The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

IVDETH.

CHAP. I.

1 The buylding of Ecbatane. 5 Nabuchodonosor made warre against Arphaxed & ouercame him. 12 He threa∣teneth them that wolde not helpe him.

1 IN the twelft yere of the reigne of Na∣buchodonosor who reigned in Nineue the greate Citie [in the daies of Arpha∣xed, which reigned ouer the Medes in Ecbatane,

2 And buylt in Ecba∣tane the walles rounde aboute, of hewen stone, thre cubites broad, and six cubites long, and made the height of the wal seuē∣tie cubites, and the breadth thereof fiftie cubites.

3 And made the towres thereof in the gates of it of an hundreth cubites, & the breadth thereof in the fun daciō 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cubites,

4 And made the gates thereof, euen gates that were lifted vp on hie, seuentie cubites, and the breadth of them fortie cubites, for the going forth of his mightie armies, and forthe setting in aray of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.]

5 Euen in those daies, King Nabuchodono∣sor made warre with King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the great field, which is the field in the coastes of Ragau.

6 Then came vnto him all they that dwelt in the mountaines, & all that dwelt by Eu∣phrates, and Tigris and Hydaspes, and the countrey of Arioch the King of the Ely∣means, and verie manie nations assembled them selues to the battell of the sonnes of Chelod.

7 And Nabuchodonosor King of the Assy∣rians sent vnto all that dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt in the West, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Li∣banus and Antilibanus, & to all that dwelt vpon the sea coast,

8 And to the people, that are in Carmel, and Galaad, and the hier Galile, and the greate field of Esdrelam,

9 And to all that were in Samaria, and the cities therof, and beyonde Iordén vnto Ie∣rusalém, and Betane, and Chellus, and Ca∣des, and the riuer of Egypt, and Taphnes, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and all the land of Gesém.

10 Vnto one come to Tanis, and Memphis, & to all the inhabitants of Egypt, and to one come to the mountaines of Ethiopia.

11 But all the inhabitants of this countrey did not passe for the commandemēt of Na∣buchodonosor King of the Assyrians, ne∣ther wolde they come with him to the bat∣tel, for they did not feare him: yea, he was before thē as one man: therefore they sent away his ambassadours from them without effect, and with dishonour.

12 Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very an∣grie with all this countrey, and sware by his throne and kingdome that he wolde surely be auenged vpon all those coastes of Cilicia and Damascus, and Syria, & that he wolde slay with the sworde all the inha∣bitants of the land of Moab, and the chil∣dren of Ammon, and all Iudea, and all, that were in Egypt, til one come to the borders of the two seas.

13 Then he marched in battell aray with hys power agaynste King Arphaxad in the se∣uententh yere, and he preuailed in his bat∣tel for he ouer thre we all the power of Ar∣phaxad, and all his horse men, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all hys chariots.

14 And he wanne his cities, and came vnto Ecbatane, and toke the towres, and spoi∣led the stretes therof, and turned the beau∣tie thereof into shame.

15 He toke also Arphaxad in the mountaines of Ragau, and smote hym through with his dartes and destroyed him vtterlye that daye,

16 So he returneth afterwarde to Nineue, bothe he and all his companie with a verie great multitude of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of warre, and there he passed the time, and banketed, both he, and his armie an hundreth and twentye dayes.

CHAP. II.

1 Nabuchodonosor commanded presumpteously that all people shulde be broght in subiection, 6 And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those that disobeyed him. 15 The preparation of Olo∣phernes armie. 23 The conquest of his enemies.

1 ANd in the eightenth yere, the two and twentieth (daye) of the firste moneth, there was talke in the house of Nabucho∣donosor King of the Assyrians, that he shulde aduenge him selfe on all the earth, as he had spoken.

2 So he called vnto him all his officers & all his nobles, and communicated with thē his secret counsell, & set before them with hys owne mouth all the malice of the earth.

3 Thē they decreed to destroie all flesh, that had not obeied the commandement of his mouth.

4 And when he had ended his counsell, Na∣buchodonosor King of the Assyrians called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his chief captaine, and whiche was next vnto him, and said vnto him,

5 Thus saith the great King, the Lord of the whole earth, Beholde, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their owne strength, of fote∣men, an hundreth and twentie thousand, & the nōber of horses with their riders, twel∣ue thousand.

6 And thou shalt go agaynste all the West countrey, because they desobeied my com∣mandement.

7 And thou shalt declare vnto thē, that they prepared for me the lande and the water: for I wil go forthe in my wrath against thē and will couer the whole face of the earth with the fete of mine armie, and I wil giue them as a spoyle vnto them,

8 So that their wounded shal fil their valleis and their riuers, & the flood shal ouerflow, being filled with their dead.

9 And I will bring their captiuitie to the vt∣most partes of all the earth.

10 Thou therefore shalt departe hence, and take vp for me all their countrey: & if thei yelde vnto thee, thou shalt reserue thē for me vntil the day that I rebuke them.

11 But concerning them that rebell, let not thine eye spare them, but put thē to death: and spoyle them wheresoeuer thou goest.

12 For as I liue, and the power of my kingdo∣me, whatsoeuer I haue spoken, that wil I do by mine hand,

13 And take thou hede that thou transgresse not any of the cōmandements of thy Lord but accomplish them fully, as I haue com∣manded thee, and differre not to do them,

14 ¶ Then Olofernes went for the frome the presence of his Lord, and called all the go∣uernours, and captaines, and officers of the armie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

15 And he mustred the chosen men for the battell, as hys Lord had commanded him, vnto an hundreth and twentie thousand, & twelue thousand archers on hors backe.

16 And he set them in aray accordyng to the maner of setting a great armie in aray.

17 And he toke camels & asses for theyr bur∣dens, a very great nomber, and shepe, and oxen, and goates without nomber for their prouision,

18 And vitaile for euerie man of the armie, & verye muche golde and siluer out of the Kings house.

19 Then he went for the and all his power, to go before in the viage of King Nabuchodo nosor, and to couer all the face of the earth Westwarde, with their charets, and horse∣men, and chosen fotemen.

20 A greate multitude also of sundrie sortes, came with them like grashoppers, and like the grauel of the earth: for the multitude was without nomber.

21 And they went forth of Nineue thre daies iornay towarde the countrey of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and pitched from Bectileth nere the moun∣taine whiche is at the left hand of the vp∣per Cilicia.

22 Then he toke all hys armie, hys 〈◊〉〈◊〉

and horsemen, and charets, and went from thence into the mountaines.

23 And he destroied Phud and Lud, and spoy∣led all the children of Rasses, and the chil∣dren of Ismael, which were towarde the wil dernes at the South of the Chelians.

24 Thē he went ouer Euphrates: and went through Mesopotamia, & destroied all the hie cities that were vpon the riuer of Arbo nai, vntil one come to the sea.

25 And he toke the borders of Cilicia and de stroied all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Iaphet, which were towarde the South and ouer against Arabia.

