21. And now, brothers, because you are the elders among the people of God, and their very soul hangs upon you, rescue their hearts by your eloquence, so that they may remember that our fathers were tested in order to prove whether or not they truly worshiped their God.
22. They are obliged to remember how our father Abraham was tested, and being proved by many tribulations, he was made the friend of God.
23. So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.
24. But those who did not accept the trials with the fear of the Lord, and who brought forward their impatience and the disgrace of their murmuring against the Lord,
25. were exterminated by the exterminator, and they perished by serpents.
26. And as for us, therefore, let us not revenge ourselves for these things that we suffer.
27. But, in considering these same sufferings to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that the scourges of the Lord, by which we are corrected like servants, have occurred for our improvement and not for our destruction."
28. And Uzziah and the elders said to her: "All the things that you have spoken are true, and there is nothing reprehensible in your words.
29. Now, therefore, pray for us, because you are a holy woman, and one fearing God."
30. And Judith said to them: "You know that what I have been able to say is of God.
31. So, concerning that which I propose to do, examine whether or not it is from God, and pray that God may act to strengthen my plan.
32. You will stand at the gate this night, and I will go forth with my handmaid. And pray that, just as you have said, within five days the Lord may look kindly on his people Israel.
33. But I am not willing to have you examine my actions, and, until I report to you, let nothing else be done, except to pray for me to the Lord our God."