1   Nowe at that time, Iudeth heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Ox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Oziel, the sonne of Elcia, the sonne of Ananias, the sonne of Gedeon, the sonne of Raphaim, the sonne of Acito, the sonne of Eliu, the sonne of Eliab, the sonne of Nathanael, the sonne of Samael, the sonne of Salasadai, the sonne of Israel.

2   And Manasses was her husband, of her stocke and kinred, who dyed in the barley haruest.

3   For as he was diligent ouer them that bound sheaues in the fielde, the heate came vpon his head, and he fell vpon his bed, and dyed in the citie of Bethulia, and they buryed him with his fathers in the fielde betweene Dothaim and Balamo.

4   So Iudeth was in her house a widowe three yeeres and foure moneths.

5   And she made her a tent vpon her house, and put on sackecloth on her loynes, and ware her widowes apparell.

6   And she fasted all the dayes of her widowhood, saue the day before the Sabbath & the Sabbaths, and the day before the newe moones, and in the feastes & solemne dayes of the house of Israel.

7   She was also of a goodly countenance and very beautifull to beholde: and her husbande Manasses had left her golde and siluer, and men seruants, and maide seruants, and cattell, and possessions, where she remained.

8   And there was none that coulde bring an euill report of her: for she feared God greatly.

9   Now when she heard the euil wordes of the people against the gouernour, because they fainted

for lacke of waters (for Iudeth had hearde all the wordes that Ozias had spoken vnto them, and that hee had ^note sworne vnto them to deliuer the citie vnto the Assyrians within fiue dayes)

10   Then she sent her maide, that had the gouernement of all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmisthe Ancients of the citie.

11   And they came vnto her, and she sayde vnto them, Heare me, O ye gouernors of the inhabitantes of Bethulia: for your words that ye haue spoken before the people this day, are not right, touching this othe which yee made and pronounced betweene God and you, and haue promised to deliuer the citie to the enemies, vnlesse within these dayes the Lord turne to helpe you.

12   And nowe who are you that haue tempted God this day, & set your selues in the place of God among the children of men?

13   So now you seeke the Lorde almightie, but you shall neuer know any thing.

14   For you cannot finde out the depth of the heart of man, neither can yee perceiue the thinges that hee thinketh: then howe can you search out God, that hath made all these things, and knowe his minde, or comprehende his purpose? Nay my brethren, prouoke not the Lord our God to anger.

15   For if he will not helpe vs within these fiue dayes, he hath power to defend vs wh&ebar; he will, euen euery day, or to destroy vs before our enemies.

16   Doe not you therefore binde the counsels of the Lord our God: For God is not as man that he may be threatned, neither as the sonne of man to be brought to iudgement.

17   Therefore let vs wayte for saluation of him and call vpon him to helpe vs, and hee will heare our voice if it please him.

18   For there appeareth none in our age, neither is there any nowe in these dayes, neither tribe, nor familie, nor people, nor citie among vs, which worship þe; gods made &wt; hands, as hath bene aforetime.

19   For ^note the which cause our fathers were giuen to the sworde, and for a spoyle, and had a great fall before our enemies.

20   But we know none other God: therefore we trust þt; he will not despise vs, nor any of our linage.

21   Neither when we shalbe taken, shal Iudea be so famous: for our Sanctuarie shalbe spoyled, & he will require the prophanation therof at our mouth,

22   And the feare of our brethren, and the captiuitie of the countrey, and the desolation of our inheritance will he turne vpon our heades among the Gentiles, wheresoeuer we shalbe in bondage, & we shall be an offence and a reproche to all them that possesse vs.

23   For our seruitude shall not be directed by fauour, but þe; Lord our God shal turne it to dishonour.

24   Now therefore, O brethren, let vs shew an example to our brethren, because their heartes depend vpon vs, and the Sanctuarie, and the House, and the altar rest vpon vs.

25   Moreouer, let vs giue thankes to þe; Lord our God, which tryeth vs euen as hee did our fathers.

26   Remember what things he did to ^note Abrah&abar;, and how he tryed Isaac, & al that he did to ^note Iacob in Mesopotamia of Syria when he kept the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother.

27   For hee hath not tried vs as he did them to the examination of their heartes, neither doth hee take vengeance on vs, but the Lorde punisheth for instruction them that come neere to him.

28   ¶2; Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken, hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that is able to resist thy words.

29   For it is not to day that thy wisedome is knowen, but from the beginning of thy life all the people haue knowen thy wisedome: for the deuice of thine heart is good.

30   But the people were very thirstie, and compelled vs to do vnto th&ebar;, as we haue spoken, & haue brought vs to an oth which we may not transgresse.

31   Therefore now pray for vs, because thou art an holy woman, that the Lord may send vs raine to fill our cisternes, and that we may faint no more.

32   Then sayd Iudeth vnto them, Heare mee, & I will doe a thing, which shall bee declared in all generations, to the children of our nation.

33   You shal stand this night in the gate, & I wil go forth with mine handmaide: & within þe; dayes that ye haue promised to deliuer the citie to our enemies, the Lord wil visite Israel by mine hand.

34   But inquire not you of mine acte: for I will not declare it vnto you, till the things be finished that I doe.

35   Then saide Ozias and the princes vnto her, Goe in peace, and the Lorde God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.

36   So they returned from the tent, and went to their wardes.

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