3 After taking off her widow's clothes and the pieces of sackcloth, she took a bath. She put on expensive perfume, then brushed her hair and put on a fancy headband. Judith dressed in the beautiful clothes she had worn for celebrations when her husband Manasseh was alive.
4 She put on sandals and all kinds of jewelry, including rings and earrings, as well as bracelets for her ankles and wrists. Judith made sure she was beautiful enough to get the attention of every man who saw her.
5 Judith gave her servant a leather bottle of wine and a small jar of olive oil, then filled a bag with roasted grain, dried figs, and her best bread. Finally, she carefully wrapped up her dishes and gave them to the servant.
6 Together the two women left the house and walked to the gate of Bethulia, where they found Uzziah, the town leader, with Chabris and Charmis, the other two leaders.
7 When these men saw Judith dressed this way and wearing make-up, they were amazed at her beauty, and said,
8 “We will be praying that the God of our ancestors will help you carry out your plans, so that the people of Israel will be blessed and the city of Jerusalem will be honored.”Judith bowed in prayer,
9 then replied, “Tell someone to open the town gate, so that I can do all these things.”They told some young men to open the gate,