Part 298 (1/2)
13:12. And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to prayer, and they pa.s.sed the camp, and having compa.s.sed the valley, they came to the gate of the city.
13:13. And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls: Open the gates for G.o.d is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.
13:14. And it came to pa.s.s, when the men had heard her voice, that they called the ancients of the city.
13:15. And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they now had no hopes that she would come.
13:16. And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And when all had held their peace,
13:17. Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our G.o.d, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him.
13:18. And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his people by my hand this night.
13:19. Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general of the army of the a.s.syrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness, where the Lord our G.o.d slew him by the hand of a woman.
13:20. But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance.
13:21. Give all of you glory to him, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.
13:22. And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought.
13:23. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high G.o.d, above all women upon the earth.
13:24. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies.
13:25. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our G.o.d.
13:26. And all the people said: So be it, so be it.
13:27. And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The G.o.d of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this night by my hand.
13:28. And that thou mayst find that it is so, behold the head of Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride despised the G.o.d of Israel: and threatened them with death, saying: When the people of Israel shall be taken, I will command thy sides to be pierced with a sword.
13:29. Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned away.
13:30. But after he had recovered his spirits he fell down at her feet, and reverenced her, and said:
13:31. Blessed art thou by thy G.o.d in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in every nation which shall hear thy name, the G.o.d of Israel shall be magnified on occasion of thee.
Judith Chapter 14
The Israelites a.s.sault the a.s.syrians, who finding their general slain, are seized with a panic fear.
14:1. And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye up this head upon our walls.
14:2. And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms, and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an a.s.sault.
14:3. Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for the battle.
14:4. And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood, fear shall fall upon them.