26 He compassed also all the children of Ma∣dian, and burnt vp their tabernacles, and spoyled their lodges.

27 Then he went downe into the countrey of Damascus, in the time of wheat haruest & burnt vp all their fields, and destroied their flockes, and the herds he robbed their ci∣ties, and spoyled their countrey, & smote all their yong men with the edge of the sworde.

28 Therefore feare and trembling fel vpon all the inhabitants of the sea coast, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Iemna an: and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him greatly.

CHAP. III.

The people subiect to Olofernes. 8 He destroied their gods that Nabuchodonosor might onely be worshipped.

1 SO they sent ambassadours to him with message of peace, saying.

2 Beholde, we are the seruantes of Nabucho donosor the great King: we lie downe be∣fore thee vse vs as shalbe good in thy sight

3 Beholde, our houses and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and our flockes, & our herdes, and all our lodges and taber∣nacles lie before thy face: vse thē as it plea∣seth thee,

4 Beholde, euen our cities and the inhabi∣tants thereof are thy seruants come: and take them, as semeth good to thee.

5 ¶ So the men came to Olofernes, and decla red vnto them after this maner.

6 Then came he downe toward the sea coast bothe he and his armie, and set garisons in the hie cities, and toke out of them chosen men of the warre.

7 So they and all the coūtrey rounde about receiued them, with crownes, with dances, and with timbrels,

8 Yet he brake downe all their borders, and cut downe their woods: for it was enioyned him to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nacions shulde worshippe Nabuchodo nosor onely, and that all tongues and tri∣bes shulde call vpon him as God.

9 Also he came against Esdraelon, nere vn∣to Iudea, ouer against the great strait of Iudea.

10 And he pitched betwene 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and a citie of the Scythians, and there he taried a mo∣neth, that he might assembie all the bagga ge of his armie.

CHAP. IIII.

The Israelites were afraied and defended their countrey. 6 Ioacim the Priest writeth to Bethulia, that they shuld for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them selues. 9 They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Lord, and humbled them selues before him.

1 NOw the children of Israél that dwelt in Iudea, heard all that Olofernes the chief captaine of Nabuchodonosor King of the Assyrians had done to the nacions, & how he had spoiled all their temples, and broght them to noght.

2 Therefore they feared greatly his presen∣ce, and were troubled for Ierusalém, and for the Temple of the Lord their God.

3 For they were newly returned from the captiuitie and of late all the people was as sembled in Iudea, and the vessels and the al tar of the House had bene sanctified becau∣se of the pollution.

4 Therefore they sent into all the coastes of Samaria, and the villages, and to Bethoro, and Belmen, and Iericho, and to Choba, & Esora, and to the valley of Salém.

5 And toke all the toppes of the hie moun∣taines, and walled the villages that were in them, and put in vitailes for the prouision of warres: for their fields were of late rea∣ped.

6 Also Ioacim the hie Priest which was in tho se 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Ierusalém, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia and Betomestham, which is ouer against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 towarde the opē countrey nere to Dothaim:

7 Exhorting them to kepe the passages of the mountaines: for by them there was an entrie into Iudea, and it was easie to let thē that wolde come vp, because the passage was streit for two men at the moste.

8 And the children of Israel did as Ioacim the hie Priest had commanded them with the Anciēts of all the people of Israél, which dwelt at Ierusalém.

9 Then cryed euerie man of Israél to God with great feruencie, and their soules with great affection.

10 Bothe they, and their wiues, and their chil∣dren and their cattel, and euerie stranger & hireling, and their boght seruants put sac∣kecloth vpon their loynes.

11 Thus euerie man and woman, and the chil∣dren, and the inhabitants of Ierusalém fell before the Temple, and sprinkled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp on their heades, and spred out their sacke∣cloth before the face of the Lord also they put sackecloth about the altar.

12 And cryed to the God of Israel, all with one consent moste earnestly, that he wol∣de not giue their children for a pray, and their wiues for a spoyle, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, & the San∣ctuarie to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and reproche, and vnto derision to the heathen.

13 So God heard their prayers, and loked

vpon their affliction: for the people fasted many daies in all Iudea and Ierusalém be∣fore the Sanctuarie of the Lord almightie.

14 And Ioacim the Priest, and all the Priests that stode before the Lord, and ministred vnto the Lord, had their loynes girt with sackecloth, and offred the cōtinual burnt offring, with praiers and the fre giftes of the people,

15 And had ashes on their mytres, and cryed vnto the Lord with all their power for gra ce, and that he wolde loke vpō all the hou se of Israél.

CHAP. V.

Achior the Ammonite doeth declare to Olofernes of the maner of the Israelites.

1 THen was it declared to Olofernes the chief captaine of the armie of Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for warre, and had shut the passages of the mountaines, and had walled all the toppes of the hie hilles, and had laid impediments in the champion countrey.

2 Where with he was very angrie, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captai∣nes of Ammon, and all the gouernours of the sea coast.

3 And he said vnto them, Shewe me, ô ye son nes of Chanaan, who is this people that dwelleth in the mountaines? and what are the cities that they inhabite? and what is the multitude of their armie and wherein is their strength and their power? and what King or captaine is raised amōg them ouer their armie?

4 And why haue they determined not to come to mete me, more then all the inhabi tants of the West?

5 ¶ Then * said Achior the captaine of all the sonnes of Ammon, Let my lord heare the worde of the mouth of his seruants, & I wil declare vnto thee the trueth concer∣ning this people, that dwell in these moū∣taines, nere where thou remainest, and the re shal no lic come out of the mouth of thy seruant.

6 This people come of the stocke of the Chaldeans.

7 And * they dwelt before in Mesopotamia, because they wolde not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Chaldea.

8 But they went out of the way of their an∣cestres and worshipped the God of heauen the God whome they knewe: so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled in Mesopotamia, and soiourned there many daies.

9 Then * their God commanded them to de∣parte from the place where they soiourned and to go into the land of Chanaan where they dwelt, and were increased with golde and siluer, and with very muche cattel.

10 But when a famine couered all the land of Chanaan, they went downe into Egypt, & dwelt there til they returned, and became there a great multitude, so that one colde not nomber their linage.

11 * Therefore the King of Egypt rose vp a∣gainst them, and vsed deceit against them, and broght them lowe with laboring in bricke, and made them sclaues.

12 Then they cryed vnto their God, & he smo te all the land of Egypt with incurable pla gues: so the * Egyptians cast them out of their sight.

13 And * God dryed the red Sea in their pre∣sence,

14 And * broght them in to mount Sina and Cades barne, and cast forthe all that dwelt in the wildernes.

15 So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroied by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing ouer Iordan, they inherited all the mountaines.

16 And they * cast forthe before thē the Cha∣na a nites and the Pheresites, and the Iebusi∣tes, and them of Sichem, and all the Gerge∣sites, and they dwelt in that countrey many daies.

17 And whiles they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hated iniquitie, was with them.

18 But * when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were de∣stroied in many battels after a wonderful sorte, * and were led captiues into a land that was not theirs: & the Temple of their God was cast to the grounde and their ci∣ties were taken by the enemies.

