The Holy Bible

Part 27 out of 74




8:3. Then the angel Raphael took the devil, and bound him in the desert
of upper Egypt.

8:4. Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and
let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for
these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is
over, we will be in our own wedlock.

8:5. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined
together like heathens that know not God.

8:6. So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health
might be given them,

8:7. And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the
earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy
creatures that are in them, bless thee.

8:8. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for
a helper.

8:9. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take
my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy
name may be blessed for ever and ever.

8:10. Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and
let us grow old both together in health.

8:11. And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his
servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a
grave.

8:12. For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like
manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.

8:13. And when they had prepared the pit, Raguel went back to his wife,
and said to her:

8:14. Send one of thy maids, and let her see if he be dead, that I may
bury him before it be day.

8:15. So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber,
and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.

8:16. And returning she brought the good news: and Raguel and Anna his
wife blessed the Lord,

8:17. And said: We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because it hath
not happened as we suspected.

8:18. For thou hast shewn thy mercy to us, and hast shut out from us
the enemy that persecuted us.

8:19. And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O
Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy
praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone
art God in all the earth.

8:20. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill up the pit
they had made, before it was day.

8:21. And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all
kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.

8:22. He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a
banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends,

8:23. And Raguel adjured Tobias, to abide with him two weeks.

8:24. And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to
Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after
their decease come also to Tobias.



Tobias Chapter 9


The angel Raphael goeth to Gabelus, receiveth the money, and bringeth
him to the marriage.

9:1. Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and
said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:

9:2. If I should give myself to be thy servant I should not make a
worthy return for thy care.

9:3. However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants,
and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to
him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to
come to my wedding.

9:4. For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay
one day more, his soul will be afflicted.

9:5. And indeed thou seest how Raguel hath adjured me, whose adjuring I
cannot despise.

9:6. Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and
went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his
note of hand, and received of him all the money.

9:7. And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had
been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.

9:8. And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting
at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus
wept, and blessed God,

9:9. And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son
of a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds:

9:10. And may a blessing come upon thy wife and upon your parents.

9:11. And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto
the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the
God of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.

9:12. And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the
marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.



Tobias Chapter 10


The parents lament the long absence of their son Tobias. He sets out to
return.

10:1. But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage,
Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son
tarry, or why is he detained there?

10:2. Is Gabelus dead, thinkest thou, and no man will pay him the
money?

10:3. And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with
him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not
return to them on the day appointed.

10:4. But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe,
woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the
light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life,
the hope of our posterity?

10:5. We having all things together in thee alone, ought not to have
let thee go from us.

10:6. And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our
son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.

10:7. But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out
looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed
any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming
afar off.

10:8. But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a
messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.

10:9. And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now
count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.

10:10. And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no
means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all
his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels,
and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from
him,

10:11. Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey,
and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about
your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.

10:12. And the parents taking their daughter kissed her, and let her
go:

10:13. Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love
her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to
behave herself irreprehensibly.



Tobias Chapter 11


Tobias anointeth his father's eyes with the fish's gall, and he
recovereth his sight.

11:1. And as they were returning they came to Charan, which is in the
midway to Ninive, the eleventh day.

11:2. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou didst
leave thy father.

11:3. If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family
follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.

11:4. And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take
with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias
took some of that gall and departed.

11:5. But Anna sat beside the way daily, on the top of a hill, from
whence she might see afar off.

11:6. And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him
afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning
she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.

11:7. And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy
house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go
to thy father, and kiss him.

11:8. And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which
thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be
presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and
shall rejoice in the sight of thee.

11:9. Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before,
and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning
and wagging his tail.

The dog, etc. . .This may seem a very minute circumstance to be recorded
in sacred history: but as we learn from our Saviour, St. Matt. 5.18,
there are iotas and tittles in the word of God: that is to say, things
that appear minute, but which have indeed a deep and mysterious meaning
in them.

11:10. And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling
with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.

11:11. And receiving him kissed him, as did also his wife, and they
began to weep for joy.

11:12. And when they had adored God, and given him thanks, they sat
down together.

11:13. Then Tobias taking of the gall of the fish, anointed his
father's eyes.

11:14. And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come
out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.

11:15. And Tobias took hold of it, and drew it from his eyes, and
recovered his sight.

11:16. And they glorified God, both he and his wife and all that knew
him.

11:17. And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because
thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias
my son.

11:18. And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family
arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money
of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,

11:19. And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had
done to him by the man that conducted him.

11:20. And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for
Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God
had done for him.

11:21. And for seven days they feasted and rejoiced all with great joy.



Tobias Chapter 12


Raphael maketh himself known.

