1. But when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut the tent without, and dismissed them that waited from the presence of his lord; and they went away to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
2. But Judith was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was overflown with wine.
3. And Judith had said to her servant that she should stand without her bedchamber, and wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayer; and she spoke to Bagoas according to the same words.
4. And all went away from her presence, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither small nor great. And Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look in this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5. For now is the time to help your inheritance, and to do the thing that I have purposed to the destruction of the enemies which are risen up against us.
6. And she came to the rail of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his scimitar from thence;
7. And she drew near to the bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.
8. And she struck twice upon his neck with all her might, and took away his head from him,
9. and tumbled his body down from the bed, and took down the canopy from the pillars; and after a little while she went forth, and gave Holofernes’ head to her maid;
10. and she put it in her bag of food: and they twain went forth together to prayer, according to their custom: and they passed through the camp, and compassed that valley, and went up to the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
11. And Judith said afar off to the watchmen at the gates, Open, open now the gate: God is with us, even our God, to show his power yet in Israel, and his might against the enemy, as he has done even this day.