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.
11
Judith called out from afar to the watchmen at the gates, "Open, open the gate! God, our God, is still with us, to show his power in Israel, and his strength against our enemies, even as he has done this day!"
12
When the men of her city heard her voice, they hurried down to the city gate and called together the elders of the city.
13
They all ran together, both small and great, for it was unbelievable that she had returned; they opened the gate and admitted them, and they kindled a fire for light, and gathered around them.