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

Deuteronomium 19


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VULGATANEW JERUSALEM
1 Cum disperdiderit Dominus Deus tuus gentes, quarum tibi traditurus est terram, et possederis eam, habitaverisque in urbibus ejus et in ædibus :1 'When Yahweh your God has annihilated the nations whose country Yahweh your God is going to giveyou, and you have dispossessed them and are living in their towns and in their houses,
2 tres civitates separabis tibi in medio terræ, quam Dominus Deus tuus dabit tibi in possessionem,2 you must set aside three towns, central y placed in the country which Yahweh your God is giving youfor your own.
3 sternens diligenter viam : et in tres æqualiter partes totam terræ tuæ provinciam divides : ut habeat e vicino qui propter homicidium profugus est, quo possit evadere.3 You wil keep the approaches to them in good order, dividing the area of the country which Yahwehyour God is giving you as your heritage, into three parts, so that any kil er can flee to these towns.
4 Hæc erit lex homicidæ fugientis, cujus vita servanda est : qui percusserit proximum suum nesciens, et qui heri et nudiustertius nullum contra eum odium habuisse comprobatur :4 Here is an example of how someone may save his life by fleeing to them. 'If anyone has struck hisfel ow accidental y, without any previous feud with him
5 sed abiisse cum eo simpliciter in silvam ad ligna cædenda, et in succisione lignorum securis fugerit manu, ferrumque lapsum de manubrio amicum ejus percusserit, et occiderit : hic ad unam supradictarum urbium confugiet, et vivet :5 (for example, he goes with his fel ow into the forest to cut wood; his arm swings the axe to fel a tree;the head slips off the handle and strikes his companion dead), that man may take refuge in one of these townsand save his life.
6 ne forsitan proximus ejus, cujus effusus est sanguis, dolore stimulatus, persequatur, et apprehendat eum si longior via fuerit, et percutiat animam ejus, qui non est reus mortis : quia nullum contra eum, qui occisus est, odium prius habuisse monstratur.6 It must not be allowed that the avenger of blood, in the heat of his anger, should pursue the kil er andthat the length of the road should help him to overtake and wound him fatal y; for the man has not deserved todie, having had no previous feud with his victim.
7 Idcirco præcipio tibi, ut tres civitates æqualis inter se spatii dividas.7 'Hence I am giving you this order: You must set aside three towns,
8 Cum autem dilataverit Dominus Deus tuus terminos tuos, sicut juravit patribus tuis, et dederit tibi cunctam terram, quam eis pollicitus est8 and if Yahweh your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors that he would, andgives you the whole country which he promised to give to your ancestors-
9 (si tamen custodieris mandata ejus, et feceris, quæ hodie præcipio tibi, ut diligas Dominum Deum tuum, et ambules in viis ejus omni tempore), addes tibi tres alias civitates, et supradictarum trium urbium numerum duplicabis :9 provided that you keep and observe al the commandments which I am enjoining on you today, lovingYahweh your God and always following his ways-then, to those three towns you wil add three more.
10 ut non effundatur sanguis innoxius in medio terræ, quam Dominus Deus tuus dabit tibi possidendam, ne sis sanguinis reus.10 In this way, innocent blood will not be shed in the country which Yahweh your God is going to giveyou as your heritage; otherwise you would incur blood-guilt.
11 Si quis autem, odio habens proximum suum, insidiatus fuerit vitæ ejus, surgensque percusserit illum, et mortuus fuerit, fugeritque ad unam de supradictis urbibus,11 'But if it happens that a man has a feud with his fel ow and lies in wait for him and attacks him andfatal y wounds him and he dies, and the man takes refuge in one of these towns,
12 mittent seniores civitatis illius, et arripient eum de loco effugii, tradentque in manu proximi, cujus sanguis effusus est, et morietur.12 the elders of his own town must send there and have him taken and handed over to the avenger ofblood, to be put to death.
13 Non miseraberis ejus, et auferes innoxium sanguinem de Israël, ut bene sit tibi.13 You must show him no pity. You must banish the shedding of innocent blood from Israel, and thenyou wil prosper.
14 Non assumes, et transferes terminos proximi tui, quos fixerunt priores in possessione tua, quam Dominus Deus tuus dabit tibi in terra quam acceperis possidendam.
14 'You must not displace your neighbour's boundary mark, positioned by men of old in the heritagesoon to be yours, in the country which Yahweh your God is about to give you.
15 Non stabit testis unus contra aliquem, quidquid illud peccati, et facinoris fuerit : sed in ore duorum aut trium testium stabit omne verbum.15 'A single witness wil not suffice to convict anyone of a crime or offence of any kind; whatever themisdemeanour, the evidence of two witnesses or three is required to sustain the charge.
16 Si steterit testis mendax contra hominem, accusans eum prævaricationis,16 'If someone gives false evidence against anyone, laying a charge of apostasy,
17 stabunt ambo, quorum causa est, ante Dominum in conspectu sacerdotum et judicum qui fuerint in diebus illis.17 both parties to this dispute before Yahweh must appear before the priests and judges then in office.
18 Cumque diligentissime perscrutantes, invenerint falsum testem dixisse contra fratrem suum mendacium,18 The judges wil make a careful enquiry, and if it turns out that the witness is a liar and has made a false accusation against his brother,
19 reddent ei sicut fratri suo facere cogitavit, et auferes malum de medio tui :19 you must treat the witness as he would have treated his brother. You must banish this evil fromamong you.
20 ut audientes ceteri timorem habeant, et nequaquam talia audeant facere.20 The rest, hearing of this, wil be afraid and never again do such an evil thing among you.
21 Non misereberis ejus, sed animam pro anima, oculum pro oculo, dentem pro dente, manum pro manu, pedem pro pede exiges.21 You must show no pity. 'Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.'