1   Arphaxad the king of the Medes subdued many people vnto his dominion, and buylded a noble strong citie, whiche he called Ecbatanis.

2   The walles of it made he of free stone foure square, seuentie cubites hie, and thirtie cubites brode: He made towres therevpon an hundreth cubites hye.

3   But along the foure corners euery side was twentie foote brode: He made the portes in the height, like as the towres.

4   [This king] trusted in his mightie hoast, and in his glorious charets.

5   So in the twelfth yere of his raigne, it happened that Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians whiche raigned in the great citie of Niniue, fought against Arphaxad:

6   And ouercame him in the great fielde called Ragau beside Euphrates, and Tigris, and Iadason in the fielde of Erioth the king of the Elikes. B   

7   Then was the kingdome of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was lift vp: and he sent vnto all them that dwelt in Cilicia, in Damascus, and Libanus:

8   And vnto the heathen that dwelt in Carmel, and Cedar, and to such as dwelt in Galilee in the great field of Esdrelon:

9   To all them that dwelt in Samaria, and beyonde the water of Iordane vnto Hierusalem, and the whole lande of Iesse, vnto the borders of Ethiopia:

10   Unto all these dyd Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians send messengers.

11   But they all with one consent woulde not agree vnto him, and sent the messengers againe emptie, and put them away without honour.

12   Then Nabuchodonosor the king toke indignation at all those landes, ∧ sware by his trone and by his kingdome that he woulde be auenged of all those countreys.

The .ii. Chapter. 1 Nabuchodonosor commaunded presumpteously that al people should be brought in subiection, and to destroy those that disobeyed him, 7 The preparation of Holophernes armie. 12 The conquest of his enemies. A   

1   In the thirtenth yere of king Nabuchodonosor, vpon the twentie ∧ two day of the firste moneth, it was deuised in the court of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians that he woulde reuenge him selfe.

2   So he called vnto him all the elders, all his captaynes and men of warre, and shewed them his secret counsell,

3   And told them that his purpose was to bring the whole earth vnder his dominion.

4   Now when they were all content with this saying, Nabuchodonosor the king called Holophernes the chiefe captayne of his warres,

5   And sayde vnto him: Go thy way foorth against all the kingdomes of the west, and specially against those that haue despised my commaundement.

6   Thou shalt spare no realme, all strong cities shalt thou bring in subiection vnto me. B   

7   Then Holophernes called together all the captaynes ∧ rulers of all the power in Assyria, and mustred the souldiers vnto the hoast like as the king commaunded him [namely] an hundred and twentie thousande fighting men vpon foote, and twelue thousande archers vpon horsebacke.

8   All his ordinaunce sent he before with an innumerable multitude of camels, so that the hoast was well prouided for with oxen and small cattell, ∧ that without number.

9   He appoynted to prepare corne out of all Syria in his passage.

10   Much gold an siluer also toke he out of the kinges house.

11   So he toke his iourney and all his hoast, with charets, horsemen, and archers: of whom there were so many that they couered the ground of the land like the grashoppers.

12   And when he was gone past the borders of the Assyrians, he came towarde the great mountaynes of Ange, whiche lye vpon the left side of Cilicia: and so he went vp into all their castels, and wunne euery strong holde.

13   As for the welthie citie of Melothus, he brake it downe, ∧ spoyled all the children of Tharsis and the Ismaelites, whiche lay towarde the wildernesse and vpon the south side of the lande of Chellon. C   

14   He went ouer Euphrates also, ∧ came into Mesopotamia, and brake downe all the hie cities that were there, from the brooke of Mambre till a man come to the sea:

15   And he toke the borders in from Cilicia vnto the coastes of Iaphet towarde the south.

16   He caryed away all the Madianites, and spoyled al their goods, and whosoeuer withstoode him he slue them with the sworde.

17   After this, he went downe into the fielde of Damascus in the time of haruest, and burnt vp all the corne, and all the trees and vines he caused to be cut downe:

18   And the feare of him fel vpon all them that dwelt on the earth. The .iii. Chapter. 1 The people subiect to Holophernes. 12 He destroyed their gods that Nabuchodonosor might onely be worshipped. A   

1   So the kinges ∧ princes of al the cities ∧ landes sent their embassadours, namely they of Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia, which came to Holophernes, and sayde:

2   Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs: It is better for vs to serue the great king Nabuchodonosor with our liues, and to be subiect vnto thee, then that we should dye, and with our slaughter suffer the euyls of our bondage.

3   All our cities and possessions, al mountaynes and hilles, all fieldes, great and smal cattel, sheepe, goates, horses, and camels, all our goodes and housholdes be in thy power.

