CHAPTER 6
1 And it was done, when they had ceased to speak, Holofernes had disdain greatly, and he said to Achior,
2 For thou hast prophesied to us, and saidest, that the folk of Israel is defended of their God, that I show to thee, that no god is but Nebuchad-nezzar;
3 when we have slain them all as one man/when we as one man have slain all the sons of Israel, then also thou shalt perish with them by the sword of men of Assyria, and all Israel shall perish diversely with thee in perdition;
4 and thou shalt prove, that Nebu-chadnezzar is lord of all earth; and then the sword of my chivalry shall pass through thy sides, and thou shalt be pierced, and thou shalt fall among the wounded men of Israel, and thou shalt no more breathe again [or thou shalt no more take breath], till thou be destroyed with them.
5 But certainly if thou guessest thy prophecy sooth, thy cheer fall not down [or fall not down thy cheer]; and the paleness that hath gotten thy face, go away from thee, if thou guessest that these my words may not be fulfilled.
6 But that thou know, that thou shalt feel this thing together with the children of Israel, lo! from this hour thou shalt be fellowshipped to the people of them, that when they have taken, or suffered, worthy pains of my sword, thou be subject to like vengeance.
7 Then Holofernes commanded to his servants to take Achior, and to lead him into Bethulia, and to betake him into the hands of the sons of Israel.
8 And the servants of Holofernes took him, and they went forth by the field places, but when they had nighed to the hilly places [or the mountains], slingers or men throwing stones with slings, went out against them.
9 And they turned away from the side of the hill, and they bound Achior to a tree by his hands and feet, and so they left him bound with ropes [or cords], and they turned again to their lord.
10 And the sons of Israel went down from Bethulia, and they came to Achior, whom they unbound [or loosed], and led him to Bethulia, and they set him in the midst of the people, and they asked [him], what manner of things befell, that the men of Assyria had left him bound.
11 In those days these princes of Jews were there, Uzziah, the son of Micah, of the lineage of Simeon, and Charmis, which is also called Gothoniel.
12 Therefore in the midst of elder men [or And so in the middle of the elders], and in the sight of all men, Achior said all the things, which he was asked of Holofernes, and had told to Holofernes, and how the people of Holofernes would slay him for this word that he had said,
13 and how Holofernes himself was wroth, and commanded him to be betaken for this cause to the men of Israel, that the while he overcame the sons of Israel, then he commanded that also that Achior perish with diverse torments, for this thing that he had said, God of heaven is the defender of his people.
14 And when Achior had expounded all these things, all the people felled down on their faces, and worshipped the Lord; and with common wailing [or lamenting] and weeping they shed out to the Lord their prayers of one will,
15 saying, Lord God of heaven and of earth, behold the pride of thine enemies, and behold thou to our meekness, and take heed to the face of thy saints, and show that thou forsakest not men trusting in thee, and that thou makest low men trusting of themselves, and men having glory or them that have glory of their own virtue, or strength.
16 Therefore when the weeping was ended, and the prayer of the people by all the day was fulfilled,
17 they comforted Achior, and said, God of our fathers, whose virtue or power thou hast preached, he is rewarder of all goodness, and he shall give thee grace[or recompensation] for this while, that thou see more the perishing of them.
18 And when the Lord our God hath given this freedom to his servants, that we have overcome our enemies, also the Lord be then with thee in the midst or in the middle of us, that as it shall please thee, so thou live with all thy things [or so with all thine thou dwell].
19 Then after that this council was ended, Uzziah, the chief priest, received Achior into his house, and made a great supper to him.
20 And when all the priests were called together, after that the fasting was filled, they refreshed Achior and themselves, [or they ate].
21 And afterward all the people was called together, and they prayed by [or throughout] all the night within the church, and they asked help of God of Israel.