19 But * now they are turned to their God, & are come vp from the scattering wherein thei were scattered, and haue possessed Ie∣rusalém, where their Temple is, and dwell in the mountaines which were desolate.

20 Now therefore, my lord and gouernour if there be anie faute in this people, so that they haue sinned against their God, let vs consider that this shalbe their ruine, & let vs go vp, and we shal ouer come them.

21 But if there be none iniquitie in this people let my lord passe by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God befor them, and we become a reproche before all the worlde.

22 ¶ And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people, standing rounde a∣bout the tent, murmured: and the chief mē of Olofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side and in Moab, speake that he shulde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him.

23 For (say they) we feare not to mete the chil dren of Israél: for lo, it is a people that ha∣ue no strength nor power against a mightie armie.

24 Let vs therefore go vp, ô lord Olofernes, & they shalbe meat for thy whole armie.

CHAP. VI.

Olofernes blasphemeth God whome Achior confessed. 14 Achior is deliuered into the hands of them of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 18 The Bethulians crye vnto the Lord.

1 ANd when the tumulte of the men that were about the counsel, was ceased, Olofernes, the chief captaine of the armie of Assur, said vnto Achior before all the people of the strangers, and before all the children of Moab, and of them that were hired of Ephraim.

2 Because thou hast prophecied amōg vs to day, and hast said that the people of Ierusa lém is able to fight, * because their God wil desend them: and who is god but Nabucho donosor?

3 He wil send his power, and wil destroye them from the face of the earth, and their God shal not deliuer them: but we his ser∣uants wil destroye them as one man: for they are not able to susteine the power of our horses.

4 For we wil tread them vnder fete with thē and their mountaines shalbe drunken with their blood, and their fields shalbe filled with their dead bodies, and their fotestep∣pes shal not be able to stand before vs: but they shal vtterly perish.

5 The King Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth, hathe said, euen he hathe said, None of my wordes shalbe in vaine.

6 And thou Achior an hireling of Ammon, be cause thou hast spokē these wordes in the day of thine iniquitie, thou shalt se my fa∣ce no more from this day vntil I take ven∣geance of that people that is come out of Egypt.

7 And then shal the yron of mine armie, and the multitude of them that serue me, passe through thy sides, and thou shalt fall amōg their slayne, when I shal put them to flight.

8 And my seruants shal cary thee into the mountaines, and they shal leaue thee at one of the hie cities but thou shalt not perish, til thou be destroyed with them.

9 And if thou persuade thy self in thy minde, that they shal not be takē, let not thy coun tenance fall: I haue spoken it, and none of my wordes shalbe in vaine.

10 Then commanded Olofernes them cōcer ning Achior, that they shulde bring him to Bethulia, and deliuer him into the hands of the children of Israél.

11 So his seruants toke him, and broght him out of the campe into the plaine: and thei went out from the middes of the plaine in to the mountaines, & came vnto the foun∣taines that were vnder Bethulia.

12 And when the men of the citie sawe them from the toppe of the mountaine, they to∣ke their armour, and went forthe of the ci∣tie vnto the toppe of the mountaine, euen all the throwers with slings, and kept them from cōming vp, by casting stones against them.

13 But they went priuely vnder the hill, and bounde Achior, and left him lying at the fote of the hill, and returned to their lord,

14 Thē the Israelites came downe from their citie, and stode about him, and losed him & broght him into Bethulia, and presented him to the gouernours of their citie.

15 Which were in those daies, Ozias the son∣ne of Micha, of the tribe of Simeon, & Cha bris the sonne of Gothoniel, and Charmis the sonne of Melchiel.

16 And they called together all the Ancients of the citie, and all their youth ranne toge∣ther, and their women to the assemblie: and they set Achior in the middes of all their people. Then Ozias asked him of that whi∣che was done.

17 And he answered & declared vnto them the wordes of the counsel of Olofernes, & all the wordes that he had spoken in the middes of the princes of Assur, and what soeuer Olofernes had spoken proudely against the house of Israél.

18 Then the people fel downe and worship∣ped God, and cryed vnto God, saying.

19 O Lord God of heauen, beholde their pri de, and haue mercie on the basenes of our people, & beholde this day the face of tho∣se that are sanctified vnto thee.

20 Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.

21 And Ozias toke out of the assemblie into his house, and made a feast to the Elders, & they called on the God of Israél all that night for helpe.

CHAP. VII.

1 Olofernes doeth besiege Bethulia. 8 The counsel of the Idumeans and other against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 23 The Be∣thulians murmure against their gouernours 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lacke of water.

1 THe next day, Olofernes commanded all his armie and all his people, which we∣re come to take his parte, that thei shulde remoue their campes against Bethulia, and that they shulde take all the streites of the hill, and to make warre against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Israél.

2 Then their strong men remoued their camps in that daye, and the armie of the men of warre was an hundreth thousand and seuentie fotemen, and twelue thousād horsemen, beside the baggage and other men that were afore among them, a very great multitude.

3 And they camped in the plaine nere vnto Bethulia, by the fountaine, and thei spred abroad toward Dothaim vnto Belbaim, & and in length from Bethulia vnto Ciamon, which is ouer against Esdraelom.

4 Now the children of Israél, when they sawe the multitude, were greatly troubled, and said euerie one to gis neighbour, Now wil they shut vp all the whole earth: for ne ther the hie moutaines nor the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor the hilles are able to abide their burden.

5 Then euerie one toke his weapōs of warre and burning fyres in their towres, they re∣mained and watched all that night.

6 But in the seconde day, Olofernes broght forthe all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Israél, which were in Bethulia.

7 And vewed the passages vp to their citie, and came to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their waters and toke them and set garisons of men of warre ouer then, and remoued toward his people.

8 Then came vntō him all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the children of Esau, and all the gouernours of the people of Moab, and all the captaines of the sea coast, and said.

9 Let our captaine now heare a worde, lest an inconuenience come in thine armie.

10 For this people of the childrē of Israel do not trust in their speares, but in the height of the mountaines, wherein they dwell, be cause it is not easy to come vp to the toppes of their mountaines.

11 Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battelaray, and there shal not so muche as one man of thy people perish.

12 Remaine in thy campt, and kept all the & & Word & & of thine armie, and let thy men kepe stil the water of the countrey, that cometh forthe at the fote of the mountaine.

13 For alll the inhabitants of Bethulia haue their water thereof: so shal thirst kill them and they shal giue vp their citie: and we and our people wil go vp to the toppes of the mountaines that are nere, and wil campe vpon them, and watche that none go out of the citie.

14 So thei and their wiues, and their childrē shalbe consumed with famine, and befo∣re the sworde come against them, thei shal∣be ouerthrowen in the stretes where thei dwel.

15 Thus shalt thou rēder them an euil reward because thei rebelled and obeied not thy persone peaceably.

16 And these wordes pleased Olofernes and all his soldiers, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.

17 So the campe of the children of Ammon departed, and with them fiue thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the val∣ley, and tok the waters, and the fountaines of the waters of the children of Israél,

18 Then the children of Esau went vp with the children of Ammon, and camped in the mountaines ouer against Dothaim, & thei sent some of thē selues towarde the South and towarde the East, ouer against Rebel, which is nere vnto Chusi, that is vpon the riuer Mochmur: and the rest of the armie of the Assyrians camped in the field, and co∣uered the whole land: for their tents and their baggage were pitched in a wonder∣ful great place.

