Judith 9:1-3

Common English Bible

Judith prays to God

9 Judith fell on her face, put ashes on her head, and uncovered the funeral clothing she was wearing. Then, at the time when the evening incense was being offered in God’s house in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice and said:

²“Lord, God of my ancestor Simeon, you put a sword into his hand to take revenge on the strangers who opened up a virgin’s womb to pollute her, who exposed her thighs to shame her, and who violated her womb to disgrace her. You said that such a thing shouldn’t happen, and yet they did it anyway. ³So you handed over their rulers to be murdered. You stained with blood the beds that were ashamed of their owners’ deceit. You struck down slaves along with princes, even princes upon their thrones.

Read full chapter