4   Under thy subiection be al that we haue.

5   We our selues and also our children wilbe thy seruauntes.

6   Come vnto vs peaceable lorde, and vse our seruice at thy pleasure. B   

7   Then came Holophernes downe from the mountaynes with horsemen ∧ great power, and conquered all strong fensed cities, and all that dwelt in the lande.

8   And out of all cities he toke strong men and such as were meete for the warre [to helpe hym.]

9   And there came such a feare vpon those countreys, that the indwellers of al the cities, the princes and rulers, and the people together, went foorth to meete hym as he came:

10   And receaued him [honorably] with garlandes and torches, with daunces, taprettes, and pipes.

11   Neuerthelesse though they dyd this, yet might they not swage his rigorous stomacke.

12   But he destroyed their cities, and hewed downe their wooddes.

13   For Nabuchodonosor the king had commaunded him that he should roote out all the gods of the ^note lande, to the intent that he only might be called [and taken] for god of the nations, which Holophernes with his power might bring vnder him. C   

14   So went he through Syria Sobal, and through all Appamea, and all Mesopotamia, and came to the Idumeans in the lande of Gabaa,

15   And toke their cities, and remayned there thirtie dayes, in whiche space he caused all the whole multitude of his hoast to be gathered together. The .iiii. Chapter. 1 The Israelites were afrayde and defended their countrey. 5 Eliacim the priest wryteth to Bethulia, that they shoulde fortifie them selues. 8 They cried to the Lorde, and humbled them selues before hym. A   

1   When the children of Israel that dwelt in Iurie heard this, they were sore afrayde of him.

2   There came such trembling also ∧ feare vpon them, lest he shoulde do vnto the citie of Hierusalem and the temple of the Lord, as he had done to other cities and their temples.

3   So they sent into all Samaria rounde about vnto Iericho, [toke in] and occupied all the toppes of the mountaynes:

4   And made fast the townes with walles, and prepared corne for them against the battayle.

5   Eliacim also the priest wrote vnto all them that dwelt towarde Esdrelon, which lieth ouer against the great fielde by Dothain, ∧ vnto all those by whom men might haue passage vnto them,

6   That they shoulde take in the wayes of the mountaynes, whereby there might be any way and passage to Hierusalem, and that they shoulde holde diligent watch where any strayte was betwixte the mountaynes. B   

7   And the children of Israel dyd as Eliacim the priest of the Lorde had commaunded them.

8   And all the people cryed vnto the Lord earnestly, and humbled their soules with fasting and prayers, they ∧ their wiues:

9   The priestes put on heery clothes, and layed the young babes before the temple of the Lord, and couered the aulter of the Lorde with an heery cloth:

10   And with one accorde they cryed vnto the Lorde God of Israel, that their children should not be geuen into a pray, and their wiues into a spoyle, that their cities should not be layed waste, and that their ^note sanctuarie shoulde not be vnhalowed, and so they to be a shame and rebuke vnto the heathen.

11   Then Eliacim the hye priest of the Lord, went rounde about al Israel, and spake vnto them,

12   Saying: Be ye sure that the Lord will heare your petitions, if ye continue stedfast in fastinges and prayers in the sight of the Lorde.

13   Remember Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde, which ouerthrewe the Amalechites that trusted in their might and power, in their hoast, in their shieldes, in their charets and horsemen, not with weapons, but with holy prayers. C   

14   Euen so shall all the enemies of Israel be, if ye continue in this worke that ye haue begun.

15   So vpon this exhortation they continued in prayer before the Lorde.

16   In so much that they whiche offered burnt sacrifices vnto the Lord, offred the offringes vnto the Lorde, beyng arayed in heery clothes, and had asshes vpon their heades.

17   And they all besought God from their whole heart, that he woulde visite his people of Israel. The .v. Chapter. 1 Achior the Ammonite doeth declare to Holophernes of the maner of the Israelites. A   

1   And worde came to Holophernes þe; prince of the warre of the Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared them selues to make resistaunce, and howe they had stopped the wayes betwixte the mountaynes.

2   Then was he exceeding wroth, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captaynes of Ammon,

3   And sayde vnto them: Tell me what people is this that kepeth in the mountaynes? Or what maner and how great cities theirs are? What is their power? Or what maner of hoast haue they? who is their captayne?

4   And why do they despise vs more then all those that dwell in the east, and come not foorth to meete vs, that they might receaue vs with peace? B   

5   Then Achior the captayne of al the Ammonites aunswered, and sayde: Syr, if it please thee to heare, I will tell the trueth before thee concerning this people that dwel in the mountaynes, and there shall no vntrueth go out of my mouth.

