World English Bible

1 And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the God of Israel, and had made an end of all these words,

2 that she rose up where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house, in the which she was wont to abide on the Sabbath days and on her feast days,

3 and pulled off the sackcloth which she had put on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with rich ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was wont to be clad in the days of the life of Manasses her husband.

4 And she took sandals for her feet, and put her chains about her, and her bracelets, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to decieve the eyes of all men that should see her.

5 And she gave her maid a leathern bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn and lumps of figs andfine bread; and she packed all her vessels together, and laid them upon her.

6 And they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing thereby Ozias, and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis.

7 But when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very exceedingly, and said to her,

8 The God of our fathers give you favor, and accomplish your purposes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. And she worshipped God,

9 and said to them, Command that they open to me the gate of the city, and I will go forth to accomplish the things whereof you⌃ spoke with me. And they commanded the young men to open to her, as she had spoken:

10 and they did so.

And Judith went out, she, and her handmaid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, until she had passed the valley, and they could see her no more.

11 And they went straight onward in the valley: and the watch of the Assyrians met her;

12 and they took her, and asked her, Of what people are you? and whence come you? and whither go you? And she said, I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I flee away from their presence; because they are about to be given you to be consumed:

13 and I am coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your host, to declare words of truth; and I will show before him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, and there shall not be lacking of his men one person, nor one life.

14 Now when the men heard her words, and considered her countenance, the beauty thereof was exceeding marvelous in their eyes, and they said to her,

15 You have saved your life, in that you have hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: and now come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct you, until they shall deliver you into his hands.

16 Butwhen you stand before him, be not afraid in your heart, but declare to him according to your words; and he shall entreat you well.

17 And they chose out of them a hundred men, and appointed them to accompany her and her maid; and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes.

18 And there was a concourse throughout all the camp, for her coming was noised among the tents; and they came and compassed her about, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, until they told him of her.

19 And they marveled at her beauty, and marveled at the children of Israel because of her, and each one said to his neighbor, Who shall despise this people, that have among them such women? for it is not good that one man of them be left, seeing that, if they are let go, they shall be able to deceive the whole earth.

20 And they that lay near Holofernes, and all his servants, went forth and brought her into the tent.

21 And Holofernes was resting upon his bed under the canopy, which was woven with purple and gold and emeralds and precious stones.

22 And they told him of her; and he came forth into the space before his tent, with silver lamps going before him.

23 But when Judith was come before him and his servants, they all marveled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence to him: and his servants raised her up.

1 And Holofernes said to her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in your heart: for I never hurt any that has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth.

2 And now, if your people that dwells in the hill country had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.

3 And now tell me wherefore you did flee from them, and came to us: for you are come to save yourself; be of good comfort, you shall live this night, and hereafter:

4 for there is none that shall wrong you, but all shall entreat you well, as is done to the servants of king Nebuchadnezzar my lord.

5 And Judith said to him,

Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.

6 And if you shall follow the words of your handmaid, God shall bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.

7 As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field and the cattle and the birds of the heaven shall live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house.

8 For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtil devices of your soul, and it has been reported in all the earth, that you only are brave in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

9 And now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in your council, we have heard his words: for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you.

10 Wherefore, O lord and master, neglect not his word; but lay it up in your heart, for it is true: for our race shall not be punished, neither shall the sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.

11 And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they shall provoke their God to anger, whenever they shall do wickedness.

12 Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to lay hands upon their cattle, and determined to consume all those things, which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat:

13 and they are resolved to spend the first fruits of the corn, and the tenths of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem; the which things it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.

14 And they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them a licence from the senate.

15 And it shall be, when one shall bring them word, and they shall do it, they shall be given you to be destroyed the same day.

16 Wherefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence; and God sent me to work things with you, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, even as many as shall hear it.

17 For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night: and now, my lord, I will abide with you, and your servant will go forth by night into the valley, and I will pray to God, and he shall tell me when they have committed their sins:

18 and I will come and show it also to you; and you shall go forth with all your host, and there shall be none of them that shall resist you.

19 And I will lead you through the midst of Judaea, until you come over against Jerusalem; and I will set your seat in the midst thereof; and you shall drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth before you: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.

20 And her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants; and they marveled at her wisdom, and said,

21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.

22 And Holofernes said to her, God did well to send you before the people, that might should be in our hands, and destruction among them that lightly regarded my lord.

23 And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and witty in your words: for if you shall do as you have spoken, your God shall be my God, and you shall dwell in the house of king Nebuchadnezzar, and shall be renowned through the whole earth.

1 And he commanded to bring her in where his silver vessels were set, and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.

2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an occasion of stumbling: but provision shall be made for me of the things that are come with me.

3 And Holofernes said to her, But if the things that be with you should fail, whence shall we be able to give you the like? for there is none of your race with us.

4 And Judith said to him, As your soul lives, my lord, your servant shall not spend those things that be with me, until the Lord work by my hand the things that he has determined.

