8
After bathing, she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her way for the triumph of his people.
9
Then she returned purified and stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
10
On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his personal attendants only, and did not invite any of his officers.
11
He said to Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and to eat and drink with us.
12
For it would be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without having intercourse with her. If we do not seduce her, she will laugh at us."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.