Judith Chapter 11

Other Translations

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Tunc Holofernes dixit ei: Æquo animo esto, et noli pavere in corde tuo: quoniam ego numquam nocui viro, qui voluit servire Nabuchodonosor regi.

2 Populus autem tuus, si non contempsisset me, non levassem lanceam meam super eum.

3 Nunc autem dic mihi, qua ex causa recessisti ab illis, et placuit tibi ut venires ad nos?

4 Et dixit illi Iudith: Sume verba ancillæ tuæ, quoniam si secutus fueris verba ancillæ tuæ, perfectam rem faciet Dominus tecum.

5 Vivit enim Nabuchodonosor rex teræ, et vivit virtus eius, quæ est in te ad correptionem omnium animarum errantium: quoniam non solum homines serviunt illi per te, sed et bestiæ agri obtemperant illi.

6 Nunciatur enim animi tui industria universis gentibus, et indicatum est omni sæculo, quoniam tu solus bonus, et potens es in omni regno eius, et disciplina tua omnibus provinciis prædicatur.

7 Nec hoc latet, quod locutus est Achior, nec illud ignoratur, quod ei iusseris evenire.

8 Constat enim, Deum nostrum sic peccatis offensum, ut mandaverit per prophetas suos ad populum, quod tradat eum pro peccatis suis.

9 Et quoniam sciunt se offendisse Deum suum filii Israel, tremor tuus super ipsos est.

10 Insuper etiam fames invasit eos, et ab ariditate aquæ iam inter mortuos computantur.

11 Denique hoc ordinant, ut interficient pecora sua, et bibant sanguinem eorum:

12 et sancta Domini Dei sui quæ præcepit Deus non contingi, in frumento, vino, et oleo, hæc cogitaverunt impendere, et volunt consumere quæ nec manibus deberent contingere: ergo quoniam hæc faciunt, certum est quod in perditionem dabuntur.

13 Quod ego ancilla tua cognoscens, fugi ab illis, et misit me Dominus hæc ipsa nunciare tibi.

14 Ego enim ancilla tua Deum colo, etiam nunc apud te: et exiet ancilla tua, et orabo Deum,

15 et dicet mihi quando eis reddat peccatum suum, et veniens nunciabo tibi, ita ut ego adducam te per mediam Ierusalem, et habebis omnem populum Israel, sicut oves, quibus non est pastor, et non latrabit vel unus canis contra te:

16 quoniam hæc mihi dicta sunt per providentiam Dei.

17 Et quoniam iratus est illis Deus, hæc ipsa missa sum nunciare tibi.

18 Placuerunt autem omnia verba hæc coram Holoferne, et coram pueris eius, et mirabantur sapientiam eius, et dicebant alter ad alterum:

19 Non est talis mulier super terram in aspectu, in pulchritudine, et in sensu verborum.

20 Et dixit ad illam Holofernes: Benefecit Deus, qui misit te ante populum, ut des illum tu in manibus nostris:

21 et quoniam bona est promissio tua, si fecerit mihi hoc Deus tuus, erit et Deus meus, et tu in domo Nabuchodonosor magna eris, et nomen tuum nominabitur in universa terra.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).