6   This people is of the generation of the Chaldees:

7   They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, for they woulde not folowe the gods of their fathers that were in the lande of the Chaldees,

8   And so forsoke they the custome of their forefathers which had many gods, and worshipped one God that made heauen and earth: ^note whiche also commaunded them that they shoulde go from thence and dwell at Charan.

9   Nowe when there came a dearth into the whole lande, they went downe to Egypt, and there they dwelt ^note foure hundreth yeres, in the whiche they multiplied greatly, that their hoast might not be numbred.

10   And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and yoked them in buylding of his cities with making of clay and brycke, they cryed vnto God their Lord which punished the whole lande of Egypt with diuers plagues.

11   And when the Egyptians had cast them out ∧ the plague ceassed from them, and they folowing after them to take them ∧ to bring them againe into their bondage:

12   Whyle they were flying away the God of heauen opened the sea, so that the waters stoode fast vpon both the sides as a wall, and these went through the botome of the sea drye shod.

13   In the whiche place when an innumerable people of the Egyptians folowed vpon them, they were so ouerwhelmed with the waters, that there remayned not one to tell them that came after how it happened. C   

14   So when this people was passed through the red sea, they came into the wildernesse of mount Sina, where neuer man might dwell afore, and where the sonne of man had neuer rested.

15   There were the bitter waters made sweete for them that they might drinke, and fourtie yeres had they meate from heauen.

16   Whersouer they went, without bow and arrow, without buckler or sworde, their God fought for them, and caused them to haue the victorie.

17   Yea, no man was able to hurt this people, except it were when they departed vnfaythfully from the worshipping of the Lorde their God.

18   But as ofte as they worshipped any other beside their God, he gaue them ouer to be spoyled, to be slayne, and to be put to confusion.

19   Neuerthelesse, as ofte as they were sory for their departing from the worshippe

of their God: the same God of heauen gaue them power ∧ strength to withstande [their enemies.]

20    ^noteMoreouer, they slue the king of the Chanaanites, Iebusites, Pherezites, Hethites, Heuites, and Amorites, and al the mightie in Hesebon, and toke their landes and cities in possession: D   

21   And so long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it went well with them: For their God hateth vnrighteousnesse.

22    ^noteFor in times past when they went out of the way which God had geuen them that they shoulde walke in it, they were destroyed in diuers battaylles of many nations, and many of them were caried away prisoners vnto a strange countrey.

23    ^noteBut now lately they haue turned them selues agayne vnto the Lord their God, and are come together agayne out of the countreys where they were scattred abrode: and thus haue they conquered these mountaynes, and dwel therin: and as for Hierusalem where their sanctuarie is, they haue it againe in possession.

24   And therfore my Lord, make diligent inquisition, if this people haue done wickednesse in the sight of their God, then let vs go vp against them: for doubtlesse their God shall deliuer them into thy handes, and subdue them vnto thy power.

25   But if this people haue not displeased their God, we shall not be able to withstande them: for their God shall defende them, and so shall we be a shame to all the worlde.

26   Nowe when Achior had spoken out these wordes, all the great men of Holophernes were wroth, and thought to slay him, and sayde one to another:

27   What is he this whiche dare say that the children of Israel are able to withstande Nabuchodonosor the king and his hoastes? where as they are an vnweaponed people, without strength or vnderstanding of the feates of warre? E   

28   That Achior therfore may know that he hath deceaued vs, we will go vp into the mountaynes: and when the mightie men of them are taken, he with them shall be stickte with the sworde:

29   That all the people may knowe that Nabuchodonosor is the God of the earth, and that there is none other beside him. The .vi. Chapter. 1 Holophernes blasphemeth God, whom Achior confessed. 14 Achior is deliuered into the handes of them of Bethulia. 18 The Bethulians crye vnto the Lorde. A   

1   So when they had left of speaking, Holophernes toke sore indignation, and sayde vnto Achior:

2   For so much as thou hast prophesied vnto vs, saying, That the people of Israel shalbe defended of their God: I will shew thee that there is no God but Nabuchodonosor,

3   Yea, when we slay them al as one man, thou also shalt perishe with them through the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shalbe destroyed with thee:

4   And then shalt thou feele that Nabuchodonosor is the lorde of the whole earth: then shal the sword of my knighthood go through thy sides, ∧ thou shalt fall downe stickte among the wounded of Israel, and ^note shalt not come to thy selfe agayne, but be vtterly destroyed with them.

5   Furthermore, if thou thinkest thy prophesie to be true, why doest thou then chaunge thy colour? why art thou afrayde? Thinkest thou that my wordes are not able to be perfourmed?

