
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}It was in the 
twelfth year of the reign 
of Nebuchadnezzar, king 
of the Assyrians, who 
ruled in the great city 
of Nineveh that, at the 
same time, Arphaxad, king 
of the Medes, ruled at 
Ecbatana. 
{I}2_{/}Arphaxad had 
built around Ecbatana 
ramparts of stone, with 
each stone cut to the 
size of one and a half 
meters wide and three 
meters long. The ramparts 
were thirty-five meters 
high and twenty-five 
meters wide. {I}3_{/}He 
built at the gates city 
towers which were fifty 
meters high and rested on 
foundations twenty meters 
wide. {I}4_{/}The gates 
themselves were thirty-
five meters high and 
twenty meters wide, wide 
enough for his valiant 
warriors and foot 
soldiers to march through 
them in battle array. 
{I}5_{/}In those days, 
King Nebuchadnezzar made 
war on King Arphaxad in 
the Great Plain, that is, 
the plain near the 
territory of the Ragae.
{I}6_{/}All the people 
who lived in the 
mountains, those who 
lived along the banks of 
the rivers Euphrates, 
Tigris and Hydaspes, 
those on the plains of 
Arioch, king of the 
Elamites, and many other 
peoples joined the ranks 
of the Chaldeans to fight 
against the sons of 
Cheleoud.
{I}7_{/}Nebuchadnezzar, 
king of the Assyrians, 
sent his messengers to 
all those living in 
Persia and in the West, 
to the inhabitants of 
Cilicia, Damascus, 
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, 
to those along the 
seacoast, {I}8_{/}to the 
people of Carmel, Gilead, 
Upper Galilee and the 
Great Plain of Esdraelon, 
{I}9_{/}to those in 
Samaria and its towns, 
and beyond the Jordan as 
far as Jerusalem, 
Bethany, Chelous, Kadesh, 
the River of Egypt, 
Tahpanhes, Raamses, and 
all the country of Goshen 
{I}10_{/}as far as the 
region beyond Tanis and 
Memphis, and to all the 
inhabitants of Egypt as 
far as the country of 
Ethiopia.
{I}11_{/}But the 
inhabitants of all these 
regions took no notice of 
the order of 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
the Assyrians, and did 
not join him in waging 
war. They no longer 
feared him because they 
considered him just like 
any other man. They sent 
back his messengers 
empty-handed and 
shamefaced. 
{I}12_{/}Nebuchadnezzar 
was greatly enraged 
against all these regions 
and swore by his throne 
and by his kingdom to 
punish all the districts 
of Cilicia, Damascus and 
Syria, and to put to the 
sword all who were in the 
lands of Moab, Ammon, the 
whole of Judea, and all 
those in Egypt as far as 
the coasts between the 
two seas. {I}13_{/}In the 
seventeenth year, 
Nebuchadnezzar went to 
battle with his army 
against King Arphaxad, 
and conquered him in the 
campaign. He drove back 
the army of Arphaxad with 
all his cavalry and 
chariots. 
{I}14_{/}Nebuchadnezzar 
occupied all the cities. 
Finally, he reached 
Ecbatana where he 
demolished its towers, 
pillaged the streets of 
the city and reduced its 
splendor to ruins. 
{I}15_{/}He pursued 
Arphaxad into the 
mountains of the Ragae, 
pierced him through with 
arrows and utterly 
destroyed him. 
{I}16_{/}Then he returned 
to Nineveh with a great 
crowd of followers and a 
considerable multitude of 
soldiers. He and his 
entire army stayed there 
amusing themselves and 
feasting for one hundred 
and twenty days.
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}On the twenty-
second day of the first 
month in the eighteenth 
year of his reign, there 
was talk in the House of 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
the Assyrians, of 
punishing all those who 
had disobeyed the king's 
commands. {I}2_{/}He 
called together his 
ministers and his 
noblemen, and told them 
his secret plan. 
{I}3_{/}He proclaimed 
publicly the total 
destruction of the land 
and the punishment of all 
those who had disregarded 
his call.
{I}4_{/}As soon as 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
the Assyrians, had made 
this decision, he 
summoned Holofernes, the 
chief general of his army 
who was second in 
command, and said to him, 
{I}5_{/}"So says the 
Great King, Lord of all 
the earth, you will set 
out from my presence, 
taking with you men of 
true courage, about one 
hundred and twenty 
thousand foot soldiers 
and a great number of 
horses with about twelve 
thousand cavalrymen. 
{I}6_{/}You will go to 
all the countries in the 
West and punish all the 
peoples, because they 
disregarded my orders. 
{I}7_{/}Tell them to 
submit themselves to me 
on land and water, lest 
in my anger I myself 
march against them. I 
will cover all the face 
of the earth with the 
footprints of my army, 
and I will give them over 
to my men to be plundered 
by them. {I}8_{/}The 
ravines will be filled 
with their wounded, 
rivers and torrents will 
be full of their dead. 
{I}9_{/}I will lead away 
their prisoners as 
captives to the uttermost 
parts of the earth. 
{I}10_{/}Go, then, and 
occupy in my name all 
their territories; if 
they surrender to you, 
keep them for me that I 
may punish them. 
{I}11_{/}Show no pity to 
those who resist you. 
Hand them over to be 
massacred and plundered 
throughout all their 
lands. {I}12_{/}For, as 
truly as I live and by 
the power of my kingdom, 
I will carry out with my 
own hands what I have 
said. {I}13_{/}And you, 
do not disobey the words 
of your lord nor fail to 
carry them out exactly as 
I have instructed you. Do 
not change any of them."
{I}14_{/}Holofernes went 
out from the presence of 
his lord and called 
together all the chiefs 
of staff, the generals 
and commanders of the 
army of Assyria. 
{I}15_{/}He gathered 
about a hundred and 
twenty thousand specially 
chosen men for the army 
as his lord had ordered 
him, and twelve thousand 
archers. {I}16_{/}He 
arranged them in battle 
positions. {I}17_{/}He 
took along camels, 
donkeys and mules to 
carry the baggage, and a 
great number of sheep, 
oxen, and goats for their 
food. {I}18_{/}He took a 
sufficient quantity of 
provisions for each man, 
and an abundant supply of 
gold and silver from the 
king's treasury.
{I}19_{/}Then Holofernes 
set out on the march with 
all his army, with their 
chariots, cavalry and 
picked foot soldiers 
going ahead of King 
Nebuchadnezzar to cover 
all the lands to the West 
with this army. 
{I}20_{/}They were 
accompanied by a great 
crowd of people, so many 
were they that they were 
like locusts or the dust 
of the earth.
{I}21_{/}After marching 
for three days from 
Nineveh, Holofernes and 
his men reached the plain 
of Bectileth where they 
encamped before the city, 
near the mountains to the 
north of Upper Cilicia. 
{I}22_{/}Then Holofernes 
took all his army, foot 
soldiers, cavalry and 
chariots, and marched 
into the mountain region. 
{I}23_{/}He utterly 
destroyed Put and Lud, 
and plundered all the 
land of Rassis and of 
Ishmael on the border of 
the desert to the south 
of the country of the 
Chaldeans. {I}24_{/}Then 
he followed the 
Euphrates, crossed 
Mesopotamia and destroyed 
all the cities high above 
the torrent of Abron 
until he reached the sea. 
{I}25_{/}He took 
possession of the land of 
Cilicia, and cut down all 
who opposed him, and 
arrived at the land of 
Japheth in the south 
toward Arabia. 
{I}26_{/}He surrounded 
all the children of 
Midian, burned their 
tents and destroyed their 
livestock. {I}27_{/}Then 
descending to the plain 
of Damascus at the time 
of the wheat harvest, he 
burned all their fields, 
scattered all their 
animals and killed the 
young ones, pillaged 
their villages, 
devastated their plains, 
and put all their young 
men to the sword.
