22  And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with
    these weepings, they held their peace,
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.
24  For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and
    will give glory to his own name.
25  But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will
    do the things which you leave spoken.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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 Melehias, the son of Enan, the
    son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon,
    the son of Ruben:
2   And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of the
    barley harvest:
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.
4   And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and six
    months.
5   And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part
    of her house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.
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.
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   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.
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.
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?
11  And who are you that tempt the Lord?
12  This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather
    that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.
13  You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you
    have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.
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:
15  For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to
    anger like the son of man.
16  And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and
    continuing in an humble spirit, in his service:
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.
18  For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who
    forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.
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.
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.
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.
22  They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and
    being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of
    God.
23  go Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased
    God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.
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,
25  Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents.
26  As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these
    things which we suffer
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.
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.
29  Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and
    one fearing God.
30  And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been
    able to say is of God:
31  So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and
    pray that God may strengthen my design.
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.
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.
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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:
2   O 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:
3   And who gavest their wives to he made a prey, and their
    daughters into captivity: and all their spoils to be
    divided to thy servants, who were zealous with thy zeal:
    assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a widow.
4   For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one
    thing after another: and what thou hast designed hath been
    done.
5   For all thy ways are prepared, and in thy providence thou
    hast placed thy judgments.
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.
7   But thou lookedst over their camp, and darkness wearied
    them.
8   The deep held their feet, and the waters overwhelmed them.
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,
10  And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars
    from the beginning, and the Lord is thy name.
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.
12  Bring to pass, O Lord, that his pride may be cut off with
    his own sword.
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.
14  Give me constancy in my mind, that I may despise him: and
    fortitude that I may overthrow him.
15  For this will be a glorious monument for thy name, when he
    shall fall by the hand of a woman.
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.
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.
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:
19  And all nations may acknowledge that thou art God, and
    there is no other besides thee.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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.
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,
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.
4   And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this
    dressing up did not proceed from sensuality, lent from
    virtue: and therefore the Lord increased this her beauty,
    so that she appeared to all men's eyes incomparably
    lovely.
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.
6   And when they came to the gate of the city, they found
    Ozias, and the ancients of the city waiting.
7   And when they saw her they were astonished, and admired
    her beauty exceedingly.
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.
9   And they that were there said, all with one voice: So be
    it, so be it.
10  But Judith praying to the Lord, passed through the gates,
    she and her maid.
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?
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.
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.
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.
15  And they said to her: Thou hast saved thy life by taking
    this resolution, to come down to our lord.
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.
17  And when she was come into his presence, forthwith
    Holofernes was caught by his eyes.
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?
19  And Judith seeing Holofernes sitting under a canopy, which
    was woven of purple and gold, with emeralds and precious
    stones:
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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.
2   And if thy people had not despised me, I would never have
    lifted up my spear against them.
3   But now tell me, for what cause hast thou left them, and
    why it hath pleased thee to come to us?
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.
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.
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.
7   It is known also what Achior said, nor are we ignorant of
    what thou hast commanded to be done to him.
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.
9   And because the children of Israel know they have offended
    their God, thy dread is upon them.
10  Moreover also a famine hath come upon them, and for
    drought of water they are already to be counted among the
    dead.
11  And they have a design even to kill their cattle, and to
    drink the blood of them.
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.
13  And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them, and
    the Lord hath sent me to tell thee these very things.
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,
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:
16  Because these things are told me by the providence of God.
17  And because God is angry with them, I am sent to tell
    these very things to thee.
18  And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants,
    and they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another:
19  There is not such another woman upon earth in look, in
    beauty, and in sense of words.
20  And Holofernes said to her: God hath done well who sent
    thee before the people, that thou mightest give them into
    our hands:
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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.
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.
3   And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou
    hast brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for
    thee?
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.
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.
6   And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out
    and in, to adore her God as she pleased, for three days.
7   And she went out in the nights into the valley of
    Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water.
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.
9   And going in, she remained pure in the tent, until she
    took her own meat in the evening.
10  And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes
    made a supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his
    eunuch: so, and persuade that Hebrew woman, to consent of
    her own accord to dwell with me.
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  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.
13  And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay
    my lord?
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.
15  And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments,
    and going in she stood before his face.
16  And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was
    burning with the desire of her.
17  And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be
    merry for thou hast found favour before me.
18  And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is
    magnified this day above all my days.
19  And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid
    had prepared for her.
20  And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank
    exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his
    life.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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.
2   And they were all overcharged with wine.
3   And Judith was alone in the chamber.
4   But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being
    exceedingly drunk.
5   And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the
    chamber, and to watch:
6   And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and
    the motion of her lips in silence,
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.
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.
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.
10  And she struck twice upon his neck, and out off his head,
    and took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away
    his headless body.
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.
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  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.
14  And it came to pass, when the men had heard her voice,
    that they called the ancients of the city.
15  And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest:
    for they now had no hopes that she would come.
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,
17  Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not
    forsaken them that hope in him.
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.
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.
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.
21  Give all of you glory to him, because he is good, because
    his mercy endureth for ever.
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.
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.
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.
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.
26  And all the people said: So be it, so be it.
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.
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 thee with death, saying:
    When the people of Israel shall be taken, I will command
    thy sides to be pierced with a sword.
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.
30  But after he had recovered his spirits he fell down at her
    feet, and reverenced her and said:
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.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 14

1   And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren,
    hang ye up this head upon our walls.
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.
3   Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for
    the battle.
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.
5   And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after
    them securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your
    feet.
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.
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 sent out with a great noise and shouting.
8   And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of
    Holofernes.
9   And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise
    before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavoring
    by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not
    by their calling him, but by their noise.
10  For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of
    the general of the Assyrians.
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
12  Go in, and awake him, for the mice coming out of their
    holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.
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  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, sweltering in his blood, he cried out
    with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments.
15  And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her,
    he ran out to the people,
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.
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.
18  And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 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:
2   So that no one spoke to his neighbor, 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.
3   So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed
    after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and
    shouting after them.
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.
5   And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and
    countries of Israel.
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.
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.
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.
9   And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to
    Bethulia with all his ancients to see Judith.
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:
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.
12  And all the people said: So be it, so be it
13  And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of
    Israel to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.
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  And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins,
    and young men, playing on instruments and harps.


                The Book of Judith, Chapter 16

1   Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:
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.
3   The Lord putteth an end to wars, the Lord is his name.
4   He hath set his camp in the midst of his people, to
    deliver us from the hand of all our enemies.
5   The Assyrians 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.
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.
7   But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered
    him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.
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.
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.
10  She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her
    locks with a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him.
11  Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul
    her captive, with a sword she cut off his head.
12  The Persians quaked at her constancy, and the Medes at her
    boldness.
13  Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my lowly ones
    appeared, parched with thirst.
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.
15  Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to
    our God.
16  O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power,
    and no one can overcome thee.
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.
18  The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the
    waters: the rooks shall melt as wax before thy face.
19  But they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in all
    things.
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.
21  For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that
    they may burn, and may feel for ever.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
27  And on festival days she came forth with great glory.
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.
29  And all the people mourned for seven days.
30  And all the time of her life there was none that troubled
    Israel, nor many years after her death.
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.