19 The Israeli people cried to the master their god, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had surrounded them. There was no way to escape out from among them. 20 All Ashur’s army remained around them, their footmen and their chariots and their horsemen, for thirty-four days. All their vessels of water ran dry for all the inhabitants of Betulia. 21 The cisterns were emptied, and they had no water to drink their fill for one day; for they rationed drink by measure. 22 Their young children were discouraged. The women and the young men fainted for thirst. They fell down in the streets of the city, and in the passages of the gates. There was no longer any strength in them.

23 All the people, including the young men, the women, and the children, were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city. They cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 24 “God be judge between all of you and us, because you’ve done us great wrong, in that you haven’t spoken words of peace with the children of Ashur. 25 Now we have no helper; but God has sold us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction. 26 And now summon them, and deliver up the whole city as prey to Holofernes’ people, and to all his army. 27 Because it’s better for us to be captured by them. Because we’ll be servants, and our souls will live, and we won’t see the death of our babies before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death. 28 We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our god and the master of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers. Do what we’ve said today!”

29 And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the assembly; and they cried to the master God with a loud voice. 30 And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage! Let us endure five more days, during which the master our god will turn his mercy towards us; for he won’t forsake us utterly. 31 But if these days pass, and no help comes to us, I’ll do what you say.” 32 Then he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away to the walls and towers of their city. He sent the women and children into their houses. They were brought very low in the city.