| 1 When it was late, the servants hurried away. Bagoas dismissed from the presence of his master those who were standing around, and closed the tent from the outside. All the men hurried to bed for they were tired from having drunk too much. | |
| 1 Judith said to them, “Listen, my brothers, take this head and hang it from the battlements of our rampart, | |
| 2 So Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes who, sodden with wine, had collapsed onto the bed. | |
| 2 then when dawn breaks and the sun rises over the earth, let each of you take his weapons and let all those able to fight go outside the town. And under the command of a captain, proceed as if you were about to go down into the plain in the direction of the Assyrian outposts, but you will not descend. | |
| 3 Judith told her servant to stand outside the room and watch for her coming out because she would go out to pray, as she did each day. She also spoke to Bagoas in much the same way. | |
| 3 The Assyrian guards will seize their arms, and go towards their camp to awaken the generals of the Assyrian army. These officers will run to the tent of Holofernes but will not find him; fear will then come upon them and they will flee from you. | |
| 4 Everyone left the tent of Holofernes, not one – small or great – remained in the room. Judith, then, stood by Holofernes’ bed and prayed in her heart, “Lord God all-powerful, help me now in what I will do for the glory of Jerusalem. | |
| 4 Then you and all those who dwell in the land of Israel will follow them and strike them down as they go. | |
| 5 For now is the time to support the cause of your people and to ensure that my undertaking brings about the ruin of the enemies who are drawn up against us.” | |
| 5 But, before you do this, call Achior the Ammonite so that he may see and recognize the one who despised the people of Israel, the man who sent him to you as to his death.” | |
| 6 Then she moved towards the bedpost near Holofernes’ head and took down the sword and, | |
| 6 Achior was brought from the house of Uzziah. As soon as he arrived and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the people, he fainted and fell face down on the ground. | |
| 7 approaching the bed, she seized the hair of his head saying, “O Lord God of Israel, give me strength, this very moment!” | |
| 7 When they had lifted him up, he threw himself at the feet of Judith, bowed before her and said, “May you be blessed throughout Judea and among all the nations, who on hearing your name will be amazed. | |
| 8 Then with all her strength she struck his neck twice and cut off his head. | |
| 8 But now, tell me all that you did during these days.” Standing in the midst of the people, Judith told him all that she had done from the day she set out until the moment in which she was now speaking to them. | |
| 9 She then rolled his body from the bed and took off the hangings from the columns. Then she went out at once and gave the head of Holofernes to her servant | |
| 9 When she had finished talking, the people cried out with great joy, and this was heard throughout the town. | |
| 10 who put it in the bag in which she carried the food. Then they went out together as they used to do for prayer. After they had crossed the camp, they passed round the edge of the ravine, climbed the mountain to Bethulia and reached the gates of the town. | |
| 10 When Achior saw all that the God of Israel had done, he immediately believed in him. He was circumcised and became a member of the community of Israel down to this day. | |
| 11 Judith called from a distance to those who were keeping guard at the gates, “Open, open the gates! God, our God, is with us! Today he has once again worked a miracle in Israel and exerted his power against our enemies.” | |
| 11 When the sun had risen and they had hung Holofernes’ head on the rampart, all the men took their arms and went out in groups to the mountain slopes. | |
| 12 As soon as the townsfolk heard her voice, they called the elders and hurried down to the gates of the town. | |
| 12 As soon as the Assyrians saw them, they warned their commanders. These men, in turn, went to inform the generals, the captains and all their officers. | |
| 13 They all ran together, from the smallest to the greatest, for they were waiting for her return. They opened the gates and welcomed the two women; then, having lighted a fire so as to see them, they gathered around the two. | |
| 13 Then they all went to the tent of Holofernes and said to the steward in charge of his affairs, “Waken our Lord, for the slaves plan to come down and fight against us to their utter destruction. | |
| 14 She said to them in a loud voice, “Praise God, praise him! Praise God who has not withheld his mercy from the House of Israel. This very night he has crushed our enemies by my hand.” | |
| 14 So Bagoas drew back the curtain and knocked, thinking that Holofernes was sleeping with Judith. | |
| 15 And, taking out the head of Holofernes from the bag, she showed it to them saying, “Here is the head of Holofernes, general-in-chief of the Assyrian army, and here are the hangings under which he was lying in his drunkenness. The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman. | |
| 15 As no one answered, he entered the room, and found Holofernes lying across the wooden footstool dead with his head cut off. | |
| 16 As truly as the Lord lives, it was my face that seduced him to his undoing, but the Lord has protected me. This man could not sin with me to disgrace or dishonor me.” | |
| 16 He cried out with a loud voice and tore his clothes. | |
| 17 All the people were greatly amazed, so they bowed down and worshiped God, saying with one voice, “Blessed are you, our God, who today have crushed the enemies of your people.” | |
| 17 He entered the tent where Judith had stayed but did not find her. Then he rushed out to the troops, shouting, | |
| 18 Uzziah said to her, “My daughter, may the Most High God bless you more than all women on earth. And blessed be the Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has led you to behead the leader of our enemies. | |
| 18 “The slaves have deceived us! One Hebrew woman has put to shame the army of King Nebuchadnezzar, for Holofernes lies dead on the ground. | |
| 19 Never will people forget the confidence you have shown; they will always remember the power of God. | |
| 19 When the officers of the Assyrian army heard these words, they were greatly distressed. They tore their garments and cried out with a loud voice in their camp. | |
| 20 May God ensure your everlasting glory, and may he reward and bless you for you have risked your life when your race was humiliated. You chose instead to do the best before God in order to prevent our downfall.” And all the people said, “Amen! Amen!” | |
