translated by A. E. Cowley, in R. H. Charles's Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament (1913)

Judith is a beautiful, wealthy, devout widow of the mountain town of Bethulia, besieged and starved by the vast army of Nebuchadnezzar's general Holofernes. When the town's elders despair and resolve to surrender, Judith rebukes them, dresses in her finest clothes, and walks alone into the enemy camp, where her beauty and her flattering half-truths win her the general's trust — and, on the fourth night, admission to his tent while he lies helpless with wine. She beheads him with his own sword, carries the head home in a food-bag, and the leaderless Assyrian army routs in panic before the counterattacking Israelites. The story wears the trappings of history — named kings, precise troop counts, exact dates — but its geography and chronology do not correspond to any real campaign; the anachronism is deliberate, a frame for a didactic tale of faith and deliverance rather than a chronicle. It has been prized for two thousand years above all for its portrait of a woman's courage, cunning, and uncompromising piety, standing in the company of Deborah, Jael, and Esther.

Introductory Note (1913, A. E. Cowley)

Short Account of the Book

The Book of Judith falls naturally into two parts. The first is the Introduction (chapters 1–7). War was proclaimed by Nebuchadnezzar against Media, and a summons was sent to Persia, Syria, and Egypt to join in the expedition. The remoter parts of the Empire, however, treated the order with contempt (i. 11), whereupon Nebuchadnezzar determined, after conquering Media (i. 13, 15), to take vengeance on Syria and Egypt. This task was entrusted to Holofernes, the commander-in-chief (ii. 4), with 120,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry, mounted archers (ii. 15). He marched three days' journey from Nineveh and encamped "at the left hand of upper Cilicia," thence devastated "the hill country," crossed the upper Euphrates as far as the coast, then turned south, "compassing" the Midianites, to the plain of Damascus (ii. 27). After receiving the submission of Tyre and Sidon, Azotus and Ascalon, he went south to Esdraelon (iii. 9). The Jews, who were lately returned from the exile (iv. 3), resolved to resist, and Joakim the High Priest at Jerusalem sent instructions to Bethulia, which was near Esdraelon, to stop the passes leading to the capital (iv. 7). All Israel then fasted and prayed (iv. 9). Holofernes, hearing of the intended opposition, called a council of officers, when Achior the Ammonite gave a long account of Israelitish history (v. 5), pointing out that they could only be conquered if they had offended against their God (v. 20) and advising Holofernes to leave them alone. The advice was rejected, and Achior was handed over to the people of Bethulia (vi. 10), who received him in a friendly manner (vi. 20). Holofernes then moved his camp towards Bethulia, his army being now 170,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry, besides accessories (vii. 2). It was decided to get possession of the water-supply at the foot of the mountain (vii. 7, 12) on which Bethulia stood, and thus to force the city to surrender, instead of risking a pitched battle. After thirty-four days, the stores of water within the city being exhausted (vii. 21), the people compelled Ozias and the leading men to agree to surrender in five days if no help came in the meantime (vii. 30).

The second part is the story of Judith (chapters 8–16). This decision came to the ears of Judith (viii. 1, 9), the widow of Manasses, who lived in austere retirement (viii. 5, 6). She sent for the chief men (viii. 10), expostulated with them on their want of trust in God, and promised that she would herself effect their deliverance within the five days (viii. 33). They agreed to her project, without hearing the details, and departed (viii. 36). Judith then prepared for her plan by prayer (ix. 2). She put on her adornments, which had been laid aside since her husband's death (x. 3), took with her a single maidservant with a bag of "clean" food (x. 5), and went towards the Assyrian camp (x. 11). In an audience with Holofernes she informed him that what Achior had said was true (xi. 10), but that now the people had sinned by using first-fruits and tithes (xi. 13), and therefore God would deliver them up to their enemies (xi. 15). She would herself advise him when this was to take place (xi. 17). Holofernes, attracted by her appearance, invited her to his table (xii. 1), but she refused. She was allowed to go out of the camp every day to pray and bathe (xii. 6, 7). On the fourth day she consented to go to Holofernes' feast (xii. 10, 14), but partook only of her own provisions (xii. 19). The critical moment arrived when the guests departed (xiii. 1), leaving Judith alone with Holofernes. His excitement had caused him to drink immoderately, and he now lay on his couch helpless (xiii. 2). Judith, calling on God for strength (xiii. 4), took his sword and with two blows cut off his head (xiii. 8), which she put in the bag (xiii. 10) carried by the servant who was waiting outside. The two went out of the camp as if to pray, as usual, and escaped to Bethulia (xiii. 10). They were received with enthusiasm by the citizens (xiii. 17), and Achior became a convert to Judaism (xiv. 10). A sortie was made (xiv. 11), and the Assyrians, thus surprised, tried to rouse their general (xiv. 13), but found him dead (xiv. 15). They fled in a panic (xv. 2), pursued northward past Damascus (xv. 5), while their deserted camp was sacked (xv. 6, 7). The High Priest Joakim came in person from Jerusalem to bless Judith (xv. 8).

Chapter 16 contains a hymn of praise by Judith. The book ends by relating that Judith dedicated to God her share of the plunder (xvi. 19), that she remained a widow till her death at the age of 105 years (xvi. 23), and that the land was at peace all her lifetime and for long after.

The book is thus almost equally divided between the introduction and the story proper. The former is no doubt somewhat out of proportion, and the author dwells at rather unnecessary length on the military details. In spite, however, of these defects of composition, the literary excellence of the work is universally recognized even through the uncomely disguise of the Greek translation. It was originally written in Hebrew, now lost, for Jewish readers, with the object of encouraging and edifying the people in a time of trial or persecution. In order to carry conviction the more, it aims at the appearance of being historical, in its use of well-known names and of precise details, but this historical character is only apparent. The author is concerned with theology rather than with history, of which perhaps he had a not very exact knowledge, although he adopted this form as the most suitable for his purpose. He seems to have had in mind the time of Artaxerxes Ochus, with whose campaign in Syria many of the incidents agree, but it would be unsafe to assume that he is consciously depicting an episode in that campaign. The name and date of the author are alike unknown. He must have written at a time of oppression, such as the Jewish race often suffered, and various indications point to the second century B.C. as the most probable date. It is, however, possible that the author adopted an existing story or popular tradition, purposely confusing his historical allusions in order to disguise it.

