6 But retired into the wilderness, and fixed his tent there, and fasted forty days and forty nights, saying to himself, 7 I will not go down either to eat or drink, till the Lord my God shall look down upon me, but prayer shall be my meat and drink. CHAPTER. II. 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. CHAPTER III. 1 Anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the laurels bemoans her barrenness. AND as she was looking towards heaven she perceive a sparrow's nest in the laurel, 2 And mourning within herself, she said, Wo is me, who begat me? and what womb did bear me, that I should be thus accursed before the children of Israel, and that they should reproach and deride me in the temple of my God: Wo is me, to what can I be compared? 3 I am not comparable to the very beasts of the earth, for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what can I be compared? 4 I am not compared to the brute animal, for even the brute animals are fruitful before thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what am I comparable? 5 I cannot be comparable to these waters, for even the waters are fruitful before thee, O Lord! Wo is me, to what can I be compared? 6 I am not comparable to the waves of the sea; for these, whether they are calm, or in motion, with the fishes which are in them, praise thee, O Lord! Wo is me to what can I be compared? 7 I am not comparable to the very earth, for the earth produces its fruits, and praises thee, O Lord! CHAPTER IV.