Giuditta 10

BIBBIA TINTORI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Finito che ebbe di alzare i suoi gemiti al Signore, si levò dal luogo dove si era prostrata davanti 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 poi, chiamata la sua serva, scese in casa, si tolse il cilizio, depose le vesti vedovili,	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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Alla porta della città trovarono Ozia e gli anziani della città, 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 Essi al vederla rimasero stupefatti e pieni di maraviglia per la sua bellezza;	7 And when they saw her, being astounded, they wondered at her surpassing beauty.
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 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 Tutti quelli che eran li dissero a una voce: « Così sia, così sia! »	9 And those who were there, all with one voice, said: “Amen. Amen.”
10 E Giuditta pregando il Signore, uscì fuori della porta colla sua serva.	10 In truth, Judith was praying to the Lord as she crossed through the gates, she and her handmaid.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Poi le dissero: « Tu hai salvata la tua vita, prendendo la risoluzione di scendere al nostro signore:	15 And they said to her: “You have preserved your life by following such an excellent plan, to descend to our lord.
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 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 Appena gli fu dinanzi, Oloferne fu subito preso dai suoi sguardi.	17 And when she had entered before his face, immediately Holofernes was captivated by his eyes.
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 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 Giuditta, veduto Oloferne a seder sotto un conopeo fatto di porpora, d'oro, di smeraldi e di pietre preziose,	19 And so, Judith looked upon Holofernes, sitting under a canopy, which was woven from purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones.
20 dopo averlo fissato in viso, lo adorò prostrata per terra; ma i servi di Oloferne la rialzarono per ordine del loro signore.	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.