Jdt 8:1 

Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter 

of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, 

the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son 

of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of 

Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of 

Salasadal, the son of Israel. 

Jdt 8:2 

And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who 

died in the barley harvest. 

Jdt 8:3 

For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the 

field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and 

died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his 

fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo. 

Jdt 8:4 

So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four 

months. 

Jdt 8:5 

And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on 

sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow's apparel. 

Jdt 8:6 

And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves 

of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new 

moons, and the new moons and the feasts and solemn days of the 

house of Israel. 

Jdt 8:7 

She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to 

behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, 

and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she 

remained upon them. 

Jdt 8:8 

And there was none that gave her an ill word; ar she feared 

God greatly. 

Jdt 8:9 

Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the 

governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had 

heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he 

had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five 

days; 

Jdt 8:10 

Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of 

all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, 

the ancients of the city. 

Jdt 8:11 

And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, 

O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words 

that ye have spoken before the people this day are not right, 

touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between God and 

you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, 

unless within these days the Lord turn to help you. 

Jdt 8:12 

And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand 

instead of God among the children of men? 

Jdt 8:13 

And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any 

thing. 

Jdt 8:14 

For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can 

ye perceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye search 

out God, that hath made all these things, and know his mind, or 

comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord 

our God to anger. 

Jdt 8:15 

For if he will not help us within these five days, he hath 

power to defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy 

us before our enemies. 

Jdt 8:16 

Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not 

as man, that he may be threatened; neither is he as the son of 

man, that he should be wavering. 

Jdt 8:17 

Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him 

to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him. 

Jdt 8:18 

For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in 

these days neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among 

us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime. 

Jdt 8:19 

For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and 

for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies. 

Jdt 8:20 

But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will 

not dispise us, nor any of our nation. 

Jdt 8:21 

For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our 

sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation 

thereof at our mouth. 

Jdt 8:22 

And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the 

country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn 

upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in 

bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them 

that possess us. 

Jdt 8:23 

For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the 

Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour. 

Jdt 8:24 

Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our 

brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the 

sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us. 

Jdt 8:25 

Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth 

us, even as he did our fathers. 

Jdt 8:26 

Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried 

Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when 

he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. 

Jdt 8:27 

For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the 

examination of their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on 

us: but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to 

admonish them. 

Jdt 8:28 

Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou 

spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy 

words. 

Jdt 8:29 

For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is 

manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people 

have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine 

heart is good. 

Jdt 8:30 

But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto 

them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, 

which we will not break. 

Jdt 8:31 

Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly 

woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and 

we shall faint no more. 

Jdt 8:32 

Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, 

which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our 

nation. 

Jdt 8:33 

Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth 

with my waitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised 

to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by 

mine hand. 

Jdt 8:34 

But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it 

unto you, till the things be finished that I do. 

Jdt 8:35 

Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and 

the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies. 

Jdt 8:36 

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