12:1. Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we
give to this holy man, that is come with thee?

12:2. Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we
give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?

12:3. He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money
of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the
evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being
devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of
heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we
give him sufficient for these things?

12:4. But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would
vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought.

12:5. So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began
to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things
that they had brought,

12:6. Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of heaven, give
glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his
mercy to you.

12:7. For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and
confess the works of God.

12:8. Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up
treasures of gold.

12:9. For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which
purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.

12:10. But they that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own
soul.

12:11. I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the
secret from you.

12:12. When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and
didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury
them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.

12:13. And because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that
temptation should prove thee.

12:14. And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara
thy son's wife from the devil.

12:15. For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before
the Lord.

12:16. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and
being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.

12:17. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not.

12:18. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless
ye him, and sing praises to him.

12:19. I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I use an
invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.

12:20. It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but
bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.

12:21. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their
sight, and they could see him no more.

12:22. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face,
blessed God, and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.



Tobias Chapter 13


Tobias the father praiseth God, exhorting all Israel to do the same.
Prophesieth the restoration and better state of Jerusalem.

13:1. And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and
said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all
ages.

13:2. For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell,
and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand.

13:3. Give glory to the Lord, ye children of Israel, and praise him in
the sight of the Gentiles:

13:4. Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who
know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them
know that there is no other almighty God besides him.

13:5. He hath chastised us for our iniquities: and he will save us for
his own mercy.

13:6. See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling
give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your
works.

13:7. As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because
he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation,

13:8. Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God,
believing that he will shew his mercy to you.

13:9. And I and my soul will rejoice in him.

13:10. Bless ye the Lord, all his elect, keep days of joy, and give
glory to him.

13:11. Jerusalem, city of God, the Lord hath chastised thee for the
works of thy hands.

Jerusalem. . .What is prophetically delivered here, and in the following
chapter, with relation to Jerusalem, is partly to be understood of the
rebuilding of the city after the captivity: and partly of the spiritual
Jerusalem, which is the church of Christ, and the eternal Jerusalem in
heaven.

13:12. Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God
eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back
all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever.

13:13. Thou shalt shine with a glorious light: and all the ends of the
earth shall worship thee,

13:14. Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and
shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy.

13:15. For they shall call upon the great name in thee,

13:16. They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be
condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that
shall build thee up,

13:17. But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all
be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord.

13:18. Blessed are all they that love thee, and that rejoice in thy
peace,

13:19. My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath
delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles.

13:20. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed, to see the
glory of Jerusalem.

13:21. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of
emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones.

13:22. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and
Alleluia shall be sung in its streets,

13:23. Blessed be the Lord, who hath exalted it, and may he reign over
it for ever and ever, Amen.



Tobias Chapter 14


Old Tobias dieth at the age of a hundred and two years, after exhorting
his son and grandsons to piety, foreshewing that Ninive shall be
destroyed, and Jerusalem rebuilt. The younger Tobias returneth with his
family to Raguel, and dieth happily as he had lived.

14:1. And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored
to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his
grandchildren.

14:2. And after he had lived a hundred and two years, he was buried
honorably in Ninive.

14:3. For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his
eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.

14:4. And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of
the fear of God he departed in peace.

14:5. And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias
and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them:

14:6. The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord
must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the
land of Israel, shall return to it.

14:7. And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with
people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be
rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither.

14:8. And the Gentiles shall leave their idols, and shall come into
Jerusalem, and shall dwell in it.

14:9. And all the kings of the earth shall rejoice in it, adoring the
King of Israel.

14:10. Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord
in truth, and seek to do the things that please him:

14:11. And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds,
and that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth,
and with all their power.

14:12. And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as
you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct
your steps to depart hence:

14:13. For I see that its iniquity will bring it to destruction.

14:14. And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias
departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children's
children, and returned to his father and mother in law.

14:15. And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care
of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel's
house came to him: and he saw his children's children to the fifth
generation.

14:16. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the
Lord, with joy they buried him.

14:17. And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good
life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to
God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land.




THE BOOK OF JUDITH



The sacred writer of this Book is generally believed to be the high
priest Eliachim (called also Joachim). The transactions herein related,
most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of Manasses, after
his repentance and return from captivity. It takes its name from that
illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, and armed with
prayer, the children of Israel were preserved from the destruction
threatened them by Holofernes and his great army. It finishes with her
canticle of thanksgiving to God.



Judith Chapter 1


Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians overcometh Arphaxad king of the
Medes.

1:1. Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his
dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana,

Arphaxad. . .He was probably the same as is called Dejoces by Herodotus;
to whom he attributes the building of Ecbatana, the capital city of
Media.

