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Book of Judith

Chapter 1

1 In the twelfth yeere of the reigne of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineue the great citie, (in the dayes of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane,
2 And built in Ecbatane walles round about of stones hewen, three cubites broad, and sixe cubites long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubites, and the breadth thereof fiftie cubites:
3 And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it, an hundred cubites high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubites.
4 And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventie cubites, & the breadth of them was fourtie cubites, for the going foorth of his mightie armies, and for the setting in aray of his footmen.)
5 even in those dayes, king Nabuchodonosor made warre with king Arphaxad in the great plaine, which is the plaine in the borders of Ragau.
6 And there came unto him, all they that dwelt in the hill countrey, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris, and Hydaspes, and the plaine of Arioch the king of the Elimeans, and very many nations of the sonnes of Chelod, assembled themselves to the battell.
7 Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, sent unto all that dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt Westward, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus and Libanus, and Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the Sea coast,
8 And to those amongst the nations that were of Carmel, and Galaad, and the higher Galile, and the great plaine of Esdrelon,
9 And to all that were in Samaria, and the cities thereof: and beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chellus, and Kades, and the river of Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the land of Gesem,
10 Untill you come beyond Tanis, and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt, untill you come to the borders of Ethiopia.
11 But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandement of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to the battell: for they were not afraid of him: yea he was before them as one man, and they sent away his Ambassadours from them without effect, and with disgrace.
12 Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this countrey, and sware by his throne and kingdome, that hee would surely be auenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till you come to the borders of the two Seas.
13 Then he marched in battell aray with his power against king Arphaxad in the seventeenth yeere, and he prevailed in his battell: for he overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his horsemen and all his chariots,
14 And became Lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and tooke the towers, and spoiled the streetes thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame.
15 Hee tooke also Arphaxad in the mountaines of Ragau, and smote him through with his dartes, and destroyed him utterly that day.
16 So he returned afterward to Nineue, both he and all his company of sundry nations: being a very great multitude of men of warre, and there he tooke his ease and banketted, both he and his armie an hundred and twenty dayes.

Chapter 2

1 And in the eighteenth yeere, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was talke in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he should as he said auenge himselfe on all the earth.
2 So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsell, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his owne mouth.
3 Then they decreed to destroy all flesh that did not obey the commaundement of his mouth.
4 And when he had ended his counsell, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called Olofernes the chiefe captaine of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him,
5 Thus saith the great king, the Lord of the whole earth: behold, thou shalt goe forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their owne strength, of footemen an hundred and twenty thousand, and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.
6 And thou shalt goe against all the West countrey, because they disobeyed my commandement.
7 And thou shalt declare unto them that they prepare for me earth and water: for I will goe forth in my wrath against them, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feete of mine armie, and I will give them for a spoile unto them.
8 So that their slaine shall fill their vallies, and brookes, and the river shall be filled with their dead, til it overflow.
9 And I will lead them captiues to the vtmost parts of all the earth.
10 Thou therefore shalt goe foorth, and take before hand for me all their coasts, and if they will yeeld themselves unto thee, thou shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment.
11 But concerning them that rebell, let not thine eye spare them: but put them to the slaughter, and spoile them wheresoever thou goest.
12 For as I live, and by the power of my kingdome, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I doe by mine hand.
13 And take thou heede that thou transgresse none of the Commandements of thy Lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and deferre not to doe them.
14 Then Olofernes went foorth from the presence of his Lord, and called all the governours and Captaines, and the officers of the army of Assur.
15 And he mustered the chosen men for the battell, as his Lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, & twelve thousand archers on Horsebacke.
16 And he ranged them as a great army is ordered for the warre.
17 And he tooke Camels, and Asses for their cariages a very great number, and sheepe, and Oxen, & Goates without number, for their provision,
18 And plenty of vittaile for every man of the army, and very much gold, and silver, out of the Kings house.
19 Then he went foorth and all his power to go before King Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover al the face of the earth Westward with their charets, and horsemen, and their chosen footmen.
20 A great multitude also of sundry countries came with them, like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.
21 And they went foorth of Nineue, three dayes journey toward the plaine of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth neere the mountaine, which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.
22 Then he tooke all his armie, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went from thence into the hill countrey,
23 And destroyed Phud, and Lud: and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Ismael, which were toward the wildernesse at the South of the land of the Chellians.
24 Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till you come to the sea.
25 And hee tooke the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Iapheth, which were toward the South, over against Arabia.
26 He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burnt up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcoats.
27 Then hee went downe into the plaine of Damascus in the time of wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fieldes, and destroyed their flockes, and heards, also he spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their countreys, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.
28 Therefore the feare and dread of him, fell upon all the inhabitants of the sea coastes, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt in Sur, and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Ienmaan, and they that dwelt in Azotus, and Aschalon feared him greatly.

