afflictions of our enemies: and he will humble all The character of Judith: her discourse to the the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.

ancients. 21 And now, brethren, as you are the ancients NOW TOW it came to pass, when Judith a widow among the people of God, and their very soul had heard these words, who was the daugh-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.

16 And therefore let us humble our souls beer oratory; and putting on hair-cloth, laid ND when they were gone, Judith went into fore him; and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service,

Simeon the son of Ruben. In the Greek it is the son of Israel. For Simeon the patriarch, † Gavest him a sword, &c. The justice of God from whom Judith descended, was not the son, is here praised, in punishing by the sword of Simbut the brother of Ruben. It seems more proba-eon the crime of the Sichemites; and not the fact ble that the Simeon and the Ruben here mention- of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his ed are not the patriarchs; but two of the descend- father, Gen. xlix. 5. Though even with regard ants of the patriarch Simeon: and that the gene- to this fact, we may distinguish between his zeal alogy 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 i. 1. and that of king Saul, 1 Kings ix. 1.

5 For all thy ways are prepared, and in thy|| 8 But they asked her no question; only they providence thou hast placed thy judgments.

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.

6 Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a multitude of warriors. 7 But thou lookedst over their camp, and dark-voice: So be it, so be it. ness wearied them.

9 And they that were there said, all with one

10 But Judith praying to the Lord, passed

8 The deep held their feet, and the waters over-through the gates, she and her maid. whelmed them.

11 And it came to pass, when she went down 9 So may it be with these also, O Lord, who the hill, about break of day, that the watchmen trust in their multitude, and in their chariots, and of the Assyrians met her, and stopped her, sayin their pikes, and in their shields, and in their ar-ing: Whence comest thou? or whither goest rows, and glory in their spears, thou?

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

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, be11 Lift up thy arm as from the beginning, and cause they despised you, and would not of their crush their power with thy power: let their pow-own accord yield themselves, that they might er fall in their wrath, who promise themselves to find mercy in your sight. violate thy sanctuary, and defile the dwelling 13 For this reason I thought with myself, sayplace of thy name, and to beat down with their ing: I will go to the presence of the prince Ho sword the horn of thy altar. lofernes, that I may tell him their secrets, and show him by what way he may take them, without the loss of one man of his army.

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

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

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

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

woman.

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

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

16 And be assured of this, that when thou shalt stand before him, he will treat thee well, 16 For thy power, O Lord, is not in a multi-and thou wilt be most acceptable to his heart. tude, nor is thy pleasure in the strength of horses; And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, nor from the beginning have the proud been ac- telling him of her. ceptable to thee: but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath always pleased thee.

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

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

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

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

ND it came to pass, when she had ceased to

place wherein she lay prostrate before the Lord. 2 And she called her maid; and going down into her house, she took off her hair-cloth, and put away the garments of her widowhood.

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

17 And when she was come into his presence, forthwith Holofernes was caught by his eyes. 18 And his officers said to him: Who can despise the people of the Hebrews, who have such beautiful women, that we should not think it worth our while for their sakes to fight against them?

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

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

CHAP. XI.

Judith's speech to Holofernes. THEN Holofernes said to her: Be of good comfort, and fear not in thy heart: for I have never hurt a man that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor the king.

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

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

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

4 And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this dressing up did not proceed from 5 For as Nabuchodonosor the king of the sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the earth liveth, and his power liveth which is in thee Lord increased this her beauty, so that she ap-for chastising of all straying souls: not only men peared to all men's eyes incomparably lovely. serve him through thee, but also the beasts of the 5 And she gave to her maid a bottle of wine field obey him. to carry, and a vessel of oil, and parched corn, and dry figs, and bread and cheese; and went

out.

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

* Because I knew, &c. 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 scrip7 And when they saw her, they were astonish-ture: and even the saints in their good enterpried, and admired her beauty exceedingly. Ilses may sometimes slip into venial sins.

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

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

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

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

them.

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

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

12 And the consecrated things of the Lord their God which God forbid them to touch, in corn, wine, and oil, these have they purposed to make use of: and they design to consume the things which they ought not to touch with their hands: therefore because they do these things, it is certain they will be given up to destruction. 13 And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them; and the Lord hath sent me to tell thee these very things.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 And she went out in the nights into the valof water. ley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 And Judith said: I will drink, my lord; bedays. cause my life is magnified this day above all my

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

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

CHAP. XIII.

returneth to Bethulia.

