Chapter 12

Judith is brought into Holofernes' treasure-house, ℣.2 hath leave to abstain from the Gentiles' meats, ℣.5 and to go forth in the night to pray. ℣.10 The fourth day she cometh to Holofernes banquet; ℣.16 he is taken with concupiscence, and drinketh very much wine.

1. 1

   Then he bade her go in where his treasures were laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be given her of his own banquet.

2. 2

   To whom Judith answered, and said: Now I can not eat of these things, which thou commandest to be given me, lest there come displeasure upon me: but I will eat of these things, which I have brought.

3. 3

   To whom Holofernes said: If these things which thou hast brought with thee shall fail thee, what shall we do to thee?

4. 4

   And Judith said: Thy soul liveth my lord, that thy handmaid shall not spend all these things, till God do by my hand these things, which I have purposed. And his servants brought her into the tabernacle, which he had commanded.

5. 5

   And whilst she went in, she desired that she might have licence to go forth in the night and before day to prayer, & to beseech our Lord.

6. 6

   And he commanded his chamberlains, that as it pleased her, she should go out & come in to adore her God for three days.

7. 7

   And she went forth in the nights into the vale of Bethulia, & washed her self in a fountain of water.

8. 8

   And as she came up, she prayed our Lord the God of Israel, that he would direct her way to the delivery of his people.

9. 9

   And going in, she remained pure in the tabernacle, until she took her own meat in the evening.

10. 10

    And it came to pass in the fourth day, Holofernes made a supper to his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: Go, and persuade that Hebrew woman, that she consent to her own accord to dwell with me.

11. 11

    For it is a foul thing with the Assyrians, if a woman mock a man in doing, that she pass free from him.

12. 12

    Then Vagao went into Judith, & said: Let not the good young maid fear to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face, that she may eat with him & drink wine in joyfulness.

13. 13

    To whom Judith answered: Whom am I, that I should gain say my lord?

14. 14

    All that shall be good & best before his eyes, will I do. And whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of my life.

15. 15

    And she arose, and decked herself with her garments, and going in she stood before his face.

16. 16

    And the heart of Holofernes was strucken: for he burnt in the concupiscence of her.

17. 17

    And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, & sit down in joyfulness, because thou hast found grace before me.

18. 18

    And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my soul is magnified this day above all my days.

19. 19

    And she took, and did eat, & drank before him those things, which her handmaid had prepared her.

20. 20

    And Holofernes was made pleasant toward her, & drank wine exceeding much, so much as he had never drunk in his life?