Judith 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Judith’s Counsel

14 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my friends. Take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall.(A)2 As soon as day breaks and the sun rises on the earth, each of you take up your weapons, and let every able-bodied man go out of the town; set a captain over them, as if you were going down to the plain against the Assyrian outpost; only do not go down.(B)3 Then they will seize their arms and go into the camp and rouse the officers of the Assyrian army. They will rush into the tent of Holofernes and will not find him. Then panic will come over them, and they will flee before you.(C)4 Then you and all who live within the borders of Israel will pursue them and cut them down in their tracks. 5 But before you do all this, bring Achior the Ammonite to me so that he may see and recognize the man who despised the house of Israel and sent him to us as if to his death.”(D)

6 So they summoned Achior from the house of Uzziah. When he came and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face in a faint.(E)7 When they raised him up he threw himself at Judith’s feet and did obeisance to her and said, “Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation those who hear your name will be alarmed.(F)8 Now tell me what you have done during these days.”

So Judith told him in the presence of the people all that she had done from the day she left until the moment she began speaking to them. 9 When she had finished, the people raised a great shout and made a joyful noise in their town. 10 When Achior saw all that the God of Israel had done, he believed firmly in God. So he was circumcised and joined the house of Israel, remaining so to this day.(G)

Holofernes’s Death Is Discovered

11 As soon as it was dawn, they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall. Then they all took their weapons and went out in companies to the mountain passes.(H)12 When the Assyrians saw them, they sent word to their commanders, who then went to the generals and the captains and to all their other officers.(I)13 They came to Holofernes’s tent and said to the steward in charge of all his personal affairs, “Wake up our lord, for the slaves have been so bold as to come down against us to give battle, to their utter destruction.”(J)

14 So Bagoas went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, for he supposed that he was sleeping with Judith.(K)15 But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him dead, sprawled over the footstool, with his head missing. 16 He cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted and tore his clothes.(L)17 Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed, and when he did not find her, he rushed out to the people and shouted,(M)18 “The slaves have foiled us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the ground, and his head is missing!”

19 When the leaders of the Assyrian army heard this, they tore their tunics and were greatly dismayed, and their loud cries and shouts rose up throughout the camp.(N)

Cross references

  1. 14.1 : 2 Macc 15.35
  2. 14.2 : Jdt 10.11
  3. 14.3 : Jdt 15.2
  4. 14.5 : Jdt 5.5; 6.10
  5. 14.6 : Jdt 6.21
  6. 14.7 : v 19; Jdt 10.23; 16.10
  7. 14.10 : Gen 17.23; Ex 12.48, 49; Gal 3.28
  8. 14.11 : vv 1, 2; Jdt 4.7; 2 Macc 15.35
  9. 14.12 : v 3
  10. 14.13 : v 3; Jdt 12.11, 13
  11. 14.14 : Jdt 12.11, 13
  12. 14.16 : Gen 37.29, 34; 44.13
  13. 14.17 : Jdt 12.5
  14. 14.19 : v 7; Gen 37.34; Jdt 16.10

You Might Also Like:

Judith 14 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

14 Forsooth Judith said to all the people, Brethren, hear ye [or Heareth, brethren]; hang ye up this head upon your walls. 2 And it shall be, when the sun riseth, each man take his armours, [or each man take his arms, (or his weapons)], and go ye out with fierceness, not that ye go all down beneath ...
Read More

Judith 14 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Judith’s Counsel14 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my brethren, and take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 And as soon as morning comes and the sun rises, let every valiant man take his weapons and go out of the city, and set a captain over them, as if you were going d...
Read More

Judith 14 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Judith’s Counsel14 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my brethren, and take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 And as soon as morning comes and the sun rises, let every valiant man take his weapons and go out of the city, and set a captain over them, as if you were going d...
Read More

Judith 14 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Judith’s Counsel14 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my friends. Take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 As soon as day breaks and the sun rises on the earth, each of you take up your weapons, and let every able-bodied man go out of the town; set a captain over them, as i...
Read More

Judith 14 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Judith’s Counsel14 Then Judith said to them, ‘Listen to me, my friends. Take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 As soon as day breaks and the sun rises on the earth, each of you take up your weapons, and let every able-bodied man go out of the town; set a captain over them, as i...
Read More

Judith 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Judith’s Counsel14 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my friends. Take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall.(A)2 As soon as day breaks and the sun rises on the earth, each of you take up your weapons, and let every able-bodied man go out of the town; set a captain over them, as ...
Read More

Judith 14 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Triumph of the People of GodResponse to the News of Holofernes’s DeathChapter 14Judith’s Counsel. 1 Then Judith said to them, “Listen to me, my friends. Take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall. 2 Then at daybreak, as soon as the sun rises, all of you should take up your weapons, and...
Read More

Judith 14 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

V. Victory and Thanksgiving[a]Chapter 14Judith’s Plan of Attack. 1 Then Judith said to them: “Listen to me,[b] my brothers and sisters. Take this head and hang it on the parapet of your wall.(A) 2 At daybreak, when the sun rises on the earth, each of you seize your weapons, and let all the able-bod...
Read More

Judith 14 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Judith's Plan14 Then Judith said to them, My friends, please follow my advice. In the morning, take this head and hang it on the town wall. 2 Appoint a leader for yourselves, and at sunrise have all your able-bodied men take their weapons and march out of the town with him, as if they were going dow...
Read More

Judith 14 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

14 And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye up this head upon our walls. 2 And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms, and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault. 3 Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for the ba...
Read More

Judith 14 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Judith’s instructions for victory14 Judith said to them, “Listen well, my people! Take this head and hang it from the highest spot on your city walls. 2 At daybreak, when the sun rises upon the earth, take up your weapons, each one of you, and let every capable man go outside of the city. Place a ca...
Read More