Judīte gaida nometnē trīs dienas
1 Holoferns pavēlēja viņu ievest, kur glabājās viņa dārgumi, un lika tai pasniegt no viņa ēdieniem un dzert viņa vīnu. 2 Judīte sacīja: “No tiem es neēdīšu, lai nenotiktu piedauzība, bet lai man pasniedz no tā, ko esmu paņēmusi līdzi.” 3 Tad Holoferns viņai jautāja: “Kur mēs ņemsim tādu barību, ko tev dot, kad beigsies tas, ko tu esi paņēmusi sev līdzi? Nav taču pie mums neviena no tavas tautas.” 4 Judīte viņam sacīja: “Lai tava dvēsele dzīvo, mans kungs, jo tava kalpone neiztērēs sev līdzi atnesto, iekams nepaveiks Kungs ar tavas kalpones roku to, ko ir nolēmis.” 5 Holoferna kalpotāji ieveda viņu teltī, un viņa gulēja līdz pusnaktij, un pirms rīta sardzes laika viņa piecēlās. 6 Tad viņa nosūtīja pie Holoferna teikt: “Lai mans kungs pavēl atlaist tavu kalponi iet uz lūgšanu.” 7 Holoferns pavēlēja saviem miesassargiem netraucēt viņai iziet. Tā viņa gaidīja nometnē trīs dienas; ik nakti viņa izgāja uz Betulijas ieleju un skalojās ūdens avotā pie nometnes, 8 un, kāpjot atpakaļ kalnā, lūdza Dievu, Israēla Kungu, sagatavot ceļu savas tautas dēlu paaugstināšanai, 9 un atgriezās savā teltī tīra un palika tur, līdz uz vakara pusi viņai pienesa ēdienu.
Holoferns uzaicina Judīti uz viesībām
10 Bet ceturtajā dienā Holoferns rīkoja dzīres tikai saviem tuvākajiem kalpiem un nesauca nevienu, kas viņu parasti apkalpoja.
11 Un viņš sacīja savam einuham Bagojam, kas bija priekšstāvis visiem ap viņu: “Ej un pierunā ebreju sievieti, kas ir pie tevis, nākt pie mums un ar mums ēst un dzert. 12 Redzi, kauns mums, ja tāda sieviete ir pie mums un mēs viņu neizklaidējam. Ja mēs tādu nesavaldzināsim, viņa mūs izsmies.” 13 Un Bagojs no Holoferna devās pie viņas un sacīja: “Nekautrējies, tāda skaista meitene, ienākt pie mana kunga viņu pagodināt: iedzert līksmībai vīnu ar mums un tapt šajā dienā kā vienai no asīriešu meitām, kas kalpo Nebūkadnecara namā.” 14 Un Judīte viņam sacīja: “Kas es tāda, ka runāšu pretī savam kungam? Steigšus es darīšu visu, kas tīkams viņa acīs, un tas mani ielīksmos līdz manas nāves stundai.” 15 Piecēlusies viņa daiļi ietērpās un izrotājās ar visiem sieviešu rotājumiem, un viņas kalpone iegāja pa priekšu un izklāja viņai Holoferna priekšā uz zemes paklājus, ko bija saņēmusi no Bagoja ikdienas lietošanai, lai uz tiem ēdot atlaistos. 16 Tad ienāca Judīte un atgūlās. Holoferna sirds viņas dēļ satrūkās, viņa dvēsele sakustējās, un viņš iedegās negantā kaislē, lai ar viņu gulētu jau no dienas, kopš viņu ieraudzīja, viņš gaidīja izdevību to iegūt. 17 Holoferns viņai sacīja: “Dzer, un lai notiek ar mums līksmi!” 18 Judīte sacīja: “Dzeršu tiešām, kungs, jo manā dzīvē šī ir vislielākā diena kopš manas dzimšanas.” 19 Un viņa ēda un dzēra viņa priekšā visu, ko bija sagatavojusi tās kalpone. 20 Un Holoferns ielīksmojās no viņas un izdzēra tik daudz vīna, cik nekad nebija dzēris kopš dienas, kad bija dzimis.
1 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.
2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.
3 Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.
4 Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.
5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,
6 And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.
7 Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.
8 And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.
9 So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.
10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.
12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.
13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.
14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.
15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.
17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.
18 So Judith said, I will 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 maid had prepared.
20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.
