1. When it grew late, his servants quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside and dismissed the attendants from their master’s presence. They went off to their beds, for they were all tired because the banquet had lasted so long.
2. Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes, who lay sprawled on his bed, for he was drunk with wine.
3. Judith had ordered her maidservant to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait, as on the other days, for her to come out; she had said she would be going out for her prayer. She had also said this same thing to Bagoas.
4. When all had departed, and no one, small or great, was left in the bedchamber, Judith stood by Holofernes’ bed and prayed silently, “O Lord, God of all might, in this hour look graciously on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5. Now is the time for aiding your heritage and for carrying out my design to shatter the enemies who have risen against us.”
6. She went to the bedpost near the head of Holofernes, and taking his sword from it,
7. she drew close to the bed, grasped the hair of his head, and said, “Strengthen me this day, Lord, God of Israel!”