Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
Judit 7
1Al día siguiente Holofernes mandó a sus tropas que subiesen contra Betulia. But Holofernes, on another day, instructed his army to ascend against Bethulia.2Tenía ciento veinte mil soldados de infantería y veinte y dos mil de caballería, sin contar a los que había adiestrado de entre los cautivos, y toda la juventud que por fuerza se había llevado de las provincias y ciudades. Moreover, there were one hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers, and twenty-two thousand horsemen, besides the contingents of those men who had been taken captive, and all the youths who had been abducted from the provinces and the cities.3Todos a un tiempo se prepararon para combatir a los hijos de Israel, y avanzaron por la ladera del monte hasta la altura que mira a Dotain, (acampando) desde el lugar llamado Belma, hasta Celmón, situado enfrente de Esdrelón. All these prepared themselves together to fight against the sons of Israel, and they came through the foothills of the mountain, even to the apex, which looks down upon Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, up to Chelmon, which is opposite Esdrelon.4Al ver los hijos de Israel aquella multitud, se postraron en tierra, echando ceniza sobre sus cabezas y rogando todos juntos al Dios de Israel que mostrase su misericordia para con su pueblo. But the sons of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, prostrated themselves upon the ground, scattering ashes over their heads, praying with one accord that the God of Israel would show his mercy upon his people.5Luego tomaron sus armas y se apostaron en los parajes por donde se va a un sendero estrecho en medio de los montes; y los estaban guardando de día y de noche. And, taking up their arms of war, they set up positions at the places that lead along a narrow footpath between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.6Dando vuelta por los alrededores, encontró Holofernes que la fuente que desaguaba dentro (de la ciudad) venía por un acueducto que se hallaba fuera, hacia el mediodía, y mandó que les cortasen ese acueducto. Now Holofernes, while circling around, discovered that the fountain that flowed in to them, led directly through an aqueduct on the south side, beyond the city. And he instructed their aqueduct to be cut off.7Quedaban, sin embargo, no lejos de los muros, unos manantiales, de donde se veía que sacaban a escondidas agua, más para aliviar la sed que para apagarla. Even so, there were springs not far from the walls, from which they were seen to draw water secretly, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.8Entonces los ammonitas y los moabitas fueron a decir a Holofernes: “Los hijos de Israel no ponen su confianza en sus lanzas, ni en sus flechas, sino que su defensa y fortificaciones son los montes y los collados escarpados. But the sons of Ammon and Moab approached Holofernes, saying: “The sons of Israel do not trust in their lances, nor in their arrows, but the mountains are their defense, and the steep hills and precipices constitute their fortifications.9Ahora bien, si quieres vencerlos sin venir a las manos, pon guardias en los manantiales, para impedir que saquen agua de ellos, y los matarás sin espada, o a lo menos, fatigados entregarán su ciudad, que creen inexpugnable por cuanto está situada en los montes.” Therefore, so that you may be able to overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs so that they may not draw water from them, and you will put them to death without the sword, or at least, being weary, they will hand over their city, which they suppose to be, by its position in the mountains, unable to be conquered.”10Este consejo pareció bueno a Holofernes y a sus oficiales, por lo cual puso cien hombres de guardia alrededor de cada manantial. And these words were pleasing before Holofernes and before his attendants, and so he stationed a hundred men around every spring.11Después de veinte días que se hacía esta guardia, todas las cisternas y depósitos de agua de todos los habitantes de Betulia se agotaron, de tal manera que dentro de la ciudad no había agua bastante para saciar la sed aunque fuese para un solo día; pues se repartía cada día a los vecinos el agua por medida. And when they had kept this watch through twenty full days, the cisterns and collections of waters failed among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was within the city not enough to satisfy them for even one day, because water was given out to the people daily by measure.12Entonces todos los hombres y mujeres, jóvenes y niños, se congregaron con Ocías, y todos a una voz Then, all the men and women, youths and little ones, gathering together before Uzziah, all with one voice together,13dijeron: “Juzgue Dios entre ti y nosotros; pues tú nos has causado estos males, por no querer tratar la paz con los asirios; por eso Dios nos ha vendido en sus manos; said: “May God be judge between us and you, for you have done evil with us, in not being willing to speak peacefully with the Assyrians, and because of this, God has sold us into their hands.14y por lo mismo no hay quien nos socorra ahora que desfallecemos por la sed y la suma miseria, a vista de los enemigos. And therefore, there is no one to help us, while we are prostrated before their eyes with thirst and great destruction.15Convóquense, pues, inmediatamente todos los que se hallan en la ciudad, para que nos entreguemos todos voluntariamente a la gente de Holofernes; And now, gather together all who are in the city, so that we may willingly deliver every one of us to the people of Holofernes.16porque más vale vivir cautivos y bendecir al Señor, que morir y ser el oprobio de todos los hombres, después de haber visto perecer ante nuestros ojos nuestras esposas y nuestros niños. For it is better that as captives, being alive, we should bless the Lord, than that we should die and become a disgrace to all flesh, after we have seen our wives and our children die before our eyes.17Tomando hoy por testigos al cielo y a la tierra y al Dios de nuestros padres, el cual nos castiga conforme a nuestros pecados, (os conjuramos) que entreguéis en seguida la ciudad en poder de la gente de Holofernes, para que encontremos en breve nuestro fin al filo de la espada, y no se prolongue más y más con el ardor de la sed.” We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who takes vengeance upon us according to our sins, so that now you may deliver the city into the hand of the military of Holofernes. And may our end be brief, by the edge of the sword, that would be made longer by the dryness of thirst.”18Dicho esto, prorrumpió todo el concurso en grandes llantos y alaridos; y por espacio de muchas horas estuvieron clamando a Dios a una voz, diciendo: And when they had said these things, there happened a great weeping and a loud lamentation within the assembly. From everyone and for many hours, with one voice, they cried out to God, saying:19“Hemos pecado nosotros y nuestros padres; hemos obrado injusticia y hemos hecho iniquidad. “We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly, we have committed iniquity.20Pero Tú eres piadoso; ten misericordia de nosotros, o castiga Tú mismo nuestras iniquidades, mas no quieras entregar a los que te honran, en manos de un pueblo que no te conoce; May you have mercy on us, for you are pious, or with your own scourges avenge our iniquities, but do not be willing to deliver those trusting in you to a people who are ignorant of you,21no sea que digan los gentiles: “¿Dónde está su Dios?” so that they may not say among the Gentiles, ‘Where is their God?’ ”22Cuando fatigados de tanto clamar y llorar, quedaron en silencio, And when, being weary from these outcries, and tired from these weepings, they became silent,23se levantó Ocías y bañado en lágrimas, dijo: “Tened buen ánimo, hermanos míos, y esperemos durante cinco días la misericordia del Señor; Uzziah, rising up covered in tears, said: “Be steadfast in soul, brothers, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.24porque quizá pondrá fin a su indignación y glorificará su nombre. For perhaps he will break off his indignation and give glory to his own name.25Mas si pasados los cinco días no viene socorro, haremos lo que habéis dicho.” But if, with five days passing, help does not arrive, we will accomplish the words that you have spoken.”