{I}28_{/}The fear and 
terror of him fell upon 
all the inhabitants of 
the seacoast, those in 
Tyre and Sidon, in Sur, 
Ocina and Jamnia. The 
people of Azotus and 
Ascalon also feared him.

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}They therefore 
sent messengers to 
Holofernes offering him 
terms of peace: 
{I}2_{/}"See, we consider 
ourselves as servants of 
Nebuchadnezzar, the great 
king, do with us as you 
will. {I}3_{/}All our 
farms, our whole 
territory, all our 
wheatfields, our oxen and 
our sheepfolds lie before 
you - use them as you 
please. {I}4_{/}See, our 
towns and all their 
inhabitants are yours, 
deal with them as you 
wish." {I}5_{/}These men 
went to Holofernes and 
repeated these words.
{I}6_{/}Then Holofernes 
moved down to the 
seacoast with his army. 
He stationed garrisons in 
the hill cities and took 
from them men whom he 
chose as auxiliaries. 
{I}7_{/}The people of 
these cities received 
him, as did all the 
people of the surrounding 
countryside, with 
garlands, singing and 
dancing to the music of 
tambourines. 
{I}8_{/}Nevertheless, he 
still laid waste all 
their land, cut down 
their sacred woods and 
destroyed all their gods, 
that all people of all 
languages and nations 
might worship 
Nebuchadnezzar alone and 
proclaim him as god.
{I}9_{/}Then he arrived 
opposite Esdraelon, near 
Dothan, facing the great 
chain of Judean hills. 
{I}10_{/}He encamped 
between Geba Scythopolis, 
and remained there a 
month in order to 
reorganize the provisions 
of his army.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}The children of 
Israel in Judea  learned 
what had happened to the 
other nations at the 
hands of Holofernes, the 
chief general of 
Nebuchadnezzar, the king 
of the Assyrians, and how 
he had plundered the 
neighboring villages and 
destroyed their 
sanctuaries. {I}2_{/}And 
they trembled with great 
fear because of him. They 
were anxious about 
Jerusalem and the Temple 
of the Lord their God, 
{I}3_{/}since they had 
only recently returned 
from exile. The people of 
Judea had just come 
together and the new 
furnishings of the Altar 
and the Sanctuary had 
just been consecrated 
after being profaned. 
{I}4_{/}They sent 
messengers to warn all 
the inhabitants of the 
territory of Samaria, 
Kona, Beth-horon, 
Belmain, Jericho, Choba 
and Aesora, and the 
valley of Salem. 
{I}5_{/}They occupied all 
the summits of the 
mountains, fortified the 
ramparts of the towns and 
prepared stores of 
foodstuff and provisions 
for the war, since their 
field had just been 
harvested.
{I}6_{/}Joakim, the high 
priest, who was in 
Jerusalem in those days, 
wrote to the inhabitants 
of Bethulia and 
Betomesthaim opposite 
Esdraelon, at the 
entrance to the plain of 
Dothan. {I}7_{/}He told 
them to seize and fortify 
the mountain passes 
because it was by them 
that Holofernes would 
enter Judea. There it 
would be easy to stop 
those who were advancing 
since the narrow passes 
allowed no more than two 
men to go forward at a 
time.
{I}8_{/}The children of 
Israel obeyed the orders 
of Joakim and of the 
Council of the Elders 
which assembled in 
Jerusalem. {I}9_{/}All 
the people of Israel 
called upon God with 
great fervor and humbled 
themselves before him. 
{I}10_{/}Men, women and 
children, including the 
animals, all the 
foreigners who resided 
among them, their 
laborers and slaves, all 
clothed themselves in 
sackcloth. {I}11_{/}All 
the men of Israel in 
Jerusalem, with their 
wives and children, bowed 
before the Temple, 
sprinkled ashes on their 
heads and held out their 
hands in supplication 
before the Lord. 
{I}12_{/}They covered the 
Altar in sackcloth, and 
with one voice earnestly 
begged the God of Israel 
not to let their children 
be massacred, their wives 
raped, their towns 
destroyed and their 
Sanctuary profaned, that 
they might not become the 
laughingstock of other 
nations.
{I}13_{/}The Lord heard 
their prayer and looked 
upon their anguish. The 
people throughout the 
whole of Judea fasted for 
many days, and those in 
Jerusalem fasted before 
the Sanctuary of the Lord 
Almighty. {I}14_{/}The 
high priest Joakim, with 
all the priests and 
ministers, stood before 
the Lord dressed in 
sackcloth, and offered 
continual sacrifice, 
prayers and the voluntary 
gifts of the people. 
{I}15_{/}They put ashes 
on their turbans and 
cried out with all their 
strength to the Lord, 
asking him to watch over 
the whole house of 
Israel.
{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}It was reported 
to Holofernes that the 
people of Israel were 
prepared for war, that 
they had closed the 
mountain passes, 
fortified the ramparts on 
the summits of all the 
high mountains and placed 
blockades in the plains. 
{I}2_{/}Seething with 
anger, Holofernes called 
the leaders of the 
Moabites, the generals of 
Ammon and all the 
governors of the 
Seacoast, {I}3_{/}and 
said to them, "Tell me, 
sons of Canaan, who are 
these people living in 
the mountain region? 
Which towns do they 
inhabit? What is the 
strength of their army? 
In what does their power 
and strength consist? Who 
has been placed at their 
head as commander of 
their army? {I}4_{/}Why 
have they not appeared 
before me like everyone 
else in the West?"
{I}5_{/}Achior, commander 
of the Ammonites, said to 
him, "May my Lord listen 
to the word spoken by 
your servant, for I will 
tell you the truth about 
these people from the 
mountain region whom you 
now encounter. 
{I}6_{/}These people 
descend from the 
Chaldeans. {I}7_{/}They 
settled first in 
Mesopotamia, for they did 
not wish to worship any 
longer the gods of their 
fathers who lived in 
Chaldea. {I}8_{/}They 
abandoned the religion of 
their ancestors, and 
worshiped the God of 
Heaven, a God whom they 
had come to recognize. 
Because of this their 
fathers drove them out 
and they fled to 
Mesopotamia where they 
dwelt for a long time. 
{I}9_{/}Then their God 
told them to leave the 
country where they had 
settled and go to the 
land of Canaan. They went 
to live there, and 
acquired an abundance of 
gold and silver and 
numerous herds of cattle.
{I}10_{/}There was famine 
throughout the land of 
Canaan, so they went down 
into Egypt where they 
remained as long as there 
was food. Then they 
became so numerous that 
their race could not be 
counted. {I}11_{/}But the 
king of Egypt rose up 
against them and tricked 
them into making bricks, 
and they were humiliated 
and made into slaves. 
{I}12_{/}They called upon 
their God who punished 
the whole of Egypt with 
such incurable plagues 
that the Egyptians drove 
them out. {I}13_{/}Then 
God dried up the Red Sea 
in front of them 
{I}14_{/}and he led them 
along the route of Sinai 
and Kadesh Barnea. The 
Israelites drove all the 
inhabitants into the 
desert; {I}15_{/}they 
inhabited the country of 
the Amorites and wiped 
out the Heshbonites. 
Then, having crossed the 
Jordan, they took 
possession of all the 
hill country, 
{I}16_{/}driving out the 
Canaanites, the 
Perizzites, the 
Jebusites, the 
Shechemites, and the 
Gergesites, and they 
lived there for a long 
time.
{I}17_{/}As long as they 
did not offend God, they 
prospered, because their 
God who hates wrongdoing 
was on their side. 
{I}18_{/}But when they 
strayed from the path he 
had set for them, they 
were completely 
annihilated in many 
battles, and they were 
led off into captivity in 
a country not their own. 
The temple of their God 
was leveled to the ground 
and their cities were 
occupied by their 
enemies. {I}19_{/}Now 
that they have turned 
again to their God, they 
have returned from exile 
from the various places 
in which they had been 
scattered. They have 
retaken Jerusalem where 
their Sanctuary is and 
they have settled in the 
mountain region because 
it has remained deserted. 
