1   Holophernes then commanded them to bring her in where his silver was set out, and he ordered a meal to be served for her from his own food and wine. 2   But Judith said, ‘I will not eat any of it, in case I should be breaking our law. What I have brought with me will meet my needs.’ 3   Holophernes said to her, ‘But if you use up all you have with you, where can we get you a fresh supply of the same kind? 4   There is no one of your race here among us.’ Judith replied, ‘As sure as you live, my lord, I shall not finish what I have brought with me before the Lord accomplishes through me what he has planned.’

5   Holophernes' attendants brought her into the tent; and she slept until midnight. 6   Shortly before the morning watch she got up and

Judith kills Holophernes sent this message to Holophernes: ‘My lord, will you give orders for me to be allowed to go out and pray?’ 7   Holophernes ordered his bodyguard to let her pass. She remained in the camp for three days, going out each night into the valley of Bethulia and bathing in the spring. 8   When she came up from the spring, she prayed the Lord, the God of Israel, to prosper her undertaking to restore her people. 9   Then she returned to the camp purified, and remained in the tent until she took her meal towards evening.

10   On the fourth day Holophernes gave a banquet for his personal servants only, and did not invite any of the army officers. 11   He said to Bagoas, the eunuch in charge of all his affairs: ‘Go to the Hebrew woman who is in your care, and persuade her to join us and to eat and drink with us. 12   It would be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying her company. If we do not win her favours she will laugh at us.’ 13   Bagoas left Holophernes' presence, and went to Judith and said, ‘Now, my beauty, do not be bashful; come along to my master and give yourself the honour of his company. Drink with us and enjoy yourself, and behave today like one of the Assyrian women in attendance at Nebuchadnezzar's palace.’ 14   ‘Who am I to refuse my master?’ said Judith. ‘I am eager to do whatever pleases him; and it will be something to boast of till my dying day.’ 15   She proceeded to dress herself up and put on all her feminine finery. Her maid went ahead of her, and spread on the ground in front of Holophernes the fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that she might recline on them when she ate. 16   When Judith came in and took her place, Holophernes was beside himself with desire for her. He shook with passion and was filled with an ardent longing to possess her; indeed he had been looking for an opportunity to seduce her ever since he first set eyes on her. 17   So he said to her, ‘Drink and enjoy yourself with us.’ 18   ‘Indeed I will, my lord,’ said Judith; ‘today is the greatest day of my whole life.’ 19   Then she took what her servant had prepared, and ate and drank in his presence. 20   Holophernes was delighted with her, and drank a great deal of wine, more, indeed, than he had ever drunk on any single day since he was born.

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