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!”
8. Then with all her might she struck his neck twice and cut off his head.
9. She rolled his body off the bed and took the canopy from its posts. Soon afterward, she came out and handed over the head of Holofernes to her maid,