{I}20_{/}And now, 
Sovereign Lord, we must 
find out if there is any 
wrongdoing in this 
people. {I}21_{/}If they 
are sinning against their 
God, then we shall march 
against them and we shall 
conquer. But if there is 
no sinfulness in their 
nation, then, my Lord, 
turn aside from them for 
fear that their Lord and 
God will cover them with 
his shield and the whole 
world will witness our 
downfall."
{I}22_{/}Now it happened 
that when Achior had 
finished speaking, all 
the people standing in a 
circle around the tent 
began criticizing and 
protesting. The officers 
of Holofernes and all the 
inhabitants of the 
seacoast and of Moab 
wanted to beat him black 
and blue. They said, 
{I}23_{/}"We are not 
afraid of the children of 
Israel. Look, they are a 
people with no strength 
or energy to sustain a 
violent conflict. 
{I}24_{/}Let us go forth, 
and they will be like 
bread for your whole 
army, O Lord Holofernes!"
{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}When the tumult 
among the men standing 
around the tent had died 
down, Holofernes, general 
in chief of the Assyrian 
army, said to Achior in 
the presence of all the 
foreigners and all the 
people of Moab, 
{I}2_{/}"Who are you, 
Achior, you and all the 
people bribed by Israel 
to prophesy against us as 
you have done today? Why 
do you counsel us not to 
make war on the race of 
Israel because their God 
will cover them with a 
shield? Who is God, if 
not Nebuchadnezzar. He 
will send out his army 
and wipe them off the 
face of the earth and 
their God will not save 
them. {I}3_{/}But we, the 
king's servants, will 
crush them as though they 
were just one man. They 
will not withstand the 
onslaught of our horses. 
{I}4_{/}We will burn the 
whole lot of them in 
their own homes. Their 
mountains will be soaked 
with their blood, their 
plains will be full of 
their dead. They will not 
be able to hold their 
ground before us. Most 
surely they will perish, 
as King Nebuchadnezzar, 
lord of all the earth, 
had foretold. He said it 
and the words he has 
uttered will not be in 
vain.
{I}5_{/}But you, Achior, 
an Ammonite mercenary who 
has today uttered these 
words to your shame, from 
now on you will not see 
my face until I avenge 
myself on this race who 
came from Egypt. 
{I}6_{/}The sword of my 
soldiers and the lance of 
my officers will pierce 
your sides. When I return 
from battle, your body 
will be with all the dead 
of Israel. {I}7_{/}My 
servants will lead you 
into the mountain region 
and will deposit you in 
one of the towns which 
are on the slopes, 
{I}8_{/}so that you will 
share the same fate as 
the rest of them. 
{I}9_{/}But if you 
believe that they will 
not be taken, then do not 
put on such a long face. 
I have spoken and not one 
of my words will be 
without effect."
{I}10_{/}Holofernes 
ordered his guards who 
were standing in the tent 
to seize Achior, take him 
to Bethulia and hand him 
over into the hands of 
the Israelites. 
{I}11_{/}The servants 
seized him and took him 
outside the camp onto the 
plain; from the middle of 
the plain they took him 
towards the mountain 
country and reached the 
springs which were at the 
foot of Bethulia. 
{I}12_{/}When the men of 
the town at the top of 
the mountain saw them 
coming, they took their 
weapons, went out of the 
town to the summit of the 
mountain, and those who 
were armed with catapults 
tried to stop their 
ascent by slinging stones 
at them. {I}13_{/}The 
guards took shelter, tied 
up Achior and left him 
lying on the ground at 
the foot of the mountain. 
They then returned to 
their lord.
{I}14_{/}The sons of 
Israel descended from the 
town and went up to 
Achior, and having untied 
him, they led him to 
Bethulia, and took him to 
the rulers of the town, 
{I}15_{/}who in those 
days were Uzziah the son 
of Micah of the tribe of 
Simeon, Chabris the son 
of Gothoniel, and Charmis 
the son of Melchiel. 
{I}16_{/}As they called 
for a meeting of all the 
elders of the town, the 
young people and the 
women also joined the 
assembly. They placed 
Achior in the midst of 
the assembled people and 
Uzziah asked him what had 
happened. {I}17_{/}In 
reply he told them about 
the council meeting of 
Holofernes and all that 
he himself had said to 
the leaders of the 
Assyrians. He also told 
them of the threatening 
words of Holofernes 
against Israel.
{I}18_{/}The people threw 
themselves down on the 
ground, worshiped God and 
called upon his help 
saying, {I}19_{/}"Lord 
God of Heaven, take into 
consideration the 
insolence of the 
Assyrians and have pity 
on your humiliated 
people. Look this day 
upon those who are 
consecrated to you." 
{I}20_{/}They encouraged 
Achior and congratulated 
him warmly. {I}21_{/}Then 
Uzziah led him from the 
assembly into his own 
house and gave a meal for 
the elders. All through 
the night the people 
called upon the God of 
Israel, begging him to 
come to their aid.
{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}The next day 
Holofernes gave an order 
to the whole of his army 
and to those people who 
had come to his help to 
move camp in the 
direction of Bethulia, to 
occupy the mountain 
slopes and to wage war 
against the Israelites. 
{I}2_{/}All his valiant 
warriors moved that day; 
the forces of fighting 
men numbered one hundred 
and seventy thousand foot 
soldiers and twelve 
thousand cavalry, without 
counting the baggage and 
the men who looked after 
it as well as the crowd 
of people who accompanied 
them - a considerable 
crowd. {I}3_{/}They 
camped in the valley near 
Bethulia, near the 
spring; they spread out 
the whole width from 
Dothan to Belbain, and 
the length from Bethulia 
to Cyamon which faces 
Esdraelon.
{I}4_{/}When the 
Israelites saw how 
numerous they were, they 
were extremely afraid and 
said to one another, 
"Without doubt this crowd 
is going to devour all 
the country, neither the 
high mountains nor the 
ravines nor the hills 
will be able to put a 
stop to their progress." 
{I}5_{/}Nonetheless each 
one seized his fighting 
equipment; they lit fires 
on the tops of the towers 
and kept watch all that 
night.
{I}6_{/}The second day, 
Holofernes lined up all 
his cavalry in front of 
the Israelites in 
Bethulia. {I}7_{/}He 
observed the approaches 
to their town, discovered 
the sources supplying 
water, seized them and 
stationed guards over 
them, then he returned to 
his army. {I}8_{/}The 
leaders of the Edomites, 
the commanders of the 
Moabites and the generals 
of the Seacoast 
approached Holofernes and 
said, {I}9_{/}"Let our 
Master listen to us, and 
your army will not suffer 
loss. {I}10_{/}This 
people of Israel really 
do not put their trust in 
javelins but in the 
height of the mountains 
which they inhabit, for 
it is not easy to reach 
the summit of their 
mountains. 
{I}11_{/}Master, if you 
wish to save the lives of 
your men, do not fight 
against them in battle 
formation. 
{I}12_{/}Remain in your 
camp and keep all the men 
in your army safe but let 
us take possession of the 
spring which flows at the 
foot of the mountain, 
{I}13_{/}because it is 
from there that the 
people of Bethulia draw 
all their water. They 
will be dying of thirst 
and so they will hand 
over their town. We and 
our people will scale the 
summits of the 
neighboring mountains and 
set up outposts to 
prevent anyone from 
leaving the town. 
{I}14_{/}The famine will 
destroy them; men, women 
and children will be 
lying dead in the streets 
of their town before ever 
the sword is raised 
against them. {I}15_{/}So 
you will have punished 
them severely for having 
rebelled and for not 
having come out to meet 
you with offers of 
peace."