The Title of the Book

The title of the book in Greek is simply Ioudeith (or Ioudēth, or Ioudith). In Hebrew it would have been Yehudith, like the corresponding feminine forms of other names, derived from the name of the principal character. The name, of course, simply means "Jewess," and hence Grotius, explaining the story allegorically, makes it represent the Jewish people. But apart from the fact that this method of interpretation is forced and unconvincing, there is no need to suppose that the name suggested this meaning. It is used personally in Genesis xxvi. 34 as belonging to the Hittite wife of Esau, where at any rate it cannot mean "Jewess."

Manuscripts

The Hebrew original being lost, the earliest form in which we have the book is that of the Greek translation, the sole primary version existing. Of this there are three recensions: the usual and no doubt the most original form, represented by the uncials Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Vaticanus in Swete's text; that contained in a small group of cursives; and that of another cursive, with which the Old Latin version and the Syriac agree in a remarkable manner. All three recensions, however, represent the same version and go back to the same original. Their differences are due to corrections made not on a fresh comparison with the Hebrew, but subjectively by editors of the version, and though considerable, they concern the form rather than the matter. Such corrections are most evident in the second and third classes of manuscripts, and vary even within the same class.

The Ancient Versions

The Greek version, at least as contained in the chief uncials, is as a rule easily intelligible and probably a correct rendering of the original, but it is very hebraistic. From it were made the Syriac and the Old Latin, both of them fairly close and agreeing in general with the third recension. The Old Latin is rough, often merely latinized hebraistic Greek, and sometimes misunderstands the Greek which it translates. Its manuscripts have been much corrected, perhaps from different Greek manuscripts, so that they vary considerably in minor details, though all derived from one text.

The Syriac version was first printed in Walton's Polyglot. It was derived from two late manuscripts, now in the Bodleian Library, one dated 1614 and belonging to Pococke, the other copied for Ussher in 1627. With these a Cambridge manuscript was collated and the variants given, by Thorndyke, in the Polyglot. The version has since been edited by Lagarde, from a tenth-century manuscript in the British Museum, with a full critical apparatus. The Museum possesses two other manuscripts, of the twelfth and seventeenth centuries respectively.

A third version, the Vulgate, is of less value for textual purposes. Jerome's own account of it, in his preface, is not altogether clear. He says that he found great variations in the manuscripts, which he calls "a most corrupt diversity," and implies that he endeavoured to produce a consistent text by embodying in his work only what he found in "the Chaldee." The questions which naturally present themselves are, what were these divergent manuscripts, and what was the "Chaldee" text? The manuscripts cannot have been Greek, because the Vulgate differs from that version in important particulars: for instance, xiv. 5–7 comes at the end of chapter xiii; i. 12–16 and iv. 3 are omitted; iv. 13–15 is altered; additions are made after xiv. 12 and elsewhere; names and numbers often differ. In fact, if compared with the Greek, the Vulgate presents the appearance of a paraphrastic recension. On the other hand, apart from these material differences, it often follows the Old Latin closely even in diction, and the resemblance throughout is sufficient to show that Jerome used manuscripts of the Old Latin, which he merely adapted and corrected, as he considered, by the help of his "Chaldee" text. It is evident from his own remarks, that he "gave one night's hasty work to it, rendering sense for sense rather than word for word," that he spent very little time or trouble on it, and for this reason its style is less like Jerome's than the rest of the Vulgate.

As to the "Chaldee" text, we have no other evidence. It will be remembered that he speaks in the same way of a Chaldee text of Tobit, and that an Aramaic recension of that book was actually found and published by Neubauer in 1878. No such text of Judith is now known, but as Jerome's statement is explicit with regard to both books, we have to inquire what the text was. Probably the answer is to be found in a sentence in the preface to Judith, that though written in the Chaldee tongue it was reckoned "among the histories." If this represents the Hebrew word for such a legendary narrative, he means that the story of Judith was regarded as the kind of tale we find embodied in midrashim, or even composed separately for use on special occasions. Later forms of the story, in Hebrew, were composed and so used, and in one midrashic manuscript the story of Tobit is likewise called, as a matter of course, such a tale. We may therefore conclude that Jerome, finding no Hebrew text of the book, used an Aramaic narrative containing a free treatment, not a translation, of the story, derived probably from the Greek. He evidently attached more importance to it than to the Old Latin, since he included in his own work only what he found in the Chaldee, but in language he was naturally influenced by the Old Latin where the two coincide. Thus the Vulgate of Judith is a hurried version of an Aramaic midrash containing a free presentation of the story, rather than a translation of any given text. It omits about one-fifth of the book.

Date of the Original, and of the Versions

The existing versions thus all go back, through the existing Greek, to the same original, their differences being due to alterations within the versions. It is now generally agreed, against earlier scholars such as Fabricius, Jahn, and Eichhorn, that this original was Semitic, and Hebrew rather than Aramaic. Indeed there can be no possibility of doubt if we consider the style of the Greek and the nature of some of the mistakes in it. The language is not merely that popular Greek which we now know from papyri of the early centuries A.D. to have been identical with the koinē diálektos of the New Testament, even when independent of any Semitic idiom. The translation is so literal that it can be put back into Hebrew with ease, and in some cases becomes fully intelligible only when so re-translated. Moreover, the unusual lack of particles shows that the writer was under the influence of a foreign idiom, while the constant recurrence of phrases uncommon in late Greek but frequent in Hebrew shows incontestably the language of the original. The same conclusion is indicated by the confusion in the geographical names, due to uncertainty in the mind of the translator as well as to mistakes of copyists, so far as it is not intentional on the part of the author.

