1
When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew, and Bagoas closed the tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's presence; and they went to bed, for they all were weary because the banquet had lasted long.
2
So Judith was left alone in the tent , with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was overcome with wine.
3
Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait for her to come out, as she did every day; for she said she would be going out for her prayers. And she had said the same thing to Bagoas.
4
So every one went out, and no one, either small or great, was left in the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in her heart, "O Lord God of all might, look in this hour upon the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5
For now is the time to help thy inheritance, and to carry out my undertaking for the destruction of the enemies who have risen up against us."
6
She went up to the post at the end of the bed, above Holofernes' head, and took down his sword that hung there.
7
She came close to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!"
8
And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed it from his body.
9
Then she tumbled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts; after a moment she went out, and gave Holofernes' head to her maid,
10
who placed it in her food bag. Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to go for prayer; and they passed through the camp and circled around the valley and went up the mountain to Bethulia and came to its gates.