CPDV ▾JudithJudith 161Then Judith sang this canticle to the Lord, saying:2"Call to the Lord with drums, sing to the Lord with cymbals, play for him a new psalm, exalt and invoke his name.3The Lord crushes wars; the Lord is his name.4He has set up his camp in the midst of his people, to rescue us from the hand of all our enemies.5Assur came from the mountains, from the North, with the multitude of his strength. His multitude blockaded the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys.6He 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.7But the almighty Lord has harmed him, and he has delivered him into the hands of a woman, and he has pierced him through.8For 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.9For 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.10She 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.11Her sandals ravished his eyes; her beauty made his soul her captive; with a blade, she cut off his head.12The Persians were horrified at her constancy, and the Medes at her boldness.13Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my humble ones appeared, parched with thirst.14The 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.15Let us sing a canticle to the Lord; let us sing a new hymn to our God.16O Adonai, O Lord, you are great, and splendor is in your virtue, and no one is able to overcome you.17Let 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.18The mountains will be moved from the foundations by the waters. The rocks, like wax, will liquefy before your face.19But those who fear you will be great with you, throughout all things.20Woe 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.21For he will bestow fire and worms on their flesh, so that they may burn and have sensations without ceasing."22And 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.23Moreover, 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.24But the people were cheerful before the face of the sanctuary, and for three months the gladness of this victory was celebrated with Judith.25And 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.26For 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.27And then, on feast days, she came forth with great glory.28But 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.29And all the people mourned her, for seven days.30And, during all the time of her life, there was no one who disturbed Israel, nor for many years after her death.31Moreover, 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.Judith 15Esther 1