5
Then Judith said unto him, "Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.
6
And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass through thee; and my lord shall not fail in his purposes,
7
as Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth liveth and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing. For not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air shall live by thy power under Nebuchadnezzar and all his house.
8
For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth that thou alone art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
9
"Now concerning the matter which Achior spoke in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.
10
Therefore, O lord and governor, reject not his word, but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true; for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.
11
And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrated in his purpose, even death hath now fallen upon them and their sin hath overtaken them, by which they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done.
12
For their victuals fail them and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things that God hath forbidden them to eat by His laws,
13
and are resolved to spend the first fruits of the corn and tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God--which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
14
For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because those also who dwell there have done the like, to bring them a license from the senate.
15
Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.