The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 298

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.

14:5. And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.

14:6. Then Achior seeing the power that the G.o.d of Israel had wrought, leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed G.o.d, and circ.u.mcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with all the succession of his kindred until this present day.

14:7. And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went out with a great noise and shouting.

14:8. And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes.

14:9. And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by their noise.

14:10. For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the general of the a.s.syrians.

14:11. But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the a.s.syrians, they said to the chamberlains:

14:12. Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.

14:13. Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping with Judith.

14:14. But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments.

14:15. And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her, he ran out to the people,

14:16. And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not upon him.

14:17. Now when the chiefs of the army of the a.s.syrians had heard this, they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.

14:18. And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp.

Judith Chapter 15

The a.s.syrians flee: the Hebrews pursue after them, and are enriched by their spoils.

15:1. And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear they thought only to save themselves by flight.

15:2. So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head, leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways of the fields, and the paths of the hills.

15:3. So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after them.

15:4. And because the a.s.syrians were not united together, they went without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in one body, defeated all that they could find.

15:5. And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of Israel.

15:6. And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword until they came to the extremities of their confines.

15:7. And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the a.s.syrians, and took away the spoils which the a.s.syrians in their flight had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly,

15:8. But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.