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Page 7
7:4. But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them,
prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads,
praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy
upon his people.
7:5. And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the places,
which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains, and they
guarded them all day and night.
7:6. Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain which
supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the city on
the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.
7:7. Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of
which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a
little rather than to drink their fill.
7:8. But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The
children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but
the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices
guard them.
7:9. Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set
guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and thou
shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out they
will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is situate in
the mountains, to be impregnable.
7:10. And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he
placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.
7:11. And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the
cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of
Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy them,
no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people by
measure.
7:12. Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering
themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,
7:13. Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil
against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the Assyrians,
and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.
7:14. And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down
before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.
7:15. And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our
own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.
7:16. For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless the
Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, after we
have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.
7:17. We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our
fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring
you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes,
that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made longer
by the drought of thirst.
7:18. And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and
lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice
they cried to God, saying:
7:19. We have sinned with our fathers, we have done unjustly, we have
committed iniquity:
7:20. Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our
iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in
thee to a people that knoweth not thee,
7:21. That they may not say among the Gentiles: Where is their God?
7:22. And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these
weepings, they held their peace,
7:23. Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my
brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.
7:24. For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and will give
glory to his own name.
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