6   But that thou mayest knowe that thou shalt feele these thinges with them, beholde from this houre foorth will I send thee vnto yonder people, that when the punishement of my sworde (whiche they haue worthyly deserued) falleth vpon them, thou mayest be punished with them. B   

7   So Holophernes commaunded his seruauntes to take Achior, ∧ to cary him vnto Bethulia, and to deliuer him into the handes of the children of Israel.

8   Then Holophernes seruauntes toke

him, and went through the playne field: But when they drewe nye vnto the mountaynes, the slyng casters came out against them.

9   Neuerthelesse they gat them away by the side of the mountayne, and bounde Achior hande and foote to a tree, and so left him bounde with withes, and turned againe vnto their lorde.

10   After that, the children of Israel went downe from Bethulia, came vnto hym, loosed him, brought him into Bethulia, set him in the middest of the people, and asked him what the matter was that the Assyrians had left him bounde?

11   Osias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi which is also called Gothoniel, were the principal rulers at the same time.

12   Nowe when Achior stoode in the middest of the senatours, and before them al, he tolde them what aunswere he gaue Holophernes to the thing that he asked him, ∧ how Holophernes people would haue slayne him for so saying:

13   And howe Holophernes him selfe was wroth, and commaunded him for the same cause to be deliuered vnto the Israelites: that when he ouercame the children of Israel, he might commaunde Achior also to be put to death with diuers tormentes, because he sayde, The God of heauen is their defender. C   

14   And when Achior had playnly told out al these thinges, all the people fel downe vpon their faces, praysing the Lord, and powred out their prayers together vnto the Lorde, with a generall complaynt and weeping,

15   And sayde: O Lord God of heauen and of earth, beholde their pryde, and loke vpon our lowlinesse, and consider howe it standeth with thy sayntes, and make it to be knowen that thou forsakest not those which holde them fast by thee: and howe that thou bringest them low that presume of them selues, and make their boast in their owne strength.

16   So when the weeping and prayer of the people (whiche they had made the whole day long) was ended, they comforted Achior,

17   Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power and strength thou hast praysed, shall so rewarde thee, that thou shalt rather see their destruction.

18   When the Lorde our God then shall geue his seruauntes this libertie, God be also with thee among vs: so that as it shall please thee, so thou with all thyne mayst dwell with vs.

19   Now when Osias had ended the counsel, he toke him into his house, and made a great supper,

20   Called the elders to it: and so they refreshed them selues after the fasting. D   

21   And afterward was al the people called together, whiche made their prayers all the night long ^note in the congregation, and besought the God of Israel for helpe. The .vii. Chapter. 1 Holophernes doeth besiege Bethulia. 8 The counsell of the Idumeans, and other against the Israelites. 23 The Bethulians murmure against the gouernours for lacke of water. A   

1   The next day Holophernes commaunded his hoast to go vp against Bethulia.

2   There were an hundred and twentie thousande fighting men on foote, and two and twentie thousande horsemen, beside the preparing of them that were wunne, and came to them on euery side out of the countreys and cities which he had taken.

3   All these prepared them selues vnto the battayl against the Israelites, and came on by the hilside, vnto the top that loketh ouer against Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, vnto Chelmon that lyeth towarde Esdrelon.

4   Nowe when the children of Israel sawe so great multitude of the Assyrians, they fell downe flat vpon the grounde, strawed asshes vpon their heades, and prayed with one accorde that the God of Israel woulde shewe his mercie vpon his people.

5   And so they toke their weapons, and sat betwixte the mountaynes in the narow place, and kept the way day and night.

6   But whyle Holophernes was goyng

rounde about, he founde the water spring, whiche from the south side was conueyed into the citie be a conduite, and he commaunded their conduite to be cut in sunder. B   

7   There were welles also not farre from the walles, whiche they vsed secretely, more for pleasure ^note then for necessitie.

8   Then went the Ammonites and the Moabites vnto Holophernes, and sayd: The children of Israel trust neither in speare nor arrow, but haue taken in and kepe the mountaynes, and steepe hilles defende them.

9   That thou mayest ouercome them therfore without the striking of any battayl, set men to kepe the welles that they drawe no water out of them, so shalt thou destroy them without sworde, or at the least they shall be so feeble that they must be fayne to geue ouer the citie, which they thinke not able to be wunne for so much as it lyeth in the mountaynes.

10   These wordes pleased Holophernes wel and all his men of warre, and he set an hundreth at euery well round about.

11   And when this watch had endured twentie dayes, the cesternes and all that had water fayled them that dwelt in the citie of Bethulia, so that in the whole citie they had not drincke inough for one day, for the people had water geuen them dayly in a measure.

12   Then came the men and women, young persons and children, al vnto Osias, and sayd al with one voyce:

13   God be iudge betwixt vs and thee, for thou hast dealt euyll with vs: thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the king of the Assyrians, therefore hath God solde vs into their handes.

