6 To show her sorrow, Judith went without eating, although she did eat on those days when it was commanded by God's Law: on each Sabbath and the day before it, on each New Moon Festival and the day before it, as well as on every joyous festival the Israelites celebrated.
7 Judith was very beautiful. And she was also very rich, because her husband had left her a lot of gold and silver, as well as male and female slaves, property, and livestock.
8 Judith faithfully worshiped God, and no one ever said anything bad about her.
9 Judith heard that the people of Bethulia were weak from a shortage of water and that they had blamed Uzziah for their misery. She also learned that Uzziah had promised to surrender to the Assyrians in five days.
10 So at once Judith sent her most trusted servant woman to invite the three town leaders Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis to her home.
11 When they arrived, she said:I realize that you are the leaders of Bethulia, but please listen to me. What you said to the people today was wrong. You should not have promised them that you would surrender to the Assyrians, if the Lord God doesn't help us within the next few days. This promise was even made in God's name.
12 You have no right to test God like that, and you certainly have no business trying to control the lives of people. God is in control of that.