Livro de Judite 12

SAGRADA BIBLIA	NEW JERUSALEM
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 With that he had her brought in to where his silver dinner service was already laid, and had his ownfood served to her and his own wine poured out for her.
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 would rather not eat this, in case I incur some fault. What I have brought wil beenough for me.'
3 Holofernes disse-lhe: E quando acabarem as provisões que trouxeste contigo, que poderemos fazer por ti?	3 'Suppose your provisions run out,' Holofernes asked, 'how could we get more of the same sort? Wehave no one belonging to your race here.'
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 'May your soul live, my lord,' Judith answered, 'the Lord wil have used me to accomplish his plan,before your servant has finished these provisions.'
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 Holofernes' adjutants then took her to a tent where she slept until midnight. A little before the morningwatch, she got up.
6 Holofernes ordenou aos seus escravos que a deixassem sair e entrar como quisesse, durante três dias, para adorar o seu Deus.	6 She had already sent this request to Holofernes, 'Let my lord kindly give orders for your servant to beal owed to go out and pray,'
7 Cada noite ela saía ao vale de Betúlia e fazia as suas abluções numa fonte.	7 and Holofernes had ordered his guards not to prevent her. She stayed in the camp for three days; she went out each night to the val ey of Bethulia and washed at the spring where the picket had been posted.
8 Ao voltar, rogava ao Senhor Deus de Israel que lhe dirigisse os passos para a libertação do seu povo.	8 As she went she prayed to the Lord God of Israel to guide her in her plan to relieve the children of herpeople.
9 Entrava em seguida na sua tenda, e ali permanecia pura até que tomava a sua refeição pela tarde.	9 Having purified herself, she would return and stay in her tent until her meal was brought her in theevening.
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, inviting only his own staff and none of the other officers.
11 (Entre os assírios era coisa vergonhosa que uma mulher zombasse de um homem, retirando-se sem se ter dado a ele.)	11 He said to Bagoas, the officer in charge of his personal affairs, 'Go and persuade that Hebrew womanyou are looking after to come and join us and eat and drink in our company.
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 We shal be disgraced if we let a woman like this go without seducing her. If we do not seduce her,everyone wil laugh at us!'
13 Quem sou eu, respondeu ela, para opor-me ao meu senhor?	13 Bagoas then left Holofernes and went to see Judith. 'Would this young and lovely woman condescendto come to my lord?' he asked. 'She will occupy the seat of honour opposite him, drink the joyful wine with usand be treated today like one of the Assyrian ladies who stand 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 'Who am I', Judith replied, 'to resist my lord? I shal not hesitate to do whatever he wishes, and doingthis wil be my joy to my dying day.'
15 Ela levantou-se e, trajada com requinte, apresentou-se diante dele.	15 So she got up and put on her dress and al her feminine adornments. Her maid preceded her, and onthe floor in front of Holofernes spread the fleece which Bagoas had given Judith for her daily use to lie on as sheate.
16 O coração de Holofernes agitou-se, porque ardia de paixão por ela.	16 Judith came in and took her place. The heart of Holofernes was ravished at the sight; his very soulwas stirred. He was seized with a violent desire to sleep with her; and indeed since the first day he saw her, hehad been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her.
17 Come e bebe alegremente, disse-lhe ele, pois encontraste graça aos meus olhos.	17 'Drink then!' Holofernes said. 'Enjoy yourself with us!'
18 Ao que respondeu Judite: Eu beberei, senhor, porque nunca em minha vida me senti tão engrandecida como hoje.	18 'I am delighted to do so, my lord, for since my birth I have never felt my life more worthwhile thantoday.'
19 Mas ela tomou e comeu do que a sua serva lhe tinha preparado, e bebeu com ele.	19 She took what her maid had prepared, and ate and drank facing him.
20 Holofernes alegrou-se grandemente por tê-la junto dele, e bebeu vinho como nunca tinha bebido.	20 Holofernes was so enchanted with her that he drank far more wine than he had drunk on any otherday in his life.