Judith 9:9-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 [a]See their pride, and send forth your fury upon their heads.(A) Give me, a widow, a strong hand to execute my plan.(B) 10 By the deceit of my lips, strike down slave together with ruler, and ruler together with attendant. Crush their arrogance by the hand of a female.(C)
11 [b](D)“Your strength is not in numbers, nor does your might depend upon the powerful.(E) You are God of the lowly, helper of those of little account, supporter of the weak, protector of those in despair, savior of those without hope.
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- 9:9–10 In a five-fold petition, Judith asks that God see their pride, send fury on their heads, give her a strong hand, strike down the enemy through her deceit, and crush their pride by the hand of a female (theleia, see also 13:15 and 16:5, rather than the more usual gyne, woman). In an androcentric society, there was no greater dishonor for a male than that he die at the hand of a female (see Jgs 9:53–54). Nine verses emphasize that by her hand God’s deliverance is accomplished: 8:33; 9:9, 10; 12:4; 13:4, 14, 15; 15:10; and 16:5.
- 9:11–12 Ten titles for God are arranged in two groups of five on either side of the repeated Greek particle, nai nai (“verily” or “please”). The title “Master of heaven and earth” (v. 12; see notes on 1:11 and 5:20) is unique to Judith in the Septuagint, as are also “God of the heritage of Israel” and “Creator of the waters.”
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