The Book of Judith

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- Chapter 11 -

Judith’s speech to Holofernes.

Then Holofernes said to her: “Be steadfast in soul, and do not be terrified in your heart. For I have never harmed a man who was willing to serve king Nebuchadnezzar.

But if your people had not despised me, I would not have lifted up my lance over them.

But now, tell me, for what reason have you withdrawn from them, and why has it pleased you to come to us?”

And Judith said to him: “Receive the words of your maidservant. For, if you will follow the words of your maidservant, the Lord will accomplish an excellent thing by you.

For, as Nebuchadnezzar the king of the earth lives, and as his power lives, which is with you for the chastising of all straying souls: not only men serve him through you, but also the beasts of the field are submissive to him.

For the diligence of your mind is being reported to all nations, and it has been revealed to all of this age that you alone are good and powerful in all his kingdom, and your discipline is being announced beforehand in all the provinces.

This is not hidden, what Achior has said, nor are we ignorant of what you have ordered to befall him.

For it is agreed that our God is so offended with sins that he has commanded, through his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them up for their sins.

And since the sons of Israel know that they have offended their God, your trembling is upon them.

Moreover, now also a famine has assailed them, and, by drought of water, they are already counted among the dead.

And finally, they have a plan to put to death their herds, and to drink their blood.

And the sacred things of the Lord their God, which God instructed them not to touch, among the grain, wine, and oil, these they have decided to expend, and they are willing to consume the things that they ought not to touch with their hands. Therefore, because they do these things, it is certain that they will be given over to perdition.

And I, your maidservant, knowing this, have fled from them, and the Lord has sent me to report to you these same things.(a)

For I, your maidservant, worship God even now that I am with you, and your maidservant will go out, and I will pray to God.

And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and I will return and announce it to you, so that I may bring you through the midst of Jerusalem, and you will hold all the people of Israel, like sheep that have no shepherd, and there will not be so much as one dog that barks against you.

For these things have been told to me through the providence of God.

And because God has been angry with them, I have been sent to report these same things to you.”

And so, all these words were pleasing before Holofernes, and before his servants, and they wondered at her wisdom, and they said to one another:

“There is not another woman so great upon the earth: in appearance, in beauty, and in charming words.”

And Holofernes said to her: “God has done well, who sent you ahead of the people, so that you may give them into our hands.

And if your promise is good, if your God will do this for me, he will also be my God, and you will be great in the house of Nebuchadnezzar, and your name will be renowned through all the earth.”

Footnotes

(a)11:13 Notice the different word for female servant used here (ancilla), when Judith describes herself, compared to the female servant who accompanies her (abra).(Conte)

Judith’s speech to Holofernes.

Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth.

And now, if your people who dwell in the hill country had not slighted me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves.

And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you have come to save yourself. Take courage! You will live tonight, and hereafter;

for there is no one that will wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar my lord.”

And Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I won’t lie to my lord tonight.

If you will follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord will not fail to accomplish his purposes.

As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house.

For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you.

Therefore, O lord and master, don’t neglect his word, but lay it up in your heart, for it is true; for our race will not be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.

And now, that my lord may not be defeated and frustrated in his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whenever they do wickedness.

Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to kill their livestock, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat.

They are resolved to spend the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem, which it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.

They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders.

When these instructions come to them and they do it, they will be given to you to be destroyed the same day.

Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it.

For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you; and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins.

Then I will come and tell you. Then you can go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you.

And I will lead you through the midst of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your throne in the midst of it. You will drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog will not so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.”

Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said,

“There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.”

Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord.

And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and wise in your words. If you will do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”