The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Judith 09
1 But Judith fell upon her face, and put
ashes upon her head, and uncovered the
sackcloth with which she was clothed. The
incense of that evening was now being
offered at Jerusalem in the house of God,
and Judith cried to the Lord with a loud
voice, and said,
2 “O Lord God of my father Simeon, into
whose hand you gave a sword to take
vengeance on the strangers who loosened
the belt of a virgin to defile her, uncovered
her thigh to her shame, and profaned her
womb to her reproach; for you said, ‘It
shall not be so;’ and they did so.
3 Therefore you gave their rulers to be
slain, and their bed, which was ashamed
for her who was deceived,† to be dyed
in blood, and struck the servants with
their masters, and the masters upon their
thrones;
4 and gave their wives for a prey, and
their daughters to be captives, and alltheir
spoils to be divided among your dear children;
which were moved with zealfor you,
and abhorred the pollution of their blood,
and called upon you for aid. O God, O my
God, hear me also who am a widow.
5 For you did the things that were before
those things, and those things, and such
as come after; and you planned the things
which are now, and the things which are to
come. The things which you planned came
to pass.
6 Yes, the things which you determined
stood before you, and said, ‘Behold, we are
here; for all your ways are prepared, and
your judgment is with foreknowledge.’
7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied
in their power. They are exalted
with horse and rider. They were proud of
the strength of their footmen. They have
trusted in shield, spear, bow, and sling.
They don’t know that you are the Lord who
breaks the battles. ‘The Lord’is yourname.
8 Break their strength in your power,
and bring down their force in your wrath;
for they intend to profane your sanctuary,
and to defile the tabernacle where your
glorious name rests, and to destroy the
horn of your altar with the sword.
9 Look at their pride, and send your
wrath upon their heads. Give into my
hand, which am a widow, the might that I
have conceived.
10 Strike by the deceit of my lips the servant
with the prince, and the prince with
his servant. Break down their arrogance
by the hand of a woman.
11 For your power stands not in numbers,
nor your might in strong men, but
you are a God of the afflicted.
You are a helper of the oppressed,
a helper of the weak, a protector of
the forsaken, a savior of those who
are without hope.
12 Please, please, God of my father, and
God ofthe inheritance ofIsrael, Lord ofthe
heavens and of the earth, Creator of the
waters, King of all your creation, hear my
prayer.
13 Make my speech and deceit to be their
wound and bruise, who intend hard things
against your covenant, your holy house,
the top of Zion, and the house of the
possession of your children.
14 Make every nation and tribe of yours
to know that you are God, the God of all
power and might, and that there is no
other who protects the race of Israel but
you.”