1:2. Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy
cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a
hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended
the space of twenty feet.

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

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

1:5. Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the
Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against
Arphaxad and overcame him,

Nabuchodonosor. . .Not the king of Babylon, who took and destroyed
Jerusalem, but another of the same name, who reigned in Ninive: and is
called by profane historians Saosduchin. He succeeded Asarhaddan in the
kingdom of the Assyrians, and was contemporary with Manasses king of
Juda.

1:6. In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and
the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the
Elicians.

1:7. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was
elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and
Libanus,

1:8. And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the
inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon,

1:9. And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even
to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of
Ethiopia.

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

1:11. But they all with one mind refused, and sent them back empty, and
rejected them without honour.

1:12. Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore
by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those
countries.



Judith Chapter 2


Nabuchodonosor sendeth Holofernes to waste the countries of the west.

2:1. In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and
twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house
of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself.

2:2. And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his
officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel:

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

2:4. And when this saying pleased them all, Nabuchodonosor, the king,
called Holofernes the general of his armies,

2:5. And said to him: Go out against all the kingdoms of the west, and
against them especially that despised my commandment.

2:6. Thy eye shall not spare any kingdom, and all the strong cities
thou shalt bring under my yoke.

2:7. Then Holofernes called the captains, and officers of the power of
the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the expedition, and the king
commanded him, a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and
twelve thousand archers, horsemen.

2:8. And he made all his warlike preparations to go before with a
multitude of innumerable camels, with all provisions sufficient for the
armies in abundance, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, without
number.

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

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

2:11. And he went forth he and all the army, with the chariots, and
horsemen, and archers, who covered the face of the earth, like locusts.

2:12. And when he had passed through the borders of the Assyrians, he
came to the great mountains of Ange, which are on the left of Cilicia:
and he went up to all their castles, and took all the strong places.

2:13. And he took by assault the renowned city of Melothus, and
pillaged all the children of Tharsis, and the children of Ismahel, who
were over against the face of the desert, and on the south of the land
of Cellon.

2:14. And he passed over the Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia: and
he forced all the stately cities that were there, from the torrent of
Mambre, till one comes to the sea:

2:15. And he took the borders thereof, from Cilicia to the coasts of
Japheth, which are towards the south.

2:16. And he carried away all the children of Madian, and stripped them
of all their riches, and all that resisted him he slew with the edge of
the sword.

2:17. And after these things he went down into the plains of Damascus
in the days of the harvest, and he set all the corn on fire, and he
caused all the trees and vineyards to be cut down.

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



Judith Chapter 3


Many submit themselves to Holofernes. He destroyeth their cities, and
their gods, that Nabuchodonosor only might be called God.

3:1. Then the kings and the princes of all the cities and provinces, of
Syria, Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia sent their
ambassadors, who coming to Holofernes, said:

3:2. Let thy indignation towards us cease, for it is better for us to
live and serve Nabuchodonosor the great king, and be subject to thee,
than to die and to perish, or suffer the miseries of slavery.

3:3. All our cities and our possessions, all mountains and hills, and
fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses,
and camels, and all our goods, and families are in thy sight:

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

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

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

3:7. Then he came down from the mountains with horsemen, in great
power, and made himself master of every city, and all the inhabitants
of the land.

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

3:9. And so great a fear lay upon all those provinces, that the
inhabitants of all the cities, both princes and nobles, as well as the
people, went out to meet him at his coming.

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

3:11. And though they did these things, they could not for all that
mitigate the fierceness of his heart:

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

3:13. For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him to destroy all the
gods of the earth, that he only might be called God by those nations
which could be brought under him by the power of Holofernes.

3:14. And when he had passed through all Syria Sobal, and all Apamea,
and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans into the land of Gabaa,

3:15. And he took possession of their cities, and stayed there for
thirty days, in which days he commanded all the troops of his army to
be united.



Judith Chapter 4


The children of Israel prepare themselves to resist Holofernes. They
cry to the Lord for help.

4:1. Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Juda,
hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him.

4:2. Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the
same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to
other cities and their temples.

4:3. And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and
seized upon all the tops of the mountains:

4:4. And they compassed their towns with walls and gathered together
corn for provision for war.

4:5. And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against
Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom
there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of
the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to
Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the
mountains.

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

4:7. And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and
they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their
wives.

4:8. And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little
children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar
of the Lord they covered with haircloth.

4:9. And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that
their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off,
and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that
they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles.

4:10. Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all Israel
and spoke to them,

4:11. Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you
continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the
Lord.

4:12. Remember Moses the servant of the Lord overcame Amalec that
trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in
his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting
with the sword, but by holy prayers:

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

4:14. So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the
Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.

