Iudith 2

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Anno tertiodecimo Nabuchodonosor regis, vigesima et secunda die mensis primi, factum est verbum in domo Nabuchodonosor regis Assyriorum ut defenderet se.	1 In the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month, there was a discussion in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, about taking revenge on the whole world, as he had threatened.
2 Vocavitque omnes majores natu, omnesque duces et bellatores suos, et habuit cum eis mysterium consilii sui :	2 He summoned all his ministers and nobles, laid before them his secret plan, and urged the total destruction of those countries.
3 dixitque cogitationem suam in eo esse, ut omnem terram suo subjugaret imperio.	3 They decided to do away with all those who had refused to comply with the order he had issued.
4 Quod dictum cum placuisset omnibus, vocavit Nabuchodonosor rex Holofernem principem militiæ suæ,	4 When he had completed his plan, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, summoned Holofernes, general in chief of his forces, second to himself in command, and said to him:
5 et dixit ei : Egredere adversus omne regnum occidentis, et contra eos præcipue, qui contempserunt imperium meum.	5 "Thus says the great king, the lord of all the earth: Go forth from my presence, take with you men of proven valor, a hundred and twenty thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry,
6 Non parcet oculus tuus ulli regno, omnemque urbem munitam subjugabis mihi.	6 and proceed against all the land of the West, because they did not comply with the order I issued.
7 Tunc Holofernes vocavit duces et magistratus virtutis Assyriorum, et dinumeravit viros in expeditionem sicut præcepit ei rex, centum viginti millia peditum pugnatorum, et equitum sagittariorum duodecim millia.	7 Tell them to have earth and water ready, for I will come against them in my wrath; I will cover all the land with the feet of my soldiers, to whom I will deliver them as spoils.
8 Omnemque expeditionem suam fecit præire in multitudine innumerabilium camelorum, cum his quæ exercitibus sufficerent copiose, boum quoque armenta, gregesque ovium, quorum non erat numerus.	8 Their slain shall fill their ravines and wadies, the swelling torrent shall be choked with their dead; 9 and I will deport them as exiles to the very ends of the earth.
9 Frumentum ex omni Syria in transitu suo parari constituit.
10 Aurum vero et argentum de domo regis assumpsit multum nimis.	10 "You go before me and take possession of all their territories for me. If they surrender to you, guard them for me till the day of their punishment.
11 Et profectus est ipse, et omnis exercitus cum quadrigis, et equitibus, et sagittariis : qui cooperuerunt faciem terræ sicut locustæ.	11 As for those who resist, show them no quarter, but deliver them up to slaughter and plunder in each country you occupy.
12 Cumque pertransisset fines Assyriorum, venit ad magnos montes Ange, qui sunt a sinistro Ciliciæ : ascenditque omnia castella eorum, et obtinuit omnem munitionem.	12 For as I live, and by the strength of my kingdom, what I have spoken I will accomplish by my power.
13 Effregit autem civitatem opinatissimam Melothi, prædavitque omnes filios Tharsis et filios Ismaël qui erant contra faciem deserti, et ad austrum terræ Cellon.	13 Do not disobey a single one of the orders of your lord; fulfill them exactly as I have commanded you, and do it without delay."
14 Et transivit Euphraten, et venit in Mesopotamiam : et fregit omnes civitates excelsas quæ erant ibi, a torrente Mambre usquequo perveniatur ad mare :	14 So Holofernes left the presence of his lord, and summoned all the princes, and the generals and officers of the Assyrian army.
15 et occupavit terminos ejus, a Cilicia usque ad fines Japheth qui sunt ad austrum.	15 He mustered a hundred and twenty thousand picked troops, as his lord had commanded, and twelve thousand mounted archers,
16 Abduxitque omnes filios Madian, et prædavit omnem locupletationem eorum, omnesque resistentes sibi occidit in ore gladii.	16 and grouped them into a complete combat force.
17 Et post hæc descendit in campos Damasci in diebus messis, et succendit omnia sata, omnesque arbores, et vineas fecit incidi :	17 He took along a very large number of camels, asses, and mules for their baggage; innumerable sheep, cattle, and goats for their food supply;
18 et cecidit timor illius super omnes inhabitantes terram.	18 abundant provisions for each man, and much gold and silver from the royal palace.
	19 Then he and his whole army proceeded on their expedition in advance of King Nebuchadnezzar, to cover all the western region with their chariots and cavalry and regular infantry.
	20 A huge, irregular force, too many to count, like locusts or the dust of the earth, went along with them.
	21 After a three-day march from Nineveh, they reached the plain of Bectileth, and from Bectileth they next encamped near the mountains to the north of Upper Cilicia.
	22 From there Holofernes took his whole force, the infantry, cavalry, and chariots, and marched into the mountain region.
	23 He devastated Put and Lud, and plundered all the Rassisites and the Ishmaelites on the border of the desert toward the south of Chaldea.
	24 Then, following the Euphrates, he went through Mesopotamia, and battered down every fortified city along the Wadi Abron, until he reached the sea.
	25 He seized the territory of Cilicia, and cut down everyone who resisted him. Then he proceeded to the southern borders of Japheth, toward Arabia.
	26 He surrounded all the Midianites, burned their tents, and plundered their sheepfolds.
	27 Descending to the plain of Damascus at the time of the wheat harvest, he set fire to all their fields, destroyed their flocks and herds, despoiled their cities, devastated their plains, and put all their youths to the sword.