[maryz]

The oldest known copies of Judith are written in Greek.

And the earliest Greek is obviously a translation from an original Hebrew. (People who know the original and target language of a translation can spot it!) Do you have any evidence that later Hebrew copies are "forgeries" (as you so uncharitably suggest) rather than translations?

Your quotation "statistics" are meaningless. OT quotations in the NT are overwhelmingly from the Torah and Prophets and Psalms. Not all the c'tuvim are represented. And what of books quoted in the OT and NT that no longer exist?

Interesting that you cite St. Jerome's opinion here . . . do you follow him on other things as well, like bowing to the authority of the Pope above his own opinion?

[Diego1618]

And the earliest Greek is obviously a translation from an original Hebrew. (People who know the original and target language of a translation can spot it!)

Let's suppose you are correct (you're not)....but let's just suppose you are. So what! It still was not divinely inspired by God. The canon was closed by Ezra and Nehemiah. The "Deuts" are "Johnny come latelys".

Interesting that you cite St. Jerome's opinion here . . . do you follow him on other things as well, like bowing to the authority of the Pope above his own opinion?

Jerome was a historical figure. The fact that he did not want the Deuts in his Vulgate.....is historical fact!

"As the Church reads the books of Judith and Tobit and Maccabees but does not receive them among the canonical Scriptures, so also it reads Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus for the edification of the people, not for the authoritative confirmation of doctrine." ........Jerome's preface to the books of Solomon.