11 Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who’s chosen to serve Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar), the king of all the earth. 2 And now, if your people who live in the hill country hadn’t slighted me, I wouldn’t have lifted up my spear against them; but they’ve done these things to themselves. 3 And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you’ve come to save yourself. Take courage! You’ll live tonight, and in the future; 4 for there’s no one that’ll wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of King Nevukadnetsar my lord.”

5 And Yehudit said to him, “Receive your servant’s words, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I won’t lie to my lord tonight. 6 If you’ll follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord won’t fail to accomplish his purposes. 7 As Nevukadnetsar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who’s sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the wild animals in the countryside, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nevukadnetsar and of all his house. 8 Because we’ve heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It’s been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war. 9 And now as about the matter which Ahior spoke in your council, we’ve heard his words; for the men of Betulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he’d spoken before you. 10 Therefore, Oh lord and master, don’t neglect his word, but lay it up in your heart, for it’s true; for our race won’t be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their god. 11 And now, that my lord may not be defeated and frustrated in his purpose, and that death may fall onto them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they’ll provoke their god to anger, whenever they do wickedness. 12 Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to kill their livestock, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they shouldn’t eat. 13 They’re resolved to spend the first fruits of the grain and the one-tenth contributions of the wine and the oil, which they’d sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before our god’s face in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), which it isn’t fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands. 14 They’ve sent some to Yerushalem, because they also that live there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders. 15 When these instructions come to them and they do it, they’ll be given to you to be destroyed the same day. 16 Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it. 17 Because your servant is religious, and serves the god of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I’ll stay with you; and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I’ll pray to God, and he’ll tell me when they’ve committed their sins. 18 Then I’ll come and tell you. Then you can go out with all your army, and there’ll be none of them that’ll resist you. 19 And I’ll lead you through the middle of Yehudah (Judea), until you come to Yerushalem. I’ll set your throne in its centre. You’ll drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog won’t so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.”

20 Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marvelled at her wisdom, and said, 21 “There isn’t such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.”

22 Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord. 23 And now you’re beautiful in your face, and wise in your words. If you’ll do as you’ve spoken, your god will be my god, and you’ll live in King Nevukadnetsar’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) palace, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”