Chapter 3

1 So they sent Embassadours unto him, to treat of peace, saying,
2 Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use vs as shall be good in thy sight.
3 Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fieldes of wheat, and flockes, and heards, and all the lodges of our tents, lie before thy face: use them as it pleaseth thee.
4 Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants, come and deale with them, as seemeth good unto thee.
5 So the men came to Holofernes, & declared unto him after this maner.
6 Then came hee downe toward the Sea coast, both hee and his armie, and set garisons in the high cities, and tooke out of them chosen men for aide.
7 So they and all the countrey round about, received them with garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.
8 Yet hee did cast downe their frontiers, and cut downe their groves: for hee had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor onely, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as God.
9 Also he came over against Esdraelon neere unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.
10 And hee pitched betweene Geba, and Scythopolis, and there hee taried a whole moneth, that he might gather together all the cariages of his armie.

Chapter 4

1 Now the children of Israel that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chiefe captaine of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner hee had spoiled all their Temples, and brought them to nought.
2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the Temple of the Lord their God.
3 For they were newly returned from the captiuitie, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the Altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages, and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Iericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem,
5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountaines, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victuals for the provision of warre: for their fieldes were of late reaped.
6 Also Ioacim the hie Priest which was in those daies in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham which is over against Esdraelon toward the open countrey neere to Dothaim,
7 Charging them to keepe the passages of the hill countrey: for by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easie to stoppe them that would come up, because the passage was strait for two men at the most.
8 And the children of Israel did as Ioacim the hie Priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Ierusalē.
9 Then every man of Israel cryed to God with great fervencie, and with great vehemency did they humble their soules:
10 Both they and their wives, and their children, and their cattell, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackecloth upon their loynes.
11 Thus every man and woman, and the little children, & the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackecloth about the Altar,
12 And cryed to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that hee would not give their children for a pray, and their wives for a spoile, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the Sanctuary to profanation and reproch, & for the nations to reioyce at.
13 So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many dayes in all Judea, and Jerusalem, before the Sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.
14 And Ioacim the high Priest, and all the Priestes that stood before the Lord, and they which ministred unto the Lord, had their loines girt with sackecloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vowes and free gifts of the people,
15 And had ashes on their miters, and cried unto the Lord with all their power, that hee would looke upon all the house of Israel graciously.

Chapter 5

1 Then was it declared to Holofernes the chief captaine of the armie of Assur that the children of Israel had prepared for warre, and had shut up the passages of the hill countrey, and had fortified all the tops of the high hilles, and had laide impediments in the champion countreys.
2 Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captaines of Ammon, and all the governours of the Sea coast.
3 And he said unto them, Tell mee now, ye sonnes of Canaan, who this people is that dwelleth in the hill countrey? and what are the cities that they inhabite? and what is the multitude of their armie? and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captaine of their armie?
4 And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more then all the inhabitants of the West?
5 Then said Achior, the captaine of all the sonnes of Ammon: Let my lord now heare a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the trueth, concerning this people which dwelleth neere thee, and inhabiteth the hill countreys: and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.
6 This people are descended of the Caldeans,
7 And they soiourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Caldea.
8 For they left the way of their ancestours, and worshipped the God of heaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and soiourned there many dayes.
9 Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where they soiourned, and to goe into the land of Chanaan, where they dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very much cattell.
10 But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went downe into Egypt, and soiourned there, while they were nourished, and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.
11 Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low, with labouring in bricke, & made them slaves.
12 Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues, so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight.
13 And God dried the red Sea before them:
14 And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades Barne, and cast forth all that dwelt in the wildernesse.
15 So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill countrey.
16 And they cast forth before them, the Chanaanite, the Pheresite, the Iebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in that countrey many dayes.
17 And whilest they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hateth iniquitie, was with them.
18 But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many battels very sore, and were led captiues into a land that was not theirs, and the Temple of their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by the enemies.
19 But nowe are they returned to their God, and are come up from the places, where they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their Sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill countrey, for it was desolate.
20 Now therefore, my lord and governour, if there be any errour in this people, & they sinne against their God, let us consider that this shal be their ruine, and let us goe up, and we shal overcome them.
21 But if there be no iniquitie in their nation, let my lord now passe by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and wee become a reproch before all the world.
22 And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people standing round about the tent, murmured, and the chiefe men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the Sea side, and in Moab, spake that he should kill him.
23 For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the children of Israel, for loe, it is a people that have no strength, nor power for a strong battell.
24 Now therefore, Lord Holofernes, we will goe up, and they shall be a pray, to be devoured of all thine armie.