{I}16_{/}This advice 
pleased Holofernes and 
all his officers, and he 
agreed to do what they 
said. {I}17_{/}The 
Moabites, with five 
thousand Assyrians, moved 
camp; they encamped in 
the valley and cut off 
the springs and the water 
supply from the 
Israelites. {I}18_{/}The 
Edomites and the 
Ammonites climbed up and 
camped on the mountain 
near Dothan; they sent 
some of their men to the 
south and to the east 
facing Egrebel, near 
Chusi, which is on the 
torrent of Mochmur. The 
rest of the Assyrian army 
encamped in the plain, 
covering the whole 
countryside. The camp 
site covered by their 
tents and their bag-gage 
spread out wide for they 
were an enormous crowd.
THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF THE 
PEOPLE{/}

{I}19_{/}Disheartened, 
the people of Israel 
called upon the Lord 
their God because their 
enemies had encircled 
them and had cut off all 
means of escape. 
{I}20_{/}All the Assyrian 
army, its foot soldiers, 
its chariots and horsemen 
surrounded them for 
thirty-four days. 
{I}21_{/}The inhabitants 
of Bethulia saw the water 
jars becoming empty and 
the wells running dry so 
that drinking water had 
to be rationed every day. 
{I}22_{/}The small 
children became weak with 
thirst; the women and the 
young collapsed in the 
streets and gateways of 
the town. {I}23_{/}Then 
everyone - men, women, 
young people and children 
- gathered and accused 
Uzziah and the leaders of 
the town. 
They called out with loud 
cries and said before all 
the elders, {I}24_{/}"May 
God judge between you and 
us, for you are the cause 
of this misfortune by not 
engaging in peaceful 
negotiations with the 
Assyrians. {I}25_{/}And 
now there is no one who 
can bring us any help; 
God has delivered us into 
the hands of these pagans 
in such a way that we lie 
dying before them from 
great thirst and misery. 
{I}26_{/}You must call on 
the Assyrians and let the 
whole army of Holofernes 
pillage us. {I}27_{/}It 
is better for us to 
become their booty, for 
then we shall become 
slaves, but at least we 
shall live and not have 
to see our women, our 
older children and the 
little ones die before 
our eyes. {I}28_{/}We 
urge you by heaven and 
earth and by our God, the 
Lord of our fathers, who 
punishes us according to 
our sins and the sins of 
our fathers: make this 
decision this very day."
{I}29_{/}Altogether they 
raised a great 
lamentation in the midst 
of the assembly, and they 
cried out with a loud 
voice to the Lord God.
{I}30_{/}Then Uzziah said 
to them, "Have 
confidence, my brothers; 
hold out for five days 
more, during which time 
the Lord our God will 
show us his mercy, for he 
will not abandon us 
forever. {I}31_{/}If 
these days pass without 
his coming to our help, 
then we shall do what you 
say." {I}32_{/}Then he 
dismissed the men, each 
to his post, and they 
went towards the ramparts 
and the towers of the 
town, and he sent the 
women and children back 
to their homes. Now there 
was a great depression 
throughout the town.
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}The news of what 
had happened came in 
those days to Judith, 
daughter of Merari, son 
of Joseph, of Oziel, of 
Elkiah, of Ananias, of 
Gideon, of Raphain, of 
Ahitub, of Elijah, of 
Hilkiah, of Eliab, of 
Nathanael, of Salamiel, 
of Sarasadai, of Israel. 
{I}2_{/}Her husband was 
Manasseh, of the same 
tribe and family. He had 
died during the 
harvesting of the barley 
{I}3_{/}as he was 
supervising the reapers 
who were binding the 
sheaves on the plain; he 
suffered sunstroke, took 
to his bed and died in 
Bethulia, his town. He 
was buried with his 
ancestors in the field 
which lies between Dothan 
and Balamon.
JUDITH: THE JEWESS WHO 
NEVER WAVERED IN HER 
FAITH{/}

{I}4_{/}As a widow, 
Judith remained in her 
house for three years and 
four months. {I}5_{/}She 
had built a room on the 
rooftop of the house 
where she lived. 
{I}6_{/}She covered 
herself in sackcloth, put 
on widow's garments and 
fasted all the days of 
her widowhood with the 
exception of the eves of 
the Sabbath, the Sabbath 
day, the eves of the new 
moons, the days of the 
new moons, and all the 
celebrations of the 
people of Israel. 
{I}7_{/}She was 
exceedingly beautiful and 
very pleasing to look at. 
Manasseh, her husband, 
had left her gold, 
silver, servants, cattle 
and fields and she 
remained the owner of all 
this estate. {I}8_{/}No 
one could say anything 
evil of her because she 
greatly feared God.
{I}9_{/}She heard of the 
threatening words which 
the people had addressed 
to their leaders because 
they were downcast, 
suffering from lack of 
water. Judith also heard 
all that Uzziah had 
promised in reply, how he 
had sworn to hand over 
their city to the 
Assyrians at the end of 
five days. {I}10_{/}So 
she sent the maidservant 
who looked after her 
affairs, to call Chabris 
and Charmis, two elders 
of the town, to come and 
see her. {I}11_{/}They 
came to her house and she 
said to them, "Listen to 
me, you elders of 
Bethulia, for the words 
which you have spoken in 
front of the people today 
are not right. You did 
wrong to take an oath 
between God and 
yourselves, and to say 
that you would hand over 
the town to our enemies 
if, within a certain 
number of days, the Lord 
does not come to your 
help. {I}12_{/}Who are 
you to put God to the 
test and take God's place 
when you answered the 
people? {I}13_{/}That is 
not the way to call for 
his mercy, but rather, 
one that leads to his 
wrath. {I}14_{/}For if 
you cannot probe the 
depths of the human heart 
nor know what a man is 
thinking, how can you 
understand the God who 
has made all things? Do 
you know his mind or 
understand his thoughts? 
No, my brothers, do not 
annoy the Lord our God. 
{I}15_{/}For if he does 
not wish to come to our 
help within these five 
days, he has the power to 
protect us for as many 
days as he wishes or else 
to annihilate us in front 
of our enemies.
{I}16_{/}As for 
yourselves, do not 
challenge the designs of 
the Lord our God, for God 
cannot give in to threats 
as a man does, nor can 
any decision be imposed 
upon him as it can on the 
sons of men. 
{I}17_{/}That is why, 
while waiting patiently 
for him to save us, let 
us beg him to come to our 
help. He will listen to 
our plea, if it pleases 
him. {I}18_{/}For it has 
not happened in our 
generation nor is there 
among us today any tribe 
or family or people or 
city that worships gods 
made by human hands, as 
happened in days past. 
{I}19_{/}It was for that 
reason that our fathers 
were handed over to be 
slain by the sword and 
pillaged, and that they 
suffered great disaster 
at the hands of their 
enemies. {I}20_{/}But we 
do not recognize any 
other god than the One 
God, therefore let us 
hope that he will not 
look with contempt on us 
or on any of our race.
{I}21_{/}If the enemies 
capture us, so in the 
same way, the whole of 
Judea will be taken; our 
Sanctuary will be 
pillaged and we will 
answer for its 
profanation with our 
blood. {I}22_{/}God will 
bring upon our heads the 
murder of our brothers, 
the bondage of our 
country and the 
devastation of our 
heritage. Wherever among 
the nations we shall be 
slaves, we shall be 
maltreated by those to 
whom we belong. 
{I}23_{/}Our enslavement 
will not be changed in 
our favor, but the Lord 
our God will turn it into 
dishonor. {I}24_{/}Now, 
my brothers, let us show 
our fellow countrymen 
that their lives depend 
on ours; that the safety 
of the Sanctuary, the 
Temple and the Altar 
rests with us.
{I}25_{/}Much more, let 
us thank the Lord our God 
who is putting us to the 
test as he did our 
fathers. 
{I}26_{/}Remember what he 
did with Abraham, all the 
trials to which he 
subjected Isaac and all 
those that happened to 
Jacob in Mesopotamia of 
Syria where he looked 
after the sheep of Laban, 
his mother's brother. 
{I}27_{/}Is not God 
making us pass through 
fire as he did the others 
to prove their hearts? 