19 Then the children of Israel cryed vnto the Lord their God, because their heart fai led: for all their enemies had cōpassed thē about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.

20 Thus all the companie of Assur remained about them, bothe their fotemen, chariots and horsemen, foure and thirtie dayes: so that euen all the places of their waters fai∣led all the inhabitants of Bethulia.

21 And the cisternes were emptie, & they had not water ynough to drinke for one day: for they gaue them to drinke by measure.

22 Therefore their children swoned, & their wiues and yong men failed for thirst, & fel downe in the stretes of the citie, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no strength in them.

23 Then all the people assembled to Ozias, & to the chief of the citie, bothe yong men & women, and children, and cryed with a lou de voyce, and said before all the Elders,

24 The * Lord iudge betwene vs and you: for you haue done vs great iniurie, in that ye haue not required peace of the children of Assur.

25 For now we haue no helper: but God ha∣the solde vs into their hands, that we shul∣de be throwen downe before them with thirst and great destruction.

26 Now therefore call them together, and de liuer the whole citie for a spoile to the peo ple of Olofernes, and to all his armie.

27 For it is better for vs to be made a spoile vnto them, then to dye for thirst: for we wil be his seruants that we may liue, and not se the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wiues, nor our children to dye.

28 We take to witnes against you the heauē and the earth, and our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth vs, according to our sinnes & the sinnes of our fathers, that he lay not these things to our charge.

29 Then there was a great crye of all with one consent in the middes of the assemblie and thei cryed vnto the Lord God with a loude voyce.

30 Then said Ozias to thē, Brethren, be of good courage let vs waite yet fiue daies, in the which space the Lord our God may tur ne his mercie toward vs: for he wil not for∣sake vs in the end.

31 And if these daies passe, & there come not helpe vnto vs, I wil do according to your worde.

32 So he separated the people, euerie one vn∣to their charge, & thei wēt vnto the walles and towres of their citie, and sent their wi∣ues and their children into their houses, & they were very lowe broght in the citie.

CHAP. VIII.

The parentage, life and conuersation of Iudeth. 11 She re buketh the faintenes of the gouernours. 12 She sheweth that they shulde not tempt God, but wait vpon him for succour. 33 Her enterprise against the enemies.

1 NOw at that time, Iudeth heard thereof which was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Ox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Oziel, the sonne of Elcia, the sonne of Ananias, the sonne of Gedeon the sonne

of Raphaim, the sonne of Acito, the sonne of Eliu, the sonne of Eliab, the sonne of Nathanael, the sonne of Samuel, the sō∣ne of Salasadai, the sonne of Israel.

2 And Manasses was her housband, of her stocke and kinred, who dyed in the barely haruest.

3 For as he was diligent ouer thē that boun de sheaues in the field, the heat came vpon his head, and he fel vpon his bed, & dyedin in the citie of Bethulia, & thei buryed him with his fathers in the field betwene Do∣thaim and Balamo.

4 So Iudeth was in her house a widowe thre yeres and fouremoneths.

5 And she made her a tente vpon her house, and put on sackecloth on her loynes, and ware her widowes apparel.

6 And she fasted all the daies of her widow∣hode, saue the day before the Sabbath and the Sabbaths, and the day before the newe moones, & in the feastes & solemne daies of the house of Israél.

7 She was also of a goodlie countenance & very beautiful to beholde, & her housband Manassés had left her golde and siluer, and men seruants, and maide seruants, and cat∣tel, and possessions, where she remained.

8 And there was none that colde bring an euil reporte of her: for she feared God greatly,

9 Now when she heard the euil wordes of the people agaīst the gouernour, because thei fainted for lacke of waters [for Iudeth had heard all the wordes that Ozias had spokē vnto them, and that he had * sworne vnto them to deliuer the citie vnto the Assyrians within fiue daies]

10 Then she sent her maide that had the go∣uernement of all things that she had, to call Ozias & Chabris and Charmis the An∣cients of the Citie.

11 And they came vnto her, and she said vnto them, Heare me, ô ye gouernours of the in habitāts of Bethulia: for your wordes that ye haue spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this othe which ye made and pronounced betwene God and you, and haue promised to deliuer the citie to the enemies, vnles within these daies the Lord turne to helpe you.

12 And now who are you that haue tempted God this day, & set your selues in the pla∣ce of God among the children of men?

13 So now you seke the Lord almightie, but you shal neuer knowe any thing.

14 For you cannot finde out the depth of the heart of man, nether can ye perceiue the things that he thinketh them how can you search out God, that hathe made all these things, and knowe his minde, or compre∣hend his purpose? Nay my brethren, prouo ke not the Lord our God to anger.

15 For if he wil not helpe vs within these fiue daies, he hathe power to defend vs when he wil, euen euerie day, or to destroy vs be fore our enemies.

16 Do not you therefore binde the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as mā that he may be threatned nether as the son ne of man to be broght to iudgement.

17 Therefore let vs waite for saluacion of him and call vpon him to helpe vs, and he wil heare our voyce if it please him.

18 For there appeareth none in our age, ne∣ther is there any now in these daies, nether tribe, nor familie, nor people, nor citie a∣mōg vs which worship the gods made with hande, as hathe bene afore time.

19 For * the which cause ourfathers were gi∣uen to the sworde, and for a spoile, & had a great fall before our enemies.

20 But we knowe none other God: therefore we trust that he wil not despise vs, not any of our linage.

21 Nether when we shalbe taken, shal Iudea be so famous for our Sāctuarie shalbe spoiled and he wil require the prophanacion the∣reof at our mouth.

22 And the feare of our brethren, and the ca∣ptiuitie of the countrey, and the desolatiō of our inheritance wil he turne vpon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoeuer we shalbe in bondage, & we shalbe an offen ce & a reproche to all thē that possesse vs.

23 For our seruitude shal not be directed by fauour, but the Lord our God shal turne it to dishonour.

24 Now therefore, ô brethren, let vs shewe an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend vpon vs, and the Sanctuarie and the House, and the altar rest vpon vs.

25 Moreouer, let vs giue thankes to the Lord our God, which tryeth vs euen as he didour fathers.

26 Remēber what things he did to * Abrahā, & how he tryed Isaac, & all that he did to * Iacob in Mesopotamia of Syria whē he kept the shepe of Laban his mothers brother.

27 For he hathe not tryed vs as he did them to the examination of their hearts, nether doeth he take vengeance on vs, but the Lord punisheth for instruction them that come nere to him.

28 ¶ Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken, hast thou spoken with a good heart: and there is none that is able to re∣sist thy wordes.

29 For it is not to day that thy wisdome is knowen: but from the beginning of thy life all the people haue knowen thy wisdome: for the deuice of thine is good.

30 But the people were very thirstie, and com¦pelled vs to do vnto them, as we haue spo∣ken, and haue broght vs to an othe which we may not transgresse.

