Judith:12

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* Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set ; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats , and that she should drink of his own wine . * And Judith said , I will not eat thereof , lest there be an offence : but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought . * Then Holofernes said unto her , If thy provision should fail , how should we give thee the like ? for there be none with us of thy nation . * Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth , my lord , thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have , before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined . * Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent , and she slept till midnight , and she arose when it was toward the morning watch , * And sent to Holofernes , saving , Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer . * Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her : thus she abode in the camp three days , and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia , and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp . * And when she came out , she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people . * So she came in clean , and remained in the tent , until she did eat her meat at evening . * And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only , and called none of the officers to the banquet . * Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch , who had charge over all that he had , Go now , and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee , that she come unto us , and eat and drink with us . * For , lo , it will be a shame for our person , if we shall let such a woman go , not having had her company ; for if we draw her not unto us , she will laugh us to scorn . * Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes , and came to her , and he said , Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord , and to be honoured in his presence , and drink wine , and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians , which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor . * Then said Judith unto him , Who am I now , that I should gainsay my lord ? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily , and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death . * So she arose , and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman 's attire , and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes , which she had received of Bagoas far her daily use , that she might sit and eat upon them . * Now when Judith came in and sat down , Holofernes his heart was ravished with her , and his mind was moved , and he desired greatly her company ; for he waited a time to deceive her , from the day that he had seen her . * Then said Holofernes unto her , Drink now , and be merry with us . * So Judith said , I will drink now , my lord , because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born . * Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared . * And Holofernes took great delight in her , and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born .

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