Judith 10

1 It came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the God of Israel, and had finished saying all these words, 2 that she rose up where she had fallen down, called her maid, and went down into the house that she lived on the Sabbath days and on her feast days. 3 She pulled off the sackcloth which she had put on, took off the garments of her widowhood, washed her body all over with water, anointed herself with rich ointment, braided the hair of her head, and put a tiara upon it. She put on her garments of gladness, which she used to wear in the days of the life of Manasses her husband. 4 She took sandals for her feet, and put on her anklet, bracelets, rings, earrings, and all her jewelry. She made herself very beautiful to deceive the eyes of all men who would see her. 5 She gave her maid a leather container of wine and a flask of oil, and filled a bag with roasted grain, lumps of figs, and fine bread. She packed all her vessels together, and laid them upon her. 6 They went out to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found Ozias and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis standing by it. 7 But when they saw her, that her countenance was altered and her apparel was changed, they were greatly astonished by her beauty and said to her, 8 “May the God of our fathers give you favor, and accomplish your purposes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem.”
Then she worshiped God, 9 and said to them, “Command that they open the gate of the city for me, and I will go out to accomplish the things you spoke with me about.”
And they commanded the young men to open to her, as she had spoken; 10 and they did so.
Then Judith went out, she, and her handmaid with her. The men of the city watched her until she had gone down the mountain, until she had passed the valley, and they could see her no more. 11 They went straight onward in the valley. The watch of the Assyrians met her; 12 and they took her, and asked her, “Of what people are you? Where are you coming from? Where are you going?”
She said, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews. I am fleeing away from their presence, because they are about to be given you to be consumed. 13 I am coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth. I will show him a way that he can go and win all the hill country, and there will not be lacking of his men one person, nor one life.” 14 Now when the men heard her words, and considered her countenance, the beauty thereof was exceedingly marvelous in their eyes. They said to her, 15 “You have saved your life, in that you have hurried to come down to the presence of our master. Now come to his tent. Some of us will guide you until they deliver you into his hands. 16 But when you stand before him, don’t be afraid in your heart, but declare to him what you just said, and he will treat you well.” 17 They chose out of them a hundred men, and appointed them to accompany her and her maid; and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes. 18 And there was great excitement throughout all the camp, for her coming was reported among the tents. They came and surrounded her as she stood outside Holofernes’ tent, until they told him about her. 19 They marveled at her beauty, and marveled at the children of Israel because of her. Each one said to his neighbor, “Who would despise these people, who have among them such women? For it is not good that one man of them be left, seeing that, if they are let go, they will be able to deceive the whole earth. 20 Then the guards of Holofernes and all his servants came out and brought her into the tent. 21 And Holofernes was resting upon his bed under the canopy, which was woven with purple, gold, emeralds, and precious stones. 22 And they told him about her; and he came out into the space before his tent, with silver lamps going before him. 23 But when Judith had come before him and his servants, they all marveled at the beauty of her countenance. She fell down upon her face and bowed down to him, but his servants raised her up.

1 Lorsqu’elle eut achevé sa prière au Seigneur, Judith se leva du lieu où elle était prosternée contre terre devant le Seigneur. 2 Elle appela sa servante et, étant descendue dans sa maison, elle ôta son cilice et se dépouilla des vêtements de son veuvage. 3 Elle se lava le corps, s’oignit de la myrrhe la plus fine, disposa sa chevelure, mit le turban sur sa tête, revêtit ses vêtements de fête, attacha des sandales à ses pieds, prit ses bracelets, son collier, ses pendants d’oreilles, et ses anneaux, en un mot, se para de tous ses ornements. 4 Le Seigneur releva encore son éclat, parce que tout cet ajustement avait son principe, non dans la volupté, mais dans la vertu ; c’est pourquoi le Seigneur augmenta sa beauté de telle sorte qu’elle brillât aux yeux de tous d’un éclat incomparable. 5 Puis elle fit porter à sa servante une outre de vin, un vase d’huile, de la farine grillée, des fruits secs, du pain et du fromage, et elle partit. 6 Arrivée, elle et sa servante, à la porte de la ville, elle trouva Ozias et les anciens qui l’attendaient. 7 En la voyant, ils furent ravis d’admiration pour sa beauté. 8 Cependant ils ne lui adressèrent aucune question, et la laissèrent passer, en disant : « Que le Dieu de nos pères te donne sa grâce ; qu’il affermisse par sa puissance tous les desseins qui sont dans ton cœur, afin que Jérusalem soit glorifiée à cause de toi, et que ton nom figure parmi ceux des saints et des justes. » 9 Ceux qui étaient présents répondirent tous d’une seule voix : « Ainsi soit-il ! Ainsi soit-il ! » 10 Et Judith franchit les portes, elle et sa servante, en priant le Seigneur. 11 Comme elle descendait la montagne, au lever du jour, les postes avancés des Assyriens la rencontrèrent et l’arrêtèrent, en disant : « D’où viens-tu, et où vas-tu ? » 12 Elle répondit : « Je suis une fille des Hébreux, et je me suis enfuie du milieu d’eux, ayant reconnu qu’ils vous seront livrés en proie, parce qu’ils vous ont méprisés et qu’ils n’ont pas voulu se rendre à vous volontairement, pour trouver grâce devant vous. 13 C’est pourquoi j’ai dit en moi-même : Je me présenterai devant le prince Holoferne, pour lui découvrir leurs secrets et lui indiquer un accès par où il pourra les prendre sans perdre un seul homme de son armée. » 14 Lorsque ces hommes eurent entendu ses paroles, ils considérèrent son visage, et la surprise était dans leurs yeux, tant ils admiraient sa grande beauté : 15 « Tu as sauvé ta vie, lui dirent-ils, en prenant cette résolution de descendre vers notre seigneur. 16 Tu peux être assurée que, lorsque tu paraîtras devant lui, il te traitera bien et que tu seras très agréable à son cœur. » Puis, l’ayant conduite à la tente d’Holoferne, ils l’annoncèrent. 17 Dès qu’elle fut entrée en sa présence, Holoferne fut aussitôt pris par les yeux. 18 Ses officiers lui dirent : « Qui donc pourrait mépriser le peuple des Hébreux qui a de si belles femmes ? Ne méritent-elles pas bien que, pour les posséder, nous lui fassions la guerre ? » 19 Judith vit Holoferne assis sous son pavillon, dont le tissu de pourpre et d’or était orné d’émeraudes et de pierres précieuses. 20 Ayant arrêté les yeux sur son visage, elle l’adora en se prosternant jusqu’à terre. Aussitôt, sur l’ordre de leur maître, les serviteurs d’Holoferne la relevèrent.