JUDETH 11 & 12

Judeth 11

3 Olosernes comforts Judeth. 3 And asks the cause of her coming. 5 She deceived him by her fair words.

THEN said Olosernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort: fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that would serve Nabuchodonosor the King of all the earth.

Now therefore if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains, had not despised me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have procured these things to themselves.

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 from this night, and hereafter.

For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of King Nabuchodonosor my lord.

Then Judeth 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.

And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee, and my lord shall not fail of his purpose.

As Nabuchodonosor King of all the earth lives, and as his power is of force, who hath sent thee to reform all persons, not only men shall be made subject unto him by thee, but also the beasts of the fields, and the cattle, and the fowls of the heaven shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.

For we have heard of thy wisdom and of thy prudent spirit, and it is declared through the whole earth, that thou only are excellent in all the kingdom, and of a wonderful knowledge, and in feats of war marvelous.

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

Therefore, o lord and governor, reject not his word, but set it in thine heart, for it is true: for there is no punishment against our people, neither can the sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.

Now therefore lest my lord should be frustrated, and void of his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, and that they may be taken in their sin whiles they provoke their God to anger, which is so ofttimes as they do that which is not beseeming,

(For because their vittles fail, and all their water is wasted, they have determined to take their cattle, and have purposed to consume all things that God had forbidden them to eat by his Laws:

Yea, they have purposed to consume the first fruits of the wheat, and the tithes of the wine, and of the oil which they had reserved and sanctified for the Priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God: the which things it is not lawful for any of the people to touch with their hands.

Moreover they have sent to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there, have done the like, such as should bring them license from the Senate)

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

Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence, and God hath sent me to work a thing with thee, whereof all the earth shall wonder, and whosoever shall hear it.

For thy servant fears God, and worships the God of heaven day and night, and now let me remain with thee, my lord, and let ty servant go out in the night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, that he may reveal unto me when they shall commit their sins,

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

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 bark with his mouth against thee: for these things have been spoken unto me, and declared unto me according to my foreknowledge, and I am sent to show thee.

Then her words pleased Olosernes, and all his servants, and they marveled at her wisdom, and said,

There is not such a woman in all the world, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.

Likewise Olosernes said unto her, God hath done this, to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands, and destruction upon them that despise my lord.

And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in words: surely if thou do as you have spoken, thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned throughout the whole earth.

Judeth 12

2 Judeth would not pollute herself with the meat of the Gentiles. 5 She maketh her request that she might go out by night to pray. 11 Olosernes causes her to come to the banquet.

THEN he commanded to bring her in where his treasures were layed, and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.

But Judeth said, I may not eat of them, lest there should be an offense, but I can suffice myself with the things that I have brought.

Then Olosernes said unto her, If the things that thou hast, should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there is none of us of thy nation.

Then said Judeth unto him, As thy soul lives, 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.

Then the sons of Olosernes brought her unto the tent, and she slept until midnight, and rose at the morning watch,

And sent to Olosernes, saying, Let my lord command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.

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

And when she came out, she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel, that he would direct her way to the exaltation of the children of her people.

So she returned, and remained pure in the tent, until she ate her meat at evening.

And in the fourth day, Olosernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of them to the banquet, that had the affairs in hand.

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

For it were a shame for us, if we should let such a woman alone, and not talk with her, and if we do not allure her, she will mock us.

Then went Bagoas from the presence of Olosernes, and came to her, and said, Let not this fair mind make difficult to go into my lord, and to be honored in his presence, and to drink wine with us joyfully, and to be entreated as one of the daughters of the children of Assur, which remain in the house of Nabuchodonosor.

Then said Judeth unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? Surely whatsoever pleases him, I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.

So she arose and trimmed her with garments, and with all the ornaments of women, and her maid went, and spread for her skins on the ground over against Olosernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.

Now when Judeth came and sat down, Olosernes heart was ravished with her, and his spirit was moved, and he desired greatly her company: for he had waited for the time to deceive her from the day that he had seen her.

Then said Olosernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.

So Judeth said, I drink now, my lord, because my state is exalted this day more than ever it was since I was born.

Then she took, and ate and drank before him the things, that her maid had prepared.

And Olosernes rejoiced because of her and drank much more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.