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Judith's Song of Thanksgiving
Judith 16:1–17 is a thanksgiving song from the Catholic additional book of Judith. It calls God’s people to praise, remembers a deadly threat, and ends by honouring the Lord’s power, mercy, and judgment.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The passage begins with Judith singing in all Israel and the people joining her praise. Her song calls for music, names the Lord as deliverer, recalls the invading force and its threats, describes victory through Judith, and finishes with words about God as creator, merciful to those who fear him, and judge of hostile nations.
Judith 16:1–17Main takeaway
This song gives thanks to the Lord for deliverance and praises him as powerful, merciful, and just.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A song for all IsraelJudith begins a song of thanksgiving, and all the people join with loud praise. Her opening words call for timbrels, cymbals, melody, praise, and calling on God’s name.
Explanation
Judith begins a song of thanksgiving, and all the people join with loud praise. Her opening words call for timbrels, cymbals, melody, praise, and calling on God’s name. The song starts with public worship directed to “my God” and “my Lord.”
02The danger rememberedJudith says the Lord “crushes battles” and delivered her from persecutors. She then recalls Asshur coming from the north with a huge army.
Explanation
Judith says the Lord “crushes battles” and delivered her from persecutors. She then recalls Asshur coming from the north with a huge army. The song repeats the threats made against the land, young men, children, infants, and virgins, showing why this rescue mattered.
03The Lord used a womanThe song says the Almighty Lord brought them to nothing “by the hand of a woman.” It was not done by young men, Titans, or giants.
Explanation
The song says the Almighty Lord brought them to nothing “by the hand of a woman.” It was not done by young men, Titans, or giants. Judith is named, and the song says she set aside widow’s clothing, adorned herself to deceive him, and “the sword passed through his neck.”
04Power, mercy, and warningAfter enemy fear and flight, Judith sings a new song to God, calling him great, glorious, strong, and invincible.
Explanation
After enemy fear and flight, Judith sings a new song to God, calling him great, glorious, strong, and invincible. She says creation came by God’s word and spirit, and no one can resist his voice. Yet this mighty God is merciful to those who fear him, while hostile nations face judgment.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the song invite the people to praise God at the start?
Name the instruments and actions of worship listed in Judith’s opening call.
02What details show how serious the invading threat was?
Look at the size of the army and the harms the song says were threatened.
03What two truths stand together near the end of the song?
Notice that God is merciful to those who fear him, and that hostile nations are warned of judgment.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Judith 16:1–17
1And Judith began to sing this song of thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise.
2Judith said, “Begin a song to my God with timbrels. Sing to my Lord with cymbals. Make melody to him with psalm and praise. Exalt him, and call upon his name.
3For the Lord is the God that crushes battles. For in his armies in the midst of the people, he delivered me out of the hand of those who persecuted me.
4Asshur came out of the mountains from the north. He came with ten thousands of his army. Its multitude stopped the torrents. Their horsemen covered the hills.
5He said that he would burn up my borders, kill my young men with the sword, throw my nursing children to the ground, give my infants up as prey, and make my virgins a plunder.
6“The Almighty Lord brought them to nothing by the hand of a woman.
7For their mighty one didn’t fall by young men, neither did sons of the Titans strike him. Tall giants didn’t attack him, but Judith the daughter of Merari made him weak with the beauty of her countenance.
8“For she put off the apparel of her widowhood for the exaltation of those who were distressed in Israel. She anointed her face with ointment, bound her hair in a tiara, and took a linen garment to deceive him.
9Her sandal ravished his eye. Her beauty took his soul prisoner. The sword passed through his neck.
10“The Persians quaked at her daring. The Medes were daunted at her boldness.
11“Then my lowly ones shouted aloud. My oppressed people were terrified and trembled for fear. They lifted up their voices and the enemy fled.
12The children of slave-girls pierced them through, and wounded them as fugitives’ children. They perished by the army of my Lord.
13“I will sing to my God a new song: O Lord, you are great and glorious, marvelous in strength, invincible.
14Let all your creation serve you; for you spoke, and they were made. You sent out your spirit, and it built them. There is no one who can resist your voice.
15For the mountains will be moved from their foundations with the waters, and the rocks will melt as wax at your presence: But you are yet merciful to those who fear you.
16For all sacrifice is little for a sweet savor, and all the fat is very little for a whole burnt offering to you; but he who fears the Lord is great continually.
17“Woe to the nations who rise up against my race! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment and put fire and worms in their flesh; and they will weep and feel their pain forever.”