Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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1 Holofernes said to Judith,
“Don't worry; there's no need
for you to be afraid. I have never
hurt anyone who was willing to
serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of the
whole world.
2 Even now, if your
people up in the mountains had not
insulted me, I would not have declared
war on them. They have
brought all this trouble on themselves.
3 But tell me, why have you
left them and come to us? You will
be safe here. No need to be afraid!
We have spared your life tonight,
and you are in no danger for the future.
4 No one here will harm you;
everyone will treat you well, like all
other servants of my master, Nebuchadnezzar.”
5 Then Judith said to Holofernes,
“Allow me to speak to you, my lord,
and please listen to what I have to
say. I will tell you the truth.
6 If you
follow my advice, God will do something
great with you, and my lord
will not fail in his plan.
7 For I swear
to you by the life and strength of
Nebuchadnezzar, king of the whole
world, who sent you to bring order
to all the subjects of his kingdom,
that not only have you made people
serve him, but because of you even
the wild animals, the livestock, and
the birds obey him. Because of you,
Nebuchadnezzar and his entire kingdom
will prosper. note note
8 We have heard
how wise and clever you are. The
whole world knows that you are the
most competent, skilled, and accomplished
general in the whole Assyrian
Empire.
9 Achior was rescued by
the men of Bethulia, and has told us
what he said at your war council.
10 Please, sir, do not dismiss lightly
what Achior told you, but take it seriously,
because it is true. No one
can harm or conquer our people unless
they sin against their God.
11 “But you will not suffer any setbacks,
nor will you fail to achieve
your goal. When the Israelites sin
and make their God angry, they will
die.
12 Their food supply has already
run out, and the water shortage has
become serious, so they have decided
to kill their livestock and eat
foods that God's Law clearly forbids
them to eat.
13 They have decided to
eat the wheat set aside from the early
harvest and the tithes of wine and
oil, which are holy and are reserved
for the priests who serve God in Jerusalem.
The rest of us are forbidden
even to touch this sacred food, note
14 but
since the people in Jerusalem have
already broken this law, the people
of our town have sent messengers to
the Council there requesting permission
to do the same.
15 On the day
that they receive permission and actually
eat the food, you will be able
to destroy them.
16 As soon as I
learned about this, I ran away from
my people. God has sent me to do
something with you that will amaze
everyone in the entire world who
hears about it.
17 Sir, I am a religious
woman; I worship the God of heaven
day and night. I will stay here in
your camp, and each night I will go
out into the valley to pray to God,
and he will tell me when the Israelites
have sinned.
18 As soon as I find
out, I will come and tell you, and you
can march out with your whole
army. The Israelites will not be able
to defend themselves against you.
19 I will guide you through the central
part of the land of Judah until
we come to Jerusalem, where I will
crown you king in the center of the
city. You will scatter the people of
Jerusalem like sheep without a shepherd.
Not even a dog will dare to
growl at you. God has revealed these
things to me in advance and has sent
me to report them to you.”
-- --
20 Holofernes and his personal
servants were pleased with what Judith
had said, and they admired her
wisdom.
21 “She must be the wisest
and most beautiful woman in the
world,” they commented one to another.
22 Then Holofernes said to her,
“It's a good thing that God has sent
you here to bring us victory and to
destroy those who have insulted
King Nebuchadnezzar.
23 Not only
are you beautiful, but you know how
to make a speech. If you do as you
have promised, your God will be my
God. You will live in King Nebuchadnezzar's
palace and will be famous
throughout the world.”
Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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