Bible Verses

Holofernes was lying on his bed under purple and gold hangings adorned with emeralds and precious stones.

Those sleeping near Holofernes and all his officers came out and led her into the tent.

They were captivated by her beauty and, upon seeing her, praised the sons of Israel and exchanged comments among themselves: “Who can look down on the people who have such women? It would be a mistake to leave one man alive; they would be able to deceive the whole world.”

In the entire camp, news of her arrival spread from tent to tent, and men began to run toward her. They gathered around her as she waited outside Holofernes’ tent, while someone went to inform him of her presence.

They selected one hundred men from their group; these men went with Judith and the maid and guided them to Holofernes’s tent.

When you stand before him, do not fear in your heart, but tell him what you need to say, and he will treat you well.”

“You have saved your life by hurrying to appear before our lord. Approach his tent; some of us will go with you until they have safely handed you over into his care.

As soon as the men had heard her words and noticed her face (for she was strikingly beautiful), they said to her:

I have come to present myself to Holofernes, the general-in-chief of your army, to speak to him honestly. I will show him how to advance and take control of the entire mountain without losing a single man, neither through injury nor death.”

He stopped them and asked: “Who are you? Where have you come from? Where are you going?” She replied: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews; I am fleeing far from them because they are about to surrender themselves to be plundered by you.