1Nowe the children of Israel that dwelt in Iudea, heard all that Olofernes ye chiefe captaine of Nabuchodonosor King of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and howe hee had spoyled all their temples, and brought them to nought. 2Therefore they feared greatly his presence, and were troubled for Ierusalem, and for the Temple of the Lord their God. 3For they were newly returned from the captiuitie, and of late all the people was assembled in Iudea, and the vessels and the altar of the house had bene sanctified because of the pollution. 4Therefore they sent into all the coastes of Samaria, and the villages, and to Bethoro, and Belmen, and Iericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem, 5And tooke all the toppes of the hie mountaines, and walled the villages that were in the, and put in vitailes for the prouision of warre: for their fieldes were of late reaped. 6Also Ioacim the hie Priest which was in those dayes in Ierusale, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia & Betomastham, which is ouer against Esdraelon toward the open countrey nere to Dothaim, 7Exhorting them to keepe the passages of the mountaines: for by them there was an entrie into Iudea, and it was easie to let them that woulde come vp, because ye passage was streit for two men at the most. 8And the children of Israel did as Ioacim ye hie Priest had commanded them with the Ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Ierusalem. 9Then cried euery man of Israel to God with great feruencie, and their soules with great affectio. 10Both they, and their wiues, and their children, and their cattell, and euery stranger, and hireling, and their bought seruantes put sackcloth vpon their loynes. 11Thus euery man and woman, and the children, and the inhabitantes of Ierusalem fell before the Temple, and sprinkled ashes vpon their heads, and spred out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar, 12And cried to the God of Israel, all with one consent most earnestly, that hee woulde not giue their children for a pray, and their wiues for a spoile, and the cities of their inheritance to destructio, and the Sanctuarie to pollution and reproch, and vnto derision to the heathen. 13So God heard their prayers, and looked vpon their affliction: for the people fasted many dayes in al Iudea and Ierusalem before the Sanctuary of the Lord almightie. 14And Ioacim the high Priest, and all the Priests that stoode before the Lorde, and ministred vnto the Lord, had their loines girt with sackcloth, and offred the continuall burnt offring, with prayers and the free gifts of the people, 15And had ashes on their mytres, & cried vnto the Lord with all their power for grace, and that he would looke vpon all the house of Israel.