Jdt 13
1
Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut
his tent without, 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 along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for
he was filled with wine.
3
Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without 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 was 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 upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5
For now is the time to help your inheritance, and to execute your enterprizes to the
destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.
6
Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down
his fauchion from there,
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 anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid;
10
And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their
custom to 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 shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against
the enemy, as he has 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 to them that
she was 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 has not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies
by mine hands this night.
15
So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said to them, behold the head
of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein
he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord has smitten him by the hand of a woman.
16
As the Lord lives, who has kept me in my way that I went, my countenance has deceived
him to his destruction, and yet has 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 you, O our God, which have this day brought
to nothing the enemies of your people.
18
Then said Ozias to her, O daughter, blessed are you of the most high God above all
the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord God, which has created the heavens
and the earth, which has directed you to the cutting off of the head of the chief
of our enemies.
19
For this your confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the
power of God for ever.
20
And God turn these things to you for a perpetual praise, to visit you in good things
because you have not spared your life for the affliction of our nation, but have revenged
our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said; So be it,
so be it.