Against this comparative certainty we have the express statement of Origen, that the Jews did not use the Book of Judith nor possess it in Hebrew even among the apocryphal books, as he had learned from them directly; as well as the fact that Jerome did not use a Hebrew text, which he certainly would have done if he had found one. It is possible that in the statement which Origen received from his Jewish informants, stress should be laid on their not using it rather than not having it, and that it had fallen out of use and was not even included among the apocryphal books at the beginning of the third century. This must have been only temporary, since in 398 Jerome says that among the Hebrews the Book of Judith is read among the apocrypha. Jerome's preface is all rather obscure, and it may be that he really means here to indicate a Hebrew text which he knew to exist but did not possess. In the very next sentence he speaks of the Chaldee, which is "reckoned among the histories," a degree lower than apocrypha, and seems to draw a distinction between them. No trace of the Hebrew original now survives.

The story is represented as taking place just after the return from the exile (iv. 3). The author does not, however, represent himself, as for instance Daniel does, as contemporary with the events recorded. In fact, he must have written much later. The return is far enough away to have become a sort of golden age, a time of simple happiness granted by God in consequence of the piety of the people. In this, as in its details, the description is wholly at variance with history, either because the author did not know the facts, or because he was intentionally disguising them. He cannot have written as late as the first century A.D., for the book is quoted by Clement of Rome. Moreover, there is no allusion to the final destruction of the temple, nor even to the Roman occupation of Palestine. Jewish tradition connects the story with the time of the Maccabees, making Judith the daughter of Johanan or Mattathias, and this date agrees on the whole best with the author's point of view. We must, however, be careful to distinguish between the date of composition and the real or supposed date of the events related. The author evidently puts back into his post-exilic story the state of things under which he himself lived. There was no king, but the whole people is united under the High Priest, Joakim, governing with the senate or Sanhedrim. The object of the book, too, is clearly to encourage the nation to resist the enemies of their religion even under the most desperate circumstances, and presupposes a time of great political or religious emergency. These several points, as well as the definitely Pharisaic theology, most naturally indicate an author living towards the middle of the second century B.C. Such is the view of Schürer, Hilgenfeld, and Nöldeke. Ball proposes a date about 79–70 B.C., and argues with great ingenuity that Judith is modelled on Salome, successively wife of Aristobulus and Jannai, but this seems less probable than the earlier date.

The fact that the book is not mentioned by Josephus or Philo or in the New Testament proves nothing. Josephus does not refer to Job, besides other books, and Philo does not notice any of the Apocrypha.

The versions can only be approximately dated. The earliest reference to the book, and no doubt to the Greek version of it, is by Clement of Rome, about 90 A.D. He alludes to the story as if it were well known to his Greek readers, very much in the same way as he goes on to speak of Esther. Allowing some time for the original book to become established before it was translated, and some time for the translation to become known, we should probably date the Greek not later than the beginning of the first century A.D.

The Old Latin was made from the Greek, and as in Jerome's time it was already very corrupt, it must have been a long time in existence. The Syriac, which agrees closely with it, was possibly made about the same time from the same Greek text, for the use of oriental Christians. Fritzsche surmises vaguely that both were made between the first and third centuries A.D., and we have no means of dating them more precisely.

Integrity of the Text; Its Historical Framework

It has been suggested that the story is founded on a popular tradition, true or imaginary. Reuss thought that the song in chapter 16 was an early composition, like the song of Deborah, and that the story was built upon it. It is certainly remarkable that in xvi. 10 Persians and Medes, not Assyrians, are mentioned. There can be no doubt that Judith belongs to the family of Jael, Esther, and Joan of Arc. Such a theme appeals strongly to popular imagination, and even if based on fact, easily tends to be overlaid with fiction. Whatever may be the truth, the work, as we have it, is a consistent whole, and, with the possible exception of the song, shows no signs of being by more than one hand.

What then is the period which the author is proposing to describe, and how far is it in agreement with history? The question has been very variously answered. Attempts have been made to identify the Nebuchadnezzar of the story with Assurbanipal, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes Ochus, or Antiochus Epiphanes, and Arphaxad with Deioces or Phraortes. Without discussing these theories in detail, it may be said at once that none of them is consistent without a good deal of forcing. The historical Nebuchadnezzar did not reign at Nineveh: he died in 562, and the return from the exile was not till about 536. He did not make war on Media nor capture Ecbatana. Nor do the annals of Assurbanipal, though they are very full, record anything of the kind, while Media had ceased to be a power before the time of the other kings whom it has been proposed to identify with Nebuchadnezzar. At the time of the Return, the Babylonian empire had passed to the Persians. They were not likely to send a punitive expedition against the Jews, who were not then in a position to offer any resistance. Moreover, Arphaxad is not the name of any Median king mentioned by Herodotus, and the fortifications of Ecbatana were not built by him but by Deioces. Holofernes, that is Orophernes, and Bagoas, if they are historical names, are Persian, and belong to the time of Artaxerxes Ochus. Again, there was no king in Israel, but the people was ruled by the High Priest Joakim and a Sanhedrim. It has been suggested that this points to the reign of Manasseh when he was a prisoner in Babylon, or to the minority of Josiah. Either explanation is improbable. If a High Priest was acting for the king, so unusual a situation would have to be explained, whereas it is taken for granted, and also it is inconsistent with the references to the exile. The suggestion that Joakim, Eliachim in the Vulgate, is the same as the Eliakim of 2 Kings xviii. 18, and that he may have survived as High Priest under Manasseh, is not supported by the list of High Priests. In fact the author clearly intends to put his story at the time of the Return, but makes no attempt to fill in the picture consistently. If it is to be made consistent, this can only be done by explaining the names as pseudonyms disguising really historical persons. This is the view taken by Ball, and it must be admitted that he finds some remarkable coincidences, on the assumption that Nebuchadnezzar is Antiochus Epiphanes, the Assyrians are Syrians, Nineveh is Antioch, and Arphaxad is Arsaces of Persia, against whom Antiochus made an expedition. But if the book is historical fiction, as it seems to be, we need not expect to explain all its statements. The writer selected such incidents as suited his purpose, without troubling about historical accuracy. The framework of the story was most probably suggested, so Schürer and others hold, by the campaign of Artaxerxes Ochus against Phoenicia and Egypt, about 350 B.C. One of his generals was Holofernes, brother of the king of Cappadocia, who was sent against Egypt, though it is expressly stated that he died in his own country, and a certain Bagoas was his most trusted servant. Sidon surrendered to the Persians, and the army then marched south towards Egypt, passing, no doubt, through Esdraelon. If any incident occurred in the campaign similar to that related here, we have no other record of it. The details are not meant to be historical. Nebuchadnezzar is introduced as the typical arch-enemy of Judaea: the time of the Return is chosen as being far away and little known, and the author is guilty of a further anachronism by describing his characters under the conditions of his own day. In the song, if that is by the author of the rest, the mention of Persians seems to show that he was really thinking of the campaign of Artaxerxes Ochus. He also affects archaic names and allusions: hence with Nebuchadnezzar's army he includes princes of Moab and captains of Ammon, the traditional enemies of Israel, who were in place, for instance, in 2 Kings xxiv. 2, but can surely not have been important in 150 or even 350 B.C. Similarly Midian and Esau are archaistic for Arabs and Idumaeans.