Chapter 6

1 And when the tumult of men that were about the councell was ceased, Holofernes the chiefe captaine of the armie of Assur, said unto Achior and all the Moabites, before all the company of other nations,
2 And who art thou Achior and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou hast prophesied amongst us as to day, and hast said, that we should not make warre with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them? and who is God but Nabuchodonosor?
3 He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his servants will destroy them as one man, for they are not able to sustaine the power of our horses.
4 For with them we will tread them under foote, and their mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footesteps shall not be able to stand before us, for they shal utterly perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor Lord of all the earth; for hee said, none of my words shall be in vaine.
5 And thou Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more, from this day untill I take vengeance of this nation that came out of Egypt.
6 And then shall the sword of mine armie, and the multitude of them that serve me, passe through thy sides, and thou shalt fal among their slaine, when I returne.
7 Now therefore my servants shall bring thee backe into the hill countrey, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages.
8 And thou shalt not perish till thou be destroyed with them.
9 And if thou perswade thy selfe in thy minde, that they shall not be taken, let not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none of my words shall be in vaine.
10 Then Holofernes commanded his servants that waited in his tent, to take Achior and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.
11 So his servants tooke him, and brought him out of the campe into the plaine, and they went from the midst of the plaine into the hill countrey, and came unto the fountaines that were under Bethulia.
12 And when the men of the citie saw them, they tooke up their weapons, and went out of the citie to the toppe of the hill, and every man that used a sling from comming up by casting of stones against them.
13 neverthelesse hauing gotten priuily under the hill, they bound Achior and cast him downe, and left him at the foote of the hill, and returned to their Lord.
14 But the Israelites descended from their citie, and came unto him, and loosed him, and brought him into Bethulia, and presented him to the governours of the citie,
15 Which were in those dayes Ozias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the sonne of Gothoniel, and Charmis the sonne of Melchiel.
16 And they called together all the ancients of the citie, and all their youth ranne together, and their women to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias asked him of that which was done.
17 And he answered and declared unto them the words of the counsell of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Israel.
18 Then the people fell downe, and worshipped God, and cryed unto God, saying,
19 O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low estate of our nation, and looke upon the face of those that are sanctified unto thee this day.
20 Then they comforted Achior and praised him greatly.
21 And Ozias tooke him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a feast to the Elders, & they called on the God of Israel all that night for helpe.

Chapter 7

1 The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his people which were come to take his part, that they should remooue their campe against Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of the hill countrey, and to make warre against the children of Israel.
2 Then their strong men remoued their campes in that day, and the armie of the men of warre was, an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, & other men that were afoot amongst them, a very great multitude.
3 And they camped in the valley neere unto Bethulia, by the fountaine, and they spred themselves in breadth over Dothaim, even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cyamon which is over against Esdraelon.
4 Now the children of Israel when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his neighbour: Now will these men licke up the face of the earth; for neither the high mountaines, nor the valleys, nor the hils, are able to beare their waight.
5 Then every man tooke up his weapons of warre, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.
6 But in the second day Holofernes brought foorth all his horsemen, in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,
7 And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountaine of their waters, and tooke them, and set garrisons of men of warre over them, and he himselfe remooved towards his people.
8 Then came unto him all the chiefe of the children of Esau, and al the governours of the people of Moab, and the captaines of the sea coast, and said,
9 Let our lord now heare a word, that there be not an overthrow in thine armie.
10 For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their speares, but in the height of the mountaines wherein they dwell, because it is not easie to come up to the tops of their mountains.
11 Now therefore my lord, fight not against them in battell aray, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish.
12 Remaine in thy campe, and keepe all the men of thine army, and let thy servants get into their hands the fountaine of water which issueth foorth of the foot of the mountaine.
13 For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence: so shall thirst kil them, & they shall give up their citie, and we and our people shal goe up to the tops of the mountaines that are neere, and will campe upon them, to watch that none goe out of the city.
14 So they and their wives, and their children shalbe consumed with famine, and before the sword come against them, they shall be overthrowen in the streets where they dwel.
15 Thus shalt thou render them an euil reward: because they rebelled and met not thy person peaceably.
16 And these words pleased Holofernes, and al his servants, and he appointed to doe as they had spoken.
17 So the campe of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, and tooke the waters, and the fountaines of the waters of the children of Israel.
18 Then the children of Esau went up, with the children of Ammon, and camped in the hil countrey over against Dotha-em: and they sent some of them toward the South, & toward the East over against Ekrebel, which is neere unto Chusi, that is upon the brooke Mochmur, and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped in the plaine, and covered the face of the whole land, and their tents and cariages were pitched to a very great multitude.
19 Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, & there was no way to escape out from among them.
20 Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their footmen, charets and horsemen, foure and thirtie dayes, so that all their vessels of water failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia.
21 And the cisternes were emptied, and they had not water to drinke their fill, for one day; for they gave them drinke by measure.
22 Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell downe in the streetes of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.
23 Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chiefe of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cryed with a loude voice, and saide before all the Elders;
24 God be Judge betweene us and you: for you have done us great iniury in that you have not required peace of the children of Assur.
25 For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that wee should be throwen downe before them with thirst, and great destruction.
26 Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole citie for a spoile to the people of Olofernes, and to all his armie.
27 For it is better for us to be made a spoile unto them, then to die for thirst: for wee will be his servants, that our soules may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.
28 We take to witnesse against you, the heaven and the earth, and our God, and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to our sinnes, and the sinnes of our fathers, that hee doe not according as we have said this day.
29 Then there was great weeping with one consent in the middest of the assembly, and they cryed unto the Lord God with a loude voice.
30 Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five dayes, in the which space the Lord our God may turne his mercy toward us, for he will not forsake us utterly.
31 And if these dayes passe, and there come no helpe unto us, I wil doe according to your word.
32 And he dispersed the people every one to their owne charge, and they went unto the walles and towres of their citie, and sent the women and children into their houses, and they were very low brought in the city.