20 And Holofernes said to her: God hath done Judith cutteth off the head of Holofernes, and well who sent thee before the people, that thou mightest give them into our hands:

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

CHAP. XII.

Judith goeth out in the night to pray: she is

vited to a banquet with Holofernes.

AND when it was grown late, his servants
made haste to their lodgings; and Vagao
shut the chamber-doors, and went his way.
2 And they were all overcharged with wine:
3 And Judith was alone in the chamber.
4 But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep,
being exceedingly drunk.

5 And Judith spoke to her maid, to stand within-out before the chamber, and to watch:

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

6 And Judith stood before the bed, praying with tears, and the 'motion of her lips in si

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

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

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

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 pur- 10 And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut posed. And his servants brought her into the off his head, and took off his canopy from the tent which he had commanded. pillars, and rolled away his headless body. 5 And when she was going in, she desired that 11 And after a while she went out, and delivershe might have liberty to go out at night and be-ed the head of Holofernes to her maid, and bade fore day, to prayer, and to beseech the Lord.

her put it into her wallet.

12 And they two went out according to their]|

CHAP. XIV.

custom, as if it were to prayer: and they passed The Israelites assault the Assyrians, who, findthe camp, and having compassed the valley, they ing their general slain, are seized with a panic came to the gate of the city. fear.

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

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

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

AND Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye up this head upon our

walls:

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

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

4 And when the captains of them shall run to 16 And lighting up lights they all gathered the tent of Holofernes, and shall find him withround about her: and she went up to a higher out his head wallowing in his blood, fear shall fall place, and commanded silence to be made. And upon them. when all had held their peace,

17 Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him. 18 And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his people by my hand this night.

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

6 Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought, leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the peo19 Then she brought forth the head of Holo-ple of Israel, with all the succession of his kinfernes out of the wallet, and showed it them, say-dred until this present day.

ing: Behold the head of Holofernes the general 7 And immediately at break of day, they hung of the army of the Assyrians; and behold his up the head of Holofernes upon the walls: and canopy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness, every man took his arms, and they went out with where the Lord our God slew him by the hand a great noise and shouting.

of a woman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlains: 12 Go in, and awake him; for the mice coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.

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

14 But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, 25 Because he hath so magnified thy name this and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holoferday, that thy praise shall not depart out of the nes, lying upon the ground, without the head, mouth of men, who shall be mindful of the pow-weltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud er of the Lord for ever; for that thou hast not voice, with weeping, and rent his garments. spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tri- 15 And he went into the tent of Judith, and bulation of thy people; but hast prevented our not finding her, he ran out to the people, ruin in the presence of our God.

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

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

17 Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this, they all rent their garments; and an intolerable fear and dread fell up28 And that thou mayst find that it is so, be-on them, and their minds were troubled exceedhold the head of Holofernes, who in the con-ingly.

tempt of his pride despised the God of Israel; 18 And there was a very great cry in the midst and threatened thee with death, saying: When of their camp. the people of Israel shall be taken, I will com

mand thy sides to be pierced with a sword.

CHAP. XV.

29 Then Achior seeing the head of Holofer- The Assyrians flee: the Hebrews pursue after nes, being seized with a great fear, he fell on his them, and are enriched by their spoils. ND when all the army heard that Holofer

face upon the earth, and his soul swooned Anes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled

away.

30 But after he had recovered his spirits he from them: and being seized with trembling and fell down at her feet, and reverenced her, and fear, they thought only to save themselves by flight:

.said:

31 Blessed art thou by thy God in every taber- 2 So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but nacle of Jacob, for in every nation which shall hanging down the head, leaving all things behear thy name, the God of Israel shall be mag- hind, they made haste to escape from the Henified on occasion of thee. brews, who, as they heard, were coming armed

upon them, and filed by the ways of the fields, tall giants oppose themselves to him: but Judith and the paths of the hills. the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face.

31 But the day of the festivity of this victory 6 He bragged that he would set my borders on is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy fire, and kill my young men with the sword, to days, and is religiously observed by the Jews make my infants a prey, and my virgins captives. from that time until this day. 7 But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.