31 Therefore now pray for vs, because thou art an holy woman that the Lord may send vs rayne to fill our cisternes, and that we may faint no more.

32 Then said Iudeth vnto them, Heare me, & I wil do a thing, which shalbe declared in all generations, to the children of our na∣cion.

33 You shal stand this night in the gate, and I wil go forthe with mine hand maid: and within the daies that ye haue promised to deliuer the citie to our enemies, the Lord wil visit Israél by mine hand.

34 But inquire not you of mine acte: for I wil not declare it vnto you, til the things be fi nished that I do.

35 Then said Ozias and the princes vnto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.

36 So they returned from the tent, and went to their wardes.

CHAP. IX.

1 Iudeth humbleth her self before the Lord, and maketh her prayers for the deliuerance of her people. 7 Against the pride of the Assyrians. 11 God is the helpe of the hum ble.

1 THen Iudeth fel vpon her face, and put asshes vpon her head, and put of the sackecloth wherewith she was clothed, And about the time that the incense of that e∣uening was offred in Ierusalem in the Hou se of the Lord, Iudeth cryed with a loude voyce, and said.

2 O Lord God of my father * Simeon to who me thou gauest a sworde to take vengean∣ce of the strangers which opened the wom be of the maide, and defiled her, and disco∣uered the thigh with shame, and polluted the wombe to reproche [for thou hadest commanded that it shulde not so be.

3 Yet thei did things for the which thou ga∣uest their princes to the slaughter, for they were deceiued and washed their beds with blood] & hast striken the seruants with the gouernours, and the gouernours vpon their thrones.

4 And hast giuen their wiues for a pray and their daughters to be captiues, & all their spoiles for a botie to the childrē that thou louedst which were moued with thy zeale, and abhorred the pollution of their blood and called vpō thee for aide, ô God, ô my God, heare me also a widdowe.

5 For thou hast wroght the things a fore, & these, and the things that shalbe after, and thou considerest the things that are pre∣sent, and the things that are to come.

6 For the things which thou doest purpose are present, and say, Beholde, we are here: for all thy waies are ready, and thy iudge∣ments are foreknowen.

7 Beholde, the Assyrians are multiplied by their power they haue exalted thē selues with horses and horsemen: they glorie in the strength of their foremen they trust in shield, spare and bowe, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and do not knowe that thou art the Lord that brea∣kest the battels the Lord is thy Name.

8 Breake thou their strength by thy power & breake their force by thy wrath: for they haue purposed to defile thy Sanctuarie, & to pollute the tabernacle where thy glo∣rious Name resteth, and to cast downe with weapons the hornes of the altar.

9 Beholde their pride, and send thy wrath vpō their heads giue into mine hand which am a widow, the strength that I haue con∣ceiued.

10 Smite by the deceit of my lippes the ser∣uant with the prince, and the prince with the seruant: abbate their height by the hād of a woman.

11 * For thy power standeth not in the multi tude, nor thy might in strong mē: but thou ô Lord, art the helpe of the humble and lit le ones, the defender of the weake, and the protector of them that are forsaken, & the Sauiour of them that are without hope.

12 Surely, surely (thou) art the God of my fa∣ther, and the God of the inheritance of Is∣raél the Lord of heauen and earth, the crea tor of the waters, the King of all creatures heare thou my prayer.

13 And grant me wordes a craft: and a wounde and a stroke against them that enterprise cruel things against thy couenant, and a∣gainst thine holy House, and against the toppe of Sion, and against the house of the possession of thy children.

14 Shewe euidently among all thy people, and all the tribes, that they may knowe that thou art the God of all power and strength and that there is none other that defen∣deth the people of Israél, but thou.

CHAP. X.

1 Iudeth decketh her self and goeth forthe citie. 11 She is taken of the watch of the Assyrians and broght to Olo∣fernes.

1 NOw after she had ceased to crye vnto the God of Israél, and had made an end of all these wordes

2 She rose where she had fallen downe, and called her maide, and went downe into the house, in the which she abode in the Sab∣bath daies and in the feast daies.

3 And putting away the sacke cloth where with she was clad, and putting of the gar∣ments of her widowhode, she washed her body with water, & anointed it with muche ointement, & dressed the heere of her head and put attire vpon it, and put on her gar∣ments of gladnes, wherewith she was clad during the life of Man asses her housband.

4 And she put slippers on her fete, and put on bracelets, & sleues, and rings, and earings, and all her ornaments, and she decked her selfe brauely to allure the eyes of all men that shulde se her.

5 Then she gaue her maide a bottel of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and a pot of oyle, and filled ascrippe with floure, and with drye figges, and with fine bread: so she lapped vp all these things to∣gether and laid them vpon her.

6 Thus they went for the to the gate of the

citie of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias, and the ancients of the citie, Cha∣bris and Charmis.

7 And when they sawe her that her face was changed, and that her garment was chan∣ged, they marueiled greatlye at her won∣derful beautie, and said vnto her,

8 The God, the God of our fathers giue thee fauour, and accomplish thine enterprises to the glorie of the children of Israél, and to the exaltation of Ierusalém. Then they worshipped God.

9 And she said vnto them, Cōmande the ga∣tes of the citie to be opened vnto me, that I may go forthe to accomplish the things which you haue spoken to me. So they cō∣manded the yong men to open vnto her, as she had spoken.

10 And when they had done so, Iudeth went out, she and her maide with her, and the mē of the Citie loked after her, vntill she was gone downe the mountaine, and till she had passed the valley, and colde se her no more.

11 Thus they went streight forthe in the val∣ley, and the firste watche of the Assyrians met her,

12 And toke her, and asked her, Of what peo∣ple art thou? and whence comest thou? and whether goest thou? And she said, I am a wo∣man of the Hebrewes, and am fled frome them: for they shalbe giuen you to be con∣sumed.

13 And I come before Olofernes, the chief captaine of your armie, to declare him true things, and I wil shewe before him the way whereby he shal go and winne all the moū∣taines, without losing the bodie or life of anie of his men.

14 Now when the men heard her wordes, & behelde her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beautie, and said vnto her,

15 Thou hast saued thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come downe to the presence of our Lord: now therefore come to his tente, and some of vs shal conduct thee vntil thei haue deliured thee in to his hands.

16 And whē thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but shewe vnto hym according as thou hast to say, and he will in treat thee wel.

17 Then they chose out of thē an hundreth men, and prepared a charet for her and her maide, and broght her to the tent of Olo∣fernes.

18 Then there was a running to and fro, throughout the campe: for her comming was bruted among the tentes: & thei came and stode rounde aboute her: for she stode without the tent of Olofernes vntill they had declared vnto him concerning her.

19 And they marueiled at her beautie, and wondered at the children of Israél because of her, and euerye one said vnto his neigh∣bour, Who wolde despise this people, that haue among them suche women? surely it is not good that one mā of them be left: for if thei shulde remaine, they might deceiue the whole earth.