4:15. So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered
the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon
their head.

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



Judith Chapter 5


Achior gives Holofernes an account of the people of Israel.

5:1. And it was told Holofernes the general of the army of the
Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared themselves to resist,
and had shut up the ways of the mountains.

5:2. And he was transported with exceeding great fury and indignation,
and he called all the princes of Moab and the leaders of Ammon.

5:3. And he said to them: Tell me what is this people that besetteth
the mountains: or what are their cities, and of what sort, and how
great: also what is their power, or what is their multitude: or who is
the king over their warfare:

5:4. And why they above all that dwell in the east, have despised us,
and have not come out to meet us, that they might receive us with
peace?

5:5. Then Achior captain of all the children of Ammon answering, said;
If thou vouchsafe, my lord, to hear, I will tell the truth in thy sight
concerning this people, that dwelleth in the mountains, and there shall
not a false word come out of my mouth.

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

5:7. They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the
gods of their fathers, who were in the land of the Chaldeans.

5:8. Wherefore forsaking the ceremonies of their fathers, which
consisted in the worship of many gods,

5:9. They worshipped one God of heaven, who also commanded them to
depart from thence, and to dwell in Charan. And when there was a famine
over all the land, they went down into Egypt, and there for four
hundred years were so multiplied, that the army of them could not be
numbered.

5:10. And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and made slaves of
them to labour in clay and brick, in the building of his cities, they
cried to their Lord, and he struck the whole land of Egypt with divers
plagues.

5:11. And when the Egyptians had cast them out from them, and the
plague had ceased from them, and they had a mind to take them again,
and bring them back to their service,

5:12. The God of heaven opened the sea to them in their flight, so that
the waters were made to stand firm as a wall on either side, and they
walked through the bottom of the sea and passed it dry foot.

5:13. And when an innumerable army of the Egyptians pursued after them
in that place, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there was
not one left, to tell what had happened to posterity.

5:14. After they came out of the Red Sea, they abode in the deserts of
mount Sina, in which never man could dwell, or son of man rested.

5:15. There bitter fountains were made sweet for them to drink, and for
forty years they received food from heaven.

5:16. Wheresoever they went in without bow and arrow, and without
shield and sword, their God fought for them and overcame.

5:17. And there was no one that triumphed over this people, but when
they departed from the worship of the Lord their God.

5:18. But as often as beside their own God, they worshipped any other,
they were given to spoil and to the sword, and to reproach.

5:19. And as often as they were penitent for having revolted from the
worship of their God, the God of heaven gave them power to resist.

5:20. So they overthrew the king of the Chanaanites, and of the
Jebusites, and of the Pherezites, and of the Hethites, and of the
Hevites, and of the Amorrhites, and all the mighty ones in Hesebon, and
they possessed their lands, and their cities:

5:21. And as long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it was
well with them: for their God hateth iniquity.

5:22. And even some years ago when they had revolted from the way which
God had given them to walk therein, they were destroyed in battles by
many nations and very many of them were led away captive into a strange
land.

5:23. But of late returning to the Lord their God, from the different
places wherein they were scattered, they are come together and are gone
up into all these mountains, and possess Jerusalem again, where their
holies are.

5:24. Now therefore, my lord, search if there be any iniquity of theirs
in the sight of their God: let us go up to them, because their God will
surely deliver them to thee, and they shall be brought under the yoke
of thy power:

5:25. But if there be no offence of this people in the sight of their
God, we cannot resist them because their God will defend them: and we
shall be a reproach to the whole earth.

5:26. And it came to pass, when Achior had ceased to speak these words,
all the great men of Holofernes were angry, and they had a mind to kill
him, saying to each other:

5:27. Who is this, that saith the children of Israel can resist king
Nabuchodonosor, and his armies, men unarmed, and without force, and
without skill in the art of war?

5:28. That Achior therefore may know that he deceiveth us, let us go up
into the mountains: and when the bravest of them shall be taken, then
shall he with them be stabbed with the sword,

5:29. That every nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is god of the
earth, and besides him there is no other.



Judith Chapter 6


Holofernes in great rage sendeth Achior to Bethulia, there to be slain
with the Israelites.

6:1. And it came to pass when they had left off speaking, that
Holofernes being in a violent passion, said to Achior:

6:2. Because thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: That the nation of
Israel is defended by their God, to shew thee that there is no God, but
Nabuchodonosor:

6:3. When we shall slay them all as one man, then thou also shalt die
with them by the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shall perish
with thee:

6:4. And thou shalt find that Nabuchodonosor is lord of the whole
earth: and then the sword of my soldiers shall pass through thy sides,
and thou shalt be stabbed and fall among the wounded of Israel, and
thou shalt breathe no more till thou be destroyed with them.

