Judith, 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.

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.

2. And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

2. So Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes who, sodden with wine, had collapsed onto the bed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

6. Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,

6. Then she moved towards the bedpost near Holofernes' head and took down the sword and,

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.

7. approaching the bed, she seized the hair of his head saying, "O Lord God of Israel, give me strength, this very moment!"

8. And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.

8. Then with all her strength she struck his neck twice and cut off his head.

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;

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

12. As soon as the townsfolk heard her voice, they called the elders and hurried down to the gates of the town.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

19. For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for ever.

19. Never will people forget the confidence you have shown; they will always remember the power of God.

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.

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!"