14   And there is no man to helpe vs, wheras we are brought downe before their eyes in thirst and great destruction. C   

15   Therefore gather now together all the people that be in the citie, that we may all yeelde our selues wyllyngly vnto the people of Holophernes.

16   For better it is that we be captiue and prayse the Lorde with our liues, then to be slayne ∧ perishe, and to be laughed to scorne and shamed of euery man when we see our wiues and children die before our eyes.

17   We take heauen and earth this day to record, ∧ the God of our fathers, whiche punisheth vs according to [the deseruing of] our sinnes [and geue you warning,] that ye geue vp the citie nowe into the power of Holophernes hoast, that our end may be short with the sworde, which els shal endure long for want of water and for thirst.

18   When they had spoken out these wordes, there was a great weeping and howling in the whole congregation [and that of euery man,] and they cryed ^note a whole houre long vnto God with one voyce,

19   Saying: We haue sinned with our fathers, we haue done a misse, we haue dealt wickedly.

20   Thou that art gratious haue mercie vpon vs, or punishe our vnrighteousnes with thyne owne scourge, and geue not those ouer that knowledge thee, vnto a people which knowe thee not:

21   That they may not say among the heathen, Where is their God? D   

22   And when they were so weery with this crying and weeping that they helde their peace,

23   Osias stoode vp with watry eyes, and sayde: O take good heartes vnto you deare brethren [and be of good cheare,] and let vs wayte yet these fiue dayes for mercie of the Lorde:

24   Peraduenture he shal put away his indignation, ∧ geue glorie vnto his name.

25   But if he helpe vs not when the fiue dayes are past, we shall do as ye haue sayde.

The .viii. Chapter. 1 The parentage, life, and conuersation of Iudith. 11 She rebuketh the fayntnesse of the gouernours. 12 She sheweth that they shoulde not tempt God, but wayte vpon him for succour. 33 Her enterprise against the enemies. A   

1   And it happened, when these wordes came to the eares of Iudith a widdowe, which was the daughter of Merari, the sonne of Idox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Osia, the sonne of Elai, the sonne of Iamnor, the sonne of Gedeon, the sonne of Raphaim, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Melchia, the sonne of Enan, the sonne of Nathania, the sonne of Salathiel, the sonne of Simeon, the sonne of Ruben:

2   And her husband was called Manasses, whiche dyed in the dayes of the barlye haruest.

3   For whyle he was binding the sheaues together in the fielde, the heate came vpon his head, and he died at Bethulia his citie, and there was he buried beside his fathers.

4   Nowe was Iudith his desolate wyddowe three yeres, and sixe monethes.

5   And in the higher partes of her house she made her selfe a priuie chamber, where she dwelt, beyng closed in with her maydens.

6   She ware a smocke of heere, and fasted al the dayes of her life, except the Sabbathes, and newe moones, and the solempne dayes that the people of Israel kept. B   

7   She was a very faire and beautiful person, her husbande also had left her great riches, a plenteous houshold, great vnmoueable possessions, ∧ many cattell.

8   This Iudith was a woman of a very good report with euery one, for she feared the Lord greatly: and there was no body that spake an euyll worde of her.

9   When this Iudith hearde how Osias had promised the people that after the fift day he woulde geue vp the citie vnto the Assyrians, she sent for the elders, Chabri and Charmi.

10   And when they came to her, she sayde: What thing is this wherin Osias hath consented, that if God helpe not within fiue dayes he will geue ouer the citie to the Assyrians?

11   What are ye, that ye tempt the Lorde?

12   This deuice obtayneth no mercie of God: but prouoketh hym vnto wrath and displeasure.

13   Will ye set the mercie of the Lorde a time, and appoynt him a day after your will? C   

14   Neuerthelesse, for so much as the Lord is pacient, let vs rather repent in this, powring out teares, and beseching hym of grace.

15   For God threatneth not as a man, neither will he be prouoked vnto wrath as the children of men.

16   And therfore let vs heartyly fal downe before him, and serue hym with a meeke spirite,

17   And with weeping eyes say vnto the Lorde, that he deale with vs according to his owne wil speedyly in mercie: that like as our heart is nowe vexed and brought low through the pride of them, it ^note may so be comforted through his grace:

18   In so much as we folowe not the sinnes of our fathers, which forsoke their God and worshipped other gods:

19   For the which sinne they perished with the sword, were spoyled, and brought to shame of al their enemies: As for vs, we knowe none other God but only hym.

