Giuditta 10

BIBBIA TINTORI	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Finito che ebbe di alzare i suoi gemiti al Signore, si levò dal luogo dove si era prostrata davanti al Signore.	1 Thus Judith called on the God of Israel. When she had finished praying,
2 poi, chiamata la sua serva, scese in casa, si tolse il cilizio, depose le vesti vedovili,	2 she got up from the floor, summoned her maid and went down into the rooms which she used onSabbath days and festivals.
3 si lavò il corpo, si unse di unguento prezioso, scompartì le sue chiome, si pose in testa una mitra, indossò le sue vesti di festa, si mise ai piedi i sandali, prese i braccialetti, i gigli, gli orecchini, gli anelli e si abbellì con tutti i suoi ornamenti.	3 There she removed the sackcloth she was wearing and taking off her widow's dress, she washed alover, anointed herself plentiful y with perfumes, dressed her hair, wrapped a turban round it and put on the robeof joy she used to wear when her husband Manasseh was alive.
4 Il Signore crebbe ancor più il suo splendore, perchè tale abbigliamento non proveniva da libidine, ma da virtù: il Signore le accrebbe la bellezza in modo da farla comparire tutta adorna d'incomparabile grazia.	4 She put sandals on her feet, put on her necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and al her jewel ery, andmade herself beautiful enough to beguile the eye of any man who saw her.
5 Essa fece portare dalla sua serva un otre di vino, un vaso d'olio, del grano abbrustolito, dei fichi secchi, dei pani, del cacio, e parti.	5 Then she handed her maid a skin of wine and a flask of oil, fil ed a bag with barley girdle-cakes, cakesof dried fruit and pure loaves, and wrapping all these provisions up gave them to her as wel .
6 Alla porta della città trovarono Ozia e gli anziani della città, che l'aspettavano.	6 They then went out, making for the town gate of Bethulia. There they found Uzziah waiting with the twoelders of the town, Chabris and Charmis.
7 Essi al vederla rimasero stupefatti e pieni di maraviglia per la sua bellezza;	7 When they saw Judith, her face so changed and her clothes so different, they were lost in admiration ofher beauty. They said to her:
8 ma senza dimandarle nulla, la lasciaron passare dicendo: « Il Dio dei padri nostri ti doni la sua grazia, e colla sua potenza confermi tutti i disegni del tuo cuore, in modo che Gerusalemme abbia a gloriarsi di te e il nome tuo sia scritto fra i santi e fra i giusti ».	8 May the God of our ancestors keep you in his favour! May he crown your designs with success to theglory of the children of Israel, to the greater glory of Jerusalem!
9 Tutti quelli che eran li dissero a una voce: « Così sia, così sia! »	9 Judith worshipped God, and then she said, 'Have the town gate opened for me so that I can go out andfulfil all the wishes you expressed to me.' They did as she asked and gave orders to the young men to open thegate for her.
10 E Giuditta pregando il Signore, uscì fuori della porta colla sua serva.	10 This done, Judith went out accompanied by her maid, while the men of the town watched her al theway down the mountain and across the valley, until they lost sight of her.
11 Or mentre sul levar del giorno, essa discendeva dalla montagna, s'imbatterono in lei gli esploratori degli Assiri, e, fermatala, le dissero: « Di dove vieni? Dove vai? »	11 As the women were making straight through the valley, an advance unit of Assyrians interceptedthem,
12 Essa rispose: « Sono una figlia degli ebrei; son fuggita da loro, avendo riconosciuto che vi saran dati in preda, perchè, disprezzandovi, non han voluto arrendersi spontaneamente per trovar misericordia davanti a voi.	12 and, seizing Judith, began to question her. 'Which side are you on? Where do you come from? Whereare you going?' 'I am a daughter of the Hebrews,' she replied, 'and I am fleeing from them since they wil soon beyour prey.
13 Ed è per questo che ho detto dentro di me: Andrò a presentarmi al principe Oloferne, pei manifestargli i loro segreti e mostrargli per qual via possa impadronirsi di loro, senza che perisca un sol uomo del suo esercito ».	13 I am on my way to see Holofernes, the general of your army, to give him trustworthy information. Ishall show him the road to take if he wants to capture all the hil -country without losing one man or one life.'
14 Quegli uomini, mentre stavano a sentire le sue parole, la contemplavano in viso, e pieni gli occhi di stupore ne ammirarono oltremodo la bellezza.	14 As the men listened to what she was saying, they stared in astonishment at the sight of such abeautiful woman.
15 Poi le dissero: « Tu hai salvata la tua vita, prendendo la risoluzione di scendere al nostro signore:	15 'It wil prove the saving of you,' they said to her, 'coming down to see our master of your own accord.You had better go to his tent; some of our men wil escort you and hand you over to him.
16 e sappi che, quando sarai alla sua presenza, egli ti farà del bene, e sarai graditissima al suo cuore ». La condussero alla tenda di Oloferne, annunziandola.	16 Once you are in his presence do not be afraid. Tel him what you have just told us and you wil be weltreated.'
17 Appena gli fu dinanzi, Oloferne fu subito preso dai suoi sguardi.	17 They then detailed a hundred of their men as escort for herself and her attendant, and these led themto the tent of Holofernes.
18 Gli dissero i suoi ufficiali: « Chi potrà disprezzare il popolo degli ebrei, che ha donne così belle? Non abbiamo ragione di far loro guerra per conquistarle? »	18 News of her coming had already spread through the tents, and there was a general stir in the camp.She was still outside the tent of Holofernes waiting to be announced, when a crowd began forming round her.
19 Giuditta, veduto Oloferne a seder sotto un conopeo fatto di porpora, d'oro, di smeraldi e di pietre preziose,	19 They were immediately impressed by her beauty and impressed with the Israelites because of her.'Who could despise a people who have women like this?' they kept saying. 'Better not leave one of them alive;let any go and they could twist the whole world round their fingers!'
20 dopo averlo fissato in viso, lo adorò prostrata per terra; ma i servi di Oloferne la rialzarono per ordine del loro signore.	20 The bodyguard and adjutants of Holofernes then came out and led Judith into the tent.
	21 Holofernes was resting on his bed under a canopy of purple and gold studded with emeralds andprecious stones.
	22 The men announced her and he came out to the entrance to the tent, with silver torches carriedbefore him.
	23 When Judith confronted the general and his adjutant, the beauty of her face astonished them al . Shefel on her face and did homage to him, but his servants raised her from the ground.