Open English Translation JDT Chapter 12

12 He commanded that she should be brought in where his silver vessels were set, and asked that his servants should prepare some of his own delicacies for her, and that she should drink from his own wine.

2 And Yehudit (Judith) said, “I can’t eat it, because that could cause me to sin. I’ll eat from the supplies I brought with me.”

3 And Holofernes said to her, “But if the things that are with you should run out, from where will we be able to give you more like it? Because there’s none of your race with us.”

4 And Yehudit said to him, “As your soul lives, my lord, your servant won’t use up those things that are with me until the master works by my hand the things that he’s determined.” 5 Then Holofernes’ servants brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Then she rose up towards the morning watch, 6 and sent to Holofernes, saying, “Let my lord now command that they allow your servant to go out to pray.”

7 Holofernes commanded his guards that they shouldn’t stop her. She stayed in the camp three days, and went out every night into the valley of Betulia and washed herself at the fountain of water in the camp. 8 And when she came up, she implored the master God of Yisrael (Israel) to direct her way to the triumph of the children of his people. 9 She came in clean and remained in the tent until she ate her food towards evening.

10 On the fourth day, Holofernes made a feast for his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet. 11 And he said to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, “Go now, and persuade this Ivri (Hebrew) woman who’s with you that she come to us, and eat and drink with us. 12 Because listen, it’d be a disgrace if we let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we don’t draw her to ourselves, she’ll laugh us to scorn.”

13 Bagoas went from the presence of Holofernes, and came in to her, and said, “Let this fair lady not fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and to drink wine and be merry with us, and to be made this day as one of the daughters of the children of Ashur (Assyria) who serve in Nevukadnetsar’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) palace.”

14 Yehudit (Judith) said to him, “Who am I, that I should contradict my lord? Because whatever would be pleasing in his eyes, I’ll do speedily, and this will be my joy to the day of my death.” 15 She arose, and decked herself with her clothing and all her woman’s attire; and her servant went and laid fleeces on the ground for her next to Holofernes, which she’d received from Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat on them.

16 Yehudit came in and sat down, and Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her. His passion was aroused, and he greatly desired her company. He was watching for a time to deceive her from the day that he’d seen her. 17 Holofernes said to her, “Drink now, and be merry with us.”

18 Yehudit said, “I’ll drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.” 19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her servant had prepared. 20 Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank a great deal of wine, more than he’d drunk at any time in one day since he was born.