Now Judith heard thereof.  She was a widow and was of a goodly countenance and very beautiful to behold, and she feared God greatly.  Judith sent for the ancients of the city, and blamed them for provoking the Lord to anger by their lack of trust, and she promised that she would do a thing within the days before the city was to be delivered to their enemies which should go throughout all generations to the children of the nation.  Then Judith went to the House of the Lord and fell upon her face and called upon the Lord who breakest the battles to bless her purpose.  She went thereafter to her house, put off the garments of widowhood and of sackcloth, and bathed, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and put on the garments of gladness, with bracelets and chains and rings and ornaments to lure the eyes of all the men that should see her.  Then she went forth with her maid out of the city of Bethulia into the camp of the Assyrians, and was taken by the guard to the tent of Holofernes, who marvelled at her beauty.  Holofernes asked Judith the cause of her coming, and she declared that if he would follow her words, he and his army would be led by her through the midst of Judea unto Jerusalem wherein he would set op his throne.

Holofernes and all his servants were pleased, and said there was not such a woman in all the earth for beauty of face and wisdom of words.  Judith would not eat of the meats and wine which Holofernes offered her, but partook only of the provisions which her maid had brought with her in a bag.  Then she was brought into a tent and abode in the camp three days, going out every night into the valley of Bethulia to pray.  In the fourth day Holofernes made a feast, and said to Bagoas, the eunuch, to go and persuade the Hebrew woman to come and eat and drink with him and his officers.  Judith arose and decked herself, and went in and sat on the ground on soft skins over against Holofernes, whose heart was ravished with her, and his mind moved, and he desired greatly her company.

Now Judith took and ate and drank what her maid had prepared, and Holofernes was greatly delighted with her, and drank much more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.  Judith, when the evening was come, was left alone with Holofernes, and the servants were dismissed.  Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes’s head, took down his fauchion, seized hold of the hair of his head, and said:  Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.  And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and took away his head from him.