Judit 15

1Cuando supo todo el ejército que Holofernes había sido degollado, perdieron el seso, y sin saber qué hacer, agitados solo del terror y del miedo, buscaron su salvación en la fuga.

2Sin hablar ninguno con su compañero, cabizbajos, abandonándolo todo, se daban prisa a escapar de los hebreos, que oían venir armados sobre ellos, y a huir a través de los campos y por los senderos de los collados.

3Los israelitas, viéndolos huir, siguieron a su alcance, y bajaron, tocando las trompetas y dando grandes gritos en pos de ellos.

4Y como los asirios iban desparramados en precipitada huida, y los israelitas los perseguían en un solo cuerpo, derrotaban a cuantos podían encontrar.

5Al mismo tiempo Ocías despachó mensajeros a todas las ciudades y provincias de Israel,

6de modo que cada provincia y cada ciudad envió en pos de ellos a los jóvenes armados, los más escogidos, que los fueron persiguiendo y acuchillando hasta llegar a los últimos términos del país.

7Los otros que habían quedado en Betulia, entraron en el campamento de los asirios, y tomando los despojos que estos en la huida habían dejado, volvieron bien cargados.

8Por su parte, los que victoriosos del enemigo regresaron a Betulia, trajeron consigo todo lo que había sido de los asirios, en tanta abundancia, que no podían contarse los ganados, ni las bestias de carga, ni todos los demás objetos; y así todos quedaron ricos, desde el menor hasta el mayor, con los despojos de ellos.

9También Joaquim, el Sumo Sacerdote, vino de Jerusalén a Betulia con todos sus ancianos, para ver a Judit;

10y habiendo salido ella a recibirlo, todos a una voz la bendijeron, diciendo: “Tú eres la gloria de Jerusalén, tú la alegría de Israel, tú la honra de nuestro pueblo.

11Porque te has portado varonilmente, y tu corazón ha sido fuerte. Pues has amado la castidad y después de tu marido no has conocido otro varón; por esto la mano del Señor te ha confortado, y por lo mismo serás bendita para siempre.”

12A lo que respondió todo el pueblo: “¡Así sea, así sea!”

13Apenas bastaron treinta días para que el pueblo de Israel recogiese los despojos de los asirios.

14Todas las cosas que se conoció haber sido propias de Holofernes: oro, plata, vestidos, pedrería y toda suerte de objetos, se las dieron a Judit. Todas le fueron entregadas por el pueblo.

15Y todo el pueblo, con las mujeres, doncellas y jóvenes, estaban llenos de regocijo, al son de flautas y cítaras.

1Cumque omnis exercitus decollatum Holofernem audisset, fugit mens et consilium ab eis, et solo tremore et metu agitati, fugæ præsidium sumunt,

2ita ut nullus loqueretur cum proximo suo, sed inclinato capite, relictis omnibus, evadere festinabant Hebræos, quos armatos super se venire audiebant, fugientes per vias camporum et semitas collium.

3Videntes itaque filii Israël fugientes, secuti sunt illos. Descenderuntque clangentes tubis, et ululantes post ipsos.

4Et quoniam Assyrii non adunati, in fugam ibant præcipites: filii autem Israël uno agmine persequentes debilitabant omnes quos invenire potuissent.

5Misit itaque Ozias nuntios per omnes civitates et regiones Israël.

6Omnis itaque regio, omnisque urbs electam juventutem armatam misit post eos, et persecuti sunt eos in ore gladii, quousque pervenirent ad extremitatem finium suorum.

7Reliqui autem qui erant in Bethulia, ingressi sunt castra Assyriorum, et prædam quam fugientes Assyrii reliquerant, abstulerunt, et onustati sunt valde.

8Hi vero qui victores reversi sunt ad Bethuliam, omnia quæ erant illorum attulerunt secum, ita ut non esset numerus in pecoribus et jumentis et universis mobilibus eorum, ut a minimo usque ad maximum omnes divites fierent de prædationibus eorum.

9Joacim autem summus pontifex de Jerusalem venit in Bethuliam cum universis presbyteris suis ut videret Judith.

10Quæ cum exisset ad illum, benedixerunt eam omnes una voce, dicentes: Tu gloria Jerusalem; tu lætitia Israël; tu honorificentia populi nostri:

11quia fecisti viriliter, et confortatum est cor tuum, eo quod castitatem amaveris, et post virum tuum, alterum nescieris: ideo et manus Domini confortavit te, et ideo eris benedicta in æternum.

12Et dixit omnis populus: Fiat, fiat.

13Per dies autem triginta, vix collecta sunt spolia Assyriorum a populo Israël.

14Porro autem universa quæ Holofernis peculiaria fuisse probata sunt, dederunt Judith in auro, et argento, et vestibus, et gemmis, et omni supellectili: et tradita sunt omnia illi a populo.

15Et omnes populi gaudebant cum mulieribus, et virginibus, et juvenibus, in organis et citharis.

1And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear they thought only to save themselves by flight:

2So that no one spoke to his neighbor, but hanging down the head, leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways of the fields, and the paths of the hills.

3So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after them.

4And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in one body, defeated all that they could find.

5And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of Israel.

6And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword until they came to the extremities of their confines.

7And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the Assyrians, and took away the spoils, which the Assyrians in their flight had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly.

8But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.

9And Joachim the high priest came from Jerusalem to Bethulia with all his ancients to see Judith.

10And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people:

11For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever.

12And all the people said: So be it, so be it.

13And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.

14But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were delivered to her by the people.

15And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins, and young men, playing on instruments and harps.