Liber Iudith, 9

1. Iudith autem procidit in faciem suam et imposuit cinerem super caput suum et scidit tunicam suam et denudavit, quod induerat, cilicium; et, in ipso quod oblatum erat in Ierusalem in domum Dei incensum vespere illo, clamavit Iudith voce magna ad Dominum et dixit:

1. Then Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes on her head, and uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing; and at the very time when that evening's incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said,

2. “Domine, Deus patris mei Simeon, cui dedisti in manu gladium in ultionem alienigenarum, qui solverunt cingulum virginis in coinquinationem et denudaverunt femur in confusionem et coinquinaverunt matricem in improperium. Dixisti enim: “Non sic erit!”; et fecerunt.

2. "O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take revenge on the strangers who had loosed the girdle of a virgin to defile her, and uncovered her thigh to put her to shame, and polluted her womb to disgrace her; for thou hast said, `It shall not be done' -- yet they did it.

3. Pro quibus dedisti principes eorum in occisionem et torum eorum, qui erubuit seductione eorum, seductum in sanguinem; et percussisti servos super potentes et potentes super thronos eorum.

3. So thou gavest up their rulers to be slain, and their bed, which was ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, to be stained with blood, and thou didst strike down slaves along with princes, and princes on their thrones;

4. Et dedisti mulieres eorum in praedam et filias in captivitatem et omnia spolia in divisionem filiorum a te delectorum, qui zelaverunt zelum tuum et abominaverunt coinquinationem sanguinis sui et invocaverunt te in adiutorium. Deus, Deus meus, exaudi me viduam.

4. and thou gavest their wives for a prey and their daughters to captivity, and all their booty to be divided among thy beloved sons, who were zealous for thee, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called on thee for help -- O God, my God, hear me also, a widow.

5. Tu enim fecisti priora illorum et illa et, quae postea et quae nunc et quae futura sunt, cogitasti; et facta sunt, quae cogitasti.

5. "For thou hast done these things and those that went before and those that followed; thou hast designed the things that are now, and those that are to come. Yea, the things thou didst intend came to pass,

6. Et astiterunt, quae voluisti, et dixerunt: “Ecce adsumus”. Omnes enim viae tuae paratae, et creatura tua in praescientia.

6. and the things thou didst will presented themselves and said, `Lo, we are here'; for all they ways are prepared in advance, and thy judgment is with foreknowledge.

7. Ecce enim Assyrii repleti sunt in virtute sua et exaltati sunt in equo et ascensore, gloriati sunt in brachio peditum, speraverunt in clipeis et lancea et arcu et fundibula et nescierunt quoniam tu es Dominus, qui conteris bella;

7. "Behold now, the Assyrians are increased in their might; they are exalted, with their horses and riders; they glory in the strength of their foot soldiers; they trust in shield and spear, in bow and sling, and know not that thou art the Lord who crushest wars; the Lord is thy name.

8. Dominus nomen est tibi. Tu allide illorum vires, aeterne Deus, comminue illorum plenitudinem in virtute tua et deduc fortitudinem eorum in ira tua. Voluerunt enim polluere sancta tua, coinquinare tabernaculum requiei nominis maiestatis tuae et deicere ferro cornu altaris tui.

8. Break their strength by thy might, and bring down their power in thy anger; for they intend to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name rests, and to cast down the horn of thy altar with the sword.

9. Respice in superbiam eorum, dimitte iram tuam in capita eorum; da in manu mea viduae, quam cogitavi, virtutem,

9. Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads; give to me, a widow, the strength to do what I plan.

10. et percute servum ex labiis seductionis meae super principem et principem super servum eius; quassa elationem in manu viduae.

10. By the deceit of my lips strike down the slave with the prince and the prince with his servant; crush their arrogance by the hand of a woman.

11. Non enim in multitudine virtus tua, nec potentia tua neque datum tuum in fortibus, sed humilium es Deus et minorum adiutorium, infirmorum susceptor, abiectorum protector, desperatorum salvator.

11. "For thy power depends not upon numbers, nor thy might upon men of strength; for thou art God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn, savior of those without hope.

12. Etiam, etiam, Deus patris mei et Deus hereditatis Israel, dominator caelorum et terrae, creator aquarum, rex totius creaturae tuae, exaudi deprecationem meam

12. Hear, O hear me, God of my father, God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all thy creation, hear my prayer!

13. et da verbum meum et suasionem in vulnus et livorem eorum, qui adversum testamentum tuum et domum tuam sanctam et verticem Sion et domum retentionis filiorum tuorum cogitaverunt dura.

13. Make my deceitful words to be their wound and stripe, for they have planned cruel things against thy covenant, and against thy consecrated house, and against the top of Zion, and against the house possessed by thy children.

14. Et fac super omnem gentem tuam et omnem tribum scientiam, ut sciant quoniam tu Deus es universae potestatis et virtutis, et non est alius defensor generis Israel praeter te”.

14. And cause thy whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that thou art God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but thou alone!"