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Sabato, 11 maggio 2024 - San Fabio e compagni ( Letture di oggi)

Judith 7


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DOUAI-RHEIMSNOVA VULGATA
1 But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to go up against Bethulia.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.
2 Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of the provinces and cities of all the youth.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.
3 All these prepared themselves together to fight against the children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Behlma, unto Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon.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.
4 But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy upon his people.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 ”.
5 And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.5 Et accipientes unusquisque vasa sua bellica et accendentes ignem in turribusmurorum suorum manebant custodientes per totam noctem illam.
6 Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountains which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to he cut off.6 Altera autem dieeduxit Holofernes omnem equitatum suum contra faciem filiorum Israel, qui erantin Betulia,
7 Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.7 et visitavit ascensus civitatis eorum et fontes aquarumperambulavit et praeoccupavit eos. Et praeposuit eis castra virorum bellatorumet ipse convertit in populum suum.
8 But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but the mountains are their defense, and the steep hires and precipices guard them.8 Et accedentes ad eum omnes principesfiliorum Esau et omnes duces populi Moab et magistratus maritimae dixerunt:
9 Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is situate in the mountains, to be impregnable.9 “ Audiat verbum dominator noster, ne fiat confractio in virtute tua.
10 And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.10 Populus enim hic filiorum Israel non fidit in lanceis suis sed in altitudinibusmontium, in quibus inhabitant; non enim est facile ascendere vertices montiumipsorum.
11 And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people by measure.11 Et nunc, dominator, noli pugnare ad eos sicut pugna fit belli, etnon cadet ex populo tuo vir unus;
12 Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,12 sed mane in castris tuis custodiens omnemvirum virtutis tuae, et obtineant pueri tui fontem aquarum, qui emanat a radicemontis,
13 Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.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.
14 And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.14 Et destilliscent in fame et siti ipsi et mulieres eorum etfilii eorum et, priusquam veniat gladius super eos, prosternentur in plateishabitationis suae,
15 And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.15 et retribues eis retributionem malam, eo quod secesseruntet non obviaverunt faciei tuae in pace ”.
16 For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.16 Et placuerunt verba eorum coramHoloferne et coram omnibus famulis eius, et constituit facere, ut locuti sunt.
17 We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes, that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made longer by the drought of thirst.17 Et promoverunt castra filii Moab et cum eis quinque milia filiorum Assyriaeet castra constituerunt in convalle et praeoccupaverunt aquas et fontes aquarumfiliorum Israel.
18 And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice they cried to God, saying: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.
19 We have sinned with our fathers we have done unjustly, we have commited iniquity:19 Et filii Israel clamaverunt ad Dominum Deum suum, quoniam minorabaturspiritus eorum, quoniam circumdederant eos omnes inimici eorum, et non poteranteffugere de medio eorum.
20 Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee,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,
21 That they may not say among the gentiles: Where is their God?21 etcisternae eorum evacuabantur, et non habebant quod biberent in satietatem aquamunam diem, quoniam in mensura dabant eis bibere.
22 And when being wearied with these cries, and tired with these weepings, they held their peace,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.
23 Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.23 Etcollegit se omnis populus ad Oziam et ad principes civitatis, iuvenes etmulieres et infantes, et clamaverunt voce magna et dixerunt coram omnibussenioribus:
24 For perhaps he will put a stop to his indignation, and will give glory to his own name.24 “ Iudicet Deus inter vos et nos, quoniam fecistis in nobisiniquitatem magnam non loquentes pacifica cum filiis Assyriae.
25 But if after five days be past there come no aid, we will do the things which you leave spoken.25 Et nunc nonest qui nos adiuvet, sed vendidit nos Deus in manus eorum, ut prosterneremurante eos in siti et perditione magna.
26 Et nunc convocate eos et traditecivitatem totam in captivitatem populo Holofernis et omni virtuti eius.
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.
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 ”.
29 Et factus estfletus magnus in medio ecclesiae omnium unanimiter, et clamaverunt ad DominumDeum voce magna.
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.
31 Si autem transierint istiquinque dies, et non fuerit super nos adiutorium, faciam secundum verba vestra”.
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.