1{\cf2 Now when the euening was come, his seruants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed those that were present, from the presence of his lorde, and they went to their beddes: for they were all weary, because the feast had bene long.} 2{\cf2 And Iudeth was left alone in the tent, and Olofernes was stretched along vpon his bed: for he was filled with wine.} 3{\cf2 Nowe Iudeth had commanded her maide to stande without her chamber, and to waite for her comming foorth as she did daily: for she saide, she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.} 4{\cf2 So all went foorth of her presence, and none was left in the chamber, neither litle nor great: then Iudeth standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lorde God of all power, beholde at this present the workes of mine handes for the exaltation of Ierusalem.} 5{\cf2 For nowe is the time to helpe thine inheritance, and to execute mine enterprises, to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against vs.} 6{\cf2 Then she came to the post of the bed which was at Olofernes head, and tooke downe his fauchin from thence,} 7{\cf2 And approched to the bed, and tooke holde of the heare of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel this day.} 8{\cf2 And she smote twise vpon his necke with al her might, and she tooke away his head from him,} 9{\cf2 And rolled his bodie downe from the bed, and pulled downe the canopie from the pillars, and anon after she went foorth, and gaue Olofernes head to her maide,} 10{\cf2 And she put it in her scrippe of meate: so they twaine went together according to their custome vnto praier, and preassing through the tents, went about by that valley, & went vp to the moutaine of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.} 11{\cf2 Then said Iudeth afarre off to the watchmen at the gates, Open nowe the gate: God, euen our God is with vs to shewe his power yet in Ierusalem, and his force against his enemies, as he hath euen done this day.} 12{\cf2 Nowe when the men of her citie heard her voyce, they made haste to goe downe to the gate of their citie, and they called the Elders of the city.} 13{\cf2 And they ranne all together both small and great: for it was aboue their expectation, that she shoulde come. So they opened the gate and receiued her, and made a fire for a light, and stood roud about them twaine.} 14{\cf2 Then she said to them with a loude voyce, Praise God, praise God: for he hath not taken away his mercie from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.} 15{\cf2 So she tooke the head out of the scrippe and shewed it, and said vnto them, Beholde the head of Olofernes, the chiefe captaine of the armie of Assur, and beholde the canopie, wherein he did lye in his drunkennes, and the Lord hath smitteth him by the hande of a woman.} 16{\cf2 As the Lorde liueth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceiued him to his destruction, and he hath not committed sinne with me by any pollution or villenie.} 17{\cf2 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed them selues, and worshipped God, and said with one accorde, Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people.} 18{\cf2 Then said Ozias vnto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most hie God aboue al the women of the earth, and blessed be the Lorde God, which hath created the heauens and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chiefe of our enemies.} 19{\cf2 Surely this thine hope shall neuer departe out of the heartes of men: for they shall remember the power of God for euer.} 20{\cf2 And God turne these things to thee for a perpetuall praise, and visite thee with good things, because thou hast not spared thy life, because of the affliction of our nation, but thou hast holpen our ruine, walking a straight way before our God; all the people said, So be it, so be it.}