Chapter 8

1 Now at that time Judeth heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Ox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Oziel, the sonne of Elcia, the sonne of Ananias, the sonne of Gedeon, the sonne of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the sonne of Eliu, the sonne of Eliab, the sonne of Nathanael, the sonne of Samael, the sonne of Salasadai, the son of Israel.
2 And Manasses was her husband of her tribe and kinred, who died in the barley harvest.
3 For as hee stood overseeing them that bound sheaues in the field, the heat came upon his head, and hee fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia, and they buried him with his fathers, in the field betweene Dothaim and Balamo.
4 So Judeth was a widow in her house three yeeres, and foure moneths.
5 And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackecloth on her loynes, and ware her widowes apparell.
6 And she fasted all the dayes of her widowhood, saue the eues of the Sabbath, and the Sabbaths, and the eues of the newe Moones, and the newe Moones, and the Feasts, and solemne dayes of the house of Israel.
7 Shee was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautifull to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her golde and silver, and men servants and maide servants, and cattell, and lands, and she remained upon them.
8 And there was none that gave her an ill worde; for shee feared God greatly.
9 Now when shee heard the euill wordes of the people against the governor, that they fainted for lacke of water (for Judeth had heard all the wordes that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworne to deliver the citie unto the Assyrians after five dayes)
10 Then shee sent her waiting woman that had the government of all things that she had, to call Ozias, and Chabris, and Charmis, the ancients of the citie.
11 And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Heare me now, O yee governours of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your wordes that you have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this othe which ye made, and pronounced betweene God and you, and have promised to deliver the citie to our enemies, vnlesse within these daies the Lord turne to helpe you.
12 And now who are you, that have tempted God this day, & stand in stead of God amongst the children of men?
13 And now trie the Lord Almighty, but you shall never know any thing.
14 For you cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can ye perceiue the things that he thinketh: then how can you search out God, that hath made all these things, and knowe his minde, or comprehend his purpose? Nay my brethren, prvoke not the Lord our God to anger.
15 For if he will not helpe us within these few dayes, he hath power to defend vs when he will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies.
16 Doe not binde the counsels of the Lord our God, for God is not as man, that he may be threatned, neither is he as the sonne of man that he should bee wauering.
17 Therefore let us waite for saluation of him, and call upon him to helpe us, and he will heare our voice if it please him.
18 For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these daies, neither tribe, nor familie, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath bene aforetime.
19 For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, & for a spoile, and had a great fall before our enemies.
20 But we know none other god: therefore we trust that he will not despise us, nor any of our nation.
21 For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our Sanctuarie shal be spoiled, and he will require the prophanation thereof, at our mouth.
22 And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captiuitie of the countrey, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turne upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall bee in bondage, and we shall be an offence and a reproch to all them that possesse us.
23 For our seruitude shall not be directed to favour: but the Lord our God shall turne it to dishonour.
24 Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the Sanctuary, and the house, and the Altar rest upon us.
25 Moreover, let us give thankes to the Lord our God, which trieth us, even as he did our fathers.
26 Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother.
27 For, hee hath not tried us in the fire as he did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither hath hee taken vengeance on us: but the Lord doeth scourge them that come neere unto him to admonish them.
28 Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken, hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainesay thy words.
29 For this is not the first day wherin thy wisedome is manifested, but from the beginning of thy dayes all thy people have knowen thy understanding, because the disposition of thine heart is good.
30 But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to doe unto them as we have spoken, and to bring an othe upon our selues, which wee will not breake.
31 Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord will send us raine to fill our cisternes, and we shall faint no more.
32 Then said Judeth unto them, Heare me, and I wil doe a thing, which shall goe throughout all generations, to the children of our nation.
33 You shall stand this night in the gate, and I will goe foorth with my waiting woman: and within the dayes that you have promised to deliver the citie to our enemies, the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand.
34 But inquire not you of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, til the things be finished that I doe.
35 Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Goe in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.
36 So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.

