8 In those days Yehudit (Judith) heard about this. She was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Yosef (Joseph), the son of Uziel, the son of Hilkiyah, the son of Hananyah, the son of Gid’on, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahituv, the son of Elihu, the son of Eliav, the son of Netanel, the son of Shelumiel, the son of Salasadai, the son of Yisrael (Israel). 2 Her husband was Menasheh (Manasseh), of her tribe and of her family. He died in the days of barley harvest. 3 Because he stood over those who bound sheaves in the field, and was overcome by the burning heat, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Betulia. So they buried him with his fathers in the field which is between Dotan and Ba’al-Hamon. 4 Yehudit was a widow in her house three years and four months. 5 She made herself a tent on the roof of her house, and put on sackcloth on her loins. The clothes of her widowhood were on her. 6 And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Yisrael. 7 She was beautiful in appearance, and lovely to look at. Her husband Menasheh had left her gold, silver, male servants, female servants, cattle, and lands. She remained on those lands. 8 No one said anything evil about her, for she feared God greatly.

9 She heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Yehudit heard all the words that Ozias spoke to them, how he swore to them that he’d deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days. 10 So she sent her maid, who was over all things that she had, to summon Ozias, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city. 11 They came to her, and she said to them, “Hear me now, Oh you rulers of the inhabitants of Betulia! Because your word that you’ve spoken before the people this day isn’t right. You’ve set the oath which you’ve pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the master turns to help you. 12 Now who are you that you’ve tested God this day, and stand in the place of God among the children of men? 13 Now try the master Almighty, and you’ll never know anything. 14 Because you won’t find the depth of the heart of man, and you won’t perceive the things that he thinks. How will you search out God, who’s made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? No, my kindred, don’t provoke the master our god to anger! 15 Because if he hasn’t decided to help us within these five days, he has power to defend us in such time as he will, or to destroy us before our enemies’ face. 16 But don’t you pledge the counsels of the master our god! Because God isn’t like a human being, that he should be threatened, neither is he like a son of man, that he should be won over by pleading. 17 Therefore let’s wait for the salvation that comes from him, and call on him to help us. He’ll hear our voice, if it pleases him. 18 Because there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us today, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days; 19 for which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for plunder, and fell with a great destruction before our enemies. 20 But we know no other god beside him. Therefore we hope that he won’t despise us, nor any of our race. 21 Because if we’re captured, all Yehudah (Judea) will be captured and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he’ll require our blood for profaning it. 22 The slaughter of our kindred, the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, he’ll bring on our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we’ll be in bondage. We’ll be an offence and a reproach to those who take us for a possession. 23 Because our bondage won’t be ordered to favour; but the master our god will turn it to dishonour. 24 And now, kindred, let’s show an example to our kindred, because their soul depends on us, and the sanctuary, the house, and the altar depend on us. 25 Besides all this let’s give thanks to the master our god, who tries us, even as he did our fathers also. 26 Remember all the things which he did to Avraham, and all the things in which he tried Yitshak (Isaac), and all the things which happened to Ya’akov (Jacob) in Mesopotamia of Aram (Syria), when he kept the sheep of Lavan (Laban) his mother’s brother. 27 Because he hasn’t tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither has he taken vengeance on us; but the master scourges those who come near to him, to admonish them.”

28 And Ozias said to her, “All that you’ve spoken, you’ve spoken with a good heart. There’s no one who’ll deny your words. 29 Because this isn’t the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good. 30 But the people were extremely thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spoke to them, and to bring an oath on ourselves, which we won’t break. 31 And now pray for us, because you’re a godly woman, and the master will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we’ll faint no more.”