1 And it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Iamnor, 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 Israel:
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:
2 and her husband was Manasses, who died in the days of barley harvest:
2 And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of the barley harvest:
3 for he was occupied with them that bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his city, and was buried there with his father.
3 For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and was buried there with his fathers.
4 And Judith was left his widow now three years & six months.
4 And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and six months.
5 And in the higher parts of her house she made herself a secret chamber, in which she abode shut up with her maids.
5 And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.
6 and having cloth of hair upon her loins, she fasted all the days of her life, but Sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the house of Israel.
6 And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the house of Israel.
7 And she was of an exceeding beautiful countenance, to whom her husband had left much riches, & a great family, and possessions full of herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep.
7 And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep.
8 And she was among all most famous, because she feared our Lord very much, neither was there that spake an ill word of her.
8 And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the Lord very much, neither was there anyone that spoke an ill word of her.
9 When she therefore had heard that Ozias had promised, that after the fifth day were past he would yield the city, she sent to the ancients Chabri & Charmi.
9 When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients Chabri and Charmi.
10 And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, wherein Ozias hath consented, to yield the city to the Assyrians, if within five days there come no aid to us?
10 And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if within five days there come no aid to us?
11 And what are you, that tempt our Lord?
11 And who are you that tempt the Lord?
12 This is no word that may provoke mercy, but rather that may raise up wrath, and inflame fury.
12 This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.
13 You have set a time for the mercy of our Lord, and according to your pleasure, you have appointed him a day.
13 You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.
14 But because our Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this same thing, and shedding tears let us desire his pardon:
14 But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:
15 for not as man, so will God threaten, neither as the son of man will he be inflamed to anger.
15 For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to anger like the son of man.
16 And therefore let us humble our souls to him, & being settled in an humble spirit, serving him:
16 And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service:
17 let us say weeping to our Lord, that according to his will so he do his mercy with us: that as our heart is troubled in their pride, so also we may glory in our humility:
17 Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he would show his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.
18 because we have not followed the sins of our fathers, which forsook their God, and adored strange gods,
18 For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.
19 for which abomination they were given into the sword, & into confusion to their enemies: but we know no other God but him.
19 For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but him.
20 Let us humbly expect his consolation, and he will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all Nations, what soever shall rise up against us, and the Lord our God will make them without honour.
20 Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.
21 And now brethren, because you are ancients in the people of God, and their souls depend of you: by your speech comfort their hearts, that they be mindful, that our fathers were tempted to be proved, whether they did worship their God truly.
21 And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.
22 They must be mindful how our father Abraham was tempted, and by many tribulations proved, was made the friend of God.
22 ¹They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.
23 So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moyses, and all that have pleased God, through many tribulations have passed faithful.
23 So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.
24 But they that did not receive the tentations with the fear of our Lord, and uttered their impatience and reproach of their murmuring against our Lord,
24 But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring against the Lord,
25 were destroyed of the destroyer, and perished by serpents.
25 ²Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents.
26 And we therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things, which we suffer,
26 As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things which we suffer.
27 but reputing these very punishments to be the scourges of our Lord less than our sins, wherewith as servants we are chastised, let us think them to have chanced to our amendment, and not to our destruction.
27 But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for our destruction.
28 And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou hast spoken be true, and there is no reprehension in thy words.
28 And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy words.
29 Now therefore pray for us, because thou art a holy woman, and fearing God.
29 Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one fearing God.
30 And Judith said to them: As you know, that which I could speak to be of God,
30 And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been able to say is of God:
31 so that which I have disposed to do, prove if it be of God, and pray that God establish my counsel.
31 So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and pray that God may strengthen my design.
32 You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with mine Abra: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days our Lord respect his people Israel.
32 You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord may look down upon his people Israel.
33 But I will not that you search my doing, and till I bring you word, let nothing else be done, but pray for me to our Lord God.
33 But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord our God.
34 And Ozias the Prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and our Lord be with thee to the revenge of our enemies. And returning they departed.
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.