Chapter 9

1 Then Judeth fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed, and about the time, that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, Judeth cryed with a loud voyce, and said,
2 O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maide to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproch, (for thou saidst it shall not be so, and yet they did so.)
3 Wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slaine, so that they died their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their Lords, and the Lords upon their thrones:
4 And hast given their wives for a pray, and their daughters to bee captiues, and all their spoiles to be divided amongst thy deere children: which were mooued with thy zeale, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon thee for aide: O God, O my God, heare me also a widow.
5 For thou hast wrought not onely those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensewed after, thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come.
6 Yea what things thou didst determine were redy at hand, and said, loe we are heere; for all thy wayes are prepared, and thy Judgements are in thy foreknowledge.
7 For behold, the Assyrians are multiplyed in their power: they are exalted with horse and man: they glory in the strength of their footemen: they trust in shield and speare, and bow, and sling, and know not that thou art the Lord that breakest the battels: the Lord is thy name.
8 Throw downe their strength in thy power, and bring downe their force in thy wrath; for they have purposed to defile thy Sanctuary, and to pollute the Tabernacle, where thy glorious name resteth, and to cast downe with sword the horne of thy altar.
9 Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into mine hand which am a widow, the power that I have conceiued.
10 Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with the servant: breake downe their statelinesse by the hand of a woman.
11 For thy power standeth not in multitude, nor thy might in strong men, for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weake, a protector of the forelorne, a sauiour of them that are without hope.
12 I pray thee, I pray thee, O God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens, and earth, creator of the waters, king of every creature: heare thou my prayer:
13 And make my speech and deceit to be their wound & stripe, who have purposed cruell things against thy couenant, and thy hallowed house, and against the top of Sion, and against the house of the possession of thy children.
14 And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the God of all power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the people of Israel but thou.

Chapter 10

1 Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and had made an end of all these words,
2 She rose where she had fallen downe, and called her maide, and went downe into the house, in the which she abode in the Sabbath dayes and in her feast dayes,
3 And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and annointed herselfe with precious ointment, and braided the haire of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladnesse, wherewith she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband.
4 And she tooke sandals upon her feete, and put about her, her bracelets and her chaines, and her rings, and her earerings, and all her ornaments, and decked her selfe brauely to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.
5 Then she gave her mayd a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oyle, and filled a bagge with parched corne, and lumpes of figs, and with fine bread, so she folded all these things together, and layd them upon her.
6 Thus they went forth to the gate of the citie of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias, and the ancients of the city Chabris, and Charmis.
7 And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beautie very greatly, and said unto her,
8 The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish thine enterprises to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem: then they worshipped God.
9 And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may goe forth to accomplish the things, whereof you have spoken with me; so they commanded the young men to open unto her, as shee had spoken.
10 And when they had done so, Judeth went out, she and her mayd with her, and the men of the citie looked after her, untill shee was gone downe the mountaine, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.
11 Thus they went straight foorth in the valley: and the first watch of the Assyrians met her;
12 And tooke her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence cōmest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrewes, and am fled from them: for they shalbe given you to be consumed:
13 And I am comming before Olofernes the chiefe captaine of your army, to declare words of trueth, and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall goe, and winne all the hil countrey, without loosing the body or life of any one of his men.
14 Now when the men heard her wordes, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beautie, and said unto her;
15 Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come downe to the presence of our lord: now therfore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, untill they have delivered thee to his hands.
16 And when thou standest before him, bee not afraid in thine heart: but shew unto him according to thy word, and he will intreat thee well.
17 Then they chose out of them an hundred men, to accompany her and her mayd, and they brought her to the tent of Olofernes.
18 Then was there a concourse throughout all the campe: for her comming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Olofernes, till they told him of her.
19 And they wondered at her beautie, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour; Who would despise this people, that have among them such women, surely it is not good that one man of them be left, who being let goe, might deceive the whole earth.
20 And they that lay neere Olofernes, went out, and all his servants, and they brought her into the tent.
21 Now Olofernes rested upon his bed under a canopie which was wouen with purple, and gold, and emeraudes, and precious stones.
22 So they shewed him of her, and he came out before his tent, with silver lampes going before him.
23 And when Judeth was come before him and his servants, they all marveiled at the beautie of her countenance; and she fel downe upon her face, and did reverence unto him; and his servants tooke her up.

