And she worshiped God, and said to them, "Command that they open to me the gate of the city, and I will go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye spoke with me." And they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken: and they did so.
And Judith went out, she, and her handmaid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, until she had passed the valley, and they could see her no more. And they went straight onward in the valley: and the outpost of the Assyrians met her; and they took her, and asked her, "Of what people art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou?"
And she said, "I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I flee away from their presence; because they are about to be given you to be consumed: and I am coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your host, to declare words of truth; and I will show him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing one of his men."
Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and they said to her, "Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: and now come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they shall deliver thee into his hands. But when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but declare unto him according to thy words; and he will treat thee well." And they chose out of them a hundred men, [{93}] and appointed them to accompany her and her maid; and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes.
And there was a concourse throughout all the camp, for her coming was noised among the tents; and they came and gathered about, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, until they told him of her. And they marveled at her beauty, and marveled at the children of Israel because of her, and each one said to his neighbor, "Who shall despise this people, that have among them such women? for it is not good that one man of them be left, seeing that, if they are let go, they shall be able to deceive the whole earth."
And they that lay near Holofernes, and all his servants, went forth and brought her into the tent. And Holofernes was resting upon his bed under the canopy, which was woven with purple and gold and emeralds and precious stones. And they told him of her; and he came forth into the space before his tent, with silver lamps going before him. But when Judith was come before him and his servants, they all marveled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants raised her up.
And Holofernes said to her, "Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thy heart: for I never hurt any that hath chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth. And now, if thy people that dwelleth in the hill country had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves. And now tell me wherefore thou didst flee [{94}] from them and earnest unto us: for thou art come to save thyself; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter: for there is none that shall wrong thee, but all shall treat thee well, as is done unto the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar my lord."
And Judith said to him, "Receive the words of thy servant, and let thy handmaid speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night. And if thou shalt follow the words of thy handmaid, God shall bring the thing to pass perfectly with thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes. As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field and the cattle and the birds of the heaven shall live through thy strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house. For we have heard of thy wisdom and the subtle devices of thy soul, and it hath been reported in all the earth, that thou only art brave in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
"And now as concerning the matter: our race shall not be punished, neither shall the sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God. And now, that my lord be not defeated and his purpose frustrated, and that death may fall upon them, their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they shall provoke their God to anger, whensoever they shall do wickedness. Since their victuals failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to lay hands upon their cattle, and determined to consume all [{95}] those things, which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat: and they are resolved to spend the first fruits of the corn, and the tenths of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.