Open English Translation JDT Chapter 16

16 And Yehudit began to sing this song of thanksgiving in all Yisrael, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise. 2 Yehudit said,

“Begin a song to my god with timbrels.

Sing to my master with cymbals.

Make melody to him with psalm and praise.

Exalt him, and call on his name.

3 Because the master is the god that crushes battles.

Because in his armies among the people,

he delivered me out of the hand of those who persecuted me.

4 Ashur (Assyria) came out of the mountains from the north.

He came with ten thousands of his army.

Its multitude stopped the torrents.

Their horsemen covered the hills.

5 He said that he’d burn up my borders,

kill my young men with the sword,

throw my nursing children to the ground,

give my infants up as prey,

and make my virgins a plunder.

6 “The Almighty master brought them to nothing by a woman’s hand.

7 Because their mighty one didn’t fall by young men,

neither did sons of the Titans strike him.

Tall giants didn’t attack him,

but Yehudit (Judith) the daughter of Merari made him weak with the beauty of her face.

8 / 8 “Because she put off the clothing of her widowhood

for the exaltation of those who were distressed in Yisrael (Israel).

She anointed her face with ointment,

bound her hair in a tiara,

and took a linen garment to deceive him.

9 Her sandal ravished his eye.

Her beauty took his soul prisoner.

The sword passed through his neck.

10 “The Persians quaked at her daring.

The Madim (Medes) were daunted at her boldness.

11 “Then my lowly ones shouted aloud.

My oppressed people were terrified and trembled for fear.

They lifted up their voices and the enemy fled.

12 The children of slave-girls pierced them through,

and wounded them as fugitives’ children.

They perished by my master’s army.

13 “I’ll sing to my god a new song:

Oh master, you’re great and glorious,

marvellous in strength, invincible.

14 Let all your creation serve you;

for you spoke, and they were made.

You sent out your spirit, and it built them.

There’s no one who can resist your voice.

15 Because the mountains will be moved from their foundations with the waters,

and the rocks will melt as wax at your presence:

But you’re yet merciful to those who fear you.

16 Because all sacrifice is little for a sweet savour,

and all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to you;

but he who fears the master is great continually.

17 “Woe to the nations who rise up against my race!

The master Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgement

and put fire and worms in their flesh;

and they’ll weep and feel their pain forever.”

18 Now when they came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), they worshipped God. When the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings, their free will offerings, and their gifts. 19 Yehudit dedicated all Holofernes’ stuff, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she’d taken for herself out of his bedchamber, for a gift to the master.

20 And the people continued feasting in Yerushalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Yehudit (Judith) remained with them.

21 After these days, everyone departed to his own inheritance. Yehudit went away to Betulia, and remained in her own possession, and was honourable in her time in all the land. 22 Many desired her, but no man knew her all the days of her life from the day that Menasheh (Manasseh) her husband died and was gathered to his people. 23 She became very highly respected; and she grew old in her husband’s house, to one hundred and five years. She let her maid go free. Then she died in Betulia. They buried her in the cave of her husband Menasheh. 24 The house of Yisrael (Israel) mourned for her seven days. She distributed her goods before she died to all those who were nearest of kin to Menasheh her husband, and to those who were nearest of her own kindred. 25 There was no one who made the children of Yisrael afraid any more in the days of Yehudit, nor for a long time after her death.