9 Judith bowed down to God. Then she said to them, “Order the gate of the city opened for me, that I may go to accomplish the matters we discussed.” So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her, as she had requested,
10 and they did so. Then Judith and her maidservant went out. The men of the city kept her in view as she went down the mountain and crossed the valley; then they lost sight of her.
11 As Judith and her maid walked directly across the valley, they encountered the Assyrian patrol.
12 The men took her in custody and asked her, “To what people do you belong? Where do you come from, and where are you going?” She replied: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fleeing from them, because they are about to be delivered up to you as prey.
13 I have come to see Holofernes, the ranking general of your forces, to give him a trustworthy report; in his presence I will show him the way by which he can ascend and take possession of the whole hill country without a single one of his men suffering injury or loss of life.”
14 When the men heard her words and gazed upon her face, which appeared marvelously beautiful to them, they said to her,
15 “By hastening down to see our master, you have saved your life. Now go to his tent; some of us will accompany you to hand you over to him.