Judith 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	JERUSALEM
1 Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.	1 Les Israélites établis en Judée, apprenant ce qu'Holopherne, général en chef de Nabuchodonosor roides Assyriens, avait fait aux différents peuples et comment, après avoir dépouillé leurs temples, il les avait livrésà la destruction,
2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:	2 furent saisis d'une extrême frayeur à son approche et tremblèrent pour Jérusalem et le Temple duSeigneur leur Dieu.
3 For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.	3 A peine venaient-ils de remonter de captivité, et le regroupement du peuple en Judée, la purificationdu mobilier sacré, de l'autel et du Temple profanés étaient choses récentes.
4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem:	4 Ils alertèrent donc toute la Samarie, Kona, Bethorôn, Belmaïn, Jéricho, Choba, Esora et la vallée deSalem.
5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victuals for the provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.	5 Les sommets des plus hautes montagnes furent occupés, les bourgs qui s'y trouvaient, fortifiés. Onprépara des approvisionnements en vue de la guerre, car les champs venaient d'être moissonnés.
6 Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open country, near to Dothaim,	6 Le grand prêtre Ioakim, alors en résidence à Jérusalem, écrivit aux habitants de Béthulie et deBétomestaïm, villes situées en face d'Esdrelon et vers la plaine de Dotaïn,
7 Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the most.	7 pour leur dire d'occuper les hautes passes de la montagne, seule voie d'accès vers la Judée. Il leurserait d'ailleurs aisé d'arrêter les assaillants, l'étroitesse du passage ne permettant d'y avancer que deux de front.
8 And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.	8 Les Israélites exécutèrent les ordres du grand prêtre Ioakim et du Conseil des anciens du peupled'Israël siégeant à Jérusalem.
9 Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:	9 Avec une ardeur soutenue, tous les hommes d'Israël crièrent vers Dieu et s'humilièrent devant lui.
10 Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.	10 Eux, leurs femmes, leurs enfants, leurs troupeaux, tous ceux qui vivaient avec eux, mercenaires ouesclaves, ceignirent leurs reins de sacs.
11 Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,	11 Tous les Israélites de Jérusalem, femmes et enfants compris, se prosternèrent devant le sanctuaire et,la tête couverte de cendres, étendirent les mains devant le Seigneur
12 And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.	12 Ils entourèrent d'un sac l'autel lui-même. A grands cris ils suppliaient unanimement et avec ardeur leDieu d'Israël de ne pas livrer leurs enfants au pillage, leurs femmes au rapt, les villes de leur héritage à ladestruction, le Temple à la profanation et à l'ironie outrageante des païens.
13 So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.	13 Attentif à leur voix, le Seigneur prit en considération leur détresse. Dans toute la Judée et àJérusalem devant le sanctuaire du Seigneur Tout-Puissant le peuple jeûnait de longs jours.
14 And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,	14 Le grand prêtre Ioakim et tous ceux qui se tenaient devant le Seigneur, prêtres et ministres duSeigneur, le sac sur les reins, offraient l'holocauste perpétuel, les oblations votives et les dons volontaires dupeuple,
15 And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel graciously.	15 et, le turban couvert de cendres, ils suppliaient intensément le Seigneur de visiter la maison d'Israël.