1
Now when the evening had come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent outside, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds, for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
2
And Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes lying along upon his bed, for he was filled with wine.
3
Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand outside her bedchamber, and to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily, for she said she would go forth to her prayers; and she spoke to Bagoas according to the same purpose.
4
So all went forth and none were left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, "O Lord God of all power, look at this present time upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5
For now is the time to help Thine inheritance and to execute mine enterprises, to the destruction of the enemies who have risen against us."
6
Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his sword from thence,
7
and approached to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day."
8
And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him,
9
and tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and immediately after, she went forth and gave Holofernes' head to her maid,
10
and she put it in her bag for meat. So the two went together, according to their custom, unto prayer; and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
11
Then said Judith afar off to the watchmen at the gate, "Open, open now the gate! God, even our God, is with us to show His power yet in Jerusalem and His forces against the enemy, as He hath even done this day."
12
Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city.
13
And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she had come. So they opened the gate and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.
14
Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise, praise God! Praise God, I say, for He hath not taken away His mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night."
15
So she took the head out of the bag and showed it, and said unto them, "Behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assyria, and behold the canopy wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.
16
As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me to defile and shame me."
17
Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves and worshiped God, and said with one accord, "Blessed be Thou, O our God, who hast this day brought to nought the enemies of Thy people."
18
Then said Uzziah unto her, "O daughter, blessed art thou by the Most High God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who hath created the heavens and the earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies.
19
For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, who remember the power of God for ever.
20
And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise to visit thee with good things, because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast avenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our God." And all the people said, "So be it, so be it."