5 And the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she rose up toward the morning watch,

6 and sent to Holofernes, saying, Let my lord now command that they suffer your servant to go forth to prayer.

7 And Holofernes commanded his guards that they should not stay her: and she abode in the camp three days, and went out every night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself at the fountain of water in the camp.

8 And when she came up, she implored the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of his people.

9 And she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she took her meat toward evening.

10 And it came to pass on the fourth day, Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

11 And he said to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with you, that she come to us, and eat and drink with us.

12 For, behold, it is a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not to us, she shall laugh us to scorn.

13 And Bagoas went from the presence of Holofernes, and came in to her, and said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honored in his presence, and to drink wine and be merry with us, and to be made this day as one of the daughters of the children of Asshur, which wait in the house of Nebuchadnezzar.

14 And Judith said to him, And who am I, that I should gainsay my lord? for whatever shall be pleasing in his eyes I will do speedily, and this shall be my joy to the day of my death.

15 And she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire; and her servant went and laid fleeces on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.

16 And Judith came in and sat down, and Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her, and his soul was moved, and he desired exceedingly her company: and he was watching for a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.

17 And Holofernes said to her, Drink now, and be merry with us.

18 And Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.

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

20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank exceeding much wine, more than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

1 But when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut the tent without, and dismissed them that waited from the presence of his lord; and they went away to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.

2 But Judith was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was overflown with wine.

3 And Judith had said to her servant that she should stand without her bedchamber, and wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayer; and she spoke to Bagoas according to the same words.

4 And all went away from her presence, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither small nor great. And Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look in this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.

5 For now is the time to help your inheritance, and to do the thing that I have purposed to the destruction of the enemies which are risen up against us.

6 And she came to the rail of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his scimitar from thence;

7 And she drew near to the bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.

8 And she struck twice upon his neck with all her might, and took away his head from him,

9 and tumbled his body down from the bed, and took down the canopy from the pillars; and after a little while she went forth, and gave Holofernes’ head to her maid;

10 and she put it in her bag of food: and they twain went forth together to prayer, according to their custom: and they passed through the camp, and compassed that valley, and went up to the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.

11 And Judith said afar off to the watchmen at the gates, Open, open now the gate: God is with us, even our God, to show his power yet in Israel, and his might against the enemy, as he has done even this day.

12 And it came to pass, when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called together the elders of the city.

13 And they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange to them that she was come: and they opened the gate, and received them, making a fire to give light, and compassed them round about.

14 And she said to them with a loud voice, Praise God, praise him: praise God, who has not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this night.

15 And she took forth the head out of the bag, and showed it, and said to them, Behold, the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the host of Asshur, and behold, the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord struck him by the hand of a woman.

16 And as the Lord lives, who preserved me in my way that I went, my countenance deceived him to his destruction, and he did not commit sin with me, to defile and shame me.

17 And all the people were exceedingly amazed, and bowed themselves, and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed are you, O our God, which have this day brought to nothing the enemies of your people.

18 And Ozias said to her, Blessed are you, daughter, in the sight of the Most High God, above all the women upon the earth; and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who directed you to the striking of the head of the prince of our enemies.

19 For your hope shall not depart from the heart of men that remember the strength of God for ever.

20 And God turn these things to you for a perpetual praise, to visit you with good things, because you did not spare your life by reason of the affliction of our race, but did avenge our fall, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it.

1 And Judith said to them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the battlement of your wall.

2 And it shall be, so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, you⌃ shall take up every one his weapons of war, and go forth every valiant man of you out of the city, and you⌃ shall set a captain over them, as though you⌃ would go down to the plain toward the watch of the children of Asshur; and you⌃ shall not go down.

3 And these shall take up their panoplies, and shall go into their camp, and rouse up the captains of the host of Asshur, and they shall run together to the tent of Holofernes, and they shall not find him: and fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.

4 And you⌃, and all that inhabit every coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

5 But before you⌃ do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us, as it were to death.

6 And they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; but when he came, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man’s hand in the assembly of the people, he fell upon his face, and his spirit failed.

7 But whenthey had recovered him, he fell at Judith’s feet, and did reverence to her, and said, Blessed are you in every tent of Judah, and in every nation, which hearing your name shall be troubled.

8 And now tell me all the things that you have done in these days. And Judith declared to him in the midst of the people all the things that she had done, from the day that she went forth until the time that she spoke to them.

9 But when she left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

10 But when Achior saw all the things that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God exceedingly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the house of Israel, to this day.

11 But as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took up his weapons, and they went forth by bands to the ascents of the mountain.

12 But when the children of Asshur saw them, they sent hither and there to their leaders; but they went to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers.

13 And they came to Holofernes’ tent, and said to him that was over all that he had, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed.

14 And Bagoas went in, and knocked at the outer door of the tent; for he supposed that he was sleeping with Judith.

15 But when none hearkened to him, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the threshold dead, and his head had been taken from him.