6:5. But if thou think thy prophecy true, let not thy countenance sink,
and let the paleness that is in thy face, depart from thee, if thou
imaginest these my words cannot be accomplished.

6:6. And that thou mayst know that thou shalt experience these things
together with them, behold from this hour thou shalt be associated to
their people, that when they shall receive the punishment they deserve
from my sword, thou mayst fall under the same vengeance.

6:7. Then Holofernes commanded his servants to take Achior, and to lead
him to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the children of
Israel.

6:8. And the servants of Holofernes taking him, went through the
plains: but when they came near the mountains, the slingers came out
against them.

6:9. Then turning out of the way by the side of the mountain, they tied
Achior to a tree hand and foot, and so left him bound with ropes, and
returned to their master.

6:10. And the children of Israel coming down from Bethulia, came to
him, and loosing him they brought him to Bethulia, and setting him in
the midst of the people, asked him what was the matter that the
Assyrians had left him bound.

6:11. In those days the rulers there, were Ozias the son of Micha of
the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, called also Gothoniel.

6:12. And Achior related in the midst of the ancients, and in the
presence of all the people, all that he had said being asked by
Holofernes: and how the people of Holofernes would have killed him for
this word,

6:13. And how Holofernes himself being angry had commanded him to be
delivered for this cause to the Israelites: that when he should
overcome the children of Israel, then he might command Achior also
himself to be put to death by diverse torments, for having said: The
God of heaven is their defender.

6:14. And when Achior had declared all these things, all the people
fell upon their faces, adoring the Lord, and all of them together
mourning and weeping poured out their prayers with one accord to the
Lord,

6:15. Saying: O Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their pride, and
look on our low condition, and have regard to the face of thy saints,
and shew that thou forsakest not them that trust on thee, and that thou
humblest them that presume of themselves, and glory in their own
strength.

6:16. So when their weeping was ended, and the people's prayer, in
which they continued all the day, was concluded, they comforted Achior,

6:17. Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power thou hast set forth,
will make this return to thee, that thou rather shalt see their
destruction.

6:18. And when the Lord our God shall give this liberty to his
servants, let God be with thee also in the midst of us: that as it
shall please thee, so thou with all thine mayst converse with us.

6:19. Then Ozias, after the assembly was broken up, received him into
his house, and made him a great supper.

6:20. And all the ancients were invited, and they refreshed themselves
together after their fast was over.

6:21. And afterwards all the people were called together, and they
prayed all the night long within the church, desiring help of the God
of Israel.

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



Judith Chapter 7


Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia. The distress of the besieged.

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

7:2. Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand
footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations
of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of
the provinces and cities of all the youth.

7:3. All these prepared themselves together to fight against the
children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which
looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, unto
Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon.

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

7:5. And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the
places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains,
and they guarded them all day and night.

7:6. Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain
which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the
city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.

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

7:8. But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The
children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but
the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices
guard them.

7:9. Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle,
set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and
thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out
they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is
situate in the mountains, to be impregnable.

7:10. And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he
placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.

7:11. And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the
cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of
Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy
them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people
by measure.

7:12. Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering
themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,

7:13. Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil
against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the
Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.

7:14. And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down
before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.

7:15. And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our
own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.

7:16. For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless
the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh,
after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.

7:17. We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our
fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring
you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes,
that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made
longer by the drought of thirst.

7:18. And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and
lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice
they cried to God, saying:

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

7:20. Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our
iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in
thee to a people that knoweth not thee,

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

7:22. And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these
weepings, they held their peace,

7:23. Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my
brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.

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

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



Judith Chapter 8


The character of Judith: her discourse to the ancients.

8:1. Now it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words,
who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the
son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon,
the son of Raphaim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchias, the son of
Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon,
the son of Ruben:

Simeon the son of Ruben. . .In the Greek, it is the son of Israel. For
Simeon the patriarch, from whom Judith descended, was not the son, but
the brother of Ruben. It seems more probable that the Simeon and the
Ruben here mentioned are not the patriarchs: but two of the descendants
of the patriarch Simeon: and that the genealogy of Judith, recorded in
this place, is not carried up so high as the patriarchs. No more than
that of Elcana the father of Samuel, 1 Kings 1.1, and that of king
Saul, 1 Kings 9.1.

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

8:3. For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and
the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and
was buried there with his fathers.

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

8:5. And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her
house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.

8:6. And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of
her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the
house of Israel.

8:7. And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great
riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen,
and flocks of sheep.

8:8. And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the
Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of
her.

8:9. When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would
deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients
Chabri and Charmi.

8:10. And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by
which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if
within five days there come no aid to us?

