Judith
10:1 Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and bad
made an end of all these words.
10:2 She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down
into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath days, and in her
feast days,
10:3 And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments
of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed
herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and
put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith
she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband.
10:4 And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and
her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and
decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see
her.
10:5 Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled
a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she
folded all these things together, and laid them upon her.
10:6 Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found
standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris and Charmis.
10:7 And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel
was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto
her.
10:8 The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish thine
enterprizes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the
exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped God.
10:9 And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto
me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have spoken
with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had
spoken.
10:10 And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with her;
and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the
mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.
10:11 Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the
Assyrians met her,
10:12 And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence comest
thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews,
and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be consumed:
10:13 And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to
declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go,
and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one
of his men.
10:14 Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they
wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,
10:15 Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the
presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us
shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.
10:16 And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but
shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well.
10:17 Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her
maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
10:18 Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was
noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without
the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.
10:19 And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel
because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would despise
this people, that have among them such women? surely it is not good that
one man of them be left who being let go might deceive the whole earth.
10:20 And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants and
they brought her into the tent.
10:21 Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with
purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.
10:22 So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver
lamps going before him.
10:23 And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled
at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and
did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up.
