4
So everyone 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 on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5
Now indeed is the time to help your heritage and to carry out my design to destroy the enemies who have risen up against us."
6
She went up to the bedpost near Holofernes' head, and took down his sword that hung there.
7
She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength today, O Lord God of Israel!"
8
Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off his head.
9
Next she rolled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts. Soon afterward 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 do for prayer. They passed through the camp, circled around the valley, and went up the mountain to Bethulia, and came to its gates.
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From a distance Judith called out to the sentries at the gates, "Open, open the gate! God, our God, is with us, still showing his power in Israel and his strength against our enemies, as he has done today!"
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When the people of her town heard her voice, they hurried down to the town gate and summoned the elders of the town.
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They all ran together, both small and great, for it seemed unbelievable that she had returned. They opened the gate and welcomed them. Then they lit a fire to give light, and gathered around them.
14
Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise God, O praise him! Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!"