Chapter 11

1 Then said Olofernes unto her, Woman, bee of good comfort, feare not in thine heart: for I never hurt any, that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor the king of all the earth.
2 Now therefore if thy people that dwelleth in the mountaines, had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my speare against them: but they have done these things to themselves.
3 But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard, be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter.
4 For none shall hurt thee, but intreat thee well, as they doe the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.
5 Then Judeth said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speake in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.
6 And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to passe by thee, and my lord shall not faile of his purposes,
7 As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattell, and the foules of the aire shall live by thy power, under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.
8 For wee have heard of thy wisedome, and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou onely art excellent in all the kingdome, and mightie in knowledge, and wonderfull in feates of warre.
9 Now as concerning the matter which Achior did speake in thy counsell, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and hee declared unto them all that hee had spoken unto thee.
10 Therefore, O lord and governor, reject not his word, but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true, for our nation shall not be punished, neither can the sword prevaile against them, except they sinne against their God.
11 And now, that my lord be not defeated, and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sinne hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whensoeuer they shall doe that which is not fit to be done.
12 For their victuals faile them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattell, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eate by his Lawes,
13 And are resolued to spend the first fruits of the corne, & the tenths of wine and oyle, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the Priests that serve in Jerusalem, before the face of our God, the which things it is not lawfull for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
14 For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwelt there have done the like, to bring them a license from the Senate.
15 Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith doe it, and they shall be given thee to be destroyed the same day.
16 Wherefore I thine handmaide knowing all this, am fledde from their presence, & God hath sent me to worke things with thee, whereat all the earth shalbe astonished, and whosoeuer shall heare it.
17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day & night: now therefore, my lord, I will remaine with thee, and thy servant will goe out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he wil tel me when they have committed their sinnes.
18 And I will come, and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt goe forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.
19 And I will leade thee through the midst of Judea, untill thou come before Jerusalem, and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof, and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepheard, and a dogge shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were tolde mee, according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.
20 Then her wordes pleased Olofernes, and all his servants, and they marveiled at her wisedome, and said,
21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beautie of face, and wisedome of wordes.
22 Likewise Olofernes said unto her, God hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands, and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord:
23 And now thou art both beautifull in thy countenance, and wittie in thy wordes; surely if thou doe as thou hast spoken, thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwel in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowmed through the whole earth.

Chapter 12

1 Then hee commanded to bring her in, where his plate was set, and bad that they should prepare for her of his owne meats, and that she should drinke of his owne wine.
2 And Judeth said, I will not eat thereof, lest there bee an offence: but provision shall be made for mee of the things that I have brought.
3 Then Olofernes said unto her, If thy provision should faile, howe should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.
4 Then said Judeth unto him, As thy soule liveth, my lord, thine handemaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord worke by mine hand, the things þt he hath determined.
5 Then the servants of Olofernes brought her into the tent, and shee slept til midnight, and she arose when it was towards the morning watch,
6 And sent to Olofernes, saying, Let my lord now command, that thine handmaid may goe forth unto prayer.
7 Then Olofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three dayes, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed her selfe in a fountaine of water by the campe.
8 And when she came out, shee besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way, to the raising up of the children of her people.
9 So she came in cleane, and remained in the tent, untill shee did eate her meat at evening.
10 And in the fourth day Olofernes made a feast to his owne servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
11 Then said he to Bagoas the Eunuch, who had charge over all that he had: Goe now, and perswade this Ebrewe woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eate and drinke with us.
12 For loe, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not hauing had her company: for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorne.
13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Olofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this faire damosell feare to come to my lord, and to bee honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us, and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.
14 Then said Judeth unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainesay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him, I will doe speedily, and it shall bee my ioy unto the day of my death.
15 So she arose, and decked her selfe with her apparell, and all her womans attire, and her maid went and laid soft skinnes on the ground for her, over against Olofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit, and eate upon them.
16 Now when Judeth came in, and sate downe, Olofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his minde was moued, and he desired greatly her company, for hee waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seene her.
17 Then said Olofernes unto her, Drinke now, and be merry with us.
18 So Judeth saide, I will drinke now my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day, more then all the dayes since I was borne.
19 Then she tooke and ate and dranke before him what her maide had prepared.
20 And Olofernes tooke great delight in her, & dranke much more wine, then he had drunke at any time in one day, since he was borne.

