Judith 15–16

15And when they that were in the tents heard, they were amazed at the thing that was come to pass. And trembling and fear fell upon them, and no man durst abide any more in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out with one accord, they fled into every way of the plain and of the hill country. And they that had encamped in the hill country round about Bethulia fled away. And then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them. And Ozias sent to Betomasthaim, and Bebai, and Chobai, and Chola, and to every coast of Israel, such as should tell concerning the things that had been accomplished, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them. But when the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and smote them unto Chobai: yea, and in like manner also they of Jerusalem and of all the hill country came ⁽for men had told them what things were come to pass in the camp of their enemies⁽, and they that were in Gilead and in Galilee fell upon their flank with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof. But the residue, that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Asshur, and spoiled them, and were enriched exceedingly. But the children of Israel returned from the slaughter, and gat possession of that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that were in the hill country and in the plain country, took many spoils: for there was an exceeding great store.

And Joakim the high priest, and the senate of the children of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things which the Lord had shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her. But when they came unto her, they all blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our race: thou hast done all these things by thy hand: thou hast done with Israel the things that are good, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou with the Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said, So be it. And the people spoiled the camp for the space of thirty days: and they gave unto Judith Holofernes’ tent, and all his silver cups, and his beds, and his vessels, and all his furniture: and she took them, and placed them on her mule, and made ready her wagons, and heaped them thereon.

And all the women of Israel ran together to see her; and they blessed her, and made a dance among them for her; and she took branches in her hand, and gave to the women that were with her. And they made themselves garlands of olive, she and they that were with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.

16And Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise. And Judith said,

Begin unto my God with timbrels,

Sing unto my Lord with cymbals:

Tune unto him psalm and praise:

Exalt him, and call upon his name.

For the Lord is the God that breaketh the battles:

For in his armies in the midst of the people

He delivered me out of the hand of them that persecuted me.

Asshur came out of the mountains from the north,

He came with ten thousands of his host,

The multitude whereof stopped the torrents,

And their horsemen covered the hills.

He said that he would burn up my borders,

And kill my young men with the sword,

And throw my sucking children to the ground,

And give mine infants for a prey,

And make my virgins a spoil.

The Almighty Lord brought them to nought by the hand of a woman.

For their mighty one did not fall by young men,

Neither did sons of the Titans smite him,

Nor did high giants set upon him:

But Judith the daughter of Merari made him weak with the beauty of her countenance.

For she put off the apparel of her widowhood

For the exaltation of those that were distressed in Israel,

She anointed her face with ointment,

And bound her hair in a tire,

And took a linen garment to deceive him.

Her sandal ravished his eye,

And her beauty took his soul prisoner:

The scimitar passed through his neck.

The Persians quaked at her daring,

And the Medes were daunted at her boldness.

Then my lowly ones shouted aloud,

And my weak ones were terrified and crouched for fear:

They lifted up their voice, and they were turned to flight.

The sons of damsels pierced them through,

And wounded them as runagates’ children;

They perished by the battle of my Lord.

I will sing unto my God a new song:

O Lord, thou art great and glorious,

Marvellous in strength, invincible.

Let all thy creation serve thee:

For thou spakest, and they were made,

Thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it builded them,

And there is none that shall resist thy voice.

For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters,

And the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence:

But thou art yet merciful to them that fear thee.

For all sacrifice is little for a sweet savour,

And all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to thee:

But he that feareth the Lord is great continually.

Woe to the nations that rise up against my race:

The Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgement,

To put fire and worms in their flesh;

And they shall weep and feel their pain for ever.

Now when they came to Jerusalem, they worshipped God; and when the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings, and their freewill offerings, and their gifts. And Judith dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken for herself out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord. And the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for the space of three months, and Judith remained with them. But after these days every one departed to his own inheritance, and Judith went away to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was honourable in her time in all the land. And many desired her, and no man knew her all the days of her life, from the day that Manasses her husband died and was gathered to his people. And she increased in greatness exceedingly; and she waxed old in her husband’s house, unto a hundred and five years, and let her maid go free: and she died in Bethulia; and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses. And the house of Israel mourned for her seven days: and she distributed her goods before she died to all them that were nearest of kin to Manasses her husband, and to them that were nearest of her own kindred. And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.