Judite, 12

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 commanded them to bring her in where his silver dishes were kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own food and to serve her with his own wine.

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 cannot eat it, lest it be an offense; but I will be provided from the things I have brought with me."

3. Holofernes disse-lhe: “E quando acabarem as provisões que trouxeste contigo, que poderemos fazer por ti?”.

3. Holofernes said to her, "If your supply runs out, where can we get more like it for you? For none of your people is here with us."

4. “Pela tua vida, meu senhor – replicou Judite –, juro que tua serva não gastará todas suas provisões antes 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 replied, "As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not use up the things I have with me before the Lord carries out by my hand what he has determined to do."

5. Ali 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 brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Along toward the morning watch she arose

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 to Holofernes and said, "Let my lord now command that your servant be permitted to go out and pray."

7. Cada noite ela saía ao vale de Betúlia e fazia as suas abluções numa fonte.

7. So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained in the camp for three days, and went out each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the camp.

8. Ao voltar, rogava ao Senhor, Deus de Israel, que lhe dirigisse os passos para a libertação do seu povo.

8. When she came up from the spring she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her way for the raising up of her people.

9. Entrava em seguida na sua tenda e ali permanecia pura até que tomava a sua refeição pela tarde.

9. So she returned clean and stayed in the tent until she ate her food 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 held a banquet for his slave only, and did not invite any of his 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 who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go now and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and eat and drink with us.

12. Vagao foi ter com Judite e disse-lhe: “Não tema a boa jovem entrar na presença de meu senhor. Seria para ele uma honra comer em sua companhia e beber vinho alegremente”.

12. For it will be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying her company, for if we do not embrace her she will laugh at us."

13. “Quem sou eu – respondeu ela –, para opor-me ao meu senhor?

13. So Bagoas went out from the presence of Holofernes, and approached her and said, "This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord and be honored in his presence, and drink wine and be merry with us, and become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house 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. And Judith said, "Who am I, to refuse my lord? Surely whatever pleases him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until the day of my death!"

15. Ela levantou-se e, trajada com requinte, apresentou-se diante dele.

15. So she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman's finery, and her maid went and spread on the ground for her before Holofernes the soft fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that she might recline on them when she ate.

16. O coração de Holofernes agitou-se, porque ardia de paixão por ela.

16. Then Judith came in and lay down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished with her and he was moved with great desire to possess her; for he had been waiting for an opportunity to deceive her, ever since the day he first saw her.

17. “Come e bebe alegremente – disse-lhe ele –, pois encontraste graça aos meus olhos.”

17. So Holofernes said to her. "Drink now, 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 said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life means more to me today than in all the days since I was born."

19. Mas ela tomou e comeu do que a sua serva lhe tinha preparado e bebeu com ele.

19. Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.

20. Holofernes alegrou-se grandemente por tê-la junto dele. Bebeu vinho como nunca tinha bebido.

20. And Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born.