10
who placed it in her food bag. The two of them went out to pray, as was their habit. They walked through the camp, circled around the valley, went up the hill to Bethulia, and arrived at the city gates.
11
From a distance Judith called out to the guards at the gate, "Open, open the gate! God, our God, is with us and is still demonstrating strength in Israel and power against our enemies! He has done so even today!"
12
When the people in 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, from the youngest to the oldest, because it seemed impossible that she had returned safely. They opened the gate and welcomed them. After lighting a fire to give some light, they stood around them.
14
Then Judith said to them in a loud voice, "Praise God! Praise, praise God, who hasn't taken his mercy away from the house of Israel! Rather, he has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!"