The Lord is not punishing 
us, but he scourges those 
who draw near to him in 
order to admonish them."
{I}28_{/}Uzziah said to 
her, "All that you have 
said has been said with 
wisdom and no one can 
contradict your words. 
{I}29_{/}In fact it is 
not just today that your 
wisdom is evident, but 
ever since your early 
days all the people have 
recognized your 
intelligence and the 
natural goodness of your 
heart. {I}30_{/}But the 
people were suffering 
great thirst so they 
forced us to carry out 
what we have said, and 
they have charged us with 
an oath which we cannot 
break. {I}31_{/}Since you 
are a devout woman, pray 
for us that the Lord will 
send rain to fill our 
reservoirs and we shall 
no longer be exhausted."
{I}32_{/}Judith said to 
them, "Listen to me, I 
will do something which 
will be handed down from 
generation to generation 
of the children of our 
race. {I}33_{/}Tonight 
you will stand at the 
gate of the town and I 
will go out with my 
maidservant and, by the 
end of the time which has 
been fixed for you to 
hand over the town to our 
enemies, the Lord will 
visit Israel through my 
hand. {I}34_{/}But do not 
try to find out what I 
shall do for I will not 
tell you, until I have 
fulfilled what I will 
do."
{I}35_{/}Then Uzziah and 
the leaders said to her, 
"Go in peace and may the 
Lord our God go before 
you so that you may take 
vengeance upon our 
enemies." {I}36_{/}Then, 
leaving Judith's room, 
they went back to their 
posts.
{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Judith knelt and 
bowed her head to the 
ground, put ashes on her 
head and uncovered the 
sackcloth with which she 
was clothed. At precisely 
the same moment as 
incense was being offered 
in the House of God at 
Jerusalem, Judith invoked 
aloud the Lord God, she 
said, {I}2_{/}"Lord, God 
of my father Simeon, you 
placed a sword in his 
hand to punish the 
foreigners who did 
violence to a young girl. 
For they had abused her, 
uncovering her body to 
shame her and violating 
her womb to dishonor her. 
They did this though you 
said: This shall not be 
done. {I}3_{/}Because of 
this you handed over 
their leaders to be slain 
and their bed, reddened 
because of their deceit, 
was left red with their 
blood. You struck down 
the slaves with their 
leaders and the leaders 
themselves with their 
servants. {I}4_{/}You 
handed over their women 
to rape, their daughters 
to slavery and all their 
possessions to be shared 
among your favored sons 
who were filled with 
horror at this defilement 
of their blood and 
invoked your help.
{I}5_{/}O God, my God, 
listen to me, a widow! It 
is you who made all 
things past, what is 
present and what is yet 
to come. It is you who 
consider things present 
and to come. Those things 
which you decided have 
been realized. 
{I}6_{/}The things you 
have planned have 
presented themselves 
saying: Here we are. In 
truth, all your ways are 
prepared and your 
decision is known from 
the beginning of time. 
{I}7_{/}Therefore see 
what a great multitude 
these Assyrians make with 
their army, how they 
pride themselves on their 
horses and their 
cavalrymen. They have 
placed great pride in the 
strength of their foot 
soldiers and their trust 
in their shields, 
javelins, bows and 
arrows. {I}8_{/}But they 
do not recognize that 
you, Lord, decide the 
outcome of wars. Lord is 
your name; wipe out their 
force with your power, 
and in your anger 
overthrow their 
superiority; for they 
intend to profane your 
Sanctuary, to defile your 
Tabernacle where your 
glorious Name resides, to 
overturn by force the 
horn of your Altar.
{I}9_{/}Consider their 
pride, let your anger 
fall on their heads and 
give to my hands, the 
hands of a widow, the 
strength necessary for 
what I have decided. 
{I}10_{/}By my lying lips 
punish the slave with his 
master and the master 
with his servant; put an 
end to their arrogance by 
the hand of a woman.
{I}11_{/}Truly your 
strength is not in number 
nor your power in strong 
men for you are a God of 
the humble, the defender 
of the little ones, the 
support of the weak, the 
protector of the 
abandoned, the savior of 
those in despair.
{I}12_{/}Yes, God of my 
fathers and God of the 
heritage of Israel, Ruler 
of the heavens and the 
earth, Creator of the 
waters, King of all 
creation, listen to my 
prayer.
{I}13_{/}Give me tempting 
words to wound and kill 
those who have conceived 
cruel designs against 
your Covenant, your 
consecrated House, Mount 
Zion and the House which 
belongs to your sons.
{I}14_{/}Make the nation 
and all the tribes know 
that you are God, all-
powerful and strong, and 
that, apart from you, 
there is no other 
protector for the people 
of Israel."
THE EXPLOIT OF JUDITH{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}When Judith had 
finished her prayer to 
the God of Israel, 
{I}2_{/}she rose from the 
ground, and after calling 
her maidservant, she went 
down into the house where 
she usually spent the 
sabbath days and the 
feasts. {I}3_{/}She took 
off the sackcloth and her 
widow's clothes in which 
she was dressed. She 
washed her whole body 
with water, anointed it 
with rich perfume, combed 
her hair and placed a 
jewelled band around it. 
She dressed herself in 
the beautiful garments 
she had been accustomed 
to wear when her husband, 
Manasseh, was living. 
{I}4_{/}She put sandals 
on her feet, put on her 
anklets, bracelets and 
rings, her earrings and 
all her jewels. She made 
herself extremely 
beautiful in order to 
attract the attention of 
the men who would see 
her.
{I}5_{/}She gave the 
servant a skin of wine 
and a jar of oil, she 
filled a bag with flour 
made from barley and some 
small cakes made from 
dried figs and fine 
flour. She wrapped up all 
these things and put the 
maid in charge of them. 
{I}6_{/}Then they set out 
in the direction of the 
gate of the town of 
Bethulia where they found 
stationed Uzziah and the 
elders of the town, 
Chabris and Charmis. 
{I}7_{/}As soon as the 
men saw her, her face so 
transformed and her 
clothes so different, 
they were full of 
admiration for her beauty 
and said to her, 
{I}8_{/}"May the God of 
our fathers grant that 
you may find favor and 
that your undertakings 
may be successful for the 
glory of the sons of 
Israel and the exaltation 
of Jerusalem."
She adored God and said 
to them, {I}9_{/}"Command 
that the gate of the town 
be opened for me and I 
will go forth in order to 
accomplish what you have 
just said." They ordered 
the young men to open the 
gate as she had asked. 
{I}10_{/}They carried out 
the command and Judith 
went out with her 
maidservant.
The townsmen watched her 
until she reached the 
foot of the mountain and 
crossed the valley, then 
they lost sight of her. 
{I}11_{/}Judith and the 
maid walked straight 
through the valley and a 
sentry for the Assyrians 
came to meet them. 
{I}12_{/}He stopped them 
and asked, "Who are you? 
Where have you come from? 
Where are you going?" She 
replied, "I am a daughter 
of the Hebrews; I am 
fleeing far from them 
because they are on the 
point of handing 
themselves over to be 
despoiled by you. 
{I}13_{/}I have come to 
present myself to 
Holofernes, the general-
in-chief of your army, to 
speak to him in all 
sincerity. I will show 
him a way by which he can 
advance and become master 
of the whole mountain 
without losing a single 
man either from injury or 
loss of life."
{I}14_{/}As soon as the 
men had heard her words 
and noticed her face (for 
she was strikingly 
beautiful) they said to 
her, {I}15_{/}"You have 
saved your life by 
hurrying to present 
yourself before our lord. 
Approach his tent; 
certain men from among us 
will accompany you until 
they have handed you over 
safely into his hands. 
{I}16_{/}When you stand 
before him, do not have 
any fear in your heart, 
but tell him what you 
have to say and he will 
treat you well."
{I}17_{/}They chose one 
hundred men from their 
number; these men 
accompanied Judith and 
the maid and led them to 
the tent of Holofernes. 
