Yudit (Judith) — 16
Yudit Offers Her Hymn of YADAH (Praise)
1 Then Yudit began this thanksgiving before all Yashar'AL, and all the people loudly sang this song of Yadah.
2 And Yudit said, Start a song to my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH with tambourines, sing to my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH with cymbals, Raise to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH a new Tahalym; exalt 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and call upon the Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
3 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH who crushes wars; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has delivered me out of the hands of my pursuers, and brought me into His camp, in the midst of the people.
4 The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north; Assyrians came with myriads of their warriors; their multitude blocked up the valleys, their cavalry covered the hills.
5 Hulufarnas boasted that he would burn up my territory, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash my infants to the ground and seize my children as prey, and take my virgins as booty.
6 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut has foiled them by the hand of a woman.
7 For their mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men, nor did the sons of the Titans smite him, nor did tall giants set upon him; but Yudit the daughter of Merari beheaded him with the beauty of her countenance.
8 For she took off her widow’s mourning to exalt the oppressed in Yashar'AL. She anointed her face with ointment and fastened her hair with a tiara and put on a linen gown to deceive him.
9 Her sandal ravished his eyes, her beauty captivated his mind, and the sword severed his neck.
10 The Parsians trembled at her boldness, the Madas were daunted at her daring.
11 Then my oppressed people shouted for joy; my weak people shouted and the enemy trembled; they lifted up their voices, and the enemy were turned back.
12 The sons of maidservants have pierced them through; they were wounded like the children of fugitives, they perished before the army of my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.
13 I will sing to my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH a new song: O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, you are great and marvelous, wonderful in strength, invincible.
14 Let all thy creatures serve you, for You did speak, and they were made, you did send forth your RUACH, and it formed them; there is none that can resist your voice.
15 For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters; at thy presence the rocks shall melt like wax, but to those who fear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, You will continue to show them mercy.
16 For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing, and all fat for burnt offerings to you is a very little thing, but he who fears 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH shall be great for ever.
17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment; fire and worms will be giving to their flesh; they shall weep in pain for ever.
18 When they arrived at Yahushalam they worshiped 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts.
19 Yudit also dedicated to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH all the vessels of Hulufarnas, which the people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
20 So the people continued feasting in Yahushalam before the sanctuary for three months, and Yudit remained with them.
The Renown and Death of Yudit
21 After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Yudit went to Bathulia, and remained on her estate, and was honored in her time throughout the whole country.
22 Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of her life after Manassah her husband died and was gathered to his people.
23 She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband’s house, until she was one hundred and five years old. She set her maid free. She died in Bathulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manassah,
24 and the house of Yashar'AL mourned for her seven days. Before she died she distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her husband Manassah, and to her own nearest kindred.
25 And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Yashar'AL in the days of Yudit, or for a long time after her death.