Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia, 6. cutteth their conduit of water, 9. keepeth their fountains, 12. the people murmur, and mutiny, 18. yet they pray to God, 23. and the high priest determineth, if aid come not within five days, to deliver the city to the Assyrians.Holofernes besiegeth Bethulia, 6. cutteth their conduite of water, 9. kepeth their fountaines, 12. the people murmure, and mutenie, 18. yet they pray to God, 23. and the high priest determineth, if aide come not within fiue dayes, to deliuer the citie to the Assyrians.✦
But Holofernes the next day commanded his armies, that they should go up against Bethulia.BVt Holofernes the next day commanded his armies, that they should goe vp against Bethulia.Holofernes autem altera die præcepit exercitibus suis ut ascenderent contra Bethuliam.
2And there were of war footmen an hundred twenty thousand, and horsemen two and twenty thousand, besides the preparations of those men, whom the captivity had taken, and had been led away out of the provinces and cities, of all youth.And there were of warre foote men an hundred twentie thousand, and horse men two and twentie thousand, besides the preparations of those men, whom the captiuitie had taken, and had beene led away out of the prouinces and cities, of al youth.✦Erant autem pedites bellatorum centum viginti millia, et equites viginti duo millia, præter præparationes virorum illorum quos occupaverat captivitas, et abducti fuerant de provinciis et urbibus universæ juventutis.
3All prepared themselves together to the fight against the children of Israel, and they came by the hill side unto the top, which looketh toward Dorhaim, from the place which is called Belma unto Chelmon, which is against Esdrelon.Al prepared them selues together to the fight agaynst the children of Israel, and they came by the hil side vnto the toppe, which looketh toward Dorhaim, from the place which is called Belma vnto Chelmon, which is against Esdrelon.✦Omnes paraverunt se pariter ad pugnam contra filios Israël, et venerunt per crepidinem montis usque ad apicem, qui respicit super Dothain, a loco qui dicitur Belma usque ad Chelmon, qui est contra Esdrelon.
4But the children of Israel, as they saw the multitude of them, laid themselves prostrate upon the earth, casting ashes upon their heads, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would show his mercy upon his people.But the children of Israel, as they saw the multitude of them, laid them selues prostrate vpon the earth, casting ashes vpon their heades, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercie vpon his people.Filii autem Israël, ut viderunt multitudinem illorum, prostraverunt se super terram, mittentes cinerem super capita sua, unanimes orantes ut Deus Israël misericordiam suam ostenderet super populum suum.
5And taking their weapons of war, they sat at the places, which by a narrow path way lead directly between the mountains, and they were keeping them all day and night.And taking their weapons of warre, they sate at the places, which by a narrow path way lead directly betwen the mountaynes, and they were keping them al day and night.Et assumentes arma sua bellica, sederunt per loca quæ ad angusti itineris tramitem dirigunt inter montosa, et erant custodientes ea tota die et nocte.
6Moreover Holofernes, whiles he compasseth round about, found that the fountain, which ran in, went directly to their aquæductum: water-channel, aqueduct on the south side without the city: and he commanded their conduit to be cut asunder.Moreouer Holofernes, whiles he compasseth round about, found that the foutayne, which ranne in, went directly to their conduite on the south side without the citie: and he commanded their conduite to be cut asunder.✦Porro Holofernes, dum circuit per gyrum, reperit quod fons qui influebat, aquæductum illorum a parte australi extra civitatem dirigeret : et incidi præcepit aquæductum illorum.
7Nevertheless there were fountains not far from the walls, out of which secretly they seemed to draw water to refresh themselves, rather than to drink.Neuerthelesse there were fountaynes not far from the walles, out of which secretly they semed to draw water to refresh them selues, rather then to drinke.Erant tamen non longe a muris fontes, ex quibus furtim videbantur haurire aquam ad refocillandum potius quam ad potandum.
8But the children of Ammon, & Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in spear, nor in arrow, but the mountains defend them, & the hills standing marvellous steep guard them.But the children of Ammon, & Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in speare, nor in arrow, but the mountaynes defend them, & the hilles standing meruelous stipe gard them.✦Sed filii Ammon et Moab accesserunt ad Holofernem, dicentes : Filii Israël non in lancea nec in sagitta confidunt, sed montes defendunt illos, et muniunt illos colles in præcipitio constituti.
9Therefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set keepers of the fountains, that they may not draw water of them, and without sword thou shalt kill them, or at the least being wearied they will yield their city, which they think being set in the mountains, can not be overcome.Therfore that thou mayst ouercome them without ioyning battel, set kepers of the fountaynes, that they may not draw water of them, and without sword thou shalt kil them, or at the least being wearied they wil yeld their citie, which they thinck being set in the mountaynes, can not be ouercome.Ut ergo sine congressione pugnæ possis superare eos, pone custodes fontium, ut non hauriant aquam ex eis, et sine gladio interficies eos, vel certe fatigati tradent civitatem suam, quam putant in montibus positam superari non posse.
10And these words pleased Holofernes, and his soldiers, and he placed round about an hundred men at every fountain.And these wordes pleased Holofernes, and his souldiars, and he placed round about an hundred men at euerie fountayne.Et placuerunt verba hæc coram Holoferne et coram satellitibus ejus, et constituit per gyrum centenarios per singulos fontes.
