Livro de Judite 12

SAGRADA BIBLIA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Mandou então que a introduzissem onde estavam os seus tesouros, ordenando-lhe que ficasse ali, e regulou o que se lhe devia dar de sua mesa.	1 Then he ordered them to lead her into the room where his silverware was kept, and bade them set a table for her with his own delicacies to eat and his own wine to drink.
2 Judite respondeu-lhe: Não posso agora comer do que me mandaste servir, para não cometer infração (contra a Lei); comerei do que trouxe comigo.	2 But Judith said, "I will not partake of them, lest it be an occasion of sin; but I shall be amply supplied from the things I brought with me."
3 Holofernes disse-lhe: E quando acabarem as provisões que trouxeste contigo, que poderemos fazer por ti?	3 Holofernes asked her: "But if your provisions give out, where shall we get more of the same to provide for you? None of your people are with us."
4 Por tua vida; meu senhor, replicou Judite, juro que tua serva não gastará todas estas coisas, sem que Deus realize pela minha mão o que resolvi fazer. Os escravos de Holofernes introduziram-na então na tenda que ele tinha designado.	4 Judith answered him, "As surely as you, my lord, live, your handmaid will not use up her supplies till the Lord accomplishes by my hand what he has determined."
5 Aí entrando, Judite pediu que lhe fosse permitido sair à noite e antes do amanhecer, para fazer suas devoções e orar ao Senhor.	5 Then the servants of Holofernes led her into the tent, where she slept till midnight. In the night watch just before dawn, she rose
6 Holofernes ordenou aos seus escravos que a deixassem sair e entrar como quisesse, durante três dias, para adorar o seu Deus.	6 and sent this message to Holofernes, "Give orders, my lord, to let your handmaid go out for prayer."
7 Cada noite ela saía ao vale de Betúlia e fazia as suas abluções numa fonte.	7 So Holofernes ordered his bodyguard not to hinder her. Thus she stayed in the camp three days. Each night she went out to the ravine of Bethulia, where she washed herself at the spring of the camp.
8 Ao voltar, rogava ao Senhor Deus de Israel que lhe dirigisse os passos para a libertação do seu povo.	8 After bathing, she besought the Lord, the God of Israel, to direct her way for the triumph of his people.
9 Entrava em seguida na sua tenda, e ali permanecia pura até que tomava a sua refeição pela tarde.	9 Then she returned purified to the tent, and remained there until her food was brought to her toward evening.
10 No quarto dia, Holofernes deu um banquete aos seus oficiais. E disse a Vagao, seu eunuco: Vê se persuades a essa judia que consinta espontaneamente em tornar-se minha concubina.	10 On the fourth day Holofernes gave a banquet for his servants alone, to which he did not invite any of the officers.
11 (Entre os assírios era coisa vergonhosa que uma mulher zombasse de um homem, retirando-se sem se ter dado a ele.)	11 And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch in charge of his household: "Go and persuade this Hebrew woman in your care to come and to eat and drink with us.
12 Vagao foi ter com Judite e disse-lhe: Não tema a boa jovem entrar à presença de meu senhor; ser-lhe-ia uma honra comer em sua companhia e beber vinho alegremente.	12 It would be a disgrace for us to have such a woman with us without enjoying her company. If we do not entice her, she will laugh us to scorn."
13 Quem sou eu, respondeu ela, para opor-me ao meu senhor?	13 So Bagoas left the presence of Holofernes, and came to Judith and said, "So fair a maiden should not be reluctant to come to my lord to be honored by him, to enjoy drinking wine with us, and to be like one of the Assyrian women who live in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar."
14 Farei tudo o que parecer bom e melhor aos seus olhos; o que mais lhe agradar, isso será também para mim o melhor durante toda a minha vida.	14 She replied, "Who am I to refuse my lord? Whatever is pleasing to him I will promptly do. This will be a joy for me till the day of my death."
15 Ela levantou-se e, trajada com requinte, apresentou-se diante dele.	15 Thereupon she proceeded to put on her festive garments and all her feminine adornments. Meanwhile her maid went ahead and spread out on the ground for her in front of Holofernes the fleece Bagoas had furnished for her daily use in reclining at her dinner.
16 O coração de Holofernes agitou-se, porque ardia de paixão por ela.	16 Then Judith came in and reclined on it. The heart of Holofernes was in rapture over her, and his spirit was shaken. He was burning with the desire to possess her, for he had been biding his time to seduce her from the day he saw her.
17 Come e bebe alegremente, disse-lhe ele, pois encontraste graça aos meus olhos.	17 Holofernes said to her, "Drink and be merry with us!"
18 Ao que respondeu Judite: Eu beberei, senhor, porque nunca em minha vida me senti tão engrandecida como hoje.	18 Judith replied, "I will gladly drink, my lord, for at no time since I was born have I ever enjoyed life as much as I do today."
19 Mas ela tomou e comeu do que a sua serva lhe tinha preparado, e bebeu com ele.	19 She then took the things her maid had prepared, and ate and drank in his presence.
20 Holofernes alegrou-se grandemente por tê-la junto dele, e bebeu vinho como nunca tinha bebido.	20 Holofernes, charmed by her, drank a great quantity of wine, more than he had ever drunk on one single day in his life.