{I}18_{/}In the whole 
camp the news of her 
arrival spread from tent 
to tent, and throughout 
the whole camp men came 
running. They made a 
circle round her as she 
stood waiting outside 
Holofernes' tent while 
someone informed him of 
her arrival. 
{I}19_{/}They were 
captivated by her beauty 
and, on seeing her, they 
praised the sons of 
Israel and said to one 
another, "Who can look 
down on the people who 
have such women? It would 
be a mistake to leave one 
man alive; they would be 
able to deceive the whole 
world."
{I}20_{/}Those who were 
sleeping near Holofernes 
and all his officers came 
out and led her into the 
tent. {I}21_{/}Holofernes 
was lying on his bed 
under hangings of purple 
and gold set with emerald 
and precious stones. 
{I}22_{/}Having been 
informed about her, he 
moved towards the 
entrance of the tent, 
with silver lamps carried 
before him. {I}23_{/}As 
Judith came before him 
and his officers, they 
all admired the beauty of 
her face. Throwing 
herself face downwards to 
the ground, she bowed 
before him; the servants 
of Holofernes raised her 
up.
{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}Holofernes said 
to Judith, "Have 
confidence, woman, have 
no fear in your heart, I 
do not harm any person 
who has chosen to serve 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
all the earth. 
{I}2_{/}And, if those of 
your people who dwell on 
the mountain had not 
ignored me, I should not 
have raised my sword 
against them; but they 
have brought this upon 
themselves. {I}3_{/}Now, 
tell me why you have fled 
from their midst and have 
come to us. Are you doing 
this to save yourself? 
Have confidence, your 
life is safe tonight and 
also in the future. 
{I}4_{/}No one will harm 
you, you will be well-
treated as are all the 
servants of my lord, King 
Nebuchadnezzar."
{I}5_{/}Judith replied, 
"Listen to the words of 
your servant, so that I 
may speak freely in your 
presence and I will not 
lie to my lord tonight. 
{I}6_{/}And if you follow 
the advice of your 
servant, everything will 
be accomplished by the 
hand of God and my lord 
will not fail in his 
undertakings. {I}7_{/}For 
just as truly as 
Nebuchadnezzar is king of 
all the earth and his 
presence is felt, and he 
has sent you for the 
correction of others, it 
is thanks to your power 
that not only do men 
serve him but also wild 
beasts, animals and the 
birds of the air live for 
Nebuchadnezzar and all 
his house.
{I}8_{/}We have heard of 
your wisdom and prudence 
of mind and it is said 
throughout the world that 
you alone are the bravest 
man in the kingdom, 
powerful because of your 
knowledge and outstanding 
in military strategy. 
{I}9_{/}We have heard 
about the discourse 
delivered in your council 
by Achior, and of its 
terms, because the men of 
Bethulia took him in and 
he reported to them all 
that he had said in your 
presence. {I}10_{/}Now 
all-powerful lord, do not 
dismiss what he said but 
keep it in mind because 
it is true. Our nation 
will never be punished 
nor the sword used 
against it unless its 
people sin against their 
God. {I}11_{/}Yet my lord 
will not be driven back 
and fail. Death will 
overtake them, for they 
have fallen into the sin 
that arouses the anger of 
God every time they 
commit it. {I}12_{/}As a 
result of the shortage of 
food and water, they have 
decided to lay hands on 
their animals. They have 
resolved to eat those 
things which God in his 
laws forbade them to eat, 
including the first 
fruits of the harvest and 
the tithes of wine and 
oil which, after their 
consecration, had been 
put aside for the priests 
who minister before the 
face of our God in 
Jerusalem. {I}13_{/}They 
have decided to consume 
these things completely, 
although it is not lawful 
for any of the people 
even to touch them with 
their hands. 
{I}14_{/}They have sent 
messengers to Jerusalem - 
for those who dwell there 
have also done this - and 
they have charged these 
men to bring back this 
permission from the 
Council of the Elders. 
{I}15_{/}Now it will come 
to pass that when this 
permission arrives and 
the people will have 
acted upon it, on that 
same day they will be 
delivered over to you for 
their destruction. 
{I}16_{/}That is why I, 
your servant, having 
understood all this, have 
fled far from them. God 
has sent me to bring 
about, along with you, 
deeds that will strike 
terror throughout the 
whole world and cause 
those who hear them to 
talk. {I}17_{/}For your 
servant is a pious woman 
who serves God night and 
day. From now on I will 
remain near you, my lord. 
Each evening I will go 
out towards the ravine 
and I will pray to God 
and he will tell me when 
they have fallen into 
sin. {I}18_{/}Then I will 
report this to you, so 
that you will go forth 
with your whole army and 
there will be no man able 
to withstand you. 
{I}19_{/}Then I will lead 
you through Judea until I 
arrive in Jerusalem where 
I will set up your tent. 
You will lead them like 
sheep without a shepherd 
and not one dog will 
growl at you. I have been 
given a premonition of 
these things. It has been 
revealed to me, and I 
have been sent to make it 
known to you."
{I}20_{/}Her words 
pleased Holofernes and 
all his officers. They 
admired her wisdom and 
said, {I}21_{/}"From one 
end of the earth to the 
other there is no woman 
like her for the beauty 
of her face and the 
wisdom of her words." 
{I}22_{/}Holofernes said 
to her, "God has done 
well to send you ahead of 
this people to show them 
that the power is in my 
hands and that 
destruction is the fate 
of those who despised my 
lord. {I}23_{/}You are 
beautiful to look at and 
prudent in your words: if 
you do as you have said, 
your God shall be my God 
and you will live in the 
house of King 
Nebuchadnezzar, and be 
famous throughout all the 
world."
{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Holofernes 
had her brought into the 
place where his silver 
dishes were laid out and 
commanded them to serve 
her from his food and to 
give her his wine to 
drink. {I}2_{/}But Judith 
said, "I will not eat it 
for fear that it might be 
the occasion of my 
downfall. What I have 
brought with me is 
sufficient." 
{I}3_{/}Holofernes said 
to her, "When you have 
finished the things that 
you have brought, where 
will we be able to get 
the same kind of food to 
give you, for there is no 
one of your race here?" 
{I}4_{/}Judith said to 
him, "As your soul lives 
my lord, your servant 
will not have finished 
what I have brought with 
me before the Lord will 
have carried out by my 
hand what he has decided 
to do."
{I}5_{/}Then the officers 
of Holofernes led her to 
the tent and she slept 
until midnight. She arose 
at the morning watch 
{I}6_{/}and sent a 
message to Holofernes, 
"Will my lord command 
that his servant be 
allowed to go out to 
pray." {I}7_{/}Holofernes 
ordered his bodyguards 
not to prevent her from 
doing so.
She remained in the camp 
three days. Each night 
she went to the ravine of 
Bethulia and bathed 
herself in the spring 
which was in the camp. 
{I}8_{/}When she returned 
to the tent, she prayed 
to the Lord, the God of 
Israel, that he would 
guide her steps in the 
right path to bring about 
the release of her 
people; {I}9_{/}and now 
purified, once she had 
returned, she remained in 
the tent until she took 
her food towards evening.
IN THE TENT OF 
HOLOFERNES{/}

{I}10_{/}Then on the 
fourth day, Holofernes 
gave a banquet for his 
personal servants without 
sending invitations to 
any of his officers. 
{I}11_{/}He said to the 
eunuch Bagoas who looked 
after his affairs, "Go 
and persuade this Hebrew 
woman who is under your 
care to come eat and 
drink with us, 
{I}12_{/}for it would be 
a disgrace if we allowed 
such a woman to depart 
without having enjoyed 
her company. If we are 
not able to allure her, 
she will laugh at us."