Such being the method of the book, we need not expect to identify all the geographical any more than the personal names. Bethulia, the scene of the story, is very like Shechem, and if the author was thinking of Shechem, that may account for his using this particular name, since the Samaritans call Mount Gerizim by a similar term. It also fits the story, as a place of first-rate strategic importance, far better than Safed or Bait Ilfa, which have also been proposed. With regard to the other place-names, there is evidently a good deal of corruption either in the original or in the versions, or both. Many of them are too much distorted to be recognizable, but they may conceal actual sites, known or unknown. They can hardly be purely imaginary. Torrey shows that, taking Bethulia to be Shechem, the other places agree, so far as they can be identified.

The Author of the Book

As to the anonymous author there is no tradition. From his writing in Hebrew and from his detailed references to the geography of the Holy Land, it may be inferred that he was a Palestinian Jew. From his theological views it seems that he belonged to the Pharisaic party. He was a man of some literary skill. The story is well told, and apart from a certain tendency to exaggerate the magnitude of the military operations, the style is restrained and straightforward, without unnecessary elaboration. He was also well acquainted with the literature of his people, for, while his descriptions have vigour and originality, the book is full of reminiscences of the Old Testament — the story of Achior in chapters 5 and 6 recalls that of Micaiah in 1 Kings 22; viii. 3 recalls 2 Kings iv. 18f.; viii. 16 is a quotation from Numbers xxiii. 19; ix. 7 and xvi. 3 are drawn from Exodus xv. 3; xiii. 18 from Genesis xiv. 19, 20. The fact that the quotations agree with the Septuagint rather than with the Hebrew text may be merely due to the translator. The author apparently knew some of the latest of the Old Testament books, Esther and Daniel, and in v. 6–8 draws upon some midrashic source for the story of Abraham.

Later Use of the Book

Although the Book of Judith was not received by the Jews, the story was well known to them, at least in the middle ages. It is mentioned in the liturgy for Hanukka, the feast of the Dedication of the temple instituted by Judas Maccabaeus, and appears in various Hebrew forms among the minor midrashim. A short recension of it, a longer text, and another are all preserved in printed collections of midrashim. Three more forms of the story are found in manuscripts of the Bodleian Library. None of these is in any sense a translation of the Greek, still less the original form of the book. They are free sketches of a well-known story, set down from memory, like other such tales, in more or less detail according to the taste of the writer. They are usually short, and of no great antiquity. In the manuscripts they are generally headed "for Hanukka." Hebrew translations of the Greek were published at Berlin in 1766, at Vienna in 1819, and at Leipzig in 1830, together with other apocrypha. A Judaeo-German translation appeared at Frankfurt am Main in 1715. A Persian version exists in a Bodleian manuscript. It is anonymous, but is made from the Vulgate, and the manuscript was probably written about 1600.

In the Church it was well known from the Greek and Latin translations, and was often quoted, not as canonical but as edifying, by Clement of Rome, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, Ambrose, and Augustine among others, thus gradually acquiring a quasi-canonical recognition.

After the Council of Trent, the Protestants, though rejecting it from the canon, maintained the early view that it was good for edifying, and used it largely in preaching. It was never admitted to the English Church lectionary.

Theology of the Book

The theology of the book is strongly Pharisaic. The story is clearly intended for edification, to encourage the people in some time of trial, and to point out the true way to deliverance by showing that Israel's troubles are due to sin (v. 17, 18; xi. 10), that salvation comes through trust in God and obedience to Him, and that God uses the weak things to confound the strong (ix. 10 and frequently). But obedience to God, which is righteousness, consists in the strict observance of the Law. Judith is strong because of her consciousness of keeping the Law (xvi. 16). She observes not only the pentateuchal feasts of the Sabbath and New Moon, but also the eves of them (viii. 6), as required by the later teaching. She not only abstained from forbidden food, but she fasted continually, and underwent further mortification (viii. 5, 6), although she was rich. She is thus a perfect type of Pharisaic righteousness. She even dilates on these doctrines to Holofernes in chapter 11, laying stress on the sureness of punishment which would follow on such sins as the eating of forbidden things and the using of tithes and first-fruits by the citizens of Bethulia in their extremity. For even in the most desperate case God will find a means of deliverance for His faithful people and will punish the oppressor. This punishment is inflicted not only in the present life. There will be a day of judgement, apparently after death, when the wicked will be condemned to torment by fire and worms for ever (xvi. 17).

The objection which has been made to Judith's deceit and approval of violence scarcely deserves notice. It could only be made in complete ignorance of the spirit of the time, and shows an utter inability to appreciate the position of a people struggling against overwhelming odds for their religion and their very existence.

