Let not my good maid be
afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face,
that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.

12:13. And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay my lord?

12:14. All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And
whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of my
life.

12:15. And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments, and
going in she stood before his face.

12:16. And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was burning with
the desire of her.

12:17. And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be merry;
for thou hast found favour before me.

12:18. And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is
magnified this day above all my days.

12:19. And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had
prepared for her.

12:20. And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank
exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.

Judith Chapter 13

Judith cutteth off the head of Holofernes, and returneth to Bethulia.

13:1. And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their
lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way.

13:2. And they were all overcharged with wine.

13:3. And Judith was alone in the chamber.

13:4. But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being exceedingly
drunk.

13:5. And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the chamber,
and to watch:

13:6. And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the motion
of her lips in silence,

13:7. Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour look
on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst raise
up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I have
purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee.

13:8. And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at his
bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it.

13:9. And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his
head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour.

13:10. And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and
took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless body.

13:11. And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of
Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet.

13:12. And they two went out according to their custom, as