Et factum est cum audisset hæc verba Judith vidua, quæ erat filia Merari filii Idox filii Joseph filii Oziæ filii Elai filii Jamnor filii Gedeon filii Raphaim filii Achitob filii Melchiæ filii Enan filii Nathaniæ filii Salathiel filii Simeon filii Ruben,

Now it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words, who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchias, the son of Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon, the son of Ruben:

Now turn we to one whom all this news concerned; a widow called Judith, that was descended (from Ruben) through Merari, Idox, Joseph, Ozias, Elai, Jamnor, Gedeon, Raphaim, Achitob, Melchias, Enan, Nathanias, Salathiel and Simeon.

et vir ejus fuit Manasses, qui mortuus est in diebus messis hordeaceæ:

And her husband was Manasses, who died in the time of the barley harvest:

She had been married to one Manasses, but lost him when the barley was a-reaping;

instabat enim super alligantes manipulos in campo, et venit æstus super caput ejus, et mortuus est in Bethulia civitate sua, et sepultus est illic cum patribus suis.

For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and was buried there with his fathers.

he must needs be hurrying his men on as they bound the sheaves on his farm, while the sun beat fierce on his head, and of that stroke he died, and was laid to rest with his fathers, there in his native town of Bethulia.

Erat autem Judith relicta ejus vidua jam annis tribus et mensibus sex.

And Judith his relict was a widow now three years and six months.

Judith had now been left a widow these three years and six months past;

Et in superioribus domus suæ fecit sibi secretum cubiculum, in quo cum puellis suis clausa morabatur,

And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.

ever she dwelt cloistered among her maid-servants, in a secret bower she had made for herself on the roof of her house,

et habens super lumbos suos cilicium, jejunabat omnibus diebus vitæ suæ, præter sabbata et neomenias et festa domus Israël.

And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the house of Israel.

wearing sackcloth about her waist and keeping fast continually, save on the sabbath and the new moon and what other holidays were observed in Israel.

Erat autem eleganti aspectu nimis, cui vir suus reliquerat divitias multas, et familiam copiosam, ac possessiones armentis boum, et gregibus ovium plenas.

And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep.

She was a woman very fair to see, and her husband had left her great wealth, a full household, and lands well stocked with cattle and sheep;

Et erat hæc in omnibus famosissima, quoniam timebat Dominum valde, nec erat qui loqueretur de illa verbum malum.

And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of her.

a woman of high repute everywhere, and the Lord’s devout worshipper; no man had a word to say in her dispraise.

Hæc itaque cum audisset quoniam Ozias promisisset quod transacto quinto die traderet civitatem, misit ad presbyteros Chabri et Charmi.

When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients Chabri and Charmi.

This Judith, then, when she heard how Ozias had promised to surrender the city in five days’ time, would have two of the elders, Chabri and Charmi, pay her a visit.

Et venerunt ad illam, et dixit illis: Quod est hoc verbum, in quo consensit Ozias, ut tradat civitatem Assyriis si intra quinque dies non venerit vobis adjutorium?

And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if within five days there come no aid to us?

And thus she greeted them, Is it true Ozias has promised he will hand the city over to the Assyrians, if in five days no rescue comes to you?

et qui estis vos, qui tentatis Dominum?

And who are you that tempt the Lord?

By what right, sirs, do you put the Lord’s goodness to such a test?

non est iste sermo qui misericordiam provocet, sed potius qui iram excitet, et furorem accendat.

This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.

This is no way to win it; rather, we shall earn his displeasure, add fuel to his vengeance.

Posuistis vos tempus miserationis Domini, et in arbitrium vestrum, diem constituistis ei.

You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.

What, would you set a date to the Lord’s mercies, bid him keep tryst with you on a day of your own appointing?

Sed quia patiens Dominus est, in hoc ipso pœniteamus, et indulgentiam ejus fusis lacrimis postulemus:

But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:

Well for us that he, at least, is patient; repent we, and with flowing tears ask his pardon!

non enim quasi homo sic Deus comminabitur, neque sicut filius hominis ad iracundiam inflammabitur.

For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to anger like the son of man.

He will not overwhelm us with reproaches, as men do; not his the human anger that bursts into flame.

Et ideo humiliemus illi animas nostras, et in spiritu constituti humiliato, servientes illi

And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service:

Abate we our pride, and wait on him with chastened spirits;

dicamus flentes Domino, ut secundum voluntatem suam sic faciat nobiscum misericordiam suam: ut sicut conturbatum est cor nostrum in superbia eorum, ita etiam de nostra humilitate gloriemur:

Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.

entreat him with tears to grant us relief at a time of his own choosing. Then shall we, who stand aghast now at the pride of our enemies, triumph in the reward of our humility.

quoniam non sumus secuti peccata patrum nostrorum, qui dereliquerunt Deum suum, et adoraverunt deos alienos,

For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.