20 Then Olofernes garde went out, and all his seruātes, and they broght her into the tente.

21 Now Olofernes rested vpon his bed vnder a canopie, which was wouen with purple and golde and emeraudes, and precious stones.

22 So they shewed him of her, and he came for the vnto the entrie of his tēt, and they caried lampes of siluer before him.

23 And when Iudeth was come before him & and his seruants, they all marueiled at the beautie of her countenance, and she fel downe vpon her face, and did reuerence vn to him, and his seruants toke her vp.

CHAP. XI.

1 Olofernes comforteth Iudeth. 3 And asketh the cause of her comming. 5 She deceiueth him by her faire wor∣des.

1 THen said Olofernes vnto her, Woman, be of good comfort: feare not in thine heart: for I neuer hurt any that wolde ser∣ue Nabuchodonosor the King of all the earth.

2 Now therfore if thy people that dwelleth in the mountaines, had not despised me, I wolde not haue lifted vp my speare against them but they haue procured these things to themselues.

3 But now tel me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come vnto vs: for thou art come for safegard: be of good comfort thou shalt liue frō this night, & here after

4 For none shal hurt thee, but in treat thee wel, as they do the seruants of King Nabu∣chodonosor my lord.

5 Then Iudeth said vnto him, Receiue the wordes of thy seruant, & suffer thine hand∣maide to speake in thy presence, and I wil declare no lie to my lord this night.

6 And if thou wilt follow the wordes of thi∣ne hand maide, God wil bring the thing perfectly to passe by thee, and my lord shal not faile of his purpose.

7 As Nabuchodonosor King of all the earth liueth, & as his power is of force, who ha∣the sent thee to reforme all persones, not onely men shal be made subiect to him by thee, but also the beastes of the fields, and the cattel, and the foules of the heauen shal liue by thy power vnder Nabuchodonosor and all his house.

8 For we haue heard of thy wisdome and of thy prudent spirit, & it is declared through the whole earth, that thou onely art excel∣lent in all the kingdome, and of a wonder ful knowledge, and in feates of warre mar ueillous.

9 Now * as concerning the matter which A chior did speake in thy counsel, we haue heard his wordes: for the men of Bethulia

did take him, and he declared vnto them all that he had spoken vnto thee.

10 Therefore, ô Lord and gouernour, reiecte not his worde, but set it in thine heart, for it is true: for there is no punishmēt against our people, nether can the sworde preuai∣le against them, except they sinne against their God.

11 Now therfore left my Lord shulde be fru∣strate, & voide of his purpose, & that death may fall vpon them, and that they may be taken in their sinne whiles thei prouoke their God to angre, (which is) so oft times as they do that which is not beseming,

12 [For because their vittailes faile, and all their water is wasted, thei haue determined to take their cattel, and haue purposed to consume all things that God had forbid∣den them to eat by his Lawes:

13 Yea, they haue purposed to consume the first frutes of the wheat, and the tithes of the wine, and of the oyle whiche they had reserued and sanctified for the Priests that serue in Ierusalém before the face of our God: the which things it is not lawful for any of the people to touche with their hāds

14 Moreouer they haue sent to Ierusalém, because they also that dwell there, haue done the like, suche as shulde bryng them licence from the Senate.]

15 Now when they shall bring them worde, they wil do it and they shalbe giuen thee to be destroyed the same day.

16 Wherefore I thyne handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence, and God hathe sent me to worke a thing with thee, whereof all the earth shal wonder, & whosoeuer shal heare it.

17 For thy seruant feareth God, and worshi∣peth the God of heauen day and night, & now let me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with thee, my Lord, and let thy seruant go out in the night into the valley, and I will pray vnto GOD, that he may reueile vnto me when they shal com∣mit their sinnes,

18 And I will come and shewe it vnto thee: then thoushalt go forthe with all thine ar∣mie, and there shalbe none of thē that shall resist thee.

19 And I wil lead thee through the middes of Iudea, vntil thou come before Ierusalém, & I will set thy throne in the middes thereof, and thou shalt driue them as shepe that haue no shepherd, and a dogge shall not barcke with his mouthe agaynste thee: for these things haue bene spoken vnto me, & declared vnto me accordyng to my fore∣knowledge, and I am sent to shewe thee.

20 ¶ Then her wordes pleased Olofernes, and all his seruants, and they marueiled at her wisdome, and said,

21 There is not such a womā in all the world, bothe for beautie of face, and wisdome of wordes.

22 Likewise Olofernes said vnto her, GOD“ hathe done this, to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hāds and destructiō vpon them that despise my lord.

23 And now thou art bothe beautiful in thy countenance, and wittie in thy wordes su∣rely if thou do as thou hast spokē thy God shalbe my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be re∣nomed through out the whole earth.

CHAP. XII.

1 Iudeth wolde not pollute her self with the meat of the Gentiles. 5 She maketh her request that she might go out by night to pray. 11 Olofernes causeth her to come to the banketh.

1 THen he commanded to bring her in where his treasures were, layed, and ba de that they shulde prepare for her of his owne meates, and that she shuld drinke of his owne wine.

2 But Iudeth said, * I may not eat of them, lest there shulde be an offence, but I can suf fice my selfe with the things that I haue broght.

3 Then Olofernes said vnto her, If the things that thou hast, shulde faile, how shulde we giue thee the like for there is none with vs of thy nation.

4 Then said Iudeth vnto him, As thy soule li∣ueth, my lord, thine hand maide shal not spend those things that I haue, before the Lord worke by mine hand the things that he hathe determined.

5 Then the seruāts of Olofernes broght her into the tent, and she slept vntil midnight, and rose at the mourning watche.

6 And sent to Olofernes saying, Let my lord commande that thine hand maide may go forthe vnto prayer.

7 Then Olofernes cōmanded his garde that thei 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not stay her: thus she abode in the campe thre dayes, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and wa∣shed her self in a fountaine, euen in the wa∣ter by the campe.

8 And whē she came out, she prayed vnto the Lord God of Israél, that he wolde direct her way to the exaltation of the childrē of her people.

9 So she returned, and remained pure in the tent, vntil she ate her meat at euening.

10 ¶ And in the fourtie day, Olofernes made a feast to his owne seruants onely, and cal∣led none of thē to the banket, that had the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in hand.

11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuche who had charge ouer all that he had, Go and per suade this Hebrewe woman, which is with thee, that she come vnto vs and eat, and drinke with vs.

12 For it were a shame for vs, if we shulde let suche a woman alone, and not talke with her, and if we do not allure her, she wil moc ke vs.

13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of

〈◊〉〈◊〉, and came to her, and said, Let not this faire maide make difficultie to go into my Lord, & to be honored in his pre∣sence, and to drinke wine with vs ioyful∣ly, and to be in treated as one of the daugh∣ters of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Assur, which remaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the house of Nabuchodonosor.

14 Thē said Iudeth vnto him, Who am I now, that I shulde gayne say my Lord? Surelye what soeuer pleaseth him, I will do spede∣ly, and it shalbe my ioye vnto the daye of my death.

