Giuditta 4

BIBBIA TINTORI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 I figli d'Israele che abitavano la terra di Giuda, udite tali cose, ebbero gran paura di vederlo.	1 Then, upon hearing these things, the sons of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Judah, were very afraid before his face.
2 Il terrore e lo spavento invase i loro spiriti, e temevano che facesse a Gerusalemme e al tempio del Signore quello che aveva fatto alle altre città e ai loro templi.	2 Trembling and horror invaded their senses, lest he should do the same thing to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord that he had done to other cities and their temples.
3 Mandarono in tutta la Samaria e nei dintorni fino a Gerico, a occupare tutte le cime dei monti,	3 And they sent into all of Samaria, and by an indirect route even to Jericho, and they seized in advance all the tops of the mountains.
4 e, cinti di mura i loro villaggi, fatte provviste di grano, si prepararono alla guerra.	4 And they surrounded their villages with walls, and they gathered together grain in preparation for the fight.
5 Il sommo sacerdote Eliachim scrisse pure a tutti quelli che abitavano in faccia a Esdrelon, che sta dirimpetto alla gran pianura presso Dotain, e a tutti quelli dei luoghi per dove si poteva passare,	5 And then Eliachim the priest wrote to all who were opposite Esdrelon, which is opposite the face of the great plain near Dothain, and to all whom he would be able to reach through a passable way:
6 che occupassero le alture dei monti pei quali si poteva andare a Gerusalemme, e facessero la guardia ad ogni passo stretto tra le montagne.	6 that they should hold the ascents of the mountains, through which there might be any passage able to reach Jerusalem, and that they should keep watch where the passage was narrow, wherever possible, between the mountains.
7 I figli d'Israele eseguirono gli ordini di Eliachim sacerdote del Signore.	7 And the sons of Israel did just as Eliachim, the priest of the Lord, had appointed them.
8 Tutto il popolo con gran perseveranza alzò le grida al Signore; essi e le loro donne umiliarono le loro anime coi digiuni e colle preghiere.	8 And all the people cried out to the Lord with great urgency, and they humbled their souls with fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.
9 I sacerdoti si vestirono di cilicio, i fanciulli si prostrarono per terra davanti al tempio del Signore; anche l'altare del Signore fu coperto di cilicio.	9 And the priests clothed themselves with haircloths, and they prostrated the little children opposite the face of the temple of the Lord, and they covered the altar of the Lord with haircloth.
10 Unanimi gridarono al Signore di non permettere che fossero predati i loro figli, divise le loro mogli, sterminate le loro città, contaminato il loro santuario, e che essi diventassero l'obbrobrio delle nazioni.	10 And they cried out to the Lord God of Israel with one accord, lest their children should be given over as prey, and their wives into distribution, and their cities into extermination, and their holy things into defilement, and so that they might not become the disgrace of the Gentiles.
11 Allora Eliachim, sommo sacerdote del Signore, percorse tutto Israele a rivolger loro la parola	11 Then Eliachim, the high priest of the Lord, traveled all around Israel, and he was talking to them,
12 e a dire: « Sappiate che il Signore esaudirà le vostre preghiere, se sarete perseveranti nei digiuni, nelle orazioni davanti al Signore.	12 saying: “Know that the Lord will heed your prayers, if you continue to persevere in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.
13 Ricordatevi di Mosè servo del Signore: egli, non combattendo col ferro, ma pregando, con sante orazioni, prostrò Amalec, il quale confidava nella sua forza, nella sua potenza, nella sua armata, nei suoi scudi, nei suoi carri e nei suoi cavalieri.	13 Recall that Moses, the servant of the Lord, overcame Amalek, who trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his bronze shields, and in his swift chariots, and in his horsemen. He overcame him, not by fighting with iron, but by pleading with holy prayers.
14 Lo stesso sarà di tutti i nemici d'Israele se persevererete in quest'opera da voi incominciata ».	14 So will it be with all the enemies of Israel, if you persevere in this work that you have begun.”
15 Dopo tale esortazione si diedero a pregare il Signore, perseverando nel cospetto del Signore,	15 Therefore, by this exhortation and his prayer to the Lord, they continued in the sight of the Lord,
16 tanto che anche quelli i quali offrivano al Signore gli olocausti, offrivano i sacrifizi vestiti di cilicio e colla testa coperta di cenere.	16 so that even those who offered holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and there were ashes upon their heads.
17 Tutti con tutto il loro cuore pregavano Dio a visitare il suo popolo d'Israele.	17 And they all begged God with their whole heart, that he would visit his people Israel.