11And when that watch had been fully kept for twenty days, the cisterns failed, and the collections of waters to all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, whereof they might be satisfied no not for one day, because water was daily given to the people by measure.And when that watch had beene fully kept for twentie dayes, the cesternes fayled, and the collections of waters to al the inhabitantes of Bethulia, so that there was not within the citie, wherof they might be satisfied no not for one day, because water was dayly geuen to the people by measure.✦Cumque ista custodia per dies viginti fuisset expleta, defecerunt cisternæ et collectiones aquarum omnibus habitantibus Bethuliam, ita ut non esset intra civitatem unde satiarentur vel una die, quoniam ad mensuram dabatur populis aqua quotidie.
12Then all the men, and women, young men, and children, being gathered together to Ozias, all together with one voice,Then al the men, and wemen, yong men, and children, being gathered together to Ozias, al together with one voice,Tunc ad Oziam congregati omnes viri feminæque, juvenes et parvuli, omnes simul una voce
13said: God judge between us and thee, because thou hast done evil against us, in that thou wouldest not speak peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.said: God iudge betwen vs and thee, because thou hast done euil agaynst vs, in that thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold vs into their handes.dixerunt : Judicet Deus inter nos et te, quoniam fecisti in nos mala, nolens loqui pacifice cum Assyriis, et propter hoc vendidit nos Deus in manibus eorum.
14And there is none to help, whereas we lie prostrate before their eyes in thirst, & great destruction.And there is none to helpe, wheras we lye prostrate before their eies in thirst, & great destruction.Et ideo non est qui adjuvet, cum prosternamur ante oculos eorum in siti, et perditione magna.
15And now assemble ye all, that are in the city, that we may of our own accord yield us all to the people of Holofernes.And now assemble ye al, that are in the citie, that we may of our owne accord yeld vs al to the people of Holofernes.Et nunc congregate universos qui in civitate sunt, ut sponte tradamus nos omnes populo Holofernis.
16For it is better, that captives we bless our Lord living, than we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, when we shall see our wives, and our infants die before our eyes.For it is better, that captiues we blesse our Lord liuing, then we should die, and be a reproch to al flesh, when we shal see our wiues, and our infantes die before our eies.Melius est enim ut captivi benedicamus Dominum viventes, quam moriamur, et simus opprobrium omni carni, cum viderimus uxores nostras et infantes nostros mori ante oculos nostros.
17We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, which taketh vengeance of us according to our sins, that now you deliver the city into the hand of Holofernes' army, that our end may be short in the edge of the sword, which is made longer in the drought of thirst.We cal to witnes this day heauen and earth, and the God of our fathers, which taketh vengeance of vs according to our sinnes, that now you deliuer the citie into the hand of Holofernes armie, that our end may be short in the edge of the sword, which is made longer in the drught of thirst.Contestamur hodie cælum et terram, et Deum patrum nostrorum, qui ulciscitur nos secundum peccata nostra, ut jam tradatis civitatem in manu militiæ Holofernis, et sit finis noster brevis in ore gladii, qui longior efficitur in ariditate sitis.
18And when they had said these things, there was made great weeping and howling of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice they cried to God, saying:And when they had said these thinges, there was made great weeping and howling of al in the assemble, and for manie houres with one voice they cried to God, saying:✦Et cum hæc dixissent, factus est fletus et ululatus magnus in ecclesia ab omnibus, et per multas horas una voce clamaverunt ad Deum, dicentes :
19We have sinned with our fathers, we have done unjustly, we have committed iniquity.We haue sinned with our fathers, we haue done vniustly, we haue committed iniquitie.Peccavimus cum patribus nostris : injuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus.
20Thou because thou art gracious, have mercy upon us, or in thy scourge revenge our iniquities, and deliver not them that trust in thee to a people, that knoweth not thee,Thou because thou art gracious, haue mercie vpon vs, or in thy scourge reuenge our iniquities, and deliuer not them that trust in thee to a people, that knoweth not thee,Tu, quia pius es, miserere nostri, aut in tuo flagello vindica iniquitates nostras, et noli tradere confitentes te populo qui ignorat te,
21that they say not among the Gentiles: Where is their God?that they say not among the Gentiles: Where is their God?ut non dicant inter gentes : Ubi est Deus eorum ?
22And when they wearied with these cries, and tired with these weepings, had held their peace,And when they wearied with these cries, and tyred with these weepings, had held their peace,Et cum fatigati ex his clamoribus et his fletibus lassati siluissent,
23Ozias rising up infusus: bathed, steeped with tears, said: Be of good cheer brethren, and these five days let us expect mercy of our Lord.Ozias rysing vp embrued with teares, said: Be of good chere bretheren, and these fiue daies let vs expect mercie of our Lord.exsurgens Ozias infusus lacrimis, dixit : Æquo animo estote, fratres, et hos quinque dies expectemus a Domino misericordiam.
24For forsitan: perhaps, it may be he will cut off his indignation, and will give glory to his name.For peraduenture he wil cut of his indignation, and wil geue glorie to his name.Forsitan enim indignationem suam abscindet, et dabit gloriam nomini suo.
25But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will do these words, which you have spoken.But if after fiue daies be past there come no aide, we wil doe these wordes, which you haue spoken.Si autem transactis quinque diebus non venerit adjutorium, faciemus hæc verba quæ locuti estis.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.