8:29. Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one fearing God. 8:30. And Judith said to them: As you know that what I have been able to say is of God: 8:31. So that which I intend to do prove ye if it be of God, and pray that God may strengthen my design. 8:32. You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord may look down upon his people Israel. 8:33. But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord our God. 8:34. And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they departed. Judith Chapter 9 Judith's prayer, to beg of God to fortify her in her undertaking. 9:1. And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying: 9:2. Lord God of my father Simeon, who gavest him a sword to execute vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and uncovered the virgin unto confusion: Gavest him a sword, etc... The justice of God is here praised, in punishing by the sword of Simeon the crime of the Sichemites: and not the act of Simeon, which was justly condemned by his father, Gen. 49.5. Though even with regard to this act, we may distinguish between his zeal against the crime committed by the ravishers of his sister, which zeal may be considered just: and the manner of his punishing that crime, which was irregular and excessive. 9:3. And who gavest their wives to be made a prey, and their daughters into captivity: and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who were zealous with thy zeal: assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a widow. 9:4. For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one thing after another: and what thou hast designed hath been done. 9:5. For all thy ways are prepared, and in thy providence thou hast placed thy judgments. 9:6. Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a multitude of warriors. 9:7. But thou lookedst over their camp, and darkness wearied them. 9:8. The deep held their feet, and the waters overwhelmed them. 9:9. So may it be with these also, O Lord, who trust in their multitude, and in their chariots, and in their pikes, and in their shields, and in their arrows, and glory in their spears, 9:10. And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars from the beginning, and the Lord is thy name.