26. And now call them to you, and deliver up the whole city for a prey to the people of Holofernes, and to all his host.
27. For it is better for us to be made a spoil to them: for we shall be servants, and our souls shall live, and we shall not see the death of our babes before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death.
28. We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and the Lord of our fathers, which punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said this day.
29. And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried to the Lord God with a loud voice.
30. And Ozias said to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God shall turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.
31. But if these days pass, and there come no help to us, I will do according to your words.
32. And he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away to the walls and towers of their city; and he sent the women and children into their houses: and they were brought very low in the city.