It is something that we have not followed the evil example of our forefathers, who forsook their own God and worshipped alien gods instead,

pro quo scelere dati sunt in gladium, et in rapinam, et in confusionem inimicis suis: nos autem alterum deum nescimus præter ipsum.

For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but him.

dooming themselves thus to massacre, to plunder, and to insult at the hands of their enemies. At least we acknowledge one God, and him only.

Expectemus humiles consolationem ejus, et exquiret sanguinem nostrum de afflictionibus inimicorum nostrorum, et humiliabit omnes gentes, quæcumque insurgunt contra nos, et faciet illas sine honore Dominus Deus noster.

Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.

Wait we humbly till he sends us relief; he will avenge our wrongs by bringing misfortune on our enemies; he, the Lord our God, will bring the invader low, and disappoint him of his prize.

Et nunc fratres, quoniam vos estis presbyteri in populo Dei, et ex vobis pendet anima illorum, ad eloquium vestrum corda eorum erigite, ut memores sint quia tentati sunt patres nostri, ut probarentur si vere colerent Deum suum.

And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.

You, brethren, are among the elders of the people; their lives are in your charge. Yours to hearten them, by reminding them what trials our fathers underwent, to shew whether they were God’s worshippers indeed;

Memores esse debent quomodo pater noster Abraham tentatus est, et per multas tribulationes probatus, Dei amicus effectus est.

They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.

how Abraham was put to the proof, tested by long endurance, before he became God’s friend;

Sic Isaac, sic Jacob, sic Moyses, et omnes qui placuerunt Deo, per multas tribulationes transierunt fideles.

So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.

how Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all who won God’s favour, must be loyal to him under great affliction first.

Illi autem qui tentationes non susceperunt cum timore Domini, et impatientiam suam et improperium murmurationis suæ contra Dominum protulerunt,

But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring against the Lord,

And what of those others, who could not hold out, submitting to the divine will, under these trials; who bore themselves impatiently, and did the Lord despite by complaining against him?

exterminati sunt ab exterminatore, et a serpentibus perierunt.

Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents.

These were the men the destroying angel slew, the men who fell a prey to serpents.

Et nos ergo non ulciscamur nos pro his quæ patimur,

As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things which we suffer.

It is our turn to suffer now, and never a word said in remonstrance;

sed reputantes peccatis nostris hæc ipsa supplicia minora esse flagella Domini, quibus quasi servi corripimur ad emendationem, et non ad perditionem nostram evenisse credamus.

But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for our destruction.

think we the Lord’s rod too light a punishment for our sins, believe we that he is punishing us as his servants, to chasten, not to destroy.

Et dixerunt illi Ozias et presbyteri: Omnia quæ locuta es, vera sunt, et non est in sermonibus tuis ulla reprehensio.

And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy words.

All thou sayest is true, Ozias and the elders confessed, beyond cavil.

Nunc ergo ora pro nobis, quoniam mulier sancta es, et timens Deum.

Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one fearing God.

Pray for us, holy woman as thou art, and the Lord’s true worshipper.

Et dixit illis Judith: Sicut quod potui loqui, Dei esse cognoscitis,

And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been able to say is of God:

Why then, said Judith, if you recognize the words I say as God’s words,

ita quod facere disposui, probate si ex Deo est, et orate ut firmum faciat Deus consilium meum.

So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and pray that God may strengthen my design.

judge for yourselves whether the deed I mean to do is of God’s ordaining; and pray him to bring my design to effect.

Stabitis vos ad portam nocte ista, et ego exeam cum abra mea: et orate, ut sicut dixistis, in diebus quinque respiciat Dominus populum suum Israël.

You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord may look down upon his people Israel.

Stand at the gate this night, while I pass beyond it with my handmaid for company, and pray that the Lord bring Israel relief within the five days you spoke of.

Vos autem nolo ut scrutemini actum meum, et usque dum renuntiem vobis, nihil aliud fiat, nisi oratio pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord our God.

But what my design is, never ask me; till I come back and give you news, I would have nothing of you but your prayers to the Lord our God.

Et dixit ad eam Ozias princeps Juda: Vade in pace, et Dominus sit tecum in ultionem inimicorum nostrorum. Et revertentes abierunt.

And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they departed.

Go in peace, Ozias said, and the Lord be with thee, to the confusion of our enemies. And with that they left her, and withdrew.