Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Judit 4
1Cuando los hijos de Israel, habitantes de la tierra de Judá, supieron esto, temieron sobremanera su llegada. Then, upon hearing these things, the sons of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Judah, were very afraid before his face.2Invadió sus corazones el terror y el espanto, porque temían que hiciese con Jerusalén y con el Templo del Señor lo que había perpetrado en las otras ciudades y sus templos. Trembling and horror invaded their senses, lest he should do the same thing to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord that he had done to other cities and their temples.3Enviaron gente a toda la frontera de Samaria hasta Jericó, ocuparon de antemano todas las cimas de los montes, And they sent into all of Samaria, and by an indirect route even to Jericho, and they seized in advance all the tops of the mountains.4cercaron de muros sus aldeas y almacenaron granos, preparándose para la guerra. And they surrounded their villages with walls, and they gathered together grain in preparation for the fight.5Asimismo el sacerdote Eliaquim escribió a todos los que habitaban enfrente de Esdrelón, ante la gran llanura cerca de Dotain, y a todos los lugares por los cuales (el enemigo) podía pasar, And then Eliachim the priest wrote to all who were opposite Esdrelon, which is opposite the face of the great plain near Dothain, and to all whom he would be able to reach through a passable way:6que ocupasen las subidas de los montes, por donde se podía ir a Jerusalén, y custodiasen los pasos estrechos que podía haber entre los montes. that they should hold the ascents of the mountains, through which there might be any passage able to reach Jerusalem, and that they should keep watch where the passage was narrow, wherever possible, between the mountains.7Los hijos de Israel hicieron conforme se lo había ordenado Eliaquim, sacerdote del Señor. And the sons of Israel did just as Eliachim, the priest of the Lord, had appointed them.8Todo el pueblo invocó al Señor con grandes instancias, y humillaron sus almas con ayunos y oraciones, así ellos como sus mujeres. And all the people cried out to the Lord with great urgency, and they humbled their souls with fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.9Los sacerdotes vistieron cilicios y los niños se postraron por tierra delante del Templo del Señor, cuyo altar cubrieron también de cilicio. And the priests clothed themselves with haircloths, and they prostrated the little children opposite the face of the temple of the Lord, and they covered the altar of the Lord with haircloth.10Y clamaron todos al Señor, Dios de Israel (pidiéndole) que no fuesen llevados presos sus hijos, ni repartidas sus mujeres, ni exterminadas sus ciudades, ni profanado su Santuario, para que no llegasen a ser el oprobio de las naciones. And they cried out to the Lord God of Israel with one accord, lest their children should be given over as prey, and their wives into distribution, and their cities into extermination, and their holy things into defilement, and so that they might not become the disgrace of the Gentiles.11Entonces Eliaquim, Sumo Sacerdote del Señor, recorrió todo (el país de) Israel, y les habló Then Eliachim, the high priest of the Lord, traveled all around Israel, and he was talking to them,12en estos términos: “Tened por cierto que el Señor oirá vuestras plegarias si perseverareis constantemente en ayunos y oraciones delante del Señor. saying: “Know that the Lord will heed your prayers, if you continue to persevere in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.13Acordaos de Moisés, siervo del Señor, el cual no por medio de las armas, sino suplicando con santas oraciones, derrotó a Amalec, que confiaba en su fuerza, en su poder, en su ejército, en sus broqueles, en sus carros de guerra y en su caballería. Recall that Moses, the servant of the Lord, overcame Amalek, who trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his bronze shields, and in his swift chariots, and in his horsemen. He overcame him, not by fighting with iron, but by pleading with holy prayers.14Así sucederá a todos los enemigos de Israel si perseverareis en esta obra que habéis comenzado.” So will it be with all the enemies of Israel, if you persevere in this work that you have begun.”15Movidos por estas exhortaciones, perseveraban orando en la presencia del Señor, Therefore, by this exhortation and his prayer to the Lord, they continued in the sight of the Lord,16de tal manera, que aun los que ofrecían holocaustos al Señor, le presentaban las víctimas vestidas de cilicios, y cubiertas de ceniza sus cabezas. so that even those who offered holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and there were ashes upon their heads.17Y todos oraban a Dios de todo corazón, para que visitase a Israel, su pueblo. And they all begged God with their whole heart, that he would visit his people Israel.