8. And there was none that gave her an evil word; for she feared God exceedingly.
9. And she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Judith heard all the words that Ozias spoke to them, how he sware to them that he would deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days.
10. And she sent her maid, that was over all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city.
11. And they came to her, and she said to them, Hear me now, O you⌃ rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that you⌃ have spoken before the people this day is not right, and you⌃ have set the oath which you⌃ have pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.
12. And now who are you⌃ that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men?
13. And now try the Lord Almighty, and you⌃ shall never know anything.
14. For you⌃ shall not find the depth of the heart of man, and you⌃ shall not perceive the things that he thinks: and how shall you⌃ search out God, which has made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger.
15. For if he be not minded to help us within these five days, he has power to defend us in such time as he will, or to destroy us before the face of our enemies.
16. But do not you⌃ pledge the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man, that he should be threatened; neither as the son of man, that he should be turned by entreaty.
17. Wherefore let us wait for the salvation that comes from him, and call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.
18. For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us today, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days;
19. for the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and fell with a great fall before our enemies.
20. But we know none other god beside him, wherefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race.
21. For if we be taken so, all Judaea shall sit upon the ground, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and of our blood shall he require the profanation thereof.
22. And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, shall he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach before them that take us for a possession.
23. For our bondage shall not be ordered to favor: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonor.