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Lunedi, 29 aprile 2024 - Santa Caterina da Siena ( Letture di oggi)

Judith 14


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NEW JERUSALEMBIBBIA TINTORI
1 Judith said, 'Listen to me, brothers. Take this head and hang it on your battlements.1 Allora Giuditta disse a tutto il popolo: « Ascoltatemi, o fratelli: prima sospendete questa testa sulle nostre mura, poi,
2 When morning comes and the sun is up, let every man take his arms and every able-bodied man leavethe town. Appoint a leader for them, as if you meant to march down to the plain against the Assyrian advancedpost. But you must not do this.2 appena spuntato il sole, prese ciascuno le sue armi, uscite con impeto, non per discender nella valle, ma come per muover all'attacco.
3 The Assyrians wil gather up their equipment, make for their camp and wake up their commanders; theyin turn will rush to the tent of Holofernes and not be able to find him. They will then be seized with panic and fleeat your advance.3 Allora gli esploratori dovran correre a svegliare il loro comandante, per la battaglia.
4 Al you and the others who live in the territory of Israel wil have to do is to give chase and slaughterthem as they retreat.4 Quando i loro capi saranno accorsi alla tenda di Oloferne e lo avranno trovato decapitato e ravvolto nel suo sangue, saran presi dallo spavento:
5 'But before you do this, cal me Achior the Ammonite, for him to see and identify the man who held theHouse of Israel in contempt, the man who sent him to us as someone already doomed to die.'5 quando li vedrete darsi alla fuga, inseguiteli senza timore, perchè il Signore li schiaccerà sotto i vostri piedi ».
6 So they had Achior brought from Uzziah's house. No sooner had he arrived and seen the head ofHolofernes held by a member of the people's assembly than he fel on his face in a faint.6 Allora Achior, vedendo il prodigio operato da Dio, abbandonati i riti dei Gentili, credette in Dio, si circoncise e fu incorporato al popolo d'Israele, egli e tutta la sua discendenza fino ad oggi.
7 They lifted him up. He then threw himself at Judith's feet and, prostrate before her, exclaimed: May yoube blessed in al the tents of Judah and in every nation; those who hear your name wil be seized with dread!7 Appena fatto giorno, sospesero sulle mura la testa d'Oloferne, e, prese ciascuno le sue armi, uscirono fuori con gran fracasso ed alte grida.
8 'Now tel me everything that you have done in these past few days.' And surrounded by the people,Judith told him everything she had done from the day she left Bethulia to the moment when she was speaking.8 Veduto ciò, gli esploratori corsero alla tenda di Oloferne.
9 When she came to the end, the people cheered at the top of their voices until the town echoed.9 Quelli che erano nella tenda, accostatisi, facevan rumore all'ingresso della camera per destarlo e facevano ad arte il rumore, perchè Oloferne si destasse, senza bisogno d'essere scosso, per il frastuono.
10 Achior, recognising al that the God of Israel had done, believed ardently in him and, acceptingcircumcision, was permanently incorporated into the House of Israel.10 Nessuno poi osava aprire e nemmeno battere alla porta del comandante degli Assiri.
11 At daybreak they hung the head of Holofernes on the ramparts. Every man took his arms and they alwent out in groups to the slopes of the mountain.11 Finalmente i capi, i tribuni e tutti i grandi dell'esercito del re d'Assiria, là radunati, dissero ai servi:
12 Seeing this, the Assyrians sent word to their leaders, who in turn reported to the generals, thecaptains of thousands and al the other officers;12 « Entrate e svegliatelo, perchè quei topi usciti dai loro buchi hanno osato provocarci a battaglia ».
13 and these in their turn reported to the tent of Holofernes. 'Rouse our master,' they said to his major-domo, 'these slaves have dared to march down on us to attack -- and to be wiped out to a man!'13 Allora Vagao entrò nella camera, e, fermatosi dinanzi alla cortina, battè insieme le mani, supponendo che dormisse con Giuditta.
14 Bagoas went inside and struck the curtain dividing the tent, thinking that Holofernes was sleeping withJudith.14 Ma siccome, anche tendendo l'orecchio, non sentiva alcun movimento d'uno che dormisse, si accostò alla cortina, e, alzatala, vide il cadavere d'Oloferne, senza testa, steso per terra, immerso nel proprio sangue. Allora pianse ad alte grida e stracciò le sue vesti.
15 But as no one seemed to hear, he drew the curtain and went into the bedroom, to find him throwndown dead on the threshold, with his head cut off.15 Poi entrò nella tenda di Giuditta, e non avendocela trovata, corse fuori verso il popolo,
16 He gave a great shout, wept, sobbed, shrieked and rent his clothes.16 a dire: « Una sola donna ebrea ha messa la confusione nella casa del re Nabucodonosor; ecco, Oloferne è là steso per terra, e la sua testa non è più col suo corpo! » Sentito questo,
17 He then went into the tent which Judith had occupied and could not find her either. Then, rushing outto the men, he shouted,17 i principi dell'armata degli Assiri stracciarono le loro vesti; un timore intollerabile e lo spavento l'invasero e i loro animi furono oltremodo turbati:
18 'The slaves have rebel ed! A single Hebrew woman has brought shame on the House ofNebuchadnezzar. Holofernes is lying dead on the ground, without his head!'18 indicibile grido si alzò in mezzo ai loro accampamenti.
19 When they heard this, the leaders of the Assyrian army tore their tunics in consternation, and thecamp rang with their wild cries and their shouting.