15 So she arose and trimmed her with gar∣ments, & with all the ornaments of womē, & her maide went, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for her skinnes on the groūd ouer against Olofernes, whi∣che she had receiued of Bagoas for her dai∣ly vse, that she might sitand eat vpon thē.

16 Now when Iudeth came and sate downe, Olofernes heart was rauished with her, & his Spirit was moued, and he desired great∣ly her companie: for he had waited for the time to deceiue her from the day that he had sene her.

17 Then said Olofernes vnto her, Drinke now, and be mery with vs.

18 So Iudeth said, I drinke now, my Lord, be∣cause my state is exalted this day more thē euer it was since I was borne.

19 Then she toke, and ate and dranke before him the things, that her maide had prepa∣red.

20 And Olofernes reioyced because of her and dranke much more wine then he had drunken at anie time in one daye since he was borne.

CHAP. XIII.

1 Iudeth praieth for strength. 8 She 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Olofernes necke. 10 She returneth to Bethulia and reioyceth her people

1 NOw whē the euening was come, his ser uāts made haste to departe, & Bagoas shut hys tent without, and dimissed those that were presēt, from the presence of his Lord, & thei wēt to their beddes: * for they were all wearie, because the feast had bene long.

2 And Iudeth was left a lone in the tent, and Olofernes was stretched 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpō his bed: for he was filled with wine.

3 ¶ Now Iudeth had commanded her maide to stand without her chamber, and to wait for her comming forth as she did daily: for she said, she wolde go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.

4 So all went forth of her presence, & none was left in the chamber, nether litle nor great: thē Iudeth standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, be∣holde at this present the workes of myne hands for the exaltation of Ierusalém.

5 For now is the time to helpe thine in heri∣tance, and to execute mine enterprises, to the destruction of the enemies whiche are risen against vs.

6 Thē she came to the post of the bed which was at Olofernes head, & toke downe hys fauchin from thence,

7 And approched to the bed & toke holde of the heere of his head, and said, Streng∣then me, ô Lord God of Israél this day.

8 And she smote twise vpon his necke with all hermight, and she toke awaye his head from him,

9 And roled his bodie downe from the bed, and pulled downe the canopie frome the pillers, and anone after she went forth, and gaue Olofernes head to her maid,

10 And she put it in her scrippe of meate: so they twaine went together accordyng to their custome vnto prayer, and pressing through the tentes, went about by that valley, and went vp the mountaine of Be∣thulia, and came to the gates thereof.

11 ¶ Thē said Iudeth afarre of to the watche men at the gates, Opē now the gate God, euen our God is with vs to shewe his power yet in Ierusalém, and his force against hys enemies, as he hathe euen done this day.

12 Now when the men of her citie heard her voyce, theimade haste to go downe to the gate of their Citie, and they called the El∣ders of the citie.

13 And thei ranne all together bothe smale and greate: for it was aboue their expecta∣tion, that she shulde come. So they opened the gate & receiued her, & made afyre for a light, and stode round about thē twaine.

14 Then she said to thē with a loude voyce, Praise God, praise God: for he hathe not taken awaye his mercie from the house of Israel, but hathe destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.

15 So she toke the head out of the scrippe & shewedit, and said vnto them, Beholde the head of Olofernes, the chief captaine of the armie of Assur, and beholde the cano∣pie, wherein he did lie in his drunkennes, & the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.

16 As the Lord liueth, who hathe kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceiued him to his destruction, & he hath not committed sinne with me by anie pol∣lution or vilenie.

17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed them selues, and worshiped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, ô our God, which hast this daye broght to noght the ennemies of thy people,

18 Thē said Ozias vnto her, O daughter, bles∣sed arte thou of the moste hie God aboue all the women of the earth, and blessed be the Lord GOD, whiche hathe created the heauens and the earth, whiche hathe dire∣cted thee to the cutting of of the head of the chief of our enemies.

19 Surely this thine hope shal neuer departe

out of the heartes of men: for thei shal re∣member the power of God for euer.

20 And God turne these things to thee for a perpetual praise, and visite thee with good things, because thou hast not spared thy life, because of the affliction of our naciō, but thou hast holpen our ruine, walking a streight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it.

CHAP. XIIII.

1 Iudeth causeth to hang vp the head of Olofernes. 10 Achior ioyneth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selfe to the people of God. 11 The Israelites go out against the Assyrians.

1 THen said Iudeth vnto them, Heare me also, my brethrē, and * take this head, and hang it vppon the hiest place of your walles.

2 And so sone as the morning shall appeare and the sonne shall come for the vpon the earth, take you euerie one his weapons, & go forthe euerie valiant man out of them Citie, and set you a captaine ouer them, as thogh you wolde godowne into the field, towarde the watche of the Assyrians, but go not downe.

3 Then they shal take their armour, & shall go into their campe, & raise vp the captai∣nes of the armie of Assur, & they shal runne to the tent of Olofernes, but shal not finde him: then feare shall fall vpon them, & they shal flee before your face,

4 So you and all that inhabite the coastes of Israel, shal pursue them, and ouerthrowe them as they go.

5 But before you do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may se, and knowe him that despised the house of Is∣rael, and that sent him to vs as to death.

6 Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias, and when he was come and sawe the head of Olofernes in a certeine mans hand in the assemblie of the people, he fell downe on his face, and his spirit failed.

7 But when they had taken him vp, he fel at Iudeths fete, and reuerenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacle of Iu∣da, and in all nacions, whiche, hearing thy name, shalbe astonished.

8 Now therefore tel me all the things, that thou hast done in these dayes. Then Iudeth declared vnto him in the middes of the people all that she had done from the daye that she went forthe, vntill that houreshe spake vnto them.

9 And whē she had left of speaking, the peo∣ple reioyced with a great voyce, and made anoyce of gladnes through their citie.

10 And Achior, seing all things that God had done for Israel, beleued in God vnfainedly, and circumcised the foreskine of his flesh, and was ioyned vnto the house of Israel vnto this day.

11 ¶ Assone as the morning arose, thei hāged the head of Olofernes out at the wall, and euerye man toke hys weapons, and they went forthe by bandes vnto the straites of the mountaine.

12 But when the Assyrians sawe thē, thei sent to their captaines, which went to the go∣uernours and chief captaines, and to all their rulers.

13 So they came to Olofernes tent and sayd to him that had the charge of all his things Waken our Lord: for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue bene bolde to come downe against vs to battel, that they may be destroyed for euer.

14 Then went in Bagoas, & knocked at the dore of the tent: for he thoght that he had slepe with Iudeth.

15 But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the chamber, and found hīm cast vpon the floore, & his head was takē from him.

16 Therefore he cryed with a loude voyce, with weping and mourning, and a mightie crye, and rent his garments.

17 After, he wēt into the tent of Iudeth where she vsed to remaine, and founde her not: then he leaped out to the people & cryed,

18 These sclaues haue cōmitted wickednes: one woman of the Hebrewes hath broght shame vpon the house of King Nabucho∣donosor: for beholde, Olofernes (lieth) vpō the grounde without an head.

