Chapter 9 No.9

1 Anna, the wife of Joachim mourns her Barrenness,

6 is reproached with it by Judith her maid,

9 sits under a laurel tree and prays to the Lord.

IN the mean time his wife Anna

was distressed and perplexed

on a double account, and said,

I will mourn both for my widowhood

and my barrenness.

2 Then drew near a great feast

of the Lord, and Judith her maid,

said, How long will you thus

afflict your soul? The feast of

the Lord is now come, when it is

unlawful for any one to mourn.

3 Take therefore this hood

which was given by one who

makes such things, for it is not

fit that I, who am a servant should

wear it, but it well suits a person

of your greater character.

4 But Anna replied, Depart

from me, I am not used to such

things; besides, the Lord hath

greatly humbled me.

5 I fear some ill-designing person

hath given thee this, and thou

art come to reproach me with my sin.

6 Then Judith her maid answered,

what evil shall I wish you,

when you will not hearken to me?

7 I cannot wish you a greater

curse than you are under, in that

God hath shut up your womb, that

you should not be a mother in

Israel.

8 At this Anna was exceedingly

troubled, and having on her wedding

garment, went about three o'clock

in the afternoon to walk in her

garden.

9 And she saw a laurel-tree and

sat under it, and prayed unto the

Lord, saying,

10 O God of my fathers, bless

me and regard my prayer, as thou

didst bless the womb of Sarah;

and gavest her a son Isaac.