And Holofernes said to her, Take courage, woman; do not fear in your heart, because I have not wronged any man who has chosen to serve King Nebuchodonosor of all the earth.
And now your people, who dwell in the hill country, if they had not despised me, I would not have lifted my spear against them; but they themselves did these things to themselves.
And now tell me for what reason you fled from them and came to us, for you have come for salvation; take courage, in this night you shall live, and for the rest also.
And Judith said to him, Receive the words of your maidservant, and let your handmaid speak before you, and I will not declare a lie to my lord in this night.
For King Nebuchadnezzar of all the earth lives, and his dominion lives, who sent you to the success of every soul, because not only do men through you serve him, but also the wild animals of the field and the cattle and the birds of the sky will live through your strength for Nebuchadnezzar and all his house.
For we have heard your wisdom and the craftiness of your soul, and it has been reported throughout all the land that you alone are good in every kingdom and mighty in knowledge and marvelous in battle armies.
And now the word which Achior spoke in your council, we heard his words, that the men of Bethulia had kept him and he reported to them all that he spoke with you
Therefore, master lord, do not pass over his word, but lay it up in your heart, because it is true; for our race is not avenged, a sword does not prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.
And now, so that my lord may not become frustrated and ineffectual, and death will fall upon their face, and sin has overtaken them, by which they will provoke their God whenever they do an outrage.
For since their foods failed them and all water became scarce, they resolved to lay hands on their cattle and all that God had commanded them by his laws not to eat, they determined to consume.
And the firstfruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and of the oil, which they had preserved, having consecrated them to the priests who stand in Jerusalem before the face of our God, they have judged to spend, of which it was not fitting for even the hands of any of the people to touch.
Wherefore I your servant, having known all these things, fled from before them, and God sent me to do with you matters over which all the earth will be astonished, as many as shall hear them
for your servant is God-fearing and serving the God of heaven night and day, and now I will remain with you, my lord, and your servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they committed their sins
And I will lead you through the midst of Judea until you come opposite Jerusalem, and I will set your throne in its midst, and you will lead them as sheep that have no shepherd, and no dog will growl with his tongue against you, because these things were spoken to me according to my foreknowledge, and they were reported to me, and I was sent to tell you.
And Holofernes said to her, God has done well in sending you before the people, that strength should be in our hands, and destruction among those who have treated my lord contemptuously.
And now you are handsome in your appearance and good in your words, because if you do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will sit in the house of King Nabuchodonosor and you will be renowned throughout all the earth