Giuditta 7

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Crastina autem diepraecepit Holofernes omni militiae suae et omni populo suo, qui affuerunt inauxilium illius, ut pararent se ad Betuliam et ascensus montanae praeoccuparentet facerent pugnam adversus filios Israel.	1 The following day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allied troops that had come to his support, to move against Bethulia, seize the mountain passes, and engage the Israelites in battle.
2 Et paraverunt se in illa die omnisvir potens eorum; et virtus eorum virorum bellatorum erat centum septuagintamilia peditum et equitum duodecim milia, praeter impedimenta et viros, qui erantpedites in eis, multitudo magna valde.	2 That same day all their fighting men went into action. Their forces numbered a hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand horsemen, not counting the baggage train or the men who accompanied it on foot-a very great army.
3 Et castra collocaverunt in convallemiuxta Betuliam ad fontem et praetenderunt in latitudinem contra Dothain usque adAbelmain et in longitudinem a Betulia usque Chyamonem, quae est contra Esdrelon.	3 They encamped at the spring in the valley near Bethulia, and spread out in breadth toward Dothan as far as Balbaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.
4 Filii autem Israel, ut viderunt multitudinem eorum, turbati sunt valde etdixerunt unusquisque ad proximum suum: “ Nunc lingent isti faciem totiusterrae, nec montes alti neque valles neque colles sustinebunt pondus eorum ”.	4 When the Israelites saw how many there were, they said to one another in great dismay: "Soon they will devour the whole country. Neither the high mountains nor the valleys and hills can support the mass of them."
5 Et accipientes unusquisque vasa sua bellica et accendentes ignem in turribusmurorum suorum manebant custodientes per totam noctem illam.	5 Yet they all seized their weapons, lighted fires on their bastions, and kept watch throughout the night.
6 Altera autem dieeduxit Holofernes omnem equitatum suum contra faciem filiorum Israel, qui erantin Betulia,	6 On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the Israelites who were in Bethulia.
7 et visitavit ascensus civitatis eorum et fontes aquarumperambulavit et praeoccupavit eos. Et praeposuit eis castra virorum bellatorumet ipse convertit in populum suum.	7 He reconnoitered the approaches to their city and located their sources of water; these he seized, stationing armed detachments around them, while he himself returned to his troops.
8 Et accedentes ad eum omnes principesfiliorum Esau et omnes duces populi Moab et magistratus maritimae dixerunt:	8 All the commanders of the Edomites and all the leaders of the Ammonites, together with the generals of the seacoast, came to Holofernes and said:
9 “ Audiat verbum dominator noster, ne fiat confractio in virtute tua.	9 "Sir, listen to what we have to say, that there may be no losses among your troops.
10 Populus enim hic filiorum Israel non fidit in lanceis suis sed in altitudinibusmontium, in quibus inhabitant; non enim est facile ascendere vertices montiumipsorum.	10 These Israelites do not rely on their spears, but on the height of the mountains where they dwell; it is not easy to reach the summit of their mountains.
11 Et nunc, dominator, noli pugnare ad eos sicut pugna fit belli, etnon cadet ex populo tuo vir unus;	11 Therefore, sir, do not attack them in regular formation; thus not a single one of your troops will fall.
12 sed mane in castris tuis custodiens omnemvirum virtutis tuae, et obtineant pueri tui fontem aquarum, qui emanat a radicemontis,	12 Stay in your camp, and spare all your soldiers. Have some of your servants keep control of the source of water that flows out at the base of the mountain,
13 quia inde hauriunt aquas omnes inhabitantes Betuliam. Et interficieteos sitis, et tradent civitatem suam, et nos et populus tuus ascendemus supervertices montium proximos et obsidebimus in eis in custodiam, ut non exeat decivitate vir unus.	13 for that is where the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water. Then thirst will begin to carry them off, and they will surrender their city. Meanwhile, we and our men will go up to the summits of the nearby mountains, and encamp there to guard against anyone's leaving the city.
14 Et destilliscent in fame et siti ipsi et mulieres eorum etfilii eorum et, priusquam veniat gladius super eos, prosternentur in plateishabitationis suae,	14 They and their wives and children will languish with hunger, and even before the sword strikes them they will be laid low in the streets of their city.
15 et retribues eis retributionem malam, eo quod secesseruntet non obviaverunt faciei tuae in pace ”.	15 Thus you will render them dire punishment for their rebellion and their refusal to meet you peacefully."
16 Et placuerunt verba eorum coramHoloferne et coram omnibus famulis eius, et constituit facere, ut locuti sunt.	16 Their words pleased Holofernes and all his ministers, and he ordered their proposal to be carried out.
17 Et promoverunt castra filii Moab et cum eis quinque milia filiorum Assyriaeet castra constituerunt in convalle et praeoccupaverunt aquas et fontes aquarumfiliorum Israel.	17 Thereupon the Moabites moved camp, together with five thousand Assyrians. They encamped in the valley, and held the water supply and the springs of the Israelites.
