Read & explore together
Judith's Prayer
Judith 9 records a prayer from the Catholic additional book of Judith. In this passage, Judith humbles herself before God, remembers his past acts, describes the Assyrian threat, and asks him to act so his name is known.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This is a separate prayer passage within Judith. The text shows Judith lying face down, wearing sackcloth and ashes, and crying out to the Lord while evening incense is being offered in Jerusalem. Her prayer recalls earlier judgment, then asks God to deal with Assyrian pride and protect his sanctuary and Israel.
Judith 9:1–14Main takeaway
Judith’s prayer asks God, not human strength, to deal with pride, defend his people, and make his power known.
Explore the prayer
01Judith comes before God in grief and humilityThe prayer begins with visible signs of sorrow and humility. Judith falls on her face, puts ashes on her head, and uncovers her sackcloth.
Explanation
The prayer begins with visible signs of sorrow and humility. Judith falls on her face, puts ashes on her head, and uncovers her sackcloth. The setting also matters: evening incense is being offered in Jerusalem at the house of God. Then she cries to the Lord with a loud voice and begins to pray.
02She remembers God’s past judgmentsJudith addresses the Lord as the God of her father Simeon and recalls a past outrage and God’s response to it.
Explanation
Judith addresses the Lord as the God of her father Simeon and recalls a past outrage and God’s response to it. The prayer describes disgrace and violence, then says God judged rulers and divided spoils among his children. Judith presents this as an example of God hearing those who called on him for aid.
03She praises God’s rule over present and futureBefore asking for help, Judith speaks about God’s rule. She says he planned what came before, what is now, and what is to come.
Explanation
Before asking for help, Judith speaks about God’s rule. She says he planned what came before, what is now, and what is to come. What he determined stood before him. This part of the prayer stresses that God’s ways are prepared and his judgment is joined with foreknowledge.
04She asks God to overturn proud strengthJudith describes the Assyrians as many, armed, and proud of military power. Yet she says they do not know the Lord, who breaks battles.
Explanation
Judith describes the Assyrians as many, armed, and proud of military power. Yet she says they do not know the Lord, who breaks battles. Her request is direct: break their strength, bring down their force, look at their pride, and act by the hand of a woman, because God’s power does not depend on numbers or strong men.
05Her final aim is God’s honourThe prayer ends by naming God in sweeping terms: God of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, and King of all creation.
Explanation
The prayer ends by naming God in sweeping terms: God of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, and King of all creation. Judith asks him to hear her prayer and use her words against those attacking his covenant, holy house, and Zion. Her closing aim is that every nation and tribe know he alone protects Israel.
Questions to explore
01What details in the opening verse show Judith’s humility and urgency in prayer?
Look closely at her posture, clothing, ashes, and the fact that she cried to the Lord with a loud voice.
02How does Judith contrast Assyrian military strength with the Lord’s power?
Notice the list of weapons and troop strength, then compare it with her statement that the Lord breaks battles and is not limited by numbers or strong men.
03What final result does Judith ask for beyond immediate rescue?
Her closing request is not only for protection, but for all nations and tribes to know something specific about God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Judith 9:1–14
1But Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth with which she was clothed. The incense of that evening was now being offered at Jerusalem in the house of God, and Judith cried to the Lord with a loud voice, and said,
2“O Lord God of my father Simeon, into whose hand you gave a sword to take vengeance on the strangers who loosened the belt of a virgin to defile her, uncovered her thigh to her shame, and profaned her womb to her reproach; for you said, ‘It shall not be so;’ and they did so.
3Therefore you gave their rulers to be slain, and their bed, which was ashamed for her who was deceived, to be dyed in blood, and struck the servants with their masters, and the masters upon their thrones;
4and gave their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among your dear children; which were moved with zeal for you, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon you for aid. O God, O my God, hear me also who am a widow.
5For you did the things that were before those things, and those things, and such as come after; and you planned the things which are now, and the things which are to come. The things which you planned came to pass.
6Yes, the things which you determined stood before you, and said, ‘Behold, we are here; for all your ways are prepared, and your judgment is with foreknowledge.’
7For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power. They are exalted with horse and rider. They were proud of the strength of their footmen. They have trusted in shield, spear, bow, and sling. They don’t know that you are the Lord who breaks the battles. ‘The Lord’ is your name.
8Break their strength in your power, and bring down their force in your wrath; for they intend to profane your sanctuary, and to defile the tabernacle where your glorious name rests, and to destroy the horn of your altar with the sword.
9Look at their pride, and send your wrath upon their heads. Give into my hand, which am a widow, the might that I have conceived.
10Strike by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with his servant. Break down their arrogance by the hand of a woman.
11For your power stands not in numbers, nor your might in strong men, but you are a God of the afflicted. You are a helper of the oppressed, a helper of the weak, a protector of the forsaken, a savior of those who are without hope.
12Please, please, God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, Creator of the waters, King of all your creation, hear my prayer.
13Make my speech and deceit to be their wound and bruise, who intend hard things against your covenant, your holy house, the top of Zion, and the house of the possession of your children.
14Make every nation and tribe of yours to know that you are God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the race of Israel but you.”