Judith 4:12-14

New Catholic Bible

¹² They even draped the altar in sackcloth, and with one voice they prayed fervently, imploring the God of Israel not to allow their children to be carried off and their wives to be taken captive, the towns they had inherited to be destroyed, and their temple to be profaned and desecrated for the heathens to gloat over.

¹³ The Lord heard their prayers and looked kindly on them in their distress. For the people fasted for many days throughout Judea and before the temple of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Joakim the high priest and all the priests stood in the presence of the Lord and ministered to him. They wore sackcloth around their loins as they offered the daily burnt offerings, the votive offerings, and the freewill offerings of the people.