{I}13_{/}So Bagoas left 
Holofernes and entered 
Judith's tent, and said 
to her, "Will this 
beautiful slave not 
hesitate to come to my 
lord's tent to be honored 
in his presence, merrily 
to drink wine with us and 
to become this very day 
like an Assyrian woman 
who dwells in the house 
of Nebuchadnezzar?" 
{I}14_{/}Judith said to 
him, "Who am I to go 
against the wishes of my 
Lord? All that pleases 
him I will hasten to do 
and that will be for me a 
joy until the day of my 
death."
{I}15_{/}Then she arose; 
she dressed in her 
beautiful garments and 
all the finery of a 
woman. Her servant went 
and spread on the ground, 
in front of Holofernes, 
the fleece which Judith 
had received from Bagoas 
for her daily use so that 
she could recline on it 
while she ate.
{I}16_{/}So Judith 
entered the tent and took 
her place. The heart of 
Holofernes was ravished 
by her beauty, his whole 
being was captivated and 
he had a passionate 
desire to possess her. 
Ever since the first day 
he had seen her, he had 
been waiting for an 
occasion to seduce her. 
{I}17_{/}Holofernes said 
to her: "Drink and share 
our happiness." 
{I}18_{/}Judith said, "I 
will drink then, my lord, 
because today my life has 
become more precious to 
me than on any other day 
since my birth." 
{I}19_{/}She took what 
her servant had prepared 
for her and ate and drank 
in front of him. 
{I}20_{/}Holofernes was 
bewitched by her and he 
drank a great quantity of 
wine, much more than he 
had ever drunk on any 
single day since his 
birth.
GOD WORKS MARVELS{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}When it was late, 
the  servants hurried 
away. Bagoas dismissed 
from the presence of his 
master those who were 
standing around, and 
closed the tent from the 
outside. All the men 
hurried to bed for they 
were tired from having 
drunk too much. 
{I}2_{/}So Judith was 
left alone in the tent 
with Holofernes who, 
sodden with wine, had 
collapsed onto the bed. 
{I}3_{/}Judith told her 
servant to stand outside 
the room and watch for 
her coming out because 
she would go out to pray, 
as she did each day. She 
also spoke to Bagoas in 
much the same way.
{I}4_{/}Everyone left the 
tent of Holofernes, not 
one - small or great - 
remained in the room. 
Judith, then, stood by 
Holofernes' bed and 
prayed in her heart, 
"Lord God all-powerful, 
help me now in what I 
will do for the glory of 
Jerusalem. {I}5_{/}For 
now is the time to 
support the cause of your 
people and to ensure that 
my undertaking brings 
about the ruin of the 
enemies who are drawn up 
against us."
{I}6_{/}Then she moved 
towards the bedpost near 
Holofernes' head and took 
down the sword and, 
{I}7_{/}approaching the 
bed, she seized the hair 
of his head saying, "O 
Lord God of Israel, give 
me strength, this very 
moment!" {I}8_{/}Then 
with all her strength she 
struck his neck twice and 
cut off his head. 
{I}9_{/}She then rolled 
his body from the bed and 
took off the hangings 
from the columns. Then 
she went out at once and 
gave the head of 
Holofernes to her servant 
{I}10_{/}who put it in 
the bag in which she 
carried the food. Then 
they went out together as 
they used to do for 
prayer. After they had 
crossed the camp, they 
passed round the edge of 
the ravine, climbed the 
mountain to Bethulia and 
reached the gates of the 
town.
{I}11_{/}Judith called 
from a distance to those 
who were keeping guard at 
the gates, "Open, open 
the gates! God, our God, 
is with us! Today he has 
once again worked a 
miracle in Israel and 
exerted his power against 
our enemies." {I}12_{/}As 
soon as the townsfolk 
heard her voice, they 
called the elders and 
hurried down to the gates 
of the town. 
{I}13_{/}They all ran 
together, from the 
smallest to the greatest, 
for they were waiting for 
her return. They opened 
the gates and welcomed 
the two women; then, 
having lighted a fire so 
as to see them, they 
gathered around the two. 
{I}14_{/}She said to them 
in a loud voice, "Praise 
God, praise him! Praise 
God who has not withheld 
his mercy from the House 
of Israel. This very 
night he has crushed our 
enemies by my hand." 
{I}15_{/}And, taking out 
the head of Holofernes 
from the bag, she showed 
it to them saying, "Here 
is the head of 
Holofernes, general-in-
chief of the Assyrian 
army, and here are the 
hangings under which he 
was lying in his 
drunkenness. The Lord has 
struck him down by the 
hand of a woman. 
{I}16_{/}As truly as the 
Lord lives, it was my 
face that seduced him to 
his undoing, but the Lord 
has protected me. This 
man could not sin with me 
to disgrace or dishonor 
me." {I}17_{/}All the 
people were greatly 
amazed, so they bowed 
down and worshiped God, 
saying with one voice, 
"Blessed are you, our 
God, who today have 
crushed the enemies of 
your people."
BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG ALL 
WOMEN{/}

{I}18_{/}Uzziah said to 
her, "My daughter, may 
the Most High God bless 
you more than all women 
on earth. 
And blessed be the Lord 
God, the Creator of 
heaven and earth, who has 
led you to behead the 
leader of our enemies. 
{I}19_{/}Never will 
people forget the 
confidence you have 
shown; they will always 
remember the power of 
God.
{I}20_{/}May God ensure 
your everlasting glory, 
and may he reward and 
bless you for you have 
risked your life when 
your race was humiliated. 
You chose instead to do 
the best before God in 
order to prevent our 
downfall." 
And all the people said, 
"Amen! Amen!"
{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Judith said to 
them, "Listen, my 
brothers, take this head 
and hang it from the 
battlements of our 
rampart, {I}2_{/}then 
when dawn breaks and the 
sun rises over the earth, 
let each of you take his 
weapons and let all those 
able to fight go outside 
the town. And under the 
command of a captain, 
proceed as if you were 
about to go down into the 
plain in the direction of 
the Assyrian outposts, 
but you will not descend. 
{I}3_{/}The Assyrian 
guards will seize their 
arms, and go towards 
their camp to awaken the 
generals of the Assyrian 
army. These officers will 
run to the tent of 
Holofernes but will not 
find him; fear will then 
come upon them and they 
will flee from you. 
{I}4_{/}Then you and all 
those who dwell in the 
land of Israel will 
follow them and strike 
them down as they go. 
{I}5_{/}But, before you 
do this, call Achior the 
Ammonite so that he may 
see and recognize the one 
who despised the people 
of Israel, the man who 
sent him to you as to his 
death."
{I}6_{/}Achior was 
brought from the house of 
Uzziah. As soon as he 
arrived and saw the head 
of Holofernes in the hand 
of one of the people, he 
fainted and fell face 
down on the ground. 
{I}7_{/}When they had 
lifted him up, he threw 
himself at the feet of 
Judith, bowed before her 
and said, "May you be 
blessed throughout Judea 
and among all the 
nations, who on hearing 
your name will be amazed. 
{I}8_{/}But now, tell me 
all that you did during 
these days."
Standing in the midst of 
the people, Judith told 
him all that she had done 
from the day she set out 
until the moment in which 
she was now speaking to 
them. {I}9_{/}When she 
had finished talking, the 
people cried out with 
great joy, and this was 
heard throughout the 
town. {I}10_{/}When 
Achior saw all that the 
God of Israel had done, 
he immediately believed 
in him. He was 
circumcised and became a 
member of the community 
of Israel down to this 
day.
{I}11_{/}When the sun had 
risen and they had hung 
Holofernes' head on the 
rampart, all the men took 
their arms and went out 
in groups to the mountain 
slopes. {I}12_{/}As soon 
as the Assyrians saw 
them, they warned their 
commanders. These men, in 
turn, went to inform the 
generals, the captains 
and all their officers. 
{I}13_{/}Then they all 
went to the tent of 
Holofernes and said to 
the steward in charge of 
his affairs, "Waken our 
Lord, for the slaves plan 
to come down and fight 
against us to their utter 
destruction. {I}14_{/}So 
Bagoas drew back the 
curtain and knocked, 
thinking that Holofernes 
was sleeping with Judith. 
