1   And when it was waxen late, his seruantes made hast to their lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doores, and went his way.

2   And they were al ouerladen with wine.

3   And Iudith was alone in the chamber.

4   Moreouer Holofernes lay in his bed, fast a slepe with very much ^note drunkennes.

5   And Iudith said to her mayd that she should stand without before the chamber, and watch.

6   And Iudith stood before the bed, praying with teares, and with mouing of her lippes in silence,

7   saying: Confirme me o Lord God of Israel, and in this houre haue respect to the workes of my handes, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst aduance ^note Ierusalem thy citie: and I may bring to passe that which I beleuing that it may be done by thee, haue purposed.

8   And when she had sayd these thinges, she went to the piller, that was at his beds head, and his sword that hong tyed on it, she loosed.

9   And when she had drawen it out, she tooke him by the heare of his head, and sayd: Confirme me ô Lord God in this houre,

10   and she stroke twise vpon his necke, and cut of his head, and tooke his canopie from the pillers, and rolled aside his bodie a truncke.

11   And after a while she went out, and deliuered the head of Holofernes to her mayde, and bad her put it into her wallet.

12   And they two went forth, according to their custome, as it were to prayer, and they passed the campe, and compassing the valley, they came to the gate of the citie.

13   And Iudith a far of said to the keepers of the walles: Open the gates, because God is with vs, which hath wrought power in Israel.

14   And it came to passe, when the men had heard her voyce, they called the ancientes of the citie.

15   And they ran al to meete her, from the least to the greatest: because they hoped not that now she would come.

16   And they lighting lightes gathered round about her euerie one: and she going vp into a higher place, commanded silence to be made. And when al had held their peace,

17   Iudith said: Prayse yee the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him:

18   and in me his handmayde he hath fulfilled his mercie, which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed by my hand the enemie of his people this night.

19   And bringing forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, she shewed it them, saying: Loe the head of Holofernes the general of the armie of the Assyrians, and behold his canopie, wherein he lay in his drunkennes, where the Lord our God stroke him by the hand of a woman.

20   But the same our Lord liueth, that his ^note Angel hath kept me, both going hence, and abyding there, and from thence returning hither: and our

Lord hath not suffered me his handmayde to be defyled, but without pollution of sinne he hath called me backe to you, reioysing in this victorie, in my escape, and in your deliuerie.

21   Confesse ye al to him, because he is good, because his mercie is for euer.

22   And they al adoring our Lord, said to her: Our Lord hath blessed thee in his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nothing.

23   Moreouer Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou daughter of our Lord the high God aboue al wemen vpon the earth.

24   Blessed be our Lord, which made heauen and earth, which hath directed thee vnto the woundes of the head of the prince of our enemies.

25   Because this day he hath so magnified thy name, that thy prayse shal not depart out of the mouth of men, which shal be mindeful of the power of our Lord for euer, for that thou hast not spared thy life for the distresses and tribulation of thy kinred, but hast holpen the ruine before the presence of our God.

26   And al the people sayd: So be it, so be it.

27   Moreouer Achior being called came, and Iudith said to him: The God of Israel, to whom thou gauest testimonie, that he reuengeth him self of his enemies, he hath cut of the head of al the vnfaithful this night by my hand.

28   And that thou mayst proue that it is so, loe the head of Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride contemned the God of Israel: and threatened thee death, saying: When the people of Israel shal be taken, I wil command thy sides to be pearsed with a sword.

29   But Achior seing the head of Holofernes, being in anguish for feare, fel on his face vpon the earth, and his soule was sore trubled.

30   But after taking spirit agayne he was refreshed, & fel downe at her feete, and adored her, and sayd:

31   Blessed art thou of thy God in euerie tabernacle of Iacob, because in euerie nation, which shal heare thy name, the God of Israel shal be magnified in thee.

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