Single lesson
Judith's Song of Thanksgiving
Judith 16:1–17
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Judith's Song of Thanksgiving, using two details from the reading. This song gives thanks to the Lord for deliverance and praises him as powerful, merciful, and just.
Welcome: Judith's Song of Thanksgiving
5 minIntroduce “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving” and locate Judith 16:1–17. This song gives thanks to the Lord for deliverance and praises him as powerful, merciful, and just. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Judith 16:1, Judith 16:9, Judith 16:17
Read and explain the passage
12 minJudith 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.”
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.”
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.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Judith 16:1, Judith 16:2, Judith 16:6, Judith 16:7, Judith 16:8, Judith 16:9, Judith 16:10, Judith 16:11, Judith 16:12, Judith 16:13, Judith 16:14, Judith 16:15, Judith 16:16, Judith 16:17
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does the song invite the people to praise God at the start?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This song gives thanks to the Lord for deliverance and praises him as powerful, merciful, and just. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Judith 16:2, Judith 16:4, Judith 16:5, Judith 16:15, Judith 16:16, Judith 16:17
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
12 minWork on “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Judith 16:1, Judith 16:9, Judith 16:17
Closing: return to Judith's Song of Thanksgiving
3 minRevisit Judith 16:1–17. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Judith's Song of Thanksgiving and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Judith 16:1, Judith 16:9, Judith 16:17
Questions to explore
How 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.
Judith 16:2
What details show how serious the invading threat was?
Look at the size of the army and the harms the song says were threatened.
Judith 16:4, Judith 16:5
What 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.
Judith 16:15, Judith 16:16, Judith 16:17
Make, think or respond
Judith's Song of Thanksgiving: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Judith 16:1–17. Use “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Judith's Song of Thanksgiving connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Judith's Song of Thanksgiving” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Judith 16:1–17. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Judith 16:1–17. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Judith 16
1 And Judith began to sing this song of thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang with loud voices this song of praise.
2 Judith 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.
3 For 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.
4 Asshur 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.
5 He 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.
7 For 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.
9 Her 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.
12 The 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.
14 Let 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.
15 For 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.
16 For 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.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.