Judith 12

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 With that he had her brought in to where his silver dinner service was already laid, and had his ownfood served to her and his own wine poured out for her.	1 Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures were laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be given her from his own table.
2 But Judith said, 'I would rather not eat this, in case I incur some fault. What I have brought wil beenough for me.'	2 And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but I will eat of the things which I have brought.
3 'Suppose your provisions run out,' Holofernes asked, 'how could we get more of the same sort? Wehave no one belonging to your race here.'	3 And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou hast brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for thee?
4 'May your soul live, my lord,' Judith answered, 'the Lord wil have used me to accomplish his plan,before your servant has finished these provisions.'	4 And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have purposed. And his servants brought her into the tent which he had commanded.
5 Holofernes' adjutants then took her to a tent where she slept until midnight. A little before the morningwatch, she got up.	5 And when she was going in, she desired that she might have liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer, and to beseech the Lord.
6 She had already sent this request to Holofernes, 'Let my lord kindly give orders for your servant to beal owed to go out and pray,'	6 And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out and in, to adore her God as she pleased, for three days.
7 and Holofernes had ordered his guards not to prevent her. She stayed in the camp for three days; she went out each night to the val ey of Bethulia and washed at the spring where the picket had been posted.	7 And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water.
8 As she went she prayed to the Lord God of Israel to guide her in her plan to relieve the children of herpeople.	8 And as she came up, she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, that he would direct her way to the deliverance of his people.
9 Having purified herself, she would return and stay in her tent until her meal was brought her in theevening.	9 And going in, she remained pure in the tent, until she took her own meat in the evening.
10 On the fourth day Holofernes gave a banquet, inviting only his own staff and none of the other officers.	10 And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: so, and persuade that Hebrew woman, to consent of her own accord to dwell with me.
11 He said to Bagoas, the officer in charge of his personal affairs, 'Go and persuade that Hebrew womanyou are looking after to come and join us and eat and drink in our company.	11 For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians, if a woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from him.
12 We shal be disgraced if we let a woman like this go without seducing her. If we do not seduce her,everyone wil laugh at us!'	12 Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face, that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.
13 Bagoas then left Holofernes and went to see Judith. 'Would this young and lovely woman condescendto come to my lord?' he asked. 'She will occupy the seat of honour opposite him, drink the joyful wine with usand be treated today like one of the Assyrian ladies who stand in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.'	13 And Judith answered him: Who am I, that I should gainsay my lord?
14 'Who am I', Judith replied, 'to resist my lord? I shal not hesitate to do whatever he wishes, and doingthis wil be my joy to my dying day.'	14 All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of my life.
15 So she got up and put on her dress and al her feminine adornments. Her maid preceded her, and onthe floor in front of Holofernes spread the fleece which Bagoas had given Judith for her daily use to lie on as sheate.	15 And she arose and dressed herself out with her garments, and going in she stood before his face.
16 Judith came in and took her place. The heart of Holofernes was ravished at the sight; his very soulwas stirred. He was seized with a violent desire to sleep with her; and indeed since the first day he saw her, hehad been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her.	16 And the heart of Holofernes was smitten, for he was burning with the desire of her.
17 'Drink then!' Holofernes said. 'Enjoy yourself with us!'	17 And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be merry for thou hast found favour before me.
18 'I am delighted to do so, my lord, for since my birth I have never felt my life more worthwhile thantoday.'	18 And Judith said: I will drink my lord, because my life is magnified this day above all my days.
19 She took what her maid had prepared, and ate and drank facing him.	19 And she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared for her.
20 Holofernes was so enchanted with her that he drank far more wine than he had drunk on any otherday in his life.	20 And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.