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.
17
So Holofernes said to her. "Drink now, and be merry with us!"
18
Judith said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life means more to me today than in all the days since I was born."
19
Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
20
And Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.