1. Then Judith sang a song of thanksgiving there with all Israel present, and the people joined in this song of praise.
2. She sang,“Praise my God and sing to him;praise the Lord with drums and cymbals;play a new song for him.Praise him and call on him for help.
3. The Lord is a warrior who ends war.He rescued me from my pursuersand brought me back to his people's camp.
4. Down from the mountains of the north came the Assyrians,with their tens of thousands of soldiers.Their troops blocked the rivers in the valleys;their cavalry covered the mountains.
5. They threatened to set fire to our country,slaughter our young men,dash our babies to the ground,take our children away as captives,and carry off all our young women.
6. But the Lord Almighty tricked them;he used a woman to stop them.
7. Their hero was not slain by young soldiersor attacked and killed by mighty giants.It was Judith, the daughter of Merari,who brought him down with her beauty.
8. She gave victory to the oppressed people of Israel,when she took off her widow's clothes,and put on a linen dress to entice him.She put on her rich perfumesand tied a ribbon round her hair.
9. Her dainty sandal caught his eye;her beauty captured his heart.Then the sword slashed through his neck.
10. The Persians trembled at her daring;the Medes were amazed at her bravery.
11. Then our people shouted in victory.They had been weak and oppressed,but they forced the enemy to retreat in panic and fear.
12. We are descendants of slaves,but our enemies turned and ran;we killed them like runaway slaves.They were destroyed by the army of the Lord.
13. “I will sing a new song to my God.O Lord, you are strong and glorious!You have never been defeated.
14. Let all your creatures serve you.You gave the command,and all of them came into being;you breathed on them,and all of them were created.No one can oppose your command.
15. The mountains and the seas tremble,and rocks melt like wax when you come near.But there is mercy for all who obey you.
16. The Lord is more pleased with those who obey himthan with all the choice meat on the altar,or with all the most fragrant sacrifices.