20   For whose comfort let vs tary with meekenesse, and he shall require ∧ make inquisition for our blood from the vexations of our enemies: he shall bring downe all the heathen that rise vp against vs, and put them to dishonour, euen the Lord our God. D   

21   Therefore deare brethren, seyng ye are the [honorable and] elders in the people of God, and their lyfe hangeth all vpon you, lift vp their heartes with your exhortation, that they may call to remembraunce howe our fathers also in times past were tempted, that they might be proued if they worshipped their God a right.

22   They ought to remember, howe ^note our father Abraham beyng tempted, ∧ tryed through many tribulations, ^note was found a louer and friende of God.

23   So was Isahac, so was Iacob, so was Moyses: and all they that pleased God, passed stedfast in faith through manyfolde troubles.

24   Againe, they that receaued not these temptations with the feare of God, but put them selues foorth with vnpatiencie and murmuring against God, E   

25   Perished of the destroyer, and were slaine of serpentes.

26   And therefore shoulde not we vndertake to be auenged for the thinges that are done vnto vs:

27   But to consider that all these punishmentes are farre lesse then our sinnes and misdeedes, and beleeuing that this correction commeth vnto vs as to the seruauntes of God, for amendement, and not for our destruction.

28   Then saide Osias and the elders vnto Iudith: All that thou speakest is true, and no man can reproue thy wordes.

29   Pray thou for vs now therefore [vnto God,] for thou art an holy woman, and fearest God.

30   And Iudith saide vnto them: Seing ye know that my wordes are of God, F   

31   Then proue my counsell and deuice if it be of God: and beseche God that he wyll bryng my counsell to good ende.

32   [Thus haue I deuised] Ye shall stande this night before the porte, and I wyll go foorth with Abra my mayden: and pray ye therefore vnto God, that he wyll graciously remember his people of Israel within fiue dayes, as ye haue saide.

33   As for the thing that I go in hande withall, aske ye no questions of it: and tyll I bring you word againe of it, do ye nothing els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me.

34   Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda, saide vnto her: Go thy way in peace, the Lorde be with thee, that we may be auenged of our enemies. And so they went from her againe. ¶2; The .ix. Chapter. 1 Iudith humbleth her selfe before the Lorde, and maketh her prayers for the delyueraunce of her people. 7 Against the pryde of the Assyrians, 11 God is the helpe of the humble. A   

1   Now when they were ^note gone their way, Iudith went into her closet, put on a heery smocke, strawed ashes vpon her head, fell downe before the Lorde, and cryed vnto him, saying:

2   O Lorde God of my father ^note Simeon, which gauest him a sword for ^note a defence against the enemies that vsed violence in their vncleannesse, and that rauished the virgin, [and] put her to shame and confusion:

3   Thou that gauest their wyues into a pray, and their daughters into captiuitie, and all their pray for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes which bare a zeale vnto thee: helpe me wydowe, O Lorde my God I beseche thee.

4   For thou hast made the first thinges: and after that, looke what thou hast taken in hande and deuised, it came euer to passe.

5   For all thy wayes are prepared, and thy iudgementes are put in thy euerlasting foreknowledge.

6   O looke now vpon the ^note armies of the Assyrians, lyke as it was thy pleasure sometime to looke vpon the hoast of the Egyptians, when they being weaponed persecuted thy seruauntes, and put their trust in their charettes, horsemen, and in the multitude of their men of warre. B   

7   But thou lookedst vpon their hoast, casting a thicke darkenesse before them.

8   And when they came into the deepe, the waters ouerwhelmed them.

9   Euen so Lord, let it go with these that trust in the power ∧ multitude of their men of warre, in their charets, arrowes, and speares:

10   And know not that thou onely art our God which destroyest warres from the beginning, ^note and that thou art the Lord.

11   O lyft vp thyne arme [now] lyke as euer from the beginning, and in thy power bryng their power to naught: cause their might to fall in thy wrath, which make their boast that they wyll vnhallowe and defile thy sanctuarie, and to waste the tabernacle of thy name, and to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with their sword.

12   Bryng to passe O Lord, that the pryde of ^note the enemie may be cut downe with

his owne sword. C   

13   That he may be taken with the snare of his eyes in me, and that thou mayest smyte him with the lyppes of my loue.

14   O geue me a stedfast mynde, that I may despyse him and his strength, and that I may destroy him.

15   This shall bryng thy name an euerlasting remembraunce, if the hande of a woman ouerthrowe him.

16   For thy power O Lord standeth not in the multitude [of men] neither hast thou any pleasure in the strength of horses, neither was there from the beginning any proude persons that pleased thee: but in the prayer of the humble ∧ meeke hath thy pleasure ben euermore.

17   O thou God of the heauens, thou maker of the waters, and Lorde of all creatures, heare me poore woman calling vpon thee and putting my trust in thy mercy.

