Judith Chapter 4

Other Translations

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Tunc audientes hæc filii Israel, qui habitabant in Terra Iuda, timuerunt valde a facie eius.

2 Tremor, et horror invasit sensus eorum, ne hoc faceret Ierusalem et templo Domini, quod fecerat ceteris civitatibus et templis earum.

3 Et miserunt in omnem Samariam per circuitum usque Iericho, et præoccupaverunt omnes vertices montium:

4 et muris circumdederunt vicos suos, et congregaverunt frumenta in præparationem pugnæ.

5 Sacerdos etiam Eliachim scripsit ad universos qui erant contra Esdrelon, quæ est contra faciem campi magni iuxta Dothain, et universos, per quos viæ transitus esse poterat,

6 ut obtinerent ascensus montium, per quos via esse poterat ad Ierusalem, et illic custodirent ubi angustum iter esse poterat inter montes.

7 Et fecerunt filii Israel secundum quod constituerat eis sacerdos Domini Eliachim.

8 Et clamavit omnis populus ad Dominum instantia magna, et humiliaverunt animas suas in ieiuniis, et orationibus, ipsi et mulieres eorum.

9 Et induerunt se Sacerdotes ciliciis, et infantes prostraverunt contra faciem templi Domini, et altare Domini operuerunt cilicio:

10 et clamaverunt ad Dominum Deum Israel unanimiter ne darentur in prædam infantes eorum, et uxores eorum in divisionem, et civitates eorum in exterminium, et sancta eorum in pollutionem, et fierent opprobrium Gentibus.

11 Tunc Eliachim, sacerdos Domini magnus, circuivit omnem Israel, allocutusque est eos,

12 dicens: Scitote quoniam exaudiet Dominus preces vestras, si manentes permanseritis in ieiuniis, et orationibus in conspectu Domini.

13 Memores estote Moysi servi Domini, qui Amalec confidentem in virtute sua, et in potentia sua, et in exercitu suo, et in clypeis suis, et in curribus suis, et in equitibus suis, non ferro pugnando, sed precibus sanctis orando deiecit:

14 sic erunt universi hostes Israel: si perseveraveritis in hoc opere, quod cœpistis.

15 Ad hanc igitur exhortationem eius deprecantes Dominum, permanebant in conspectu Domini,

16 ita ut etiam hi, qui offerebant Domino holocausta, præcincti ciliciis offerrent sacrificia Domino, et erat cinis super capita eorum.

17 Et ex toto corde suo omnes orabant Deum, ut visitaret populum suum Israel.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).