Giuditta 13

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
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 It grew late and his staff hurried away. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside, having shown outthose who stil lingered in his lord's presence. They went to their beds wearied with too much drinking,
2 Derelicta est autem sola Iudith in tabernaculo, etHolofernes prociderat in lectum suum; circumfusum enim erat ei vinum.	2 and Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes who had col apsed wine-sodden on his bed.
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 Judith then told her maid to stay just outside the bedroom and wait for her to come out, as she didevery morning. She had let it be understood she would be going out to her prayers and had also spoken of herintention to Bagoas.
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 By now everyone had left Holofernes, and no one, either important or unimportant, was left in thebedroom. Standing beside the bed, Judith murmured to herself: Lord God, to whom al strength belongs, prosperwhat my hands are now to do for the greater glory 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 to recover your heritage and to further my plans to crush the enemies arrayed againstus.
6 Et accedens ad columnam lectus, quae erat ad caput Holofernis, deposuit pugionemillius ab illa.	6 With that she went up to the bedpost by Holofernes' head and took down his scimitar;
7 Et accedens ad lectum comprehendit comam capitis eius etdixit: “ Deus Israel, confirma me, Domine, Deus Israel, in hoc die ”.	7 coming closer to the bed she caught him by the hair and said, 'Make me strong today, Lord God ofIsrael!'
8 Etpercussit in cervicem eius bis in virtute sua et abstulit caput eius ab eo.	8 Twice she struck at his neck with all her might, 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 then rol ed his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the bedposts. After which, shewent out and gave 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 in her food bag. The two then left the camp together, as they always did when they went topray. Once they were out of the camp, they skirted the ravine, climbed the slope to Bethulia and made for thegates.
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 From a distance, Judith shouted to the guards on the gates, 'Open the gate! Open! For the Lord ourGod is with us stil , displaying his strength in Israel and his might against our enemies, as he has done today!'
12 Et factum est,ut audierunt viri civitatis vocem eius, festinaverunt descendere ad portamcivitatis suae et convocaverunt seniores civitatis.	12 Hearing her voice, the townsmen hurried down to the town gate and summoned the 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 Everyone, great and smal , came running down, since her arrival was unexpected. They threw thegate open, welcomed the women, lit a fire to see by and crowded round them.
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 Then Judith raised her voice and said, 'Praise God! Praise him! Praise the God who has notwithdrawn his mercy from the House of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand tonight!'
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 She pul ed the head out of the bag and held it for them to see. 'This is the head of Holofernes,general-in-chief of the Assyrian army; here is the canopy under which he lay drunk! The Lord has struck himdown 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 Glory to the Lord who has protected me in the course I took! My face seduced him, only to his ownundoing; he committed no sin with me to shame me or disgrace me.'
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 Overcome with emotion, the people al prostrated themselves and worshipped God, exclaiming withone voice, 'Blessings on you, our God, for confounding your people's enemies today!'
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 Uzziah then said to Judith: May you be blessed, my daughter, by God Most High, beyond al womenon earth; and blessed be the Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, who guided you to cut off the head of theleader of our enemies!
19 Quoniam non discedet laus tuaa corde hominum memorantium virtutis Dei usque in sempiternum.	19 The trust which you have shown wil not pass from human hearts, as they commemorate the power ofGod for evermore.
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 God grant you may be always held in honour and rewarded with blessings, since you did not consideryour own life when our nation was brought to its knees, but warded off our ruin, walking in the right path beforeour God. And the people al said, 'Amen! Amen!'