Judith 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Then he ordered her to enter where his valuables were stored, and he ordered her wait there, and he appointed what should be given to her from his own feast.	1 Then he commanded them to bring her in where his silver dishes were kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own food and to serve her with his own wine.
2 And Judith responded to him, and she said: “Now, I am not able to eat from these things which you instructed to be allotted to me, lest an offense come upon me. But I will eat from that which I have brought.”	2 But Judith said, "I cannot eat it, lest it be an offense; but I will be provided from the things I have brought with me."
3 And Holofernes said to her, “If these things that you have brought with you should fail you, what shall we do for you?”	3 Holofernes said to her, "If your supply runs out, where can we get more like it for you? For none of your people is here with us."
4 And Judith said, “As your soul lives, my lord, your maidservant will not expend all these things, until God accomplishes by my hand what I have in mind.” And his servants led her into the tabernacle, as he instructed.	4 Judith replied, "As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not use up the things I have with me before the Lord carries out by my hand what he has determined to do."
5 And, as she was entering, she requested that it be permitted to her to go outside at night, before daylight, in order to pray and to petition the Lord.	5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Along toward the morning watch she arose
6 And he instructed his chamberlains that she may exit and enter, just as it may please her, to adore her God, for three days.	6 and sent to Holofernes and said, "Let my lord now command that your servant be permitted to go out and pray."
7 And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and she washed herself in a fountain of water.	7 So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained in the camp for three days, and went out each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the camp.
8 And, as she climbed up, she prayed to the Lord God of Israel that he would direct her way, to the liberation of his people.	8 When she came up from the spring she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her way for the raising up of her people.
9 And entering, she remained pure in the tabernacle, until she received her own food in the evening.	9 So she returned clean and stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
10 And it happened on the fourth day that Holofernes made a supper for his servants, and he said to Vagao his eunuch: “Go, and persuade that Hebrew woman to willingly consent to live with me.	10 On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his slave only, and did not invite any of his officers.
11 For it is disgraceful among the Assyrians, if a woman mocks a man, acting so as to pass through with immunity from him.”	11 And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go now and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and eat and drink with us.
12 Then Vagao entered toward Judith, and he said, “May she not dread, my good young woman, to enter to my lord, so that she may be honored before his face, so that she may eat with him and drink wine with cheerfulness.”	12 For it will be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying her company, for if we do not embrace her she will laugh at us."
13 Judith answered him: “Who am I, that I should contradict my lord?	13 So Bagoas went out from the presence of Holofernes, and approached her and said, "This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord and be honored in his presence, and drink wine and be merry with us, and become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar."
14 All that will be good and best before his eyes, I will do. Moreover, whatever will please him, to me, that will be what is best, all the days of my life.”	14 And Judith said, "Who am I, to refuse my lord? Surely whatever pleases him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until the day of my death!"
15 And she arose and dressed herself with her garments, and entering, she stood before his face.	15 So she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman's finery, and her maid went and spread on the ground for her before Holofernes the soft fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that she might recline on them when she ate.
16 But the heart of Holofernes was struck. For he was burning with desire for her.	16 Then Judith came in and lay down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished with her and he was moved with great desire to possess her; for he had been waiting for an opportunity to deceive her, ever since the day he first saw her.
17 And Holofernes said to her, “Drink now, and recline with cheerfulness, for you have found favor before me.”	17 So Holofernes said to her. "Drink now, and be merry with us!"
18 And Judith said, “I will drink, my lord, because my soul has been magnified this day, beyond all my days.”	18 Judith said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life means more to me today than in all the days since I was born."
19 And she accepted and ate and drank in his sight what her handmaid had prepared for her.	19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
20 And Holofernes became pleased with her, and he drank very much wine, more than he had ever drunk in his life.	20 And Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born.