Found in the same manuscript as Beowulf, the start of the poem is missing, but the beginning we have entails the Israelite Judith of Bethulia's plea to God to give her strength (we can assume strength for carrying out her plan of defeating the Assyrians). The Assyrians were plundering the city of Bethulia and murdering Israelites (the direct descendants of the Biblical matriarchs and patriarchs).
The poem goes on to detail the feast that Holofernes, the Assyrian general, hosts for his armies, to which the beautiful maiden, Judith, is invited. Holofernes, in his excess, forces his men to drink to unconsciousness, and then orders that Judith be brought to him to allow him sexual gratification.
Judith is brought to his bed, which is hung with a curtain through which he can see out of, but none can see through. Holofernes intends to sleep with the fair maiden, but God prohibits this in order to protect Judith. He falls down drunk on his bed, allowing Judith to take a sword and decapitate him in two savage strokes after seeking courage from God.
Judith places the tyrants's head into a bag, and with her servant, departs for Bethulia, their home. She reaches the city walls and order that they let her in through the gate. She delivers a speech to the soldiers informing them of their liberation and future glory. The city dwellers, after hearing her over the wall, throng in great numbers to listen to her lofty speech.
After letting her into the city, she unwraps the bloodied head of Holofernes and shows it to the masses, describing how God had helped her in defeating their enemy, rallying them into battle with the support of God. The men then prepare to fight the Assyrians, setting off from the Holy city at day break.
The Hebrew (Israelite) army approaches the campsite of the 'heathens', who, still drunk, are slaughtered in their masses. The Assyrian men go to tell Holofernes of the invasion, but upon recalling how Judith was supposed to be with him, grow too nervous to interrupt. They instead cough and splutter outside his tent to win his attention, but to no avail. A brave individual goes in only to witness his leader's dead body, declaring their lost hope and the inevitability of their deaths. The Assyrian army attempts to flee, but are cut down in their flight by the God-loving Hebrews.
After the victory, the Israelite soldiers take from the dead bodies, taking precious treasures. They give Judith the bloody armor of Holofernes, but she cares instead for the glory and reward she will receive in heaven due to her service to the Almighty.
