The Koine Bible

And in those days Judith, daughter of Merari, son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Uzziel, son of Helkiah, son of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphaim, son of Ahitub, son of Eliab, son of Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son of Salathiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Israel, heard.

And her husband Manasses, of her tribe and of her family, died in the days of the barley harvest.

For he had come upon those binding the sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell upon his bed and died in Bethulia, his city, and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamon

And Judith was in her house, being a widow, for three years and four months.

And she made for herself a tent on the roof of her house, and she put sackcloth upon her waist, and the garments of her widowhood were upon her.

And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, apart from added sabbaths and sabbaths and new-moon days and new moons and feasts and rejoicings of the house of Israel

And she was beautiful in appearance and very lovely in sight, and Manasseh her husband left behind for her gold and silver and male servants and female servants and cattle and fields, and he remained over them

And there was no one who brought against her an evil word, because she feared God greatly.

And he heard the evil words of the people against the ruler, that they had lost heart because of the lack of water, and he heard all the words of Judith which Uzziah spoke to them, how he had sworn to them to hand over the city to the Assyrians after five days.

And having sent her maid who was set over all her possessions, she called Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city

And they came to her, and she said to them, Listen now to me, rulers of those who dwell in Bethulia, because your word is not right, which you spoke against the people on this day, and you set up this oath, which you spoke between God and you, and you said to hand over the city to our enemies if the Lord does not turn help to you in those days.

And now who are you who have tested God on this very day and stand up for God in the midst of sons of men?

And now you are examining the Lord Almighty, and you will understand nothing forever.

For you will not find the depth of a man’s heart, and you will not grasp the words of his mind; and how will you search out God, who made all these things, and know his understanding, and understand his reasoning? By no means, brothers, do not provoke the Lord our God.

For if he is not willing to help us within the five days, he has authority in whatever days he wishes to cover us over, or even to destroy us before the face of our enemies.

But do not pledge the plans of the Lord our God, because God is not as a man, to be threatened, nor as a son of man, to be negotiated with

Therefore, waiting for the salvation from him, let us call upon him for our help, and he will hear our voice, if it be pleasing to him.

For there has not arisen in our generations, and there is not in the day of today, neither tribe nor family nor people nor city from among us who worship hand-made gods, as happened in the former days.

for which reason our fathers were given over to the sword and to plundering, and they fell a great fall before our enemies

But we have not known another God except him, from whom we hope that he will not despise us, nor from our race

For in our being taken so, so also all Judea will be taken, and our holy things will be plundered, and he will seek their desecration from our blood

and the slaughter of our brothers and the captivity of the land and the desolation of our inheritance he will turn back upon our head among the nations where we may serve, there, and we shall be for a stumbling block and for reproach before those who acquire us

For our slavery will not be directed to favor, but the Lord our God will place it into dishonor.

And now, brothers, let us show to our brothers that their life hangs from us, and the holy things and the house and the altar are established upon us.

Besides all these things, let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who tests us just as also our fathers.

Remember what he did with Abraham, and what he tested Isaac with, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he was tending the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother.

For not as he burned those to the testing of their heart, so also has he not avenged us; but the Lord scourges those who draw near to him for admonition.

And Ozias said to her, All that you said you spoke with a good heart, and there is no one who will oppose your words.

for your wisdom is not obvious today, but from the beginning of your days all the people knew your understanding, insofar as the formation of your heart is good

But the people have thirsted greatly, and they forced us to do as we spoke to them and to bring upon ourselves an oath which we shall not break

And now pray concerning us, because you are a godly woman, and the Lord will send the rain to fill our pits, and we shall not fail anymore.

And Judith said to them, Listen to me, and I will do a thing which will reach to generations of generations for the sons of our race.

You shall stand at the gate this night, and I shall go out with my maidservant, and in the days after which you said to hand over the city to our enemies, the Lord will visit Israel by my hand.

But you will not search out my deed, for I will not tell you until the things which I do are accomplished.

And Ozias and the rulers said to her, Go in peace, and the Lord God before you for vengeance on our enemies

And having turned back from the tent, they went to their positions.