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chapter 8
1
Now it
came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words, who was the daughter
of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozias, the son of
Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of
Achitob, the son of Melehias, the son of Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of
Salathiel, the son of Simeon, the son of Ruben:
2 And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of
the barley harvest:
3 For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in
the field ; and the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own
city, and was buried there with his fathers.
4 And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and
six months.
5 And she made herself a private chamber in the upper
part of her house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.
6 And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all
the days of her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the
house of Israel.
7 And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband
left her great riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds
of oxen, and flocks of sheep.
8 And she was greatly renowned among all, because she
feared the Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of
her.
9 When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised
that he would deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients
Chabri and Charmi.
10 And they came to her, and she said to them: What is
this word, by which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians,
if within five days there come no aid to us?
11 And who are you that tempt the Lord?
12 This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but
rather that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.
13 You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and
you have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.
14 But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be
penitent for this same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:
15 For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed
to anger like the son of man.
16 And therefore let us humble our souls before him,
and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service:
17 Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to
his will so he would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by
their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.
18 For we have not followed the sins of our fathers,
who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.
19 For which crime they were given up to their enemies,
to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but
him.
20 Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord
our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will
humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to
disgrace.
21 And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the
people of God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by
your speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they
might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.
22 They must remember how our father Abraham was
tempted, and being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.
23 go Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have
pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.
24 But they that did not receive the trials with the
fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their
murmuring against the Lord,
25 Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by
serpents.
26 As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for
these things which we suffer
27 But esteeming these very punishments to be less than
our sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which
like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for
our destruction.
28 And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things
which thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy
words.
29 Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy
woman, and one fearing God.
30 And Judith said to them: As you know that what I
have been able to say is of God:
31 So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of
God, and pray that God may strengthen my design.
32 You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will
go out with my maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days
the Lord may look down upon his people Israel.
33 But I desire that you search not into what I am
doing, and till I bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to
the Lord our God.
34 And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in
peace, and the Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning
they departed.
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