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Lunedi, 29 aprile 2024 - Santa Caterina da Siena ( Letture di oggi)

Giuditta 11


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BIBBIA MARTINIKING JAMES BIBLE
1 Allora Oloferme le disse: Sta di buon animo, e bandisci dal cuore ogni timore: perocchè io non ho mai fatto male a persona, che abbia voluto assoggettarsi al re Nabucodonosor.1 Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.
2 E se il tuo popolo non mi avesse disprezzato, non avrei impugnata la lancia contro di lui.2 Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.
3 Or tu dimmi per qual motivo gli hai abbandonati, e hai eletto di venire tra noi?3 But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:
4 E Giuditta gli disse: Pon mente alle parole della tua serva; perocchè se tu farai secondo le parole della tua serva, il Signore ti darà prospero successo.4 For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.
5 Viva Nabucodonosor re della terra, viva la sua possanza, che è nelle tue mani per gastigare tutti gli erranti perocchè non solo gli uomini servono per te a lui, ma anche le bestie de campi l'obbediscono.5 Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.
6 Imperocchè la prudenza dell'animo tuo è celebrata presso tutte le genti, e tutto il mondo sa, che tu solo sei il buono, e il possente in tutto il suo regno, e in tutte le provincie vien esaltato il tuo buon governo.6 And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.
7 Non si ignora quello, che fu detto da Achior, nè quello, che ordinasti che a lui fosse fatto.7 As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.
8 Imperocchè costante cosa ella è, che il nostro Dio è talmente sdegnato pe' nostri falli, che a fatto pe' suoi profeti sapere al popolo, che egli pe' suoi peccati lo lascia in abbandono.8 For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
9 E perchè sanno i figliuoli d'Israele come hanno offeso il loro Dio, il timore, che hanno di te, li conquide.9 Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.
10 Oltre a ciò sono ridotti alla fame, e per la mancanza di acqua sono già divenuti come morti.10 Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.
11 Onde hanno ordinato, che si uccidano i bestiami per bere il loro sangue:11 And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:
12 E le cose consacrate al Signore Dio loro, le quali Dio ha ordinato, che non si tocchino sia frumento, sia vino, e olio, han pensato di adoperarle e consumarle, quantunque non sia loro permesso neppur di stendere ad esse la mano: tali cose adunque facendo quegli, anderanno certamente in perdizione.12 For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:
13 E a ciò pensando io tua serva, son fuggita da loro, e il Signore mi ha mandato a svelarti queste medesime cose.13 And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
14 Perocchè io tua serva adoro Dio anche adesso che son presso di te; e uscirà fuora la tua serva a fare orazione a Dio,14 For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.
15 Ed ei mi dirà in qual punto vorrà punirli del loro peccato, e io verrò ad avvisartene, ond'io stessa ti condurrò nel mezzo di Gerusalemme, e vedrai il popolo tutto d'Israele, come pecore senza pastore, e neppur un cane abbaierà contro di te.15 Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.
16 Perocchè tutto ciò ha rivelato a me la providenza di Dio.16 Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.
17 E perchè Dio è sdegnato con essi, sono io mandata ad annunziarti tali cose.17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins:
18 Or tutto questo ragionamento fece piacere ad Oloferme, e alla sua gente, e ammiravano la fua saviezza, e dicevano l'uno all'altro:18 And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.
19 Non v'ha al mondo donna simile a lei in avvenenza, in bellezza, e in sensato parlare.19 And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.
20 E Oloferne le disse: Bene ha fatto il Signore, il quale ti ha mandata innanzi al popolo, affinchè tu lo rimetta nelle nostre mani.20 Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,
21 E siccome la tua promessa è leale, se il tuo Dio farà tal cosa in mio favore, egli sarà anche mio Dio, e tu sarai grande nella casa di Nabucodonosor, e il tuo nome sarà celebre per tutta la terra.21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.
22 Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.
23 And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.