Chapter 1

1 In the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned over the Assyrians in Nineveh, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad, who reigned over the Medes in Ecbatana, 2 and built at Ecbatana and round about it walls of hewn stones three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits; 3 and set the towers thereof at the gates thereof, a hundred cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits; 4 and made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them forty cubits, for the going forth of his mighty hosts, and the setting in array of his footmen: 5 even in those days king Nebuchadnezzar made war with king Arphaxad in the great plain: this plain is in the borders of Ragau. 6 And there came to meet him all that dwelt in the hill country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris, and Hydaspes, and in the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans; and many nations of the sons of Chelod assembled themselves to the battle.

7 And Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians sent unto all that dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, to those that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus and Libanus and Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt over against the sea coast, 8 and to those among the nations that were of Carmel and Gilead, and to the higher Galilee and the great plain of Esdraelon, 9 and to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chellus, and Kadesh, and the river of Egypt, and Tahpanhes, and Rameses, and all the land of Goshen, 10 until thou comest above Tanis and Memphis, and to all that dwelt in Egypt, until thou comest to the borders of Ethiopia. 11 And all they that dwelt in all the land made light of the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, and went not with him to the war; for they were not afraid of him, but he was before them as one man; and they turned away his messengers from their presence without effect, and with disgrace.

12 And Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding wroth with all this land, and he sware by his throne and kingdom, that he would surely be avenged upon all the coasts of Cilicia and Damascus and Syria, that he would slay with his sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and all Judaea, and all that were in Egypt, until thou comest to the borders of the two seas. 13 And he set the battle in array with his host against king Arphaxad in the seventeenth year; and he prevailed in his battle, and turned to flight all the host of Arphaxad, and all his horse, and all his chariots; 14 and he became master of his cities, and he came even unto Ecbatana, and took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame. 15 And he took Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly, unto this day. 16 And he returned with them to Nineveh, he and all his company of sundry nations, an exceeding great multitude of men of war, and there he took his ease and banqueted, he and his host, a hundred and twenty days.

Chapter 2

1 And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, that he should be avenged on all the land, even as he spake. 2 And he called together all his servants, and all his great men, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of all the land out of his own mouth. 3 And they decreed to destroy all flesh which followed not the word of his mouth. 4 And it came to pass, when he had ended his counsel, Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his host, which was next after himself, and said unto him, 5 Thus saith the great king, the lord of all the earth, Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their strength, unto a hundred and twenty thousand footmen; 6 and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand: and thou shalt go forth against all the west country, because they disobeyed the commandment of my mouth. 7 And thou shalt declare unto them, that they prepare earth and water; because I will go forth in my wrath against them, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of my host, and I will give them for a spoil unto them: 8 and their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks, and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow: 9 and I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth. 10 But thou shalt go forth, and take beforehand for me all their coasts; and if they shall yield themselves unto thee, then shalt thou reserve them for me till the day of their reproof. 11 But as for them that are disobedient, thine eye shall not spare; but thou shalt give them up to be slain and to be spoiled in all thy land. 12 For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, I have spoken, and I will do this with my hand. 13 And thou, moreover, shalt not transgress aught of the commandments of thy lord, but thou shalt surely accomplish them, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt not defer to do them.

14 And Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and the captains and officers of the host of Asshur; 15 and he numbered chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto a hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback; 16 and he ranged them, as a great multitude is ordered for the war. 17 And he took camels and asses and mules for their baggage, an exceeding great multitude; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision; 18 and great store of victual for every man, and exceeding much gold and silver out of the king's house. 19 And he went forth, he and all his host, on their journey, to go before king Nebuchadnezzar, and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots and horsemen and chosen footmen. 20 And a great company of sundry nations went forth with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for they could not be numbered by reason of their multitude.

21 And they departed out of Nineveh three days' journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and encamped from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia. 22 And he took all his host, his footmen and horsemen and chariots, and went away from thence into the hill country, 23 and destroyed Put and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Ishmael, which were over against the wilderness to the south of the land of the Chellians. 24 And he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and brake down all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, until thou comest to the sea. 25 And he took possession of the borders of Cilicia, and slew all that resisted him, and came unto the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia. 26 And he compassed about all the children of Midian, and set on fire their tents, and spoiled their sheepcotes. 27 And he went down into the plain of Damascus in the days of wheat harvest, and set on fire all their fields, and utterly destroyed their flocks and herds, and spoiled their cities, and laid their plains waste, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.

28 And the fear and the dread of him fell upon them that dwelt on the sea coast, upon them that were in Sidon and Tyre, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him exceedingly.

Chapter 3

1 And they sent unto him messengers with words of peace, saying, 2 Behold, we the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the great king lie before thee: use us as it is pleasing in thy sight. 3 Behold, our dwellings, and all our country, and all our fields of wheat, and our flocks and herds, and all the sheepcotes of our tents, lie before thy face: use them as it may please thee. 4 Behold, even our cities and they that dwell in them are thy servants: come and deal with them as it is good in thine eyes.

5 And the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him according to these words. 6 And he came down toward the sea coast, he and his host, and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for allies. 7 And they received him, they and all the country round about them, with garlands and dances and timbrels. 8 And he cast down all their borders, and cut down their groves: and it had been given unto him to destroy all the gods of the land, that all the nations should worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and that all their tongues and their tribes should call upon him as god. 9 And he came towards Esdraelon nigh unto Dotaea, which is over against the great ridge of Judaea. 10 And he encamped between Geba and Scythopolis, and he was there a whole month, that he might gather together all the baggage of his host.

Chapter 4

1 And the children of Israel that dwelt in Judaea heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and destroyed them utterly. 2 And they were exceedingly afraid before him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God: 3 because they were newly come up from the captivity, and all the people of Judaea were lately gathered together; and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.

4 And they sent into every coast of Samaria, and to Kona, and to Bethhoron, and Belmaim, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Aesora, and to the valley of Salem; 5 and they possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victual for the provision of war: for their fields were newly reaped. 6 And Joakim the high priest, which was in those days at Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomesthaim, which is over against Esdraelon toward the plain that is nigh unto Dothaim, 7 charging them to seize upon the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Judaea, and it was easy to stop them from approaching, inasmuch as the approach was narrow, with space for two men at the most. 8 And the children of Israel did as Joakim the high priest had commanded them, and the senate of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.

