Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 68

Jdt 11:2 Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.

Jdt 11:3 But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:

Jdt 11:4 For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.

Jdt 11:5 Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.

Jdt 11:6 And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, G.o.d will bring the thing perfectly to pa.s.s by thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.

Jdt 11:7 As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.

Jdt 11:8 For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

Jdt 11:9 Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.

Jdt 11:10 Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin against their G.o.d.

Jdt 11:11 And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their G.o.d to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:

Jdt 11:12 For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that G.o.d hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:

Jdt 11:13 And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our G.o.d; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.

Jdt 11:14 For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.

Jdt 11:15 Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.

Jdt 11:16 Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and G.o.d hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.

Jdt 11:17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the G.o.d of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto G.o.d, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins:

Jdt 11:18 And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.

Jdt 11:19 And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.

Jdt 11:20 Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,

Jdt 11:21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.

Jdt 11:22 Likewise Holofernes said unto her. G.o.d hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.

Jdt 11:23 And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy G.o.d shall be my G.o.d, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.

Jdt 12:1 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.

Jdt 12:2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.

Jdt 12:3 Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.

Jdt 12:4 Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.

Jdt 12:5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,

Jdt 12:6 And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.

Jdt 12:7 Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.

Jdt 12:8 And when she came out, she besought the Lord G.o.d of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.

Jdt 12:9 So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.

Jdt 12:10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

Jdt 12:11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.

Jdt 12:12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.

Jdt 12:13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the a.s.syrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.

Jdt 12:14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.

Jdt 12:15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas far her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.

Jdt 12:16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.

Jdt 12:17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.

Jdt 12:18 So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.

Jdt 12:19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.

Jdt 12:20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

Jdt 13:1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.

Jdt 13:2 And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

Jdt 13:3 Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.

Jdt 13:4 So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord G.o.d of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.

Jdt 13:5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.

Jdt 13:6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,

Jdt 13:7 And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord G.o.d of Israel, this day.

Jdt 13:8 And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.