13:1
And when evening had come, his servants hurried to depart. And Bagoas shut the tent from outside and dismissed those who stood before his master. And they went to their beds, for they were all weary because the feast had continued long.
13:2
And Yehudit was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes was lying upon his bed, for he was filled with wine.
13:3
And Yehudit said to her maidservant to stand outside the chamber and wait for her to come out, just as she had done each day, for she said that she would go out to her prayer. And she had spoken the same words to Bagoas.
13:4
And all had departed from before her, and no one remained in the chamber, small or great. And Yehudit, standing beside his bed, said in her heart: “Yahuah, Elohim of all strength, look now upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Yerushalayim.
13:5
For now is the time to help Your Inheritance and to accomplish my purpose for the destruction of the enemies who have risen against us.”
13:6
Then she approached the pillar of the bed which was near the head of Holofernes, and took down his sword from it.
13:7
And drawing near to the bed, she took hold of the hair of his head and said: “Strengthen me, Yahuah Elohim of Yisra’el, this day.”
13:8
And she struck his neck twice with all her strength, and she removed his head from him.
13:9
Then she rolled his body from the bed and pulled down the canopy from the pillars. And shortly afterward she went out and gave the head of Holofernes to her maidservant.
13:10
And she placed it in the bag of food. Then the two went out together, according to their custom, to prayer. And they passed through the camp, went around the valley, and ascended the mountain of Beit-Uluyah, and came to its gates.
13:11
And Yehudit said from a distance to the guards at the gates: “Open, open the gate! Elohim, our Elohim, is with us to show again His strength in Yisra’el and His power against the enemies, as He has done this day.”
13:12
And it came to pass, when the men of her city heard her voice, they hurried to go down to the gate of their city, and they called together the elders of the city.
13:13
And all ran together, small and great, for her coming was beyond belief. And they opened the gate and received them. And they kindled a fire for light and gathered around them.
13:14
And she said to them with a great voice: “Praise Elohim! Praise Him! Praise Elohim, who has not removed His Covenant-Faithfulness from the house of Yisra’el, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this night.”
13:15
Then she took the head from the bag, showed it, and said to them: “See, the head of Holofernes, chief captain of the army of Ashshur, and see, the canopy under which he lay in his drunkenness. And Yahuah struck him by the hand of an ishah.
13:16
And as Yahuah lives, who guarded me in the way that I went, my face deceived him to his destruction, yet he committed no sin with me to defile or shame me.”
13:17
And all the people were exceedingly astonished. And they bowed down and worshiped Elohim, and said with one voice: “Blessed are You, our Elohim, who this day have brought to nothing the enemies of Your People.”
13:18
And Uzziah said to her: “Blessed are you, daughter, by El Elyon, above all the women upon the earth. And blessed is Yahuah Elohim, who created the heavens and the earth, who guided you to strike the head of the ruler of our enemies.
13:19
For your hope shall not depart from the heart of Adam who remember the strength of Elohim forever.
13:20
And may Elohim turn these things to you for everlasting honor, and visit you with good, because you did not spare your own life because of the affliction of our nation, but stepped forward against our destruction, walking uprightly before our Elohim.” And all the people said: “Amen. Amen.”