9 And every man of Israel cried to God with great earnestness, and with great earnestness did they humble their souls. 10 They, and their wives, and their babes, and their cattle, and every sojourner and hireling and servant bought with their money, put sackcloth upon their loins. 11 And every man and woman of Israel, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord; and they put sackcloth about the altar: 12 and they cried to the God of Israel earnestly with one consent, that he would not give their babes for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, for the nations to rejoice at. 13 And the Lord heard their voice, and looked upon their affliction: and the people continued fasting many days in all Judaea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.

14 And Joakim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they that ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt about with sackcloth, and offered the continual burnt offering, and the vows and the free gifts of the people; 15 and they had ashes on their mitres: and they cried unto the Lord with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel for good.

Chapter 5

1 And it was told Holofernes, the chief captain of the host of Asshur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills, and had laid impediments in the plains: 2 and he was exceeding wroth, and he called all the princes of Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast, and he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Canaan, who is this people, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their host, and wherein is their power and their strength, and what king is set over them, to be the leader of their army; 3 and why have they turned their backs, that they should not come and meet me, more than all that dwell in the west.

4 And Achior, the leader of all the children of Ammon, said unto him, 5 Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will tell thee the truth concerning this people, which dwelleth in this hill country, nigh unto the place where thou dwellest: and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant. This people are descended of the Chaldeans: 6 and they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they were not minded to follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of the Chaldeans. 7 And they departed from the way of their parents, and worshipped the God of heaven, the God whom they knew: and they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days. 8 And their God commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Canaan: and they dwelt there, and were increased with gold and silver, and with exceeding much cattle. 9 And they went down into Egypt, for a famine covered all the land of Canaan; and there they sojourned, until they were grown up; and they became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation. 10 And the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low, making them to labour in brick, and made them slaves. 11 And they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues: and the Egyptians cast them out of their sight. 12 And God dried up the Red sea before them, and brought them into the way of Sinai, and Kadesh-Barnea, and they cast out all that dwelt in the wilderness. 13 And they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Heshbon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill country. 14 And they cast out before them the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Shechemite, and all the Girgashites, and they dwelt in that country many days.

15 And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because God that hateth iniquity was with them. 16 But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not theirs, and the temple of their God was cast to the ground, 17 and their cities were taken by their adversaries. 18 And now they are returned to their God, and are come up from the dispersion where they were dispersed, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country: for it was desolate. 19 And now, my lord and master, if there is any error in this people, and they sin against their God, we will consider what this thing is wherein they stumble, and we will go up and overcome them. 20 But if there is no lawlessness in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and we shall be a reproach before all the earth.

21 And it came to pass, when Achior had finished speaking these words, all the people that compassed the tent and stood round about it murmured; 22 and the great men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab, spake that he should kill him. 23 For, said they, we will not be afraid of the children of Israel: for, lo, it is a people that hath no power nor might to make the battle strong. 24 Wherefore now we will go up, and they shall be a prey to be devoured of all thine army, lord Holofernes.

Chapter 6

1 And when the tumult of the men that were about the council was ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the host of Asshur said unto Achior and to all the children of Moab before all the people of the aliens, 2 And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou hast prophesied among us as to-day, and hast said, that we should not make war with the race of Israel, because their God will defend them? 3 And who is God but Nebuchadnezzar? He shall send forth his might, and shall destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his servants shall smite them as one man; 4 and they shall not sustain the might of our horses. For with them we shall burn them up, and their mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their plains shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps shall not stand before us, but they shall surely perish, saith king Nebuchadnezzar, lord of all the earth: for he said, The words that I have spoken shall not be in vain. 5 But thou, Achior, hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more from this day, until I shall be avenged of the race of those that came out of Egypt. 6 And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their slain, when I shall return. 7 And my servants shall bring thee back into the hill country, and shall set thee in one of 8 the cities of the ascents: and thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them. 9 And if thou hopest in thy heart that they shall not be taken, let not thy countenance fall. I have spoken it, and none of my words shall fall to the ground.

10 And Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent, to take Achior, and bring him back to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel. 11 And his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and they removed from the midst of the plain country into the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under Bethulia. 12 And when the men of the city saw them on the top of the hill, they took up their weapons, and went out of the city against them to the top of the hill: and every man that used a sling kept them from coming up, and cast stones against them. 13 And they gat them privily under the hill, and bound Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and went away unto their lord. 14 But the children of Israel descended from their city, and came upon him, and loosed him, and led him away into Bethulia, and presented him to the rulers of their city; 15 which were in those days Ozias the son of Micah, of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel. 16 And they called together all the elders of the city; and all their young men ran together, and their women, to the assembly; and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. And Ozias asked him of that which had happened: 17 and he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of the children of Asshur, and all 18 the great words that Holofernes had spoken against the house of Israel. And the people fell down 19 and worshipped God, and cried, saying, O Lord God of heaven, behold their arrogance, and pity the low estate of our race, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto thee this day. 20 And they comforted Achior, and praised him exceedingly. 21 And Ozias took him out of the assembly into his house, and made a feast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel for help all that night.

Chapter 7

1 But the next day Holofernes gave command to all his army, and to all his people which were come to be his allies, that they should remove their camp toward Bethulia, and take aforehand the ascents of the hill country, and make war against the children of Israel. 2 And every mighty man of them removed that day, and the host of their men of war was a hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and the men that were afoot among them, an exceeding great multitude. 3 And they encamped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cyamon, which is over against Esdraelon.

4 But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were troubled exceedingly, and said every one to his neighbour, Now shall these men lick up the face of all the earth; and neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, shall be able to bear their weight. 5 And every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.

6 But on the second day Holofernes led out all his horse in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia, 7 and viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the fountains of the waters, and seized upon them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and himself departed to his people.