{I}15_{/}As no one 
answered, he entered the 
room, and found 
Holofernes lying across 
the wooden footstool dead 
with his head cut off. 
{I}16_{/}He cried out 
with a loud voice and 
tore his clothes. 
{I}17_{/}He entered the 
tent where Judith had 
stayed but did not find 
her. Then he rushed out 
to the troops, shouting, 
{I}18_{/}"The slaves have 
deceived us! One Hebrew 
woman has put to shame 
the army of King 
Nebuchadnezzar, for 
Holofernes lies dead on 
the ground. {I}19_{/}When 
the officers of the 
Assyrian army heard these 
words, they were greatly 
distressed. They tore 
their garments and cried 
out with a loud voice in 
their camp.
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}When those who 
were in the camp heard 
the cries, they were 
astounded. {I}2_{/}Terror 
and fear fell on them, 
they no longer controlled 
themselves but at the 
same moment they all 
broke rank and fled by 
way of the roads across 
the plain and the 
mountain. {I}3_{/}Those 
who were encamped in the 
mountains around Bethulia 
also began to flee. Then 
the men of Israel, all 
among them who were 
capable of fighting, fell 
on them. {I}4_{/}Uzziah 
sent messengers to 
Betomasthaim, Choba, 
Kona, and throughout the 
land of Israel, to 
announce what had 
happened and to invite 
them all to fall upon the 
enemy and destroy them. 
{I}5_{/}When the men of 
Israel heard this, they 
threw themselves on the 
enemy and pursued them as 
far as Choba. Even those 
from Jerusalem came, as 
well as those from all 
the mountainous region, 
because they were told 
what had happened in the 
camp of their enemies. 
Those from Gilead and 
from Galilee caught them 
on the flank and struck 
great blows against them 
until they reached 
Damascus and its 
surrounding territory. 
{I}6_{/}As for the 
inhabitants of Bethulia 
who remained behind, they 
rushed into the Assyrian 
camp, pillaged it and 
thereby greatly enriched 
themselves. {I}7_{/}Once 
they returned from the 
carnage, the Israelite 
men took possession of 
what remained. Also the 
people from the villages 
and farms in the 
mountains and on the 
plains seized great booty 
because there was plenty 
that they could get.
{I}8_{/}Then the high 
priest Joakim and the 
council of the Elders of 
Israel in Jerusalem came 
to hear the good things 
which the Lord had done 
for Israel, and to see 
Judith and congratulate 
her. {I}9_{/}As soon as 
they had approached her 
they blessed her all 
together and said, 
"You are the pride and 
joy of Jerusalem! You are 
the glory of Israel. You 
are the honor of our 
people. 
{I}10_{/}You alone have 
accomplished all this. 
You have done great 
things for Israel and God 
has blessed your work. 
May the almighty Lord 
bless you forever." 
And all the people said, 
"Amen!"
{I}11_{/}All the people 
pillaged the camp for 
thirty days. They gave 
Holofernes' tent to 
Judith, with all his 
silver, his beds, his 
drinking vessels and all 
his furniture. She took 
them, and after 
harnessing her mule, she 
prepared her chariots and 
piled up all these goods 
in them.
{I}12_{/}All the 
Israelite women also ran 
out to see her, they 
blessed her and a number 
of them formed a choir in 
her honor. She took olive 
branches in her hand and 
gave some to the women 
who accompanied her. 
{I}13_{/}She and the 
women with her made 
crowns of olive leaves. 
Then she went ahead of 
the people, leading the 
women in dance. All the 
Israelite men followed, 
clad in their armor, 
carrying crowns and 
loudly chanting hymns. 
{I}14_{/}Then Judith 
intoned this hymn of 
thanksgiving and the 
entire people of Israel 
echoed this praise.
THE SONG OF JUDITH{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}Judith said, 
"Sing a song to my God 
with tambourines,
sing in honor of God with 
cymbals.
Compose for him a psalm 
of praise.
Exalt and bless his Name!
{I}2_{/}The Lord is truly 
a God who crushes war,
who encamps in the midst 
of his people
for he has snatched me 
from the hand of those 
who pursued me.
{I}3_{/}The Assyrian came 
from the mountains of the 
north.
He came with the myriads 
of his army,
his soldiers have filled 
the torrents
and his cavalry covered 
the hills.
{I}4_{/}He wanted to burn 
my land,
to kill the young men by 
the sword,
to destroy my children at 
the breast,
to hand over my little 
ones to slaughter
and to rape my young 
maidens.
{I}5_{/}The Lord Almighty 
has driven them back by 
the hand of a woman.
{I}6_{/}Their hero has 
not been overcome by 
young warriors;
he was not struck down by 
the sons of the Titans,
or laid low by any great 
giants.
But it is Judith, the 
daughter of Merari,
who by the beauty of her 
face has defeated him.
For the relief of the 
oppressed in Israel 
{I}7_{/}she took off her 
widow's robes,
anointed her face with 
perfume,
{I}8_{/}put a jewelled 
band around her hair,
and put on a linen dress 
in order to seduce him.
{I}9_{/}Her sandals 
delighted his eyes,
her beauty captivated his 
soul,
and the scimitar cut 
through his neck.
{I}10_{/}The Persians 
trembled with fear at her 
boldness,
and the Medes were upset 
by her daring.
{I}11_{/}Then my 
oppressed people shouted 
for joy;
my weak ones cried out,
the enemy was terrified;
they raised their voices; 
the enemy took to flight.
{I}12_{/}The children of 
young women pierced them 
through and struck them 
down like fugitives,
and so the enemy perished 
in a battle
arranged by God.
{I}13_{/}I will sing to 
my God a new song:
Lord, you are great and 
glorious,
wonderfully strong, 
invincible!
{I}14_{/}May the whole of 
your creation serve you,
for you spoke and all 
things were,
you sent forth your 
spirit and all things 
came into being:
No one can resist your 
voice.
{I}15_{/}For the 
mountains with the waters 
will be shaken to their 
foundations,
the rocks will melt like 
wax before you,
but to those who fear you
you will always show 
mercy.
{I}16_{/}The fragrance of 
any sacrifice is little 
to please you
and the holocausts of 
fatted animals
are as nothing before 
you,
but he who fears the Lord 
is forever great.
{I}17_{/}Woe to the 
nations which rise up 
against my people:
The Lord Almighty will 
punish them in the day of 
judgment,
with fire and worms under 
their skin,
and they will keep on 
weeping, suffering 
forever."
{I}18_{/}When they 
arrived in Jerusalem, 
they worshiped God and, 
when the people had been 
purified, they presented 
their holocausts, 
freewill offerings and 
gifts. {I}19_{/}Then 
Judith offered all of 
Holofernes' belongings 
which the people had 
given her and she 
dedicated to the Lord the 
hangings from his room 
which she herself had 
taken. {I}20_{/}So the 
people remained in 
Jerusalem, rejoicing 
before the Sanctuary for 
three months and Judith 
stayed with them.
{I}21_{/}After these days 
were over, each one 
returned to his own 
house. Judith returned to 
Bethulia and devoted 
herself to her household. 
During her lifetime she 
was famous throughout the 
land.
{I}22_{/}Though many 
desired to marry her, she 
had no relation with any 
man since the death and 
burial of Manasseh, her 
husband.
{I}23_{/}She spent her 
old age in the house of 
her husband. And she set 
her maidservant free. She 
died in Bethulia at the 
age of a hundred and five 
and was buried in the 
grave of Manasseh, her 
husband. {I}24_{/}All 
Israel mourned for her 
for seven days. Before 
her death she had divided 
her property among the 
relatives of her husband, 
Manasseh, and those of 
her own family.
{I}25_{/}No one again 
threatened the people of 
Israel while Judith 
lived, nor for a very 
long time after her 
death.

