Judith 4
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1NOw the children of Israel that dwelt in Iudea, heard all that Olofernes the chief captaine of Nabuchodonosor King of the Assyrians had done to the nacions, and how he had spoiled all their temples, and broght them to noght. 2Therefore they feared greatly his presence, and were troubled for Ierusalem, and for the Temple of the Lord their God. 3For they were newly returned from the captiuitie, and of late all the people was assembled in Iudea, and the vessels and the altar of the House had bene sanctified because of the pollution. 4Therefore they sent into all the coastes of Samaria, and the villages, and to Bethoro, and Belmen, and Iericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem, 5And toke all the toppes of the hie mountaines, and walled the villages that were in them, and put in vitailes for the prouision of warre: for their fields were of late reaped. 6Also Ioacim the hie Priest which was in those daies in Ierusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia & Betomestham, which is ouer against Esdraelon towarde the open countrey nere to Dothaim, 7Exhorting them to kepe the passages of the mountaines: for by them there was an entrie into Iudea, & it was easie to let them that wolde come vp, because the passage was streit for two men at the moste. 8And the children of Israel did as Ioacim the hie Priest had commanded them with the Ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Ierusalem. 9Then cryed euerie man of Israel to God with great feruencie, and their soules with great affection. 10Bothe they, and their wiues, & their children, and their cattel, and euerie stranger, and hireling, and their boght seruants put sackecloth vpon their loynes. 11Thus euerie man & woman, and the children, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem fell before the Temple, & sprinkled ashes vpon their heades, and spred out their sackecloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackecloth about the altar, 12And cryed to the God of Israel, all with one consent moste earnestly, that he wolde not giue their children for a pray, and their wiues for a spoyle, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, & the Sanctuarie to pollution and reproche, and vnto derision to the heathen. 13So God heard their prayers, and loked vpon their affliction: for the people fasted many daies in all Iudea and Ierusalem before the Sanctuarie of the Lord almightie. 14And Ioacim the hie Priest, and all the Priests that stode before the Lord, & ministred vnto the Lord, had their loynes girt with sackecloth, and offred the continual burnt offring, with praiers and the fre giftes of the people, 15And had ashes on their mytres, & cryed vnto the Lord with all their power for grace, and that he wolde loke vpon all the house of Israel.