19 When the captaines of the Assyrians ar∣mie heard these wordes, they rēt their coa∣tes, and their heart was wonderfully trou∣bled, & there was a crye and a verie greate noyce throughout the campe.

CHAP. XV.

1 The Assyrians are asraied and flee. 3 The Israelites pur∣sue them. 8 Ioacim the hie Priest cometh to Bethulia to seludeth and to praise God for her.

1 ANd when thei that were in the tents, heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.

2 And feare and trembling fel vpon them, so that there was no man that durst abyde in the sight of his neighbour but altogether amased, thei fled by euerie way of the plaine and of the mountaines.

3 They also that had camped in the moun∣taines rounde about Bethulia, were put to flight thē the children of Israel, euerye one that was a warriour among, them russhed out vpon them.

4 Then sent Ozias to Bethomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Chola & to all the coastes of Israel, suche as shulde declare vnto them the things that were done, and that all shulde rushe forthe vpon their ene∣mies to destroy them.

5 Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell vpō them together vnto Cho∣ba like wise also thei that came from Ieru∣salém and from all the mountaines: for mē had tolde them what things were done in the campe of their enemies, and they that were in Galaad and in Galile chased them with a greate slaughter vntil they came to

Damascus and to the coasts thereof.

6 And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fel vpon the campe of Assur and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.

7 And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter, had the rest: and the vil∣lages and the cities that were in the moun∣taines & in the plaine, had a great bootie: for the abundance was verie great.

8 Then Ioacim the hie Priest, & the Anciēts of the children of Israel that dwelt in Ieru∣salém, came to confirme the benefites that God had shewed to Israel, and to se Iudeth, and to salute her.

9 And when they came vnto her, thei blessed her with one accord, & said vnto her, Thou art the exaltation of Ierusalém: thou art the great glorie of Israel thou art the great re∣ioycing of our nacion.

10 Thou hast done all these things by thine hand thou hast done much good to Israel, and GOD is pleased therewith: blessed be thou of the almightie Lord for euermore: & all the people said, So be it.

11 And the people spoyled the cāpe the space of thirtie daies, and thei gaue vnto Iudeth Olofernes tent, and all his siluer & beddes, and basins, and all his stuffe, and she toke it and laied it on her mules, and made readye her charets, and laied them thereon.

12 Then all the women of Israel came toge∣ther to se her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her, and she toke branches in her hand, and gaue also to the women that were with her.

13 They also crowned her with oliues, & her that was with her, and she went before the people in the dance, leading all the womē: and all the men of Israel followed in their armour, with crownes and with songs in their mouthes.

CHAP. XVI.

Iudeth praiseth GOD with a song. 19 She offreth to the Lord Olofernes stuffe. 23 Her continence, life & death, 25 All Israel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her.

1 THen Iudeth began this cōfession in all Israel, and all the people sang this song with a loude voyce.

2 And Iudeth said, Beginne vnto my GOD with tymbrels sing to my Lord with cym∣bales: tune vnto him a psalme: exalt hys praise, and call vpon his Name.

3 For God breaketh the battels, & (pitched) his campe in the middes of the people, & deliuered me out of the hand of the perse∣cuters.

4 Assur came from the mountaines forth of the North he came with thousands in hys armie, * whose multitude hath shut vp the riuers and their horsemē haue couered the valleis.

5 He said that he wolde burne vp my bor∣ders and kill my yong men with the sword, and dash the sucking children agaynst the ground, and make mine infants as a pray, and my virgines a spoile.

6 But the almightie Lord hathe broght thē to naught by the hand of a woman.

7 For the mightie did not fall by the yong man, nether did the sonnes of Titan smite him, nor the hie gyants inuade him, but Iu∣deth the daughter of Merari did discomfi∣te him by the beautie of her countenance.

8 For she put of the garment of her widdow hode, for the exaltacion of those that were oppressed in Israél, and anointed her face with ointement, and bounde vp her heere in a coife, and toke a linen garment to de∣ceiue him,

9 Her slippers rauished his eyes her beautie toke his minde prisoner: and the fauchin passed through his necke.

10 The Persians were a stonished at her bolde nes, and the Medes were troubled with her hardines.

11 But mine afflicted reioyced, and my feble ones shouted then they feared: they lifted vp their voyce and turned backe.

12 The children of maides perced them, and wounded them as they fled away like chil∣drē: they perished by the battel of the Lord

13 I wil sing vnto the Lord a song and praise, O Lord thou art great and glorious, maruc lous and inuincible in power.

14 Let all thy creatures serue thee: * for thou hast spoken and they were made: thou hast sent thy Spirit, and he made them vp: and there is none that can resist thy voyce.

15 For the mountaines leape vp from their fū dacions with the waters: the rockes melt at thy presence like waxe yet thou art mer ciful to them that feare thee.

16 For all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is to litle for a swete sa∣uour, and all the fat is to litle for thy burnt offring: but he that feareth the Lord, is great at all times.

17 Wo to the nacions that rise vp against my kinred: the Lord almightie wil take ven∣geance of them in the day of iudgement, in sending fyre and wormes vpon their flesh, and they shal fele them and wepe for e∣uer.

18 ¶ After when they went vnto Ierusalém, they worshipped the Lord, and assone as the people were purified, they offred their burnt offrings, and their fre offrings, and their giftes.

19 Iudeth also offred all the stuffe of Olofer∣nes, which the people had giuen her, and gaue the can opie which she had taken of his bed: for an oblacion to the Lord.

20 So the people reioyced in Ierusalē by the Sanctuarie: for the space of thre moneths, and Iudeth remained with them.

21 After this time, euerie one returned to his owne inheritance, and Iudeth went to Be∣thulia, and remained in her owne possessiō and was for her time honorable in all the countrey.

22 And manie desired her but, none had

her companie all the dayes of her life after that Manasses her housband was dead, and was gathered to“ his people.

23 But she increased more and more in ho∣nour, and waxed olde in her housbands house, being an hundreth and fiue yere old, and made her maid fre so she dyed in Bethu lia, and they buryed her in the graue of her housband Manasses.

24 And * the house of Israel lamented her se∣uen daies, and before she dyed, she did di∣stribute her goods to all them that were nerest of kinred to Manasses her hous∣band, and to them that were the nerest of her kinred.

25 And there was none that made the chil∣dren of Israel any more afraied in the daies of Iudeth, nor a long time after her death.

Notes

• Chap. 11. 7.
• Gen. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.
• Exod. 1 8.
• Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Exod. 14. 21.
• Exod. 19. 1.
• Ios 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Iudg. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 12, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 2. King. 25, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Ezr. 8. 1.
• Chap. 5 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Chap. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Iud. 2. 11. & 4. 1. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Gen. 28. 7
• Gen. 34. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Iud. 4. 21. &. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Iud. 7. 2.
• 2. Chro. 14. 11. & 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 20. 6.
• Chap. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “

  Or, hathe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wel & & Word & &
• Gen. 41. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Dan. 1. 8.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Eccl. 3. 12.
• 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 11.
• Gene. 1. 24〈◊〉〈◊〉
• psal. 33. 9.
• “

  Or, her people.