Yudit (Judith) — 9

The Prayer of Yudit 

1 Then Yudit 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 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH in Yahushalam, Yudit cried out to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with a loud voice, and said,

2 O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH you are the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of my father Simaun, to whom you gave 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 dishonor her; for you have said, ‘It shall not be done’, yet they did it. 

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

4 and you gave their wives for a prey and their daughters to captivity, and all their booty to be divided among your beloved sons, who were zealous for thee, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called on you for help, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, hear me also, a widow.

5 “For you have done these things and those that went before and those that followed; You have designed the things that are now, and those that are to come. Yea, the things You did intend came to pass, 

6 and the things You did will present themselves and say, ‘Lo, we are here’; for all thy ways are prepared in advance, and Your judgment is with foreknowledge.

7 “Behold now, the Assyrians are increased in their might; they are exalted, with their horses and riders; they pride in the strength of their foot soldiers; they trust in shield and spear, in bow and sling, and know not that you are the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH who crushes wars;  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is your Name. 

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

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

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 “For your power depends not upon numbers, nor your might upon men of strength; for you are the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn, savior of those without hope. 

12 Hear, O hear me, 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of my father, 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of the inheritance of Yashar'AL, 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Shamaym and Arath, Creator of the waters, Ruler of all your creation, hear my prayer! 

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

14 And cause your whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that you are 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Yashar'AL but you alone!”