Giuditta 10

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 - Come poi ebbe finito di pregare il Signore, s'alzò dal luogo ove s'era prostrata innanzi al Signore;	1 And it happened that, when she had ceased to cry out to the Lord, she arose from the place where she lay prostrate before the Lord.
2 chiamò la sua ancella, e scese nella sua casa. Si levò il cilizio, si spogliò degli abiti della sua vedovanza	2 And she called her handmaid, and descending into her house, she took away from herself the haircloth, and she put away from herself the garments of her widowhood,
3 si lavò, s'unse con mirra preziosa, si fece la divisa ai capelli, si mise in capo la mitra, si vesti degli abiti da festa, si pose ai piedi i sandali, si mise braccialetti e gigli ed orecchini ed anelli, e s'ornò con tutt' i suoi ornamenti.	3 and she washed her body, and she anointed herself with the best ointment, and she plaited the hair of her head, and she put a headdress on her head, and she clothed herself with the garments of her elegance, and she put sandals on her feet, and she put on her little bracelets, and lilies, and earrings, and rings, and she adorned herself with all her ornaments.
4 Ed anche il Signore le aggiunse splendore, perchè tutto questo ornarsi non procedeva in lei da passione ma da virtù; perciò il Signore accrebbe la sua bellezza, acciò agli occhi di tutti apparisse di un incomparabile splendore.	4 And also, the Lord conferred upon her a splendor. For all this dressing up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue. And therefore, the Lord increased this, her beauty, so that she appeared with incomparable honor before the eyes of all.
5 Essa poi dette a portare alla sua ancella un vaso di vino, uno d'olio, farina, fichi seccati, pane e cacio e parti.	5 And so, she appointed to her handmaid a wineskin, and a vessel of oil, and parched grain, and dried figs, and bread, and cheese, and they departed.
6 Giunte alla porta della città, trovarono Ozia e gli anziani che l'aspettavano.	6 And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Uzziah and the elders of the city waiting.
7 Quando la videro, restarono stupiti, ed ammirarono la sua bellezza;	7 And when they saw her, being astounded, they wondered at her surpassing beauty.
8 ma la fecero passare senza niente domandarle, e le dissero: « Il Dio de' nostri padri ti dia grazia, e con la sua potenza rafforzi tutte le risoluzioni del tuo cuore, sì che di te si glorii Gerusalemme, ed il tuo nome sia nel numero de' santi e de' giusti ».	8 So, not questioning her at all, they dismissed her to go forth, saying: “May the God of our fathers give you grace, and may he strengthen all the advice of your heart with his virtue, so that Jerusalem may glory over you, and your name may be counted among the holy and the just.”
9 E quelli che erano lì, tutti ad una voce risposero: « Così sia, così sia ».	9 And those who were there, all with one voice, said: “Amen. Amen.”
10 Giuditta dunque, pregando il Signore, uscì per la porta, essa e la sua ancella.	10 In truth, Judith was praying to the Lord as she crossed through the gates, she and her handmaid.
11 Or avvenne che, discendendo essa il monte sul far del giorno, le si fecero incontro gli esploratori assiri, e la fermarono dicendole: « Di dove vieni, e dove vai? ».	11 But it happened that, when she descended the mountain at about the break of day, the scouts of the Assyrians met her, and they stopped her, saying, “Where are you coming from? And where are you going?”
12 Rispose: « Sono una figliuola degli Ebrei; son fuggita di fra loro, perchè ho conosciuto ch'e' son per divenire vostra preda, avendovi disprezzati e non essendovisi voluti arrendere spontaneamente per trovare innanzi a voi misericordia.	12 And she answered: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews. This is why I have fled from their face: because I realized that in the future they would be given over to you with pillaging, for they hold you in contempt, and they would never be willing to surrender themselves, so that they might find mercy in your sight.
13 Perciò ho pensato fra me, ed ho detto: - Mi presenterò al principe Oloferne, per indicargli i loro segreti, e mostrargli per qual via egli possa sorprenderli senza perdere un sol uomo del suo esercito - ».	13 For this reason, I thought to myself, saying: I will go to the face of the leader Holofernes, so that I may reveal to him their secrets, and show him by what means he may be able to prevail over them, without one man of his army being slain.”
14 Ora, udite che ebbero quegli uomini le sue parole, contemplavano il suo volto, e traluceva dai loro occhi lo stupore: tanto ammiravano la sua bellezza.	14 And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and their eyes were astounded, because they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.
15 E le dissero: «Ti sei salvata la vita con l'aver presa questa risoluzione di presentarti al signor nostro.	15 And they said to her: “You have preserved your life by following such an excellent plan, to descend to our lord.
16 Or sappi che, quando sarai alla sua presenza, ti farà del bene, e sarai accettissima al suo cuore ». La condussero dunque alla tenda d'Oloferne, ed a lui l'annunziarono.	16 But know this, that when you will stand in his sight, he will treat you well, and you will be very pleasing to his heart.” And they led her to the tabernacle of Holofernes, announcing her.
17 Entrata che fu al cospetto di lui, subito Oloferne ne restò preso al primo vederla.	17 And when she had entered before his face, immediately Holofernes was captivated by his eyes.
18 Ed i suoi ufficiali gli dissero: « Chi vorrà disprezzare il popolo ebreo, ove son donne così belle, che per conquistarle mette già conto di fare ad esso la guerra?». Giuditta dunque vedendo Oloferne seduto sotto un padiglione di porpora adorno d'oro, di smeraldi e di pietre preziose,	18 And his attendants said to him, “Who can hold the people of the Hebrews in contempt, who have such beautiful women? So, we ought to think it not worthwhile, for their sakes, to fight against them.”
19 dopo averlo mirato in volto, lo adorò prostrandosi sino a terra; ed i servi di Oloferne, al comando del loro padrone, la rialzarono.	19 And so, Judith looked upon Holofernes, sitting under a canopy, which was woven from purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones.
	20 And, after she had gazed into his face, she showed reverence for him, prostrating herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, at the command of their lord.