6
and sent to Holofernes and said, "Let my lord now command that your servant be permitted to go out and pray."
7
So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained in the camp for three days, and went out each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the camp.
8
When she came up from the spring she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her way for the raising up of her people.
9
So she returned clean and stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
10
On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his slave only, and did not invite any of his officers.
11
And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go now and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and eat and drink with us.
12
For it will be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying her company, for if we do not embrace her she will laugh at us."
13
So Bagoas went out from the presence of Holofernes, and approached her and said, "This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord and be honored in his presence, and drink wine and be merry with us, and become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar."
14
And Judith said, "Who am I, to refuse my lord? Surely whatever pleases him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until the day of my death!"
15
So she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman's finery, and her maid went and spread on the ground for her before Holofernes the soft fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that she might recline on them when she ate.
16
Then Judith came in and lay down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished with her and he was moved with great desire to possess her; for he had been waiting for an opportunity to deceive her, ever since the day he first saw her.