Judith 11

1 Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth. 2 And now, if your people who dwell in the hill country had not slighted me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves. 3 And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you have come to save yourself. Take courage! You will live tonight, and hereafter; 4 for there is no one that will wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar my lord.” 5 And Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I won’t lie to my lord tonight. 6 If you will follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord will not fail to accomplish his purposes. 7 As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house. 8 For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war. 9 And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you. 10 Therefore, O lord and master, don’t neglect his word, but lay it up in your heart, for it is true; for our race will not be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God. 11 And now, that my lord may not be defeated and frustrated in his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whenever they do wickedness. 12 Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to kill their livestock, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat. 13 They are resolved to spend the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem, which it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands. 14 They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders. 15 When these instructions come to them and they do it, they will be given to you to be destroyed the same day. 16 Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it. 17 For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you; and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins. 18 Then I will come and tell you. Then you can go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you. 19 And I will lead you through the midst of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your throne in the midst of it. You will drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog will not so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.” 20 Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said, 21 “There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.” 22 Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord. 23 And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and wise in your words. If you will do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”

1 Alors Holoferne lui dit : « Rassure-toi et bannis la crainte de ton cœur, car je n’ai jamais fait de mal à quiconque a voulu servir le roi Nabuchodonosor. 2 Si ton peuple ne m’avait pas méprisé, je n’aurais pas levé ma lance contre lui. 3 Maintenant, dis-moi pourquoi tu t’es éloignée d’eux et tu as pris le parti de venir vers nous ? » 4 Judith lui répondit : « Accueille les paroles de ta servante, car si tu suis les paroles de ta servante, le Seigneur réalisera pleinement ses desseins sur toi, 5 aussi vrai que Nabuchodonosor, le roi de la terre, est vivant, et que sa puissance est vivante, cette puissance dont tu es dépositaire pour le châtiment de tous ceux qui sont égarés ; car non seulement les hommes sont amenés par toi à le servir, mais les animaux mêmes des champs lui obéissent. 6 En effet, la sagesse de ton esprit est célèbre dans toutes les nations ; tout le monde sait que dans tout son royaume tu es le seul bon et puissant, et ton gouvernement est vanté dans toutes les provinces. 7 On sait aussi ce qu’a dit Achior, et on n’ignore pas de quelle manière tu as ordonné de le traiter. 8 Car il est certain que notre Dieu est tellement offensé par les péchés de son peuple, qu’il lui a fait annoncer par ses prophètes qu’il allait le livrer à ses ennemis à cause de ses infidélités. 9 Et parce que les enfants d’Israël savent qu’ils ont offensé leur Dieu, ils tremblent de frayeur devant toi. 10 En outre, la famine les presse, et, les réservoirs d’eau étant desséchés, ils sont déjà à compter parmi les morts. 11 Ils ont même pris la résolution de tuer leur bétail et d’en boire le sang. 12 Il n’est pas jusqu’aux choses consacrées au Seigneur, leur Dieu, auxquelles Dieu leur a défendu de toucher, le blé, le vin et l’huile des dîmes et des prémