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.
Jdt 13:2
And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying
along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.
Jdt 13:3
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 spake to
Bagoas according to the same purpose.
Jdt 13:4
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.
Jdt 13:5
For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute
thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are
risen against us.
Jdt 13:6
Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at
Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,
Jdt 13:7
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.
Jdt 13:8
And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she
took away his head from him.
Jdt 13:9
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;
Jdt 13:10
And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went
together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they
passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the
mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
Jdt 13:11
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
hath even done this day.
Jdt 13:12
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.
Jdt 13:13
And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it
was strange unto 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.
Jdt 13:14
Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God,
praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the
house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands
this night.
Jdt 13:15
So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said
unto 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 hath smitten him by the hand of a
woman.
Jdt 13:16
As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went,
my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet
hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.
Jdt 13:17
Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed
themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed
be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the
enemies of thy people.
Jdt 13:18
Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the
most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be
the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth,
which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the
chief of our enemies.
Jdt 13:19
For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of
men, which remember the power of God for ever.
Jdt 13:20
And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to
visit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life
for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin,
walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said;
So be it, so be it.