18   Remember thy couenaunt O Lorde, and minister wordes in my mouth, and stablishe this deuice in my heart, that thy house may continue still in holynes: D   

19   And that all the heathen may knowe that thou art God, ∧ that there is none other but thou. ¶2; The .x. Chapter. 1 Iudith decketh her selfe and goeth foorth of the citie. 11 She is taken of the watch of the Assyrians and brought to Holophernes. A   

1   And when she had left of crying vnto the lord, she rose vp from the place where she had lyen flat before the Lord,

2   And called her mayden Abra, went downe into her house, layed the heery cloth from her, put of the garmentes of her wydowhood,

3   Washed her body, annoynted her selfe with precious thinges of sweete sauour, broyded and platted her heere, set a coyffe vpon her head, and put on such apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse, slippers vpon her feete, bracelettes, spanges, earynges, fynger rynges, and decked her selfe with all her best aray.

4   The Lorde gaue her also a speciall beautie and fairenesse: for all this decking of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse, but of a ryght discretion and vertue, therefore did the Lorde encrease her beautie, so that she was exceeding amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes.

5   She gaue her mayden Abra also a bottell of wine, a pot with oyle, pottage, cake bread and cheese: ∧ went her way.

6   Nowe when they came to the porte of the citie, they founde Osias and the elders of the citie wayting there: B   

7   Which when they sawe her, they were astonied, and marueyled greatly at her beautie.

8   Neuerthelesse, they asked no question at her, but let her go, saying: The God of our fathers geue thee grace, and with his power perfourme all the deuice of thy heart, that Hierusalem may reioyce ouer thee, and that thy name may be in the number of the holy ∧ righteous.

9   And all they that were there, saide with one voyce, So be it, so be it.

10   Iudith made her prayer vnto the Lorde, and went out at the porte, she and her mayde Abra.

11   And as she was going downe the mountayne, it happened that about the spryng of the day the spyes of the Assyrians met with her, and tooke her, saying: whence commest thou? or whyther goest thou?

12   She aunswered: I am a daughter of the Hebrues, and am fled from them: for I knowe that they shalbe geuen vnto you to be spoyled, because they thought scorne to yeelde them selues vnto you that they myght finde mercie in your sight. C   

13   Therefore haue I deuised by my selfe after this maner: I wyll go before the prince Holophernes and tell him all their secretes, and wyll shewe him how he may come by them, and winne them: so that not one man of his hoast shall perishe.

14   And when these men had heard her wordes, and considered her faire face, they were astonied (for they wondred at her excellent beautie)

15   And saide vnto her: Thou hast saued thy lyfe by findinge out this deuice, that

thou wouldest come downe to our lorde.

16   And be thou sure that when thou commest vnto him, he shall entreate thee well, and thou shalt please him at the heart. So they brought her in to Holophernes pauilion, and tolde him of her.

17   Nowe when she came in before him, immediately he was ouercome and taken with her beautie.

18   Then said his seruauntes: who would despise the people of the Iewes that haue so faire women? should we not by reason fight against them for these? D   

19   So when Iudith sawe Holophernes sitting in a canapie that was wrought of purple silke, golde, smaragde, and precious stones,

20   She looked fast vpon him, bowed her selfe, and fel downe vpon the earth: And Holophernes seruauntes tooke her vp agayne at their lordes commaundement. The .xj. Chapter. 1 Holophernes comforteth Iudith, 3 and asketh the cause of her comming. 5 She deceaueth him by her faire wordes. A   

1   Then said Holophernes vnto her, Be of good cheare, and feare not in thyne heart: for I neuer hurt man that would serue Nabuchodonosor the king.

2   As for thy people, if they had not despysed me, I should not haue lyft vp my speare against them.

3   But tell me nowe what is the cause that thou art departed from them, and wherefore art thou come vnto vs?

4   And Iudith saide vnto him, Syr, vnderstand the wordes of thy handemayden: for if thou wylt do after the wordes of thy handmayden, the Lorde shall bryng thy matter to a prosperous effect.

5   As Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth lyueth, and as his power liueth which is in thee to the punishment of all men that go wrong, al men shal not onely be subdued vnto him through thee, but al the beastes also of the fielde.

6   For all people speake of thy prudent actiuitie, and it hath euer ben reported how thou onely art good and mightie in all his kingdome, and thy ^note discretion is commended in all landes. B   

7   The thing is manifest also that Achior spake, ∧ it is well knowen what thou commaundest to do vnto him.

8   For this is playne and of a suretie, that our God is so wroth with vs by the reason of our sinnes, that he hath shewed by his prophetes vnto the people, howe that for their sinnes he wyll delyuer them ouer [vnto the enemie.]

