Judith 15

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 When the men who were stil in their tents heard the news they were appal ed.	1 And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear they thought only to save themselves by flight:
2 Panic-stricken and trembling, no two of them could keep together, the rout was complete, with oneaccord they fled along every track across the plain or through the mountains.	2 So that no one spoke to his neighbor, but hanging down the head, leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways of the fields, and the paths of the hills.
3 The men who had been bivouacking in the mountains round Bethulia were fleeing too. Then al theIsraelite warriors charged down on them.	3 So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after them.
4 Uzziah sent messengers to Betomasthaim, Bebai, Choba, Kola, throughout the whole territory of Israel,to inform them of what had happened and to urge them al to hurl themselves on the enemy and annihilate them.	4 And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went without order in their flight ; but the children of Israel pursuing in one body, defeated all that they could find.
5 As soon as the Israelites heard the news, they fel on them as one man and massacred them al theway to Choba. The men of Jerusalem and the entire mountain country also ral ied to them, once they had beeninformed of the events in the enemy camp. Then the men of Gilead and Galilee attacked them on the flank andstruck at them fiercely till they neared Damascus and its territory.	5 And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of Israel.
6 Al the other inhabitants of Bethulia fel on the Assyrian camp and looted it to their great profit.	6 And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword until they came to the extremities of their confines.
7 The Israelites returning from the slaughter seized what was left. The hamlets and vil ages of themountain country and the plain also captured a great deal of booty, since there were vast stores of it.	7 And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the Assyrians, and took away the spoils, which the Assyrians in their flight had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly.
8 Joakim the high priest and the entire Council of Elders of Israel, who were in Jerusalem, came to gazeon the benefits that the Lord had lavished on Israel and to see Judith and congratulate her.	8 But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.
9 On coming to her house, they blessed her with one accord, saying: You are the glory of Jerusalem!You are the great pride of Israel! You are the highest honour of our race!	9 And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with all his ancients to see Judith.
10 By doing all this with your own hand you have deserved wel of Israel, and God has approved whatyou have done. May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty in al the days to come! And the people al said,'Amen!'	10 And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people:
11 The people looted the camp for thirty days. They gave Judith the tent of Holofernes, al his silver plate,his divans, his drinking bowls and all his furniture. She took this, loaded her mule, harnessed her carts andheaped the things into them.	11 For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever.
12 Al the women of Israel, hurrying to see her, formed choirs of dancers in her honour. Judith tookwands of vine-leaves in her hand and distributed them to the women who accompanied her;	12 And all the people said: So be it, so be it
13 she and her companions put on wreaths of olive. Then she took her place at the head of theprocession and led the women as they danced. Al the men of Israel, armed and garlanded, followed them,singing hymns.	13 And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.
14 With all Israel round her, Judith broke into this song of thanksgiving and the whole people sang thishymn:	14 But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were delivered to her by the people.
	15 And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins, and young men, playing on instruments and harps.