University of Virginia Library

THE PRAIER OF JUDITH, FOR THE DELIVERANCE OF THE PEOPLE.

In the ix. Chap. of the book of Judith.

Oh Lord, the God of Simeon, my soveraigne Father deare:
To whom thou gavest strength and might, the sword in hand to beare,
To take revenge on those which first, the maidens wombe did tame,
And spoiled her virginitie, with great reproch and shame.
For which offence, thou gavest up, their princes to be slaine,
So that their wounds with gory blood, their beds did all distain.
Their servants with their lords ech one, have felt thy wrath alike,
Who sitting in their roial seat, thou sparest not to strike.
Their wives, their daughters, & their goods, thou gav'st for thy behove
As prais, as captives, & as spoiles, to those whom thou didst love.
Who moov'd with zeale, could not abide, their blood defil'd to see,
Then heare me Lord, a widow poore, which here do cal to thee.
Things past, & things not yet discern'd, thy providence hath wrought,
Things present & the things to come, by thee to passe are brought.
Each thing is present at thy call, thy wisdome doth devise,
Thy secret judgments long before, thy knowledge doth comprise.
Th'Assirians now in multitude, a mighty number are,
Whose horsmen on their barbed horse, themselves to war prepare.
Their hope in footmen doth consist, in sling, in speare and shield,
They know not thee to be the Lord, whose force doth win the field.
Let all their force, their strength & power, be by thy might abated,
Who vow thy Temple to defile, which thou hast consecrated.
Yea, to pollute thy Tabernacle, thy house and holy place,
And with their instruments of war, thine Altars to deface.
Behold their pride, and poure on them, thy wrath and heavy yre,
And strength my hand to execute, the thing I now desire.
Smite thou the servant and the Lord, as they together stand,
Abate their glory and their pride, even by a womans hand.
For in the greatest multitude, thou takest not delight,
Nor in the strong and valiant men consisteth not thy might.
But to the humble, lowly, meeke, the succourlesse and poore,
Thou art a help, defence, refuge, and loving saviour,
My father in thy name did trust, O Israels Lord most deare,
Of heaven, of earth, of sea and land, doo thou my praier heare.
Grant thou me wit, sleight, power, strength, to wound them which advance
Themselves over thy Sion hil, & thine inheritance.
Declare to nations far and neare, and let them know ful well,
Thou art the Lord, whose power & strength, defendeth Israell.