Giuditta 13

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Et, ut vesper factus est, festinaverunt servi eius abire, et Bagoasconclusit tabernaculum a foris et dimisit adstantes a facie domini sui. Etabierunt omnes in cubilia sua; erant enim omnes fatigati, quoniam plurimusfactus erat potus.	1 When it grew late, his servants quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside and excluded the attendants from their master's presence. They went off to their beds, for they were all tired from the prolonged banquet.
2 Derelicta est autem sola Iudith in tabernaculo, etHolofernes prociderat in lectum suum; circumfusum enim erat ei vinum.	2 Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes, who lay prostrate on his bed, for he was sodden with wine.
3 Et dixitIudith ancillae suae, ut staret extra cubiculum et observaret exitum eius sicutcotidie; exire enim se dixit ad orationem suam, et Bagoae locuta est secundumverba haec.	3 She had ordered her maid to stand outside the bedroom and wait, as on the other days, for her to come out; she said she would be going out for her prayer. To Bagoas she had said this also.
4 Discesseruntque omnes a facie, et nemo relictus est in cubiculo eius, a minimousque ad magnum. Et stans Iudith ad caput eius dixit: “ Domine, Domine, Deusomnium virtutum, respice in hac hora ad opera manuum mearum, ut exalteturIerusalem.	4 When all had departed, and no one, small or great, was left in the bedroom, Judith stood by Holofernes' bed and said within herself: "O Lord, God of all might, in this hour look graciously on my undertaking for the exaltation of Jerusalem;
5 Quia nunc est tempus, ut suscipias hereditatem tuam et faciascogitationem meam in quassationem inimicorum, qui insurrexerunt super nos ”.	5 now is the time for aiding your heritage and for carrying out my design to shatter the enemies who have risen against us."
6 Et accedens ad columnam lectus, quae erat ad caput Holofernis, deposuit pugionemillius ab illa.	6 She went to the bedpost near the head of Holofernes, and taking his sword from it,
7 Et accedens ad lectum comprehendit comam capitis eius etdixit: “ Deus Israel, confirma me, Domine, Deus Israel, in hoc die ”.	7 drew close to the bed, grasped the hair of his head, and said, "Strengthen me this day, O God of Israel!"
8 Etpercussit in cervicem eius bis in virtute sua et abstulit caput eius ab eo.	8 Then with all her might she struck him twice in the neck and cut off his head.
9 Etvolutavit corpus eius a toro et abstulit conopeum eius a columnis; et postpusillum exiit et tradidit abrae suae caput Holofernis,	9 She rolled his body off the bed and took the canopy from its supports. Soon afterward, she came out and handed over the head of Holofernes to her maid,
10 et misit illud inperam escarum suarum. Et exierunt ambae simul secundum consuetudinem suam quasiad orationem. Transeuntesque castra gyraverunt totam vallem illam etsubascenderunt montem Betuliae et venerunt ad portas eius.	10 who put it into her food pouch; and the two went off together as they were accustomed to do for prayer. They passed through the camp, and skirting the ravine, reached Bethulia on the mountain. As they approached its gates,
11 Et dixit Iudith a longe eis, qui custodiebant in portis: “ Aperite, aperiteportam! Nobiscum est Deus, Deus noster, ut faciat adhuc virtutem in Israel etpotentiam adversus inimicos nostros, sicut et hodie fecit ”.	11 Judith shouted to the guards from a distance: "Open! Open the gate! God, our God, is with us. Once more he has made manifest his strength in Israel and his power against our enemies; he has done it this very day."
12 Et factum est,ut audierunt viri civitatis vocem eius, festinaverunt descendere ad portamcivitatis suae et convocaverunt seniores civitatis.	12 When the citizens heard her voice, they quickly descended to their city gate and summoned the city elders.
13 Et concurrerunt omnes aminimo usque ad magnum, quoniam mirum erat eis illam reversam esse. Etaperuerunt portam et receperunt eas et accendentes ignem ad lumen congyraverunteam.	13 All the people, from the least to the greatest, hurriedly assembled, for her return seemed unbelievable. They opened the gate and welcomed the two women. They made a fire for light; and when they gathered around the two,
14 Quae dixit ad eos voce magna: “ Laudate Dominum nostrum, laudate, quianon abstulit misericordiam suam a domo Israel, sed conteruit inimicos nostrosper manum meam in hac nocte ”.	14 Judith urged them with a loud voice: "Praise God, praise him! Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand this very night."
15 Et proferens caput de pera sua ostendit etdixit eis: “ Ecce caput Holofernis principis militiae virtutis Assyriorum, etecce conopeum, in quo recumbebat in ebrietate sua. Et percussit eum Dominus inmanu feminae.	15 Then she took the head out of the pouch, showed it to them, and said: "Here is the head of Holofernes, general in charge of the Assyrian army, and here is the canopy under which he lay in his drunkenness. The Lord struck him down by the hand of a woman.
16 Et vivit Dominus, qui custodivit me in via mea, qua profectasum, quoniam seduxit eum facies mea in perditionem eius, et non fecit peccatummecum in coinquinationem et confusionem ”.	16 As the Lord lives, who has protected me in the path I have followed, I swear that it was my face that seduced Holofernes to his ruin, and that he did not sin with me to my defilement or disgrace."
17 Et obstupuit omnis populus valde et inclinantes se adoraverunt Deum etdixerunt unanimes: “ Benedictus es, Deus noster, qui ad nihilum redegistiinimicos populi tui in hodierna die ”.	17 All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped God, saying with one accord, "Blessed are you, our God, who today have brought to nought the enemies of your people."
18 Et dixit ad eam Ozias: “ Benedictatu es, filia, a Deo excelso prae omnibus mulieribus, quae sunt super terram. Etbenedictus Dominus Deus noster, qui creavit caelum et terram, qui direxit te invulnus capitis principis inimicorum nostrorum.	18 Then Uzziah said to her: "Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the chief of our enemies.
19 Quoniam non discedet laus tuaa corde hominum memorantium virtutis Dei usque in sempiternum.	19 Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God.
20 Et faciat tibiea Deus in exaltationem aeternam, ut visitet te in bonis, pro eo quod nonpepercisti animae tuae propter humilitatem generis nostri, sed prosilisti inruinam nostram in directum ambulans in conspectu Dei nostri ”. Et dixit omnispopulus: “ Fiat, fiat! ”.	20 May God make this redound to your everlasting honor, rewarding you with blessings, because you risked your life when your people were being oppressed, and you averted our disaster, walking uprightly before our God." And all the people answered, "Amen! Amen!"