Livro de Judite 7

SAGRADA BIBLIA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 No dia seguinte, Holofernes ordenou às suas tropas que tomassem de assalto Betúlia.	1 The following day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allied troops that had come to his support, to move against Bethulia, seize the mountain passes, and engage the Israelites in battle.
2 Havia cento e vinte mil soldados de infantaria e vinte e dois mil cavaleiros, além dos homens de armas que tinha aprisionado e dos jovens que havia levado das províncias e das cidades.	2 That same day all their fighting men went into action. Their forces numbered a hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand horsemen, not counting the baggage train or the men who accompanied it on foot-a very great army.
3 Prepararam-se todos para combater contra os israelitas e partiram pela encosta da montanha até o cume que olha para Dotain, desde o lugar chamado Belma até Quelmon, que está fronteiro a Esdrelon.	3 They encamped at the spring in the valley near Bethulia, and spread out in breadth toward Dothan as far as Balbaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.
4 Quando os israelitas viram aquela multidão, prostraram-se por terra e cobriram de cinzas as suas cabeças, orando em comum ao Deus de Israel para que fizesse misericórdia ao seu povo.	4 When the Israelites saw how many there were, they said to one another in great dismay: "Soon they will devour the whole country. Neither the high mountains nor the valleys and hills can support the mass of them."
5 Tomando então as suas armas de guerra, postaram-se nos lugares em que caminhos estreitos conduziam às passagens entre os montes, e ali montaram guarda noite e dia.	5 Yet they all seized their weapons, lighted fires on their bastions, and kept watch throughout the night.
6 Entretanto, ao fazer uma ronda pelos arredores, Holofernes descobriu ao sul da cidade a fonte que a abastecia por meio de um aqueduto, e mandou cortá-lo.	6 On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the Israelites who were in Bethulia.
7 Havia, entretanto, não longe dos muros, algumas fontes aonde iam furtivamente os sitiados buscar água, mais para aliviar um pouco a sede que para beber.	7 He reconnoitered the approaches to their city and located their sources of water; these he seized, stationing armed detachments around them, while he himself returned to his troops.
8 Então os amonitas e os moabitas foram dizer a Holofernes: Os israelitas não confiam nem nas lanças nem nas flechas, mas são defendidos pelas montanhas e sua verdadeira força são as colinas escarpadas.	8 All the commanders of the Edomites and all the leaders of the Ammonites, together with the generals of the seacoast, came to Holofernes and said:
9 Para que possas vencê-los sem combate, põe guardas às fontes, para não buscarem água ali, e os matareis sem golpes de espada. Ou, pelo menos, esgotados pela sede, entregarão a cidade, a qual, por estar situada nas montanhas, julgavam inexpugnável.	9 "Sir, listen to what we have to say, that there may be no losses among your troops.
10 Esta sugestão agradou a Holofernes e aos seus oficiais, e ele mandou que cada fonte fosse vigiada por um contingente de cem homens.	10 These Israelites do not rely on their spears, but on the height of the mountains where they dwell; it is not easy to reach the summit of their mountains.
11 Passados vinte dias de guarda, secaram-se as fontes e os poços de Betúlia, e os habitantes que recebiam quotidianamente a sua medida de água não a tiveram mais nem sequer para um dia.	11 Therefore, sir, do not attack them in regular formation; thus not a single one of your troops will fall.
12 Então, reuniram-se todos os homens, mulheres, jovens e crianças ao redor de Ozias, e disseram-lhe a uma voz:	12 Stay in your camp, and spare all your soldiers. Have some of your servants keep control of the source of water that flows out at the base of the mountain,
13 Deus seja juiz entre nós e ti, pois, recusando negociar a paz com os assírios, atraíste a desgraça sobre nós; e por isso entregou-nos Deus nas suas mãos.	13 for that is where the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water. Then thirst will begin to carry them off, and they will surrender their city. Meanwhile, we and our men will go up to the summits of the nearby mountains, and encamp there to guard against anyone's leaving the city.