9   And for so much as the children of Israel knowe that they haue so displeased their God, they are sore afrayde of thee.

10   They suffer great hunger also, and for want of water they are dead now in a maner.

11   Moreouer, they are appoynted to slay all their cattaile, that they may drinke the blood of them:

12   And are purposed to spend the holy thinges of their God which he hath forbydden them to touch, [as] of corne, wine, and oyle, ∧ they wil consume those thinges which they ought not to touch with their handes: Seing nowe that they do these thinges, it is a playne case that they must needes be destroyed. C   

13   Which when I thy handmayden perceaued, I fled from them: and the Lord hath sent me to shewe thee these thinges.

14   For I thy handmayden worship God euen here now besyde thee, and thy handmayden shal go foorth, and I wyl make my prayer vnto God:

15   And he shall tell me when he wyll rewarde them their sinne, then shall I come and shewe thee, and bring thee through the middest of Hierusalem, so that thou shalt haue al the people of Israel as sheepe without a shephearde, ∧ there shall not so much as one dogge barke against thee.

16   For these thinges are shewed me by the prouidence of God.

17   And for so much as God is displeased with them, he hath sent me to tell thee the same.

18   These wordes pleased Holophernes, and all his seruauntes: which marueyled at the wysedome of her, and said one to another:

19   There is not such a woman vp&obar; earth, in fauour, in beautie, and discretion of wordes.

20   And Holophernes said vnto her: God hath done well that he hath sent thee hither before thy people, that thou mayest geue them into our handes.

21   And for so much as thy promise is good, if thy God perfourme it vnto me, he shalbe my God also, and thou shalt be excellent and great in the court of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shalbe spoken of in all the lande. ¶2; The .xii. Chapter. 1 Iudith woulde not pollute her selfe with the meate of the Gentiles. 5 She maketh her request that she might go out by night to pray. 11 Holophernes causeth her to come to the banquet. A   

1   Then commaunded he her to go in where his treasure lay, and charged that she shoulde haue her dwellyng there, and appoynted what shoulde be geuen her from his table.

2   Iudith aunswered him, and saide: As for the meate that thou hast commaunded to geue me, I may not eate of it as now, lest I displease my God: but wyll eate of such as I haue brought with me.

3   Then saide Holophernes vnto her: If these thinges that thou hast brought with thee fayle, what shall we do vnto thee?

4   And Iudith saide: As thy soule lyueth my Lorde, thy handmayden shall not spend all this, tyl God hath brought to passe in my hande the thinges that I haue deuised. So his seruauntes brought her into the tent whereas he had appoynted.

5   And as she was going in, she desired that she might haue leaue to go foorth by night and before day to her prayer, and to make intercession vnto the Lord.

6   Then commaunded Holophernes his chamberlaynes, that she should go out and in at her pleasure, to pray vnto God those three dayes. B   

7   And so in the night season she went foorth into the valley of Bethulia, and washed her selfe in the well water.

8   And comming vp, she besought the Lorde God of Israel that he woulde prosper her way for the deliueraunce of his people.

9   And so she went in, ∧ remayned cleane in her tent, tyll she toke her meate in the euening.

10   Upon the fourth day it came to passe that Holophernes made a supper vnto his seruauntes, and saide vnto Uagao his chamberlayne: Go thy way, ∧ counsell this Hebruesse, that she may be wylling to consent to kepe company with me:

11   For it were a shame vnto all the Assyrians, that a woman shoulde so laugh a man to scorne, that she were come from him vnmedled withall.

12   Then went Uagao vnto Iudith, and saide: Let not the good daughter be afrayde to come in to my lorde, that she may be honoured before him, that she may eate and drinke wine and be mery with him. C   

13   Unto whom Iudith aunswered: Who am I, that I shoulde say my lorde nay?

14   Whatsoeuer is good and best before his eyes, I shal do it: and looke what is his pleasure, that shall I thinke well done as long as I lyue.

15   So she stoode vp, and deckt her selfe with her apparell, and went in ∧ stoode before him.

16   And Holophernes heart was whole moued: for he brent in desire towarde her.

17   And Holophernes saide vnto her: Drinke nowe and sit downe ∧ be mery, for thou hast founde fauour before me.

18   Then saide Iudith: Syr, I wyll drinke, for my minde is meryer to day then euer it was in all my lyfe. D   

16   And she toke, and did eate, and dranke before him, the thinges that her mayden had prepared for her.

20   And Holophernes was mery with her, and dranke more wine then euer he did afore in his lyfe.

¶2; The .xiii. Chapter. 7 Iudith prayeth for strength. 10 She smyteth of Holophernes head. 12 She returneth to Bethulia, and reioyceth her people.