1Then Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise. 2And Judith said,
4The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north;
he came with myriads of his warriors;
their multitude blocked up the valleys,
their cavalry covered the hills.
5He boasted that he would burn up my territory,
and kill my young men with the sword,
and dash my infants to the ground and seize my children as prey,
and take my virgins as booty.
6But the Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman.
7For their mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men,
nor did the sons of the Titans smite him,
nor did tall giants set upon him;
but Judith the daughter of Merari undid him with the beauty of her countenance.
8For she took off her widow's mourning to exalt the oppressed in Israel.
She anointed her face with ointment
and fastened her hair with a tiara
and put on a linen gown to deceive him.
9Her sandal ravished his eyes,
her beauty captivated his mind,
and the sword severed his neck.
10The Persians trembled at her boldness,
the Medes were daunted at her daring.
11Then my oppressed people shouted for joy;
my weak people shouted and the enemy trembled;
they lifted up their voices,
and the enemy were turned back.
12The sons of maidservants have pierced them through;
they were wounded like the children of fugitives,
they perished before the army of my Lord.
13I will sing to my God a new song:
O Lord, you are great and glorious,
wonderful in strength, invincible.
14Let all your creatures serve you,
for you spoke, and they were made.
You sent forth your Spirit, and it formed them;
there is none that can resist your voice.
15For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters;
at your presence the rocks shall melt like wax,
but to those who fear you you will continue to show mercy.
16For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing,
and all fat for burnt offerings to you is a very little thing,
put he who fears the Lord shall be great for ever.
17Woe to the nations that rise up against my people!
The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment;
fire and worms he will give to their flesh;
they shall weep in pain for ever.
18When they arrived at Jerusalem they worshipped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts. 19Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofernes, which the people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to the Lord. 20So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith remained with them.
21After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate, and was honoured in her time throughout the whole country. 22Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of her life after Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his people. 23She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband's house, until she was one hundred and five years old. She set her maid free. She died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasseh, 24and the house of Israel mourned for her seven days. Before she died she distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest kindred. 25And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death.
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