Judith 16

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Break into song for my God, to the tambourine, sing in honour of the Lord, to the cymbal, let psalm andcanticle mingle for him, extol his name, invoke it!	1 Then Judith sang this canticle to the Lord, saying:
2 For the Lord is a God who breaks battle-lines; he has pitched his camp in the middle of his people todeliver me from the hands of my oppressors.	2 “Call to the Lord with drums, sing to the Lord with cymbals, play for him a new psalm, exalt and invoke his name.
3 Assyria came down from the mountains of the north, came with tens of thousands of his army. Theirmultitude blocked the ravines, their horses covered the hil s.	3 The Lord crushes wars; the Lord is his name.
4 He threatened to burn up my country, destroy my young men with the sword, dash my sucklings to theground, make prey of my little ones, carry off my maidens;	4 He has set up his camp in the midst of his people, to rescue us from the hand of all our enemies.
5 but the Lord Almighty has thwarted them by a woman's hand.	5 Assur came from the mountains, from the North, with the multitude of his strength. His multitude blockaded the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys.
6 For their hero did not fall at the young men's hands, it was not the sons of Titans struck him down, noproud giants made that attack, but Judith, the daughter of Merari, who disarmed him with the beauty of her face.	6 He told himself that he would set fire to my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, to give my children into plunder and my virgins into captivity.
7 She laid aside her widow's dress to raise up those who were oppressed in Israel; she anointed her facewith perfume,	7 But the almighty Lord has harmed him, and he has delivered him into the hands of a woman, and he has pierced him through.
8 bound her hair under a turban, put on a linen gown to seduce him.	8 For their powerful one did not fall by young men, nor did the sons of Titan strike him, nor did lofty giants set themselves against him, but Judith, the daughter of Merari, dissolved him with the splendor of her face.
9 Her sandal ravished his eye, her beauty took his soul prisoner and the scimitar cut through his neck!	9 For she put away from herself the garments of widowhood, and she clothed herself with the garments of rejoicing, for the sake of the exultation of the sons of Israel.
10 The Persians trembled at her boldness, the Medes were daunted by her daring.	10 She anointed her face with ointment, and she gathered the locks of her hair with a headdress; she accepted a new dress in order to deceive him.
11 These were struck with fear when my lowly ones raised the war cry, these were seized with terrorwhen my weak ones shouted, and when they raised their voices these gave ground.	11 Her sandals ravished his eyes; her beauty made his soul her captive; with a blade, she cut off his head.
12 The children of mere girls ran them through, pierced them like the offspring of deserters. Theyperished in the battle of my Lord!	12 The Persians were horrified at her constancy, and the Medes at her boldness.
13 I shal sing a new song to my God. Lord, you are great, you are glorious, wonderful y strong,unconquerable.	13 Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my humble ones appeared, parched with thirst.
14 May your whole creation serve you! For you spoke and things came into being, you sent your breathand they were put together, and no one can resist your voice.	14 The sons of the servant girls have pierced them through, and, like fleeing servants, they have killed them. They perished in battle before the face of the Lord, my God.
15 Should mountains be tossed from their foundations to mingle with the waves, should rocks melt likewax before your face, to those who fear you, you would stil be merciful.	15 Let us sing a canticle to the Lord; let us sing a new hymn to our God.
16 A little thing indeed is a sweetly smel ing sacrifice, stil less the fat burned for you in burnt offering; butwhoever fears the Lord is great for ever.	16 O Adonai, O Lord, you are great, and splendor is in your virtue, and no one is able to overcome you.
17 Woe to the nations who rise against my race! The Lord Almighty wil punish them on judgement day.He will send fire and worms in their flesh and they wil weep with pain for evermore.	17 Let all your creatures serve you. For you spoke, and they became. You sent forth your Spirit, and they were created. And there is no one who can withstand your voice.
18 When they reached Jerusalem they fel on their faces before God and, once the people had beenpurified, they presented their burnt offerings, voluntary offerings and gifts.	18 The mountains will be moved from the foundations by the waters. The rocks, like wax, will liquefy before your face.
19 Al Holofernes' property given her by the people, and the canopy she herself had stripped from hisbed, Judith vowed to God as a dedicated offering.	19 But those who fear you will be great with you, throughout all things.
20 For three months the people gave themselves up to rejoicings in front of the Temple in Jerusalem,where Judith stayed with them.	20 Woe to the people that rises up against my people. For the Lord almighty will be vindicated against them; in the day of judgment, he will visit them.
21 When this was over, everyone returned home. Judith went back to Bethulia and lived on her property;as long as she lived, she enjoyed a great reputation throughout the country.	21 For he will bestow fire and worms on their flesh, so that they may burn and have sensations without ceasing.”
22 She had many suitors, but al her days, from the time her husband Manasseh died and was gatheredto his people, she never gave herself to another man.	22 And it happened that, after these things, all the people came to Jerusalem after the victory, to adore the Lord. And as soon as they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their promises.
23 Her fame spread more and more, the older she grew in her husband's house; she lived to the age ofone hundred and five. She emancipated her maid, then died in Bethulia and was buried in the cave whereManasseh her husband lay.	23 Moreover, Judith offered all the implements of war from Holofernes, which the people gave to her, and the canopy that she had taken away from his chamber, as an anathema unto oblivion.
24 The House of Israel mourned her for seven days. Before her death she had distributed her propertyamong her own relations and those of her husband Manasseh.	24 But the people were cheerful before the face of the sanctuary, and for three months the gladness of this victory was celebrated with Judith.
25 Never again during the lifetime of Judith, nor indeed for a long time after her death, did anyone troublethe Israelites.	25 And after those days, each one returned to his own house, and Judith became great in Bethulia, and she had great splendor in all the land of Israel.
	26 For chastity was one with her virtue, so that she did not know man all the days of her life, after the passing away of her husband, Manasseh.
	27 And then, on feast days, she came forth with great glory.
	28 But she remained in her husband’s house for one hundred and five years, and she set her handmaid free. And she passed away and was buried with her husband in Bethulia.
	29 And all the people mourned her, for seven days.
	30 And, during all the time of her life, there was no one who disturbed Israel, nor for many years after her death.
	31 Moreover, the day of the festivity of this victory was accepted by the Hebrews in the numbering of holy days, and it was religiously observed by the Jews, from that time, even to the present day.