14 Também por isso não há quem nos socorra, estando nós aos seus olhos esgotados pela sede.	14 They and their wives and children will languish with hunger, and even before the sword strikes them they will be laid low in the streets of their city.
15 Agora, pois, reúne todos os que estão na cidade e entreguemo-nos espontaneamente aos homens de Holofernes.	15 Thus you will render them dire punishment for their rebellion and their refusal to meet you peacefully."
16 É melhor que bendigamos a Deus no cativeiro, vivos, do que morrer vergonhosamente diante de todos os homens, vendo morrer sob os nossos olhos nossas mulheres e nossos filhos.	16 Their words pleased Holofernes and all his ministers, and he ordered their proposal to be carried out.
17 O céu e a terra nos são testemunhas, assim como o Deus de nossos pais que toma vingança de nossos pecados: entrega sem demora a cidade ao exército de Holofernes, para que o fio da espada abrevie o nosso fim, retardado pelo ardor da sede!	17 Thereupon the Moabites moved camp, together with five thousand Assyrians. They encamped in the valley, and held the water supply and the springs of the Israelites.
18 Tendo eles assim falado, levantou-se um grande pranto e gritos lancinantes na assembléia, e a sua voz elevou-se para Deus durante várias horas:	18 The Edomites and the Ammonites went up and encamped in the mountain region opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men to the south and to the east opposite Egrebel, near Chusi, which is on Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army was encamped in the plain, covering the whole countryside. Their enormous store of tents and equipment was spread out in profusion everywhere.
19 Pecamos, diziam eles, nós e nossos pais, cometemos a injustiça e a iniqüidade.	19 The Israelites cried to the Lord, their God, for they were disheartened, since all their enemies had them surrounded, and there was no way of slipping through their lines.
20 Vós, que sois bom, tende piedade de nós, ou então que vossos castigos tomem vingança de nossas iniqüidades; mas não entregueis os que vos invocam a um povo que vos não conhece,	20 The whole Assyrian camp, infantry, chariots, and cavalry, kept them thus surrounded for thirty-four days. All the reservoirs of water failed the inhabitants of Bethulia,
21 para que se não diga entre os pagãos: Onde está o seu Deus?	21 and the cisterns ran dry, so that on no day did they have enough to drink, but their drinking water was rationed.
22 Fatigados enfim de gritar e de chorar, eles se calaram.	22 Their children fainted away, and the women and youths were consumed with thirst and were collapsing in the streets and gateways of the city, with no strength left in them.
23 Ozias levantou-se então banhado em lágrimas: Coragem, meus irmãos! - disse ele.- Esperemos (ainda) cinco dias a misericórdia do Senhor.	23 All the people, therefore, including youths, women, and children, went in a crowd to Uzziah and the rulers of the city. They set up a great clamor and said before the elders:
24 Talvez se aplaque a sua cólera e dê glória ao seu nome.	24 "God judge between you and us! You have done us grave injustice in not making peace with the Assyrians.
25 Entretanto, se depois de cinco dias não nos chegar socorro algum, faremos o que propusestes.	25 There is no help for us now! Instead, God has sold us into their power by laying us prostrate before them in thirst and utter exhaustion.
	26 Therefore, summon them and deliver the whole city as booty to the troops of Holofernes and to all his forces;
	27 we would be better off to become their prey. We should indeed be made slaves, but at least we should live, and not have to behold our little ones dying before our eyes and our wives and children breathing out their souls.
	28 We adjure you by heaven and earth, and by our God, the Lord of our forefathers, who is punishing us for our sins and those of our forefathers, to do as we have proposed, this very day."
	29 All in the assembly with one accord broke into shrill wailing and loud cries to the Lord their God.
	30 But Uzziah said to them, "Courage, my brothers! Let us wait five days more for the Lord our God, to show his mercy toward us; he will not utterly forsake us.
	31 But if those days pass without help coming to us, I will do as you say."
	32 Then he dispersed the men to their posts, and they returned to the walls and towers of the city; the women and children he sent to their homes. Throughout the city they were in great misery.