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

8:12. This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may
stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.

8:13. You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have
appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.

8:14. But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this
same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:

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

8:16. And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing
in an humble spirit, in his service:

8:17. Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he
would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their
pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.

8:18. For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook
their God, and worshipped strange gods.

8:19. For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the
sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but
him.

8:20. Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will
require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble
all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to
disgrace.

8:21. And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of
God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your
speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they
might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.

8:22. They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being
proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.

8:23. So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God,
passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.

8:24. But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the
Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring
against the Lord,

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

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

8:27. But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins
deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which
like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and
not for our destruction.

8:28. And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou
hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy
words.

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

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

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

8:32. You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my
maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord
may look down upon his people Israel.

8:33. But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I
bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord
our God.

8:34. And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the
Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they
departed.



Judith Chapter 9


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

9:1. And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting
on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before
the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying:

9:2. Lord God of my father Simeon, who gavest him a sword to execute
vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and
uncovered the virgin unto confusion:

Gavest him a sword, etc. . .The justice of God is here praised, in
punishing by the sword of Simeon the crime of the Sichemites: and not
the act of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his father, Gen. 49.5.
Though even with regard to this act, we may distinguish between his
zeal against the crime committed by the ravishers of his sister, which
zeal may be considered just: and the manner of his punishing that
crime, which was irregular and excessive.

9:3. And who gavest their wives to be made a prey, and their daughters
into captivity: and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who
were zealous with thy zeal: assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a
widow.

9:4. For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one thing
after another: and what thou hast designed hath been done.

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

9:6. Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to
look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy
servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a
multitude of warriors.

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

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

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

9:10. And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars from the
beginning, and the Lord is thy name.

9:11. Lift up thy arm as from the beginning, and crush their power with
thy power: let their power fall in their wrath, who promise themselves
to violate thy sanctuary, and defile the dwelling place of thy name,
and to beat down with their sword the horn of thy altar.

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

9:13. Let him be caught in the net of his own eyes in my regard, and do
thou strike him by the graces of the words of my lips.

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

9:15. For this will be a glorious monument for thy name, when he shall
fall by the hand of a woman.

9:16. For thy power, O Lord, is not in a multitude, nor is thy pleasure
in the strength of horses, nor from the beginning have the proud been
acceptable to thee: but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath
always pleased thee.

9:17. O God of the heavens, creator of the waters, and Lord of the
whole creation, hear me a poor wretch, making supplication to thee, and
presuming of thy mercy.

9:18. Remember, O Lord, thy covenant, and put thou words in my mouth,
and strengthen the resolution in my heart, that thy house may continue
in thy holiness:

9:19. And all nations may acknowledge that thou art God, and there is
no other besides thee.



Judith Chapter 10


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

10:1. And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the Lord, that
she rose from the place wherein she lay prostrate before the Lord.

10:2. And she called her maid, and going down into her house she took
off her haircloth, and put away the garments of her widowhood,

10:3. And she washed her body, and anointed herself with the best
ointment, and plaited the hair of her head, and put a bonnet upon her
head, and clothed herself with the garments of her gladness, and put
sandals on her feet, and took her bracelets, and lilies, and earlets,
and rings, and adorned herself with all her ornaments.

10:4. And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this dressing
up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the
Lord increased this her beauty, so that she appeared to all men's eyes
incomparably lovely.

10:5. And she gave to her maid a bottle of wine to carry, and a vessel
of oil, and parched corn, and dry figs, and bread and cheese, and went
out.

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

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

10:8. But they asked her no question, only they let her pass, saying:
The God of our fathers give thee grace, and may he strengthen all the
counsel of thy heart with his power, that Jerusalem may glory in thee,
and thy name may be in the number of the holy and just.

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

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

10:11. And it came to pass, when she went down the hill, about break of
day, that the watchmen of the Assyrians met her, and stopped her,
saying: Whence comest thou or whither goest thou?

10:12. And she answered: I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fled
from them, because I knew they would be made a prey to you, because
they despised you, and would not of their own accord yield themselves,
that they might find mercy in your sight.

Because I knew, etc. . .In this and the following chapter, some things
are related to have been said by Judith, which seem hard to reconcile
with truth. But all that is related in scripture of the servants of God
is not approved by the scripture; and even the saints in their good
enterprises may sometimes slip into venial sins.

10:13. For this reason I thought with myself, saying: I will go to the
presence of the prince Holofernes, that I may tell him their secrets,
and shew him by what way he may take them, without the loss of one man
of his army.

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

10:15. And they said to her: Thou hast saved thy life by taking this
resolution, to come down to our lord.