Chapter 13

1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord, and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had bene long.
2 And Judeth was left alone in the tent, and Olofernes lying along upon his bed, for hee was filled with wine.
3 Now Judeth had commanded her maide to stand without her bedchamber, and to waite for her comming forth as she did daily: for she said, she would goe forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas, according to the same purpose.
4 So all went forth, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little, nor great. Then Judeth standing by his bed, said in her heart: O Lord God of all power, looke at this present upon the workes of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5 For now is the time to helpe thine inheritance, and to execute mine enterprises, to the destruction of the enemies, which are risen against us.
6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Olofernes head, and tooke downe his fauchin from thence,
7 And approched to his bed, and tooke hold of the haire of his head, and said, Strengthen mee, O Lord God of Israel, this day.
8 And she smote twise upon his necke with all her might, and she tooke away his head from him,
9 And tumbled his body downe from the bed, and pulled downe the canopy from the pillars, and anon after she went forth, and gave Olofernes his head to her maide.
10 And she put it in her bag of meate, so they twaine went together according to their custome unto prayer, and when they passed the campe, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountaine of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
11 Then said Judeth a farre off to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: God, even our God is with us, to shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemie, as he hath even done this day.
12 Now when the men of her citie heard her voyce, they made haste to goe downe to the gate of their citie, and they called the Elders of the citie.
13 And then they ranne altogether both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.
14 Then she said to them with a loud voyce, Praise, praise God, praise God, (I say) for hee hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.
15 So she tooke the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, Behold the head of Olofernes the chiefe captaine of the armie of Assur, and behold the canopy wherein he did lie in his drunkennesse, and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.
16 As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath hee not committed sinne with mee, to defile and shame mee.
17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves, and worshipped God, and said with one accord: Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people.
18 Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most high God, above all the women upon the earth, and blessed be the Lord God, which hath created the heavens, and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chiefe of our enemies.
19 For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for euer.
20 And God turne these things to thee for a perpetuall praise, to visite thee in good things, because thou hast not spared thy life for þe affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruine, walking a straight way before our God: and all the people said, So be it, so be it.

Chapter 14

1 Then saide Judeth unto them, Heare me now, my brethren, & take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walles.
2 And so soone as the morning shall appeare and the Sunne shal come forth upon the earth, take you every one his weapons, and goe forth every valiant man out of the city, & set you a captaine over them, as though you would goe downe into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians, but goe not downe.
3 Then they shal take their armour, and shal goe into their campe, and raise up the captaines of the armie of Assur, and they shall runne to the tent of Olofernes, but shall not finde him, then feare shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.
4 So you, and all that inhabite the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they goe.
5 But before you doe these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that hee may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us as it were to his death.
6 Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias, and when hee was come, and saw the head of Olofernes in a mans hand, in the assembly of the people, he fell downe on his face, and his spirit failed.
7 But when they had recovered him, hee fell at Judeths feete, and reverenced her, and said: Blessed art thou in all the tabernacle of Iuda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished.
8 Now therefore tell mee all the things that thou hast done in these dayes: Then Judeth declared unto him in the midst of the people, all that shee had done from the day that shee went foorth, untill that houre she spake unto them.
9 And when shee had left off speaking, the people shouted with a lowd voice, & made a joyful noise in their citie.
10 And when Achior had seene all that the God of Israel had done, hee beleeued in God greatly, and circumcised the foreskinne of his flesh, and was ioyned unto the house of Israel unto this day.
11 And assoone as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Olofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went foorth by bandes unto the straits of the mountaine.
12 But when the Assyrians sawe them, they sent to their leaders, which came to their Captaines, and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers.
13 So they came to Olofernes tent, and said to him that had the charge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have beene bold to come downe against us to battell, that they may be utterly destroyed.
14 Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the doore of the tent: for he thought that he had slept with Judeth.
15 But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floore dead, & his head was taken from him.
16 Therefore he cried with a lowd voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.
17 After, hee went into the tent, where Judeth lodged, and when hee found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,
18 These slaves have dealt treacherously, one woman of the Hebrewes hath brought shame upon the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold, Olofernes lieth upon the ground without a head.
19 When the captaines of the Assyrians armie heard these words, they rent their coats, and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry, and a very great noise throughout the campe.

