1Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, 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 Salasadal, the son of Israel.
2And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest.
3For 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.
4So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
5And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow's apparel.
6And 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.
7She 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.
8And there was none that gave her an ill word; for she feared God greatly.
9Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the words that Ozias had spoken to them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days;
10Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the ancients of the city.
11And they came to her, and she said to them, Hear me now, O you° governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that you° have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath which you° made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.
12And now who are you° that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men?
13And now try the Lord Almighty, but you° shall never know any thing.
14For you° can’t find the depth of the heart of man, neither can you° perceive the things that he thinks: then how can you° search out God, that has made all these things, and know his mind, or comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger.
15For if he will not help us within these five days, he has power to defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies.
16Do 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.
17Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.
18For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these days neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as has been aforetime.
19For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.
20But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will not dispise us, nor any of our nation.
21For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation thereof at our mouth.
22And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offense and a reproach to all them that possess us.
23For our servitude shall not be directed to favor: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonor.
24Now therefore, O brethren, let us show an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us.
25Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which tries us, even as he did our fathers.
26Remember what 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.
27For he has not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither has he taken vengeance on us: but the Lord does scourge them that come near to him, to admonish them.
28Then said Ozias to her, All that you have spoken have you spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay your words.
29For this is not the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good.
30But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do to them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
31Therefore now pray you for us, because you are a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more.
32Then said Judith to them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation.
33You° shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waitingwoman: and within the days that you° have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by my hand.
34But enquire not you° of my act: for I will not declare it to you, till the things be finished that I do.
35Then said Ozias and the princes to her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before you, to take vengeance on our enemies.
36So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.
