Liber Iudith, 16

1. Dixitque Iudith: “Incipite Deo meo in tym panis, cantate Domino meo in cymbalis, modulamini illi psalmum novum, exaltate et invocate nomen ipsius.

1. Then Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise.

2. Tu es Deus conterens bella, qui ponis castra in medio populi tui, ut eripias me de manu persequentium me.

2. And Judith said, Begin a song to my God with tambourines, sing to my Lord with cymbals. Raise to him a new psalm; exalt him, and call upon his name.

3. Venit Assur a montibus, a borra, venit in milibus virtutum suarum, quorum multitudo obturavit torrentes, et equitatus ipsorum texit colles.

3. For God is the Lord who crushes wars; for he has delivered me out of the hands of my pursuers, and brought me to his camp, in the midst of the people.

4. Et dixit incensurum se fines meos et iuvenes meos occisurum gladio et mammantes meos daturum ad solum et infantes meos daturum in partitionem et virgines spoliaturum.

4. The 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.

5. Dominus omnipotens sprevit illos et confudit illos in manu feminae!

5. He 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.

6. Non enim cecidit potens eorum a iuvenibus, nec filii Titanum percusserunt illum, nec alti gigantes superposuerunt se illi, sed Iudith filia Merari in specie faciei suae dissolvit illum.

6. But the Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman.

7. Dispoliavit enim se stola viduitatis suae in exaltationem dolentium in Israel. Unxit faciem suam unguento

7. For 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.

8. et colligavit capillos suos in mitra et accepit stolam lineam in seductionem eius.

8. For 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.

9. Sandalum eius rapuit oculum ipsius, et species eius captivam fecit animam illius, et transiit gladius cervicem eius.

9. Her sandal ravished his eyes, her beauty captivated his mind, and the sword severed his neck.

10. Horruerunt Persae audaciam eius, et Medi turbati sunt constantia ipsius.

10. The Persians trembled at her boldness, the Medes were daunted at her daring.

11. Tunc ululaverunt humiles mei, et exclamaverunt aegrotantes et territi sunt, in altum extulerunt vocem suam et conversi sunt.

11. Then 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.

12. Filii puellarum compunxerunt illos et tamquam pueros ultroneos vulnerabant; perierunt a praelio Domini mei.

12. The sons of maidservants have pierced them through; they were wounded like the children of fugitives, they perished before the army of my Lord.

13. Cantabo Deo meo hymnum novum: Domine, magnus es tu et clarus, mirabilis in virtute et insuperabilis.

13. I will sing to my God a new song: O Lord, thou are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.

14. Tibi serviat omnis creatura tua, quoniam dixisti, et facta sunt, misisti spiritum tuum, et aedificata sunt, et non est qui resistat voci tuae.

14. Let all thy creatures serve thee, for thou didst speak, and they were made. Thou didst send forth thy Spirit, and it formed them; there is none that can resist thy voice.

15. Montes enim a fundamentis agitabuntur cum aquis, petrae autem a facie tua tamquam cera liquescent. Illis autem, qui timent te, propitius adhuc eris.

15. For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters; at thy presence the rocks shall melt like wax, but to those who fear thee thou wilt continue to show mercy.

16. Quoniam pusillum omne sacrum ad odorem suavitatis, et minimus omnis adeps in holocaustum tibi. Qui autem timet Dominum, magnus apud eum semper.

16. For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing, and all fat for burnt offerings to thee is a very little thing, but he who fears the Lord shall be great for ever.

17. Vae gentibus assurgentibus generi meo! Dominus omnipotens vindicabit illos, in die iudicii visitabit eos, ut det ignem et vermes in carnes eorum, et comburentur, ut sentiant usque in aeternum”.

17. Woe 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.

18. Ut autem venerunt in Ierusalem, adoraverunt Deum; et, postquam mundatus est populus, rettulerunt holocaustum Domino et voluntaria sua et munera.

18. When they arrived at Jerusalem they worshiped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts.

19. Et attulit Iudith omnia vasa Holofernis, quaecumque dederat ei populus, et conopeum, quod sustulerat de cubiculo ipsius, in consecrationem Domino dedit.

19. Judith 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.

20. Et populus laetabatur in Ierusalem contra faciem sanctorum per menses tres, et Iudith cum illis mansit.

20. So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith remained with them.

21. Post illos autem dies rediit unusquisque in hereditatem suam, et Iudith abiit in Betuliam et demorata est in possessione sua. Et facta est secundum tempus suum clara in omni terra,

21. After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate, and was honored in her time throughout the whole country.

22. et multi concupierunt eam, et non cognovit vir illam omnibus diebus vitae eius, ex qua die mortuus est Manasses maritus illius et appositus est ad populum suum.

22. Many 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.

23. Et procedens magna facta est valde et senuit in domo mariti sui Manasses annos centum quinque; et dimisit abram suam liberam. Et mortua est in Betulia, et sepelierunt eam in spelunca.

23. She 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,

24. Et planxit eam omnis Israel diebus septem. Divisitque bona sua, priusquam moreretur, omnibus proximis viri sui Manasses et proximis ex genere suo.

24. and 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.

25. Et non fuit adhuc, qui in timorem mitteret filios Israel in diebus Iudith et post mortem eius diebus multis.

25. And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death.