8 Then there came unto him all the rulers of the children of Esau, and all the leaders of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said, Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in thy host. 9 For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, for it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains. 10 And now, my lord, fight not against them as men fight who join battle, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish. 11 Remain in thy camp, and keep safe every man of thy host, and let thy servants get possession of the fountain of water, which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain: 12 because all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; and thirst shall kill them, and they shall give up their city: and we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will encamp upon them, to watch that not one man go out of the city. 13 And they shall be consumed with famine, they and their wives and their children, and before the sword come against them they shall be laid low in the streets where they dwell. 14 And thou shalt render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy face in peace.

15 And their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he appointed to do as they had spoken. 16 And the army of the children of Ammon removed, and with them five thousand of the children of Asshur, and they encamped in the valley, and seized upon the waters and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel. 17 And the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and encamped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east, over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land; and their tents and baggage were pitched upon it in a great crowd, and they were an exceeding great multitude.

18 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them. 19 And all the army of Asshur remained about them, their footmen and their chariots and their horsemen, four and thirty days; and all their vessels of water failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia. 20 And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day: for they gave them drink by measure. 21 And their young children were out of heart, and the women and the young men fainted for thirst, and they fell down in the streets of the city, and in the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them. 22 And all the people were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city, the young men and the women and the children, and they cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 23 God be judge between you and us: because ye have done us great wrong, in that ye have not spoken words of peace with the children of Asshur. 24 And now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction. 25 And now call them unto you, and deliver up the whole city for a prey to the people of Holofernes, and to all his host. 26 For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them: for we shall be servants, and our souls shall live, and we shall not see the death of our babes before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death. 27 We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and the 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.

28 And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud voice. 29 And Ozias said to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God shall turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly. 30 But if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your words. 31 And he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away unto the walls and towers of their city; and he sent the women and children into their houses: and they were brought very low in the city.

Chapter 8

1 And in those days Judith heard thereof, the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Elihu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Salamiel, the son of Salasadai, the son of Israel. 2 And her husband was Manasses, of her tribe and of her family, and he died in the days of barley harvest. 3 For he stood over them that bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Bethulia: 4 and they buried him with his fathers in the field which is between Dothaim and Balamon. 5 And Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months. 6 And she made her a tent upon the roof of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins; and the garments of her widowhood were upon her. 7 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 joyful days of the house of Israel. And she was of a goodly countenance, and exceeding beautiful to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; 8 and she remained upon them. And there was none that gave her an evil word; for she feared God exceedingly.

9 And she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Judith heard all the words that Ozias spake unto them, how he sware to them that he would deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five days. 10 And she sent her maid, that was over all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city. 11 And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O ye rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that ye have spoken before the people this day is not right, and ye have set the oath which ye have 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. 12 And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men? 13 And now try the Lord Almighty, and ye shall never know anything. 14 For ye shall not find the depth of the heart of man, and ye shall not perceive the things that he thinketh: and how shall ye search out God, which hath made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger. 15 For if he be not minded to help us within these five days, he hath power to defend us in such time as he will, or to destroy us before the face of our enemies. 16 But do not ye pledge the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man, that he should be threatened; neither as the son of man, that he should be turned by intreaty. 17 Wherefore let us wait for the salvation that cometh from him, and call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him. 18 For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us to-day, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days; 19 for the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and fell with a great fall before our enemies. 20 But we know none other god beside him, wherefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race. 21 For if we be taken so, all Judaea shall sit upon the ground, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and of our blood shall he require the profanation thereof. 22 And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, shall he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach before them that take us for a possession. 23 For our bondage shall not be ordered to favour: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour.

24 And now, brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren, because their soul hangeth upon us, and the sanctuary and the house and the altar rest upon us. 25 Besides all this let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us, even as he did our fathers also. 26 Remember all the things which he did to Abraham, and all the things in which he tried Isaac, and all the things which happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. 27 For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on us; but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to admonish them.

28 And Ozias said to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that shall gainsay thy words. 29 For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thine understanding, because the disposition of thy heart is good. 30 But the people were exceeding thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spake to them, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break. 31 And now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord shall send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more.

32 And Judith said unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go down to all generations among the children of our race. 33 Ye shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go forth with my maid: and, within the days after which ye said that ye would deliver the city to our enemies, the Lord shall visit Israel by my hand. 34 But ye shall not inquire of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do. 35 And Ozias and the rulers said unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies. 36 And they returned from the tent, and went to their stations.

Chapter 9

1 But Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and the incense of that evening was now being offered at Jerusalem in the house of God, and Judith cried unto the Lord with a loud voice, and said, 2 O Lord God of my father Simeon, into whose hand thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a virgin to defile her, and uncovered the thigh to her shame, and profaned the womb to her reproach; for thou saidst, It shall not be so; and they did so: 3 wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, and their bed, which was ashamed for her that was deceived, to be dyed in blood, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones; 4 and gavest 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 zeal for thee, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon thee for aid: O God, O my God, hear me also that am a widow.

5 For thou wroughtest the things that were before those things, and those things, and such as ensued after; and thou didst devise the things which are now, and the things which are to come: 6 and the things which thou didst devise came to pass; yea, the things which thou didst determine stood before thee, and said, Lo, we are here: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgement is with foreknowledge. 7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with horse and rider; they have gloried in the strength of their footmen; they have trusted in shield and spear and bow and sling, and they know not that thou art the Lord that breaketh the battles: the Lord is thy name. 8 Dash thou down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to profane thy sanctuary, and to defile the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth, and to cast down with the sword the horn of thine altar. 9 Look upon their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into my hand, which am a widow, the might that I have conceived. 10 Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with his servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman. 11 For thy power standeth not in multitude, nor thy might in strong men: but thou art a God of the afflicted, thou art a helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope. 12 Yea, yea, God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, Creator of the waters, King of every creature, hear thou my prayer: 13 and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed hard things against thy covenant, and thy hallowed house, and the top of Sion, and the house of the possession of thy children. 14 And make every nation and tribe of thine to know that thou art God, the God of all power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the race of Israel but thou.

Chapter 10

1 And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry unto 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 beguile 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 and fine 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 unto her, 8 The God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish thy purposes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. And she worshipped God, 9 and said unto them, Command that they open unto me the gate of the city, and I will go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye spake with me. And they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken: and they did so.