Chapter 15

1 And when they that were in the tents heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.
2 And feare and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out altogether, they fled into every way of the plaine, and of the hill countrey.
3 They also that had camped in the mountaines, round about Bethulia, fled away. Then the children of Israel every one that was a warriour among them, rushed out upon them.
4 Then sent Ozias to Bethomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Cola, and to all the coasts of Israel, such as should tell the things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them.
5 Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon them with one consent, and slewe them unto Choba: likewise also they that came from Jerusalem, and from all the hill country, for men had told them what things were done in the campe of their enemies, and they that were in Galaad and in Galile chased them with a great slaughter, untill they were past Damascus, and the borders thereof.
6 And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the campe of Assur, and spoiled them, & were greatly enriched.
7 And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter, had that which remained, and the villages, and the cities that were in the mountaines, and in the plaine, gate many spoiles: for the multitude was very great.
8 Then Ioacim the high Priest, and the Ancients of the children of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things that God had shewed to Israel, and to see Judeth, and to salute her.
9 And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem: thou art the great glory of Israel: thou art the great rejoycing of our nation.
10 Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done much good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed bee thou of the Almightie Lord for evermore: and all the people said, So be it.
11 And the people spoiled the campe, the space of thirty dayes, and they gave unto Judeth Olofernes his tent, and all his plate, and beds, and vessels, and all his stuffe: and she tooke it, and laide it on her mule, and made ready her carts, and laid them thereon.
12 Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her: and shee tooke branches in her hand, & gave also to the women that were with her.
13 And they put a garland of olive upon her, and her maid that was with her, and shee went before the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armor with garlands, and with songs in their mouthes.

Chapter 16

1 Then Judeth began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang after her this song of praise.
2 And Judeth said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a newe Psalme: exalt him, & cal upon his name.
3 For God breaketh the battels: for amongst the campes in the midst of the people hee hath delivered me out of the hands of them that persecuted me.
4 Assur came out of the mountains from the North, he came with ten thousands of his army, the multitude wherof stopped the torrents, and their horsemen have covered the hilles.
5 He bragged that he would burne up my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against the ground, and make mine infants as a pray, and my virgins as a spoile.
6 But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a woman.
7 For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did the sonnes of the Titans smite him, nor high gyants set upon him: but Judeth the daughter of Merari weakned him with the beautie of her countenance.
8 For she put off the garment of her widowhood, for the exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed her face with ointment, & bound her haire in a tyre, and tooke a linnen garment to deceive him.
9 Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beautie tooke his minde prisoner, and the fauchin passed through his necke.
10 The Persians quaked at her boldnesse, and the Medes were daunted at her hardinesse.
11 Then my afflicted shouted for ioy, and my weake ones cryed aloude; but they were astonished: these lifted up their voices, but they were overthrowen.
12 The sonnes of the damosels have pierced them through, and wounded them as fugitiues children: they perished by the battell of the Lord.
13 I will sing unto the Lord a new song, O Lord thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength & invincible.
14 Let all creatures serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were made, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, and there is none that can resist thy voyce.
15 For the mountaines shall be mooued from their foundations with the waters, the rockes shall melt as waxe at thy presence: yet thou art mercifull to them that feare thee.
16 For all sacrifice is too little for a sweete sauour unto thee, and all the fat is not sufficient, for thy burnt offering: but he that feareth the Lord is great at all times.
17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my kinred: the Lord almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of Judgement in putting fire & wormes in their flesh, and they shall feele them and weepe for euer.
18 Now assoone as they entred into Jerusalem, they worshipped the Lord, and assoone as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their gifts.
19 Judeth also dedicated all the stuffe of Olofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy which she had taken out of his bed chamber, for a gift unto the Lord.
20 So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the Sanctuarie, for the space of three moneths, and Judeth remained with them.
21 After this time, every one returned to his owne inheritance, and Judeth went to Bethulia, and remained in her owne possession, and was in her time honourable in all the countrey.
22 And many desired her, but none knew her all the dayes of her life, after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered to his people.
23 But she encreased more and more in honour, and waxed olde in her husbands house, being an hundred and five yeeres olde, and made her maide free, so shee died in Bethulia: and they buried her in the caue of her husband Manasses.
24 And the house of Israel lamented her seauen dayes, and before shee dyed, she did distribute her goods to all them that are neerest of kinred to Manasses her husband: and to them that were the neerest of her kinred.
25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraide, in the dayes of Judeth, nor a long time after her death.