Judith 10

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and had made an end of all these words.

Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and had made an end of all these words — the prayer ended, and the praying state rising into the doing state without a seam between them.

2She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath days, and in her feast days,

She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house in which she abode in the sabbath days, and in her feast days — down from the rooftop of ashes into the house of ordinary order: the descent itself part of the act.

3And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband.

And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband — the sackcloth of three years exchanged in an hour: washing, anointing with oil — the Spirit's substance, consecration and healing — and the gladness-garments of the marriage years taken out for war.

4And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.

And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her — the purpose stated without blush: beauty armed deliberately, every ornament a chosen instrument.

5Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she folded all these things together, and laid them upon her.

Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine — the spiritual essence of truth, its joy — and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread — truth-substance: so she folded all these things together, and laid them upon her — her own provision carried out of the starving city: she will eat of her house's food in the enemy's camp, and of his, nothing.

6Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris and Charmis.

Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris and Charmis — the governors at the gate as promised, watching the night they did not plan.

7And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto her.

And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto her — the men who heard her theology now silenced by her countenance: wonder doing what argument did.

8The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish thine enterprizes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped God.

The God, the God of our fathers give you favour, and accomplish your enterprises to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem — the established center of spiritual consciousness. Then they worshipped God — the blessing doubled in its naming of God, and worship following it: the gate becoming a sanctuary for a sentence.

9And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have spoken with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken.

And she said unto them: Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof you have spoken with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken — her only request an opened gate: command answered with command, and the city obeying the widow.

10And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.

And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley — the low state — and could see her no more: the watchers watching until sight fails: the deliverance of the city walking out of its view.

11Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the Assyrians met her,

Thus they went straight forth in the valley; and the first watch of the Assyrians met her — straight, not skulking: the valley crossed in the open, and the empire's watch the first to receive her.

12And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be consumed:

And took her, and asked her: Of what people are you? and whence come you? and whither go you? And she said: I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them; for they shall be given you to be consumed — the deceit of the lips beginning exactly as prayed for: a true woman, a feigned flight, and a prophecy of the city's fall spoken to make the hearers open the road.

13And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men.

And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will show him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men — the bait shaped to the captain's known desire: the hill country whole, and not a man lost. Every word of it, in the event, true — by the other road.

14Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,

Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her — speech and countenance working together on the watch, as they worked on the governors.

15Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.

You have saved your life, in that you have hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct you, until they have delivered you to his hands — the watch congratulating the prisoner on her prudence, and providing her escort: the empire's machinery turning itself to her conveyance.

16And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well.

And when you stand before him, be not afraid in your heart, but show unto him according to your word; and he will entreat you well — the soldiers coaching the suppliant in the etiquette of their own captain's court.

17Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.

Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes — an hundred men as escort for two women: the measure of the impression, and of the camp's curiosity.

18Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.

Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp; for her coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her — the whole host gathering round the woman standing still outside the tent: the siege, for an hour, besieged by its visitor.

19And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would despise this people, that have among them such women? surely it is not good that one man of them be left who being let go might deceive the whole earth.

And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour: Who would despise this people, that have among them such women? Surely it is not good that one man of them be left who, being let go, might deceive the whole earth — admiration turning, in the soldiers' own mouths, into the book's thesis: this people is not to be measured by its spears. Deceive the whole earth — the phrase landing truer than its speakers know.

20And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants and they brought her into the tent.

And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants, and they brought her into the tent — the inner ring opening: proximity to the captain cleared for the woman from the besieged city.

21Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.

Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones — the commanding faculty at rest in woven splendour: the empire's luxury itemised at the moment its destroyer enters.

22So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.

So they showed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him — the captain rising from his canopy to meet a report, lamps before him like a procession he does not know he is making.

23And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up.

And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up — reverence performed to the letter, by the woman who prayed for his head: the deceit complete in posture, and the servants' hands raising the one who will lower their lord.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.