10 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 art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? 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 shew 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 marvellous in their eyes, and they said unto her, 15 Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: and now come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they shall deliver thee into his hands. 16 But when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but declare unto him according to thy words; and he shall entreat thee 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 marvelled at her beauty, and marvelled at the children of Israel because of her, and each one said to his neighbour, 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 marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants raised her up.

Chapter 11

1 And Holofernes said unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thy heart: for I never hurt any that hath chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth. 2 And now, if thy people that dwelleth 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 thou didst flee from them, and camest unto us: for thou art come to save thyself; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter: 4 for there is none that shall wrong thee, but all shall entreat thee well, as is done unto the servants of king Nebuchadnezzar my lord.

5 And Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and let thy handmaid speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie unto my lord this night. 6 And if thou shalt follow the words of thy handmaid, God shall bring the thing to pass perfectly with thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes. 7 As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field and the cattle and the birds of the heaven shall live through thy strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house. 8 For we have heard of thy wisdom and the subtil devices of thy soul, and it hath been reported in all the earth, that thou only art 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 thy council, we have heard his words: for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken before thee. 10 Wherefore, O lord and master, neglect not his word; but lay it up in thy 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 hath overtaken them, wherewith they shall provoke their God to anger, whensoever they shall do wickedness. 12 Since their victuals 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 firstfruits 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 thee to be destroyed the same day.

16 Wherefore I thy servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence; and God sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, even as many as shall hear it. 17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: and now, my lord, I will abide with thee, and thy servant will go forth by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he shall tell me when they have committed their sins: 18 and I will come and shew it also unto thee; and thou shalt go forth with all thy host, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee. 19 And I will lead thee through the midst of Judaea, until thou comest over against Jerusalem; and I will set thy seat in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth before thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared unto me, and I was sent to tell thee.

20 And her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, 21 and said, 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 unto her, God did well to send thee before the people, that might should be in our hands, and destruction among them that lightly regarded my lord. 23 And now thou art beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: for if thou shalt do as thou hast spoken, thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nebuchadnezzar, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.

Chapter 12

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 unto her, But if the things that be with thee should fail, whence shall we be able to give thee the like? for there is none of thy race with us. 4 And Judith said unto him, As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy servant shall not spend those things that be with me, until the Lord work by my hand the things that he hath 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 thy servant to go forth unto 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 besought 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 thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us. 12 For, lo, 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 unto 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 honoured 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 unto him, And who am I, that I should gainsay my lord? for whatsoever shall be pleasing in his eyes I will do speedily, and this shall be my joy unto 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 unto 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.

Chapter 13

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 spake 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 thine 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 unto 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 smote 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 victuals: and they twain went forth together unto 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 shew his power yet in Israel, and his might against the enemy, as he hath 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 unto 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 hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by my hand this night. 15 And she took forth the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto 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 smote him by the hand of a woman. 16 And as the Lord liveth, 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 art thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people. 18 And Ozias said unto her, Blessed art thou, 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 thee to the smiting of the head of the prince of our enemies. 19 For thy hope shall not depart from the heart of men that remember the strength of God for ever. 20 And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee with good things, because thou didst not spare thy life by reason of the affliction of our race, but didst avenge our fall, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it.

Chapter 14

1 And Judith said unto 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, ye shall take up every one his weapons of war, and go forth every valiant man of you out of the city, and ye shall set a captain over them, as though ye would go down to the plain toward the watch of the children of Asshur; and ye 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 ye, and all that inhabit every coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go. 5 But before ye 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 when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith's feet, and did reverence unto her, and said, Blessed art thou in every tent of Judah, and in every nation, which hearing thy name shall be troubled. 8 And now tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. And Judith declared unto 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 spake unto 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 unto the house of Israel, unto 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 unto the ascents of the mountain. 12 But when the children of Asshur saw them, they sent hither and thither 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 rent 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, The slaves have dealt treacherously: one woman of the Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of king Nebuchadnezzar; 18 for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not on him. 19 But when the rulers of the host of Asshur heard the words, they rent their coats, and their soul was troubled exceedingly, and there was a cry and an exceeding great noise in the midst of the camp.

Chapter 15

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 durst abide any more in the sight of his neighbour, 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 when the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and smote them unto Chobai: yea, 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 dwelt 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 gat 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 dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things which the Lord had shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her. 9 But when they came unto her, they all blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our race: 10 thou hast done all these things by thy hand: thou hast done with Israel the things that are good, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou 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 unto 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 took branches 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 armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths. 14 And Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise.

Chapter 16

1 And Judith said, 2 Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him psalm and praise: exalt him, and call upon his name. 3 For the Lord is the God that breaketh 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 nought by the hand of a woman. 7 For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did sons of the Titans smite 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 unto my God a new song: O Lord, thou art great and glorious, marvellous in strength, invincible. 14 Let all thy creation serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were made, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it builded them, and there is none that shall resist thy voice. 15 For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters, and the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: but thou art yet merciful to them that fear thee. 16 For all sacrifice is little for a sweet savour, and all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to thee: but he that feareth 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 freewill 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 unto 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 honourable 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, unto a hundred and five years, and let her maid go free: 24 and she died in Bethulia; and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses. 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.

Colophon

Prepared from R. H. Charles (ed.), The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English, Vol. 1: Apocrypha (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913), translation and introduction by A. E. Cowley. Source: archive.org item apocryphapseudep01charuoft (University of Toronto copy). This edition's per-verse textual-critical apparatus — the Greek manuscript sigla, comparison of recensions, and word-by-word philological notes printed beneath each page of translation — is omitted from this transcription; it survives complete in the 1913 printed edition and in the cited scan. Cowley's introduction is reproduced in full discursive prose, with section headings supplied in place of the original's numbered "§" markers; no bibliography subsection was present in the source to omit. No word or phrase in the translation text was illegible in the scan. Standard editions of Judith divide the book into 16 chapters; this source follows that division, and it is preserved here unchanged.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted transcription and editorial work.

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