Giuditta 12

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 - Allora la fece entrare dove eran custoditi i suoi tesori, ordinò che ivi ella stesse, e stabili quel che le si doveva dare dalla sua mensa.	1 Then he ordered them to lead her into the room where his silverware was kept, and bade them set a table for her with his own delicacies to eat and his own wine to drink.
2 Ma Giuditta gli rispose: « Io non posso mangiare di quelle cose che tu hai ordinato mi sian portate, per non incorrere nell' ira [di Dio]; mangerò di quelle che ho portate con me ».	2 But Judith said, "I will not partake of them, lest it be an occasion of sin; but I shall be amply supplied from the things I brought with me."
3 Ed Oloferne a lei: « Se viene a mancarti ciò che hai portato con te, come faremo?».	3 Holofernes asked her: "But if your provisions give out, where shall we get more of the same to provide for you? None of your people are with us."
4 Disse Giuditta: «Giuro per la tua vita, signor mio, che la tua serva non consumerà tutte queste cose prima che Dio mi faccia eseguire quel che mi sta in mente ». Allora i servi di Oloferne la condussero nella tenda da lui assegnatale.	4 Judith answered him, "As surely as you, my lord, live, your handmaid will not use up her supplies till the Lord accomplishes by my hand what he has determined."
5 Essa entrandovi chiese che le fosse concesso di uscire la notte, avanti giorno, a fare orazione e supplicare il Signore.	5 Then the servants of Holofernes led her into the tent, where she slept till midnight. In the night watch just before dawn, she rose
6 Ed egli comandò a' suoi servi che per tre giorni la lasciassero andare e venire a suo piacimento ad adorare il suo Dio.	6 and sent this message to Holofernes, "Give orders, my lord, to let your handmaid go out for prayer."
7 Essa usciva, la notte, nella valle di Betulia, e si lavava ad una fonte.	7 So Holofernes ordered his bodyguard not to hinder her. Thus she stayed in the camp three days. Each night she went out to the ravine of Bethulia, where she washed herself at the spring of the camp.
8 Poi, ritornando, pregava il Signore Dio di Israele che dirigesse la sua impresa alla liberazione di Israele.	8 After bathing, she besought the Lord, the God of Israel, to direct her way for the triumph of his people.
9 E rientrata, si serbava monda nella sua tenda, sinché a sera prendeva il suo cibo.	9 Then she returned purified to the tent, and remained there until her food was brought to her toward evening.
10 Al quarto giorno, Oloferne dette una cena a' suoi ministri, e disse a Vagao suo eunuco: « Va', e persuadi quell'ebrea ad acconsentire spontaneamente d'esser mia.	10 On the fourth day Holofernes gave a banquet for his servants alone, to which he did not invite any of the officers.
11 È vergogna presso gli Assiri che una donna si burli di un uomo uscendo libera dalle sue mani ».	11 And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch in charge of his household: "Go and persuade this Hebrew woman in your care to come and to eat and drink with us.
12 Allora Vagao si presentò a Giuditta, e le disse: « Non tema la buona fanciulla di venire al mio signore, per ricevere innanzi a lui l'onore di mangiar con lui, e di bere vino allegramente ».	12 It would be a disgrace for us to have such a woman with us without enjoying her company. If we do not entice her, she will laugh us to scorn."
13 Bispose Giuditta: « Chi sono io da contradire al mio signore?	13 So Bagoas left the presence of Holofernes, and came to Judith and said, "So fair a maiden should not be reluctant to come to my lord to be honored by him, to enjoy drinking wine with us, and to be like one of the Assyrian women who live in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar."
14 Tutto quello che a lui piacerà, sarà ottimo anche a me, ogni giorno della mia vita».	14 She replied, "Who am I to refuse my lord? Whatever is pleasing to him I will promptly do. This will be a joy for me till the day of my death."
15 Si alzò dunque, s'ornò delle sue vesti, ed entrò davanti a lui.	15 Thereupon she proceeded to put on her festive garments and all her feminine adornments. Meanwhile her maid went ahead and spread out on the ground for her in front of Holofernes the fleece Bagoas had furnished for her daily use in reclining at her dinner.
16 Il cuore di Oloferne si scosse, ardendo egli di possederla;	16 Then Judith came in and reclined on it. The heart of Holofernes was in rapture over her, and his spirit was shaken. He was burning with the desire to possess her, for he had been biding his time to seduce her from the day he saw her.
17 e disse a lei Oloferne: « Bevi dunque, e mangia allegramente, chè hai trovato favore dinanzi a me»,	17 Holofernes said to her, "Drink and be merry with us!"
18 Giuditta disse: « Beverò, signore; perché oggi io mi trovo più glorificata che in tutta la mia vita ».	18 Judith replied, "I will gladly drink, my lord, for at no time since I was born have I ever enjoyed life as much as I do today."
19 E prese e mangiò e bevve dinanzi a lui quel che le aveva preparato la sua ancella.	19 She then took the things her maid had prepared, and ate and drank in his presence.
20 Ed Oloferne dette Sfogo alla sua gioia, e bevve vino fuor di misura, quanto non n'aveva mai bevuto in vita sua.	20 Holofernes, charmed by her, drank a great quantity of wine, more than he had ever drunk on one single day in his life.