16 And he cried with a loud voice, with weeping and groaning and a mighty cry, and tore his garments.

17 And he entered into the tent where Judith lodged: and he found her not, and he leaped out to the people, and cried aloud,

18 The slaves have dealt treacherously: one woman of the Hebrews has brought shame upon the house of king Nebuchadnezzar; for, behold, Holofernesliesupon the ground, and his head is not on him.

19 But when the rulers of the host of Asshur heard the words, they tore their coats, and their soul was troubled exceedingly, and there was a cry and an exceeding great noise in the midst of the camp.

1 And when they that were in the tents heard, they were amazed at the thing that was come to pass.

2 And trembling and fear fell upon them, and no man dared abide any more in the sight of his neighbor, but rushing out with one accord, they fled into every way of the plain and of the hill country.

3 And they that had encamped in the hill country round about Bethulia fled away. And then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.

4 And Ozias sent to Betomasthaim, and Bebai, and Chobai, and Chola, and to every coast of Israel, such as should tell concerning the things that had been accomplished, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them.

5 But wnen the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and struck them to Chobai: yes, and in like manner also they of Jerusalem and of all the hill country came (for men had told them what things were come to pass in the camp of their enemies), and they that were in Gilead and in Galilee fell upon their flank with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof.

6 But the residue, that lived at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Asshur, and spoiled them, and were enriched exceedingly.

7 But the children of Israel returned from the slaughter, and got possession of that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that were in the hill country and in the plain country, took many spoils: for there was an exceeding great store.

8 And Joakim the high priest, and the senate of the children of Israel that lived in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things which the Lord had showed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her.

9 But when they came to her, they all blessed her with one accord, and said to her, You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great rejoicing of our race:

10 you have done all these things by your hand: you have done with Israel the things that are good, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be you with the Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said, So be it.

11 And the people spoiled the camp for the space of thirty days: and they gave to Judith Holofernes’ tent, and all his silver cups, and his beds, and his vessels, and all his furniture: and she took them, and placed them on her mule, and made ready her wagons, and heaped them thereon.

12 And all the women of Israel ran together to see her; and they blessed her, and made a dance among them for her; and she tookbranches in her hand, and gave to the women that were with her.

13 And they made themselves garlands of olive, she and they that were with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armor with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.

1 And Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise.

2 And Judith said,

Begin to my God with timbrels,

Sing to my Lord with cymbals:

Tune to him psalm and praise:

Exalt him, and call upon his name.

3 For the Lord is the God that breaks the battles:

For in his armies in the midst of the people

He delivered me out of the hand of them that persecuted me.

4 Asshur came out of the mountains from the north,

He came with ten thousands of his host,

The multitude whereof stopped the torrents,

And their horsemen covered the hills.

5 He said that he would burn up my borders,

And kill my young men with the sword,

And throw my sucking children to the ground,

And give mine infants for a prey,

And make my virgins a spoil.

6 The Almighty Lord brought them to nothing by the hand of a woman.

7 For their mighty one did not fall by young men,

Neither did sons of the Titans strike him.

Nor did high giants set upon him:

But Judith the daughter of Merari made him weak with the beauty of her countenance.

8 For she put off the apparel of her widowhood

For the exaltation of those that were distressed in Israel,

She anointed her face with ointment,

And bound her hair in a tire,

And took a linen garment to deceive him.

9 Her sandal ravished his eye,

And her beauty took his soul prisoner:

The scimitar passed through his neck.

10 The Persians quaked at her daring,

And the Medes were daunted at her boldness.

11 Then my lowly ones shouted aloud,

And my weak ones were terrified and crouched for fear:

They lifted up their voice, and they were turned to flight.

12 The sons of damsels pierced them through,

And wounded them as runagates’ children;

They perished by the battle of my Lord.

13 I will sing to my God a new song:

O Lord, you are great and glorious,

Marvelous in strength, invincible.

14 Let all your creation serve you:

For you spoke, and they were made,

You did send forth your spirit, and it builded them,

And there is none that shall resist your voice.

15 For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters,

And the rocks shall melt as wax at your presence:

But you are yet merciful to them that fear you.

16 For all sacrifice is little for a sweet savor,

And all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to you:

But he that fears the Lord is great continually.

17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my race:

The Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgement,

To put fire and worms in their flesh;

And they shall weep and feel their pain for ever.

18 Now when they came to Jerusalem, they worshipped God; and when the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings, and their free will offerings, and their gifts.

19 And Judith dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken for herself out of his bedchamber, for a gift to the Lord.

20 And the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for the space of three months, and Judith remained with them.

21 But after these days every one departed to his own inheritance, and Judith went away to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was honorable in her time in all the land.

22 And many desired her, and no man knew her all the days of her life, from the day that Manasses her husband died and was gathered to his people.

23 And she increased in greatness exceedingly; and she waxed old in her husband’s house, to a hundred and five years, and let her maid go free: and she died in Bethulia; and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses.

24 And the house of Israel mourned for her seven days: and she distributed her goods before she died to all them that were nearest of kin to Manasses her husband, and to them that were nearest of her own kindred.

25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.