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1When Judith finished pleading to the God of Israel,
2she got up from where she was lying face down before the Lord. She called her maid and went down into her house, where she lived on Sabbaths and festival days.
3Then she took off her sackcloth and the clothes that showed she was a widow in mourning. She took a bath, anointed herself with the finest lotion, braided her hair, put a tiara on her head, and dressed in her most beautiful clothing—things she had often worn when her husband, Manasseh, was still alive.
4Then she put sandals on her feet and put on anklets, bracelets, rings, and earrings. She made herself very beautiful to catch the attention of any man who might see her.
5She gave her maid a wineskin filled with wine and a flask of oil to carry. She also filled a bag with roasted grain, dried fig cakes, and fine bread, and she filled a sack with her dishes and gave them to the maid to carry.
6Then they went to the town gate of Bethulia, where Uzziah and the elders of the town, Chabris and Charmis, were waiting.
7They were astonished when they saw her so transformed, and they greatly admired her beauty. They said to her,
8“May the God of our ancestors bring you favor and fulfill your plans, bringing glory to the Israelites and exaltation to Jerusalem.”
Judith bowed down before God. Then she said to them,
9“Order the town gate to be opened, and I will go out and do what you have just said.” So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her.
10Then Judith went out, accompanied by her maid. The men of the town watched her while she went down the mountain and passed through the valley. Then they lost sight of her.
11As Judith and her maid went straight through the valley, an Assyrian patrol met her
12and took her into custody. They asked her, “To what people do you belong? Where are you coming from? Where are you going?”
Judith answered, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, but I am fleeing from them because I know you will soon defeat them.
13I want to see your commander, Holofernes, so I can tell him their secrets and show him a way to take the hill country without losing a single life.”
14When the men heard her words and saw her face—for she was incredibly beautiful—they said to her,
15“You have saved your life by choosing to surrender to our lord. Go to his tent immediately. Some of us will escort you to him.
16Don’t be afraid when you tell him what you just told us, for he will treat you well.”
17Then they chose a hundred men to accompany her and her maid, and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes.
18The whole camp was very excited, for news of her arrival spread from tent to tent. They came and gathered around her as she stood outside the tent of Holofernes, waiting to be invited in.
19They were amazed at her beauty and admired the Israelites, judging them by her. They said to one another, “Who can look down on the Jews when they have such beautiful women? We must destroy them all, for any that escape could captivate the whole world.”
20Then Holofernes’ guards and servants came out and led her into the tent.
21Holofernes was resting on his bed under a purple canopy that was decorated with gold, emeralds, and other precious stones.
22When they told him about her, he came to the front of the tent, accompanied by servants with silver lamps.
23And when Holofernes and his servants saw Judith, they were all amazed at the beauty of her face. She showed honor by bowing low before him, but his slaves lifted her to her feet.