17. We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who takes vengeance upon us according to our sins, so that now you may deliver the city into the hand of the military of Holofernes. And may our end be brief, by the edge of the sword, that would be made longer by the dryness of thirst."
18. And when they had said these things, there happened a great weeping and a loud lamentation within the assembly. From everyone and for many hours, with one voice, they cried out to God, saying:
19. "We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly, we have committed iniquity.
20. May you have mercy on us, for you are pious, or with your own scourges avenge our iniquities, but do not be willing to deliver those trusting in you to a people who are ignorant of you,
21. so that they may not say among the Gentiles, 'Where is their God?' "
22. And when, being weary from these outcries, and tired from these weepings, they became silent,