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1Then Judith fell face down on the ground, put ashes on her head, and removed her clothing, leaving only the sackcloth she was wearing. At the very time the evening incense was being offered in the Temple of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice. She said,
2“O Lord God of my ancestor Simeon, you gave Simeon a sword to take revenge on the foreigners who had defiled a virgin by stripping off her clothes, exposing her thighs to put her to shame, and raping her. You said, ‘Such a thing must not be done.’ Yet they did it.
3So you allowed their rulers to be killed and their bed to be stained with blood, for it was covered with the shame of their deceitful deed. You struck down slaves along with princes and killed even the princes on their thrones.
4You let their wives be captured and their daughters be taken into captivity, and you gave all their possessions to be divided among your beloved children. Your children burned with zeal for you and abhorred the stain on their sister, so they called on you for help. Listen to me and answer me, O God, my God, for I am a widow.[#9:4 Greek on their blood.]
5You made the things of the past, and you designed everything that now exists and everything that is to come. What you planned has all happened.
6Everything you decided on has taken place just as you said it would. For all your ways are prepared in advance, and you make your judgments with knowledge of what will happen in the future.
7“Here now are the Assyrians, a great force, who take pride in their horses and riders. They boast in the strength of their foot soldiers and trust in shield and spear, bow and sling. They do not know that you are the Lord who crushes armies.
8Your name is the Lord. Break their strength by your might. Subdue their power in your anger. For they intend to defile your sanctuary, to pollute the Temple, where your glorious name resides, and to break off the horns of your altar with their powerful swords.[#9:8 Greek tabernacle.]
9Look at their pride. Send your fury on their heads. Give strength to a widow’s hand to do what I plan.
10When I trick them with my words, strike down the slave with the ruler and the ruler with his servant. Break their pride by the hand of a woman.
11“For your strength does not depend on numbers nor your might on the powerful. But you are the God of the humble, helper of the oppressed, supporter of the weak, protector of the forsaken, deliverer of those without hope.
12Please, please, O God of my ancestor, God of Israel’s heritage, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the seas, King of your whole creation—hear my prayer!
13Help my deceitful tongue to wound and bruise those who have planned cruel things against your covenant, against your holy dwelling place on top of Mount Zion, and against this land that your children possess.[#9:13 Greek against the house.]
14Show your whole nation and every tribe that you are God, the God of all power and might. You are the only one who protects the people of Israel!”