the people of Holofernes, and to all his army. For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die. We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and Lord of our fathers, Which punisheth us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that He do not according as we have said this day. Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and

OCTOBER 8.

they cried unto the Lord God with a loud voice. Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may turn His mercy toward us; for He will not forsake us utterly. And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word. And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children inte their houses and they were very low brought in the city.

NOW at that time Judith heard

thereof, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of Salasadai, the son of Israel. And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest. For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo. So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months. And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins, and ware her widow's apparel. And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons, and the feasts and solemn days of the house of Israel. She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them. And there was

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none that gave her an ill word; far she feared God greatly. Now when she heard the evil words of the peo ple against the governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Je dith had heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five days; then she sent her waise woman, that had the government all things that she had, to call and Chabris and Charmis, the ar cients of the city.

And they came unto her, and se said unto them, Hear me now, governors of the inhabitants of be thulia: for your words that ye have spoken before the people this day a not right, touching this oath wh ye made and pronounced betw-1 God and you, and have promised deliver the city to our enemies, t less within these days the Lord 177 to help you. And now who are that have tempted God this day, stand instead of God among the chi dren of men? And now try the Lo Almighty, but ye shall never kro any thing. For ye cannot find it depth of the heart of man, neit can ye perceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye seardh out God, That hath made all these things, and know His mind, or co prehend His purpose? Nay, my bre

thren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger. For if He will not help us within these five days, He hath power to defend us when He will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies. Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man, that He may be threatened; neither is He as the son of man, that He should be wavering. Therefore let us wait for salvation f Him, and call upon Him to help is, and He will hear our voice, if it please Him. For there arose none our age, neither is there any now these days, neither tribe, nor faaily, nor people, nor city, among which worship gods made with ands, as hath been aforetime. For he which cause our fathers were ven to the sword, and for a spoil, nd had a great fall before our eneies. But we know none other god, herefore we trust that He will not lespise us, nor any of our nation. For if we be taken so, all Judea ball lie waste, and our sanctuary hall be spoiled; and He will require he profanation thereof at our mouth. And the slaughter of our brethren, nd the captivity of the country, and he desolation of our inheritance, will le turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in ondage; and we shall be an offence nd a reproach to all them that posessus. For our servitude shall not e directed to favour: but the Lord r God shall turn it to dishonour. Now therefore, O brethren, let us hew an example to our brethren, jecause their hearts depend upon us, nd the sanctuary, and the house, ind the altar, rest upon us. Morever let us give thanks to the Lord ar God, Which trieth us, even as He did our fathers. Remember what

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things He did to Abraham, and how He tried Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. For He hath not tried us in the fire, as He did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither hath He taken vengeance on us: but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto Him, to admonish them.

Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words. For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine heart is good. But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which

we will not break. Therefore now

pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and

we shall faint no more. Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation. Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waitingwoman and within the days that ye have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand. But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do. Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies. So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.

THEN Judith fell upon her face, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time that the incense of that even

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ing was offered in Jerusalem in the

a loud voice, and said, O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom Thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of

the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for Thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did so: wherefore Thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones; and hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among Thy dear children; which were moved with Thy zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon Thee for aid: O God, O my God, hear me also a widow. For Thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; Thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come. Yea, what things Thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said, Lo, we are here: for all Thy ways are prepared, and Thy judgments are in Thy foreknowledge.

For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength of their footmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that Thou art the Lord That breakest the battles: the Lord is Thy name. Throw down their strength in Thy

OW after that she had ceased

and had made an end of all these words, she rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house, in the which she abode in the sabbath days, and in her feast days, and pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a

power, and bring down their force in Thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile Thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where Thy glorious name resteth, and to cast down with sword the horn of Thy altar. Behold their pride, and send Thy wrath upon their heads: gave into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have conceived. Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman. For Thy power standeth not in multitude, nor Thy might in strong men: for Thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak. a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope. 1 pray Thee, I pray Thee, O God of my father, and God of the inbent ance of Israel, Lord of the heaven and earth, Creator of the waters. King of every creature, hear The my prayer: and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed cruel things gainst Thy covenant, and Thy ha lowed house, and against the top of Sion, and against the house of the possession of Thy children. And make every nation and tribe to se knowledge that Thou art the G of all power and might, and thi there is none other that protecth the people of Israel but Thou.

tire upon it, and put on her ca

was clad during the life of Mara her husband. And she took sand. upon her feet, and put about her bracelets, and her chains, her rings, and her earrings, and her ornaments, and decked her bravely, to allure the eyes of all m that should see her. Then she gat her maid a bottle of wine, and cruse of oil, and filled a bag wit parched corn, and lumps of figs, with fine bread; so she folded

come unto us for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter: for none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.

Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night. And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes. As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house. For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war. Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee. Therefore, O lord and governor, reject not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true for our nation shall not be punished, neither can the sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God. And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done: for their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by His laws: and are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the corn,

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and the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands. For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate. Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given thee to be destroyed the same day. Wherefore 1 thine handmaid, knowing all thie am fled from their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall bear it. For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I w remain with thee, and thy servan will go out by night into the valley. and I will pray unto God, and H will tell me when they have committed their sins: and I will come an shew it unto thee: then thou sha go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that sta resist thee. And I will lead the through the midst of Judea, unt.. thou come before Jerusalem; a I will set thy throne in the mids thereof; and thou shalt drive the as sheep that have no shepherd, a a dog shall not so much as o his mouth at thee: for these think were told me according to my dete knowledge, and they were de ed unto me, and I am sent to kthee.

Then her words pleased Holofer nes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and sa There is not such a woman from end of the earth to the other, th for beauty of face, and wisdom words. Likewise Holofernes sa unto her, God hath done well to st thee before the people, that strend might be in our hands, and destra tion upon them that lightly regar my lord. And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, a