18 Et ascenderunt filii Ammon et filii Esau et castraconstituerunt in montana contra Dothain. Et miserunt ex eis ad austrum etorientem contra Egrebel, quae est iuxta Chus, quae est ad rivum Mochmur. Etreliqua militia Assyriorum castra constituerunt in campo et operuerunt omnemfaciem terrae; et tabernacula et impedimenta eorum constituerunt in turba multa,et erant in multitudinem magnam valde.	18 The Edomites and the Ammonites went up and encamped in the mountain region opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men to the south and to the east opposite Egrebel, near Chusi, which is on Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army was encamped in the plain, covering the whole countryside. Their enormous store of tents and equipment was spread out in profusion everywhere.
19 Et filii Israel clamaverunt ad Dominum Deum suum, quoniam minorabaturspiritus eorum, quoniam circumdederant eos omnes inimici eorum, et non poteranteffugere de medio eorum.	19 The Israelites cried to the Lord, their God, for they were disheartened, since all their enemies had them surrounded, and there was no way of slipping through their lines.
20 Et manserunt in circuitu eorum omnia castraAssyriae, pedites et quadrigae et equites eorum per dies triginta quattuor. Etdeficiebant omnibus inhabitantibus Betuliam omnia vasa aquarum eorum,	20 The whole Assyrian camp, infantry, chariots, and cavalry, kept them thus surrounded for thirty-four days. All the reservoirs of water failed the inhabitants of Bethulia,
21 etcisternae eorum evacuabantur, et non habebant quod biberent in satietatem aquamunam diem, quoniam in mensura dabant eis bibere.	21 and the cisterns ran dry, so that on no day did they have enough to drink, but their drinking water was rationed.
22 Et anxiati sunt infanteseorum, et mulieres et iuvenes deficiebant a siti et cadebant in plateiscivitatis et in transitu portarum, et non erat virtus adhuc in eis.	22 Their children fainted away, and the women and youths were consumed with thirst and were collapsing in the streets and gateways of the city, with no strength left in them.
23 Etcollegit se omnis populus ad Oziam et ad principes civitatis, iuvenes etmulieres et infantes, et clamaverunt voce magna et dixerunt coram omnibussenioribus:	23 All the people, therefore, including youths, women, and children, went in a crowd to Uzziah and the rulers of the city. They set up a great clamor and said before the elders:
24 “ Iudicet Deus inter vos et nos, quoniam fecistis in nobisiniquitatem magnam non loquentes pacifica cum filiis Assyriae.	24 "God judge between you and us! You have done us grave injustice in not making peace with the Assyrians.
25 Et nunc nonest qui nos adiuvet, sed vendidit nos Deus in manus eorum, ut prosterneremurante eos in siti et perditione magna.	25 There is no help for us now! Instead, God has sold us into their power by laying us prostrate before them in thirst and utter exhaustion.
26 Et nunc convocate eos et traditecivitatem totam in captivitatem populo Holofernis et omni virtuti eius.	26 Therefore, summon them and deliver the whole city as booty to the troops of Holofernes and to all his forces;
27 Melius est enim nos fieri illis in rapinam; erimus enim eis in servos etancillas, et vivet anima nostra, et non videbimus mortem infantium nostrorum inoculis nostris et mulieres et filios nostros deficientes in animabus suis.	27 we would be better off to become their prey. We should indeed be made slaves, but at least we should live, and not have to behold our little ones dying before our eyes and our wives and children breathing out their souls.
28 Contestamur vobis caelum et terram et Deum eorum et Dominum patrum nostrorum,qui ulciscitur in nos secundum peccata nostra et secundum peccata patrumnostrorum, ut non faciat secundum verba haec in hac die ”.	28 We adjure you by heaven and earth, and by our God, the Lord of our forefathers, who is punishing us for our sins and those of our forefathers, to do as we have proposed, this very day."
29 Et factus estfletus magnus in medio ecclesiae omnium unanimiter, et clamaverunt ad DominumDeum voce magna.	29 All in the assembly with one accord broke into shrill wailing and loud cries to the Lord their God.
30 Et dixit ad eos Ozias: “ Aequo animo estote, fratres, et sustineamus adhucdies quinque, in quibus convertet Dominus Deus noster misericordiam suam supernos; non enim derelinquet nos in consummationem.	30 But Uzziah said to them, "Courage, my brothers! Let us wait five days more for the Lord our God, to show his mercy toward us; he will not utterly forsake us.
31 Si autem transierint istiquinque dies, et non fuerit super nos adiutorium, faciam secundum verba vestra”.	31 But if those days pass without help coming to us, I will do as you say."
32 Et dispersit plebem unumquemque in castra sua, et super muros et turrescivitatis abierunt, et mulieres et filios in domus suas dimiserunt; et erant inmagna humilitate valde.	32 Then he dispersed the men to their posts, and they returned to the walls and towers of the city; the women and children he sent to their homes. Throughout the city they were in great misery.