10:16. And be assured of this, that when thou shalt stand before him,
he will treat thee well, and thou wilt be most acceptable to his heart.
And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, telling him of her.

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

10:18. And his officers said to him: Who can despise the people of the
Hebrews, who have such beautiful women, that we should not think it
worth our while for their sakes to fight against them?

10:19. And Judith seeing Holofernes sitting under a canopy, which was
woven of purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones:

10:20. After she had looked on his face, bowed down to him, prostrating
herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, by
the command of their master.



Judith Chapter 11


Judith's speech to Holofernes.

11:1. Then Holofernes said to her: Be of good comfort, and fear not in
thy heart: for I have never hurt a man that was willing to serve
Nabuchodonosor the king.

11:2. And if thy people had not despised me, I would never have lifted
up my spear against them.

11:3. But now tell me, for what cause hast thou left them, and why it
hath pleased thee to come to us?

11:4. And Judith said to him: Receive the words of thy handmaid, for if
thou wilt follow the words of thy handmaid, the Lord will do with thee
a perfect thing.

11:5. For as Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth liveth, and his power
liveth which is in thee for chastising of all straying souls: not only
men serve him through thee, but also the beasts of the field obey him.

11:6. For the industry of thy mind is spoken of among all nations, and
it is told through the whole world, that thou only art excellent, and
mighty in all his kingdom, and thy discipline is cried up in all
provinces.

11:7. It is known also what Achior said, nor are we ignorant of what
thou hast commanded to be done to him.

11:8. For it is certain that our God is so offended with sins, that he
hath sent word by his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them
up for their sins.

11:9. And because the children of Israel know they have offended their
God, thy dread is upon them.

11:10. Moreover also a famine hath come upon them, and for drought of
water they are already to be counted among the dead.

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

11:12. And the consecrated things of the Lord their God which God
forbade them to touch, in corn, wine, and oil, these have they purposed
to make use of, and they design to consume the things which they ought
not to touch with their hands: therefore because they do these things,
it is certain they will be given up to destruction.

11:13. And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them, and the Lord
hath sent me to tell thee these very things.

11:14. For I thy handmaid worship God even now that I am with thee, and
thy handmaid will go out, and I will pray to God,

11:15. And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and
I will come and tell thee, so that I may bring thee through the midst
of Jerusalem, and thou shalt have all the people of Israel, as sheep
that have no shepherd, and there shall not so much as one dog bark
against thee:

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

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

11:18. And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants, and
they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another:

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

11:20. And Holofernes said to her: God hath done well who sent thee
before the people, that thou mightest give them into our hands:

11:21. And because thy promise is good, if thy God shall do this for
me, he shall also be my God, and thou shalt be great in the house of
Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shall be renowned through all the earth.



Judith Chapter 12


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

12:1. Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures were
laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be
given her from his own table.

12:2. And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these
things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but
I will eat of the things which I have brought.

12:3. And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou hast
brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for thee?

12:4. And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall
not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have
purposed. And his servants brought her into the tent which he had
commanded.

12:5. And when she was going in, she desired that she might have
liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer, and to beseech the
Lord.

12:6. And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out and in,
to adore her God as she pleased, for three days.

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

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

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

12:10. And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a
supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: Go, and persuade
that Hebrew woman, to consent of her own accord to dwell with me.

12:11. For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians, if a
woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from him.

12:12. Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be
afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face,
that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.

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

12:14. All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And
whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of
my life.

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

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

12:17. And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be
merry; for thou hast found favour before me.

12:18. And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is
magnified this day above all my days.

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

12:20. And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank
exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.



Judith Chapter 13


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

13:1. And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their
lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way.

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

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

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

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

13:6. And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the
motion of her lips in silence,

13:7. Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour
look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst
raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I
have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee.

13:8. And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at
his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it.

13:9. And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his
head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour.

13:10. And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and
took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless
body.

13:11. And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of
Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet.

13:12. And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to
prayer, and they passed the camp, and having compassed the valley, they
came to the gate of the city.

13:13. And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls:
Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.

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

13:15. And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they
now had no hopes that she would come.

13:16. And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and
she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And
when all had held their peace,

13:17. Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken
them that hope in him.

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

13:19. Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet,
and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general
of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in
his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a
woman.

13:20. But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both
going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and
the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath
brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his
victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance.

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

13:22. And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath
blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies
to nought.

13:23. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her:
Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all
women upon the earth.

13:24. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed
thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies.

13:25. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise
shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the
power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by
reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast
prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.

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

13:27. And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The
God of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself
of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this
night by my hand.

13:28. And that thou mayst find that it is so, behold the head of
Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride despised the God of
Israel: and threatened them with death, saying: When the people of
Israel shall be taken, I will command thy sides to be pierced with a
sword.

13:29. Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a
great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned
away.

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

13:31. Blessed art thou by thy God in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in
every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be
magnified on occasion of thee.



Judith Chapter 14


The Israelites assault the Assyrians, who finding their general slain,
are seized with a panic fear.

14:1. And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye
up this head upon our walls.

14:2. And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms,
and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault.

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

14:4. And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of
Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood,
fear shall fall upon them.

14:5. And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them
securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.

14:6. Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought,
leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised
the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with
all the succession of his kindred until this present day.

14:7. And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of
Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went
out with a great noise and shouting.

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

14:9. And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the
door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his
rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by
their noise.

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

14:11. But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs
of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the
chamberlains:

14:12. Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes,
have presumed to challenge us to fight.

14:13. Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and
made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping
with Judith.

14:14. But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying,
he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of
Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his
blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his
garments.

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

14:16. And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of
king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and
his head is not upon him.

14:17. Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this,
they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell
upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.

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



Judith Chapter 15


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

15:1. And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage
and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear
they thought only to save themselves by flight.

15:2. So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head,
leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews,
who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways
of the fields, and the paths of the hills.

15:3. So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after
them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after
them.

15:4. And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went
without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in
one body, defeated all that they could find.

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

15:6. And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men
armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword
until they came to the extremities of their confines.

15:7. And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the
Assyrians, and took away the spoils which the Assyrians in their flight
had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly,

15:8. But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them
all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their
cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the
least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.

15:9. And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with
all his ancients to see Judith.

15:10. And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one
voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of
Israel, thou art the honour of our people:

15:11. For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been
strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband
hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath
strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever.

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

15:13. And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel
to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.

15:14. But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods
of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments
and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were
delivered to her by the people.

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



Judith Chapter 16


The canticle of Judith: her virtuous life and death.

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

16:2. Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with
cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name.

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

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

16:5. The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the
multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and
their horses covered the valleys.

16:6. He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my
young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins
captives.

16:7. But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him
into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.

16:8. For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the
sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but
Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face.

16:9. For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the
garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel.

16:10. She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with
a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him.

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

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

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

16:14. The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have
killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before
the face of the Lord my God.

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

16:16. O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power, and
no one can overcome thee.

16:17. Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and
they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were
created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice.

16:18. The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the
waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face.

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

16:20. Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the
Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will
visit them.

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

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

16:23. And Judith offered for an anathema of oblivion all the arms of
Holofernes, which the people gave her, and the canopy that she had
taken away out of his chamber.

An anathema of oblivion. . .That is, a gift or offering made to God, by
way of an everlasting monument, to prevent the oblivion or forgetting
so great a benefit.

16:24. And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and
for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith.

16:25. And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith
was made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land
of Israel.

16:26. And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man
all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband.

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

16:28. And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years,
and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her
husband in Bethulia.

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

16:30. And all the time of her life there was none that troubled
Israel, nor many years after her death.

16:31. But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the
Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the
Jews from that time until this day.




THE BOOK OF ESTHER



This Book takes its name from queen Esther, whose history is here
recorded. The general opinion of almost all commentators on the Holy
Scriptures makes Mardochai the writer of it: which also may be
collected below from chap. 9 ver. 20.



Esther Chapter 1


King Assuerus maketh a great feast. Queen Vasthi being sent for
refuseth to come: for which disobedience she is deposed.

1:1. In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over a
hundred and twenty seven provinces:

1:2. When he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the
capital of his kingdom.

1:3. Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all
the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians,
and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his
sight,

1:4. That he might shew the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the
greatness, and boasting of his power, for a long time, to wit, for a
hundred and fourscore days.

1:5. And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the
people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least: and
commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden, and
of the wood, which was planted by the care and the hand of the king.

1:6. And there were hung up on every side sky coloured, and green, and
violet hangings, fastened with cords of silk, and of purple, which were
put into rings of ivory, and were held up with marble pillars. The beds
also were of gold and silver, placed in order upon a floor paved with
porphyry and white marble: which was embellished with painting of
wonderful variety.

1:7. And they that were invited, drank in golden cups, and the meats
were brought in divers vessels one after another. Wine also in
abundance and of the best was presented, as was worthy of a king's
magnificence.

1:8. Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not
willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of
his nobles, that every man might take what he would.

1:9. Also Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace,
where king Assuerus was used to dwell.

1:10. Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very
much drinking was well warmed with wine, he commanded Mauman, and
Bazatha, and Harbona, and Bagatha, and Abgatha, and Zethar, and
Charcas, the seven eunuchs that served in his presence,

1:11. To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon


 


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