The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Judith 11
1 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.
2 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.
3 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;
4 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.”
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 For we have heard of your wisdom
and the subtle plans of your soul. It has
been reported in allthe earth that you only
are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in
knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 They are resolved to spend the first
fruits ofthe grain and the tithes ofthe 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.
14 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.
15 When these instructions come to them
and they do it, they will be given to you to
be destroyed the same day.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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.”
20 Her words were pleasing in the sight
of Holofernes and of all his servants. They
marveled at her wisdom, and said,
21 “There is not such a woman from one
end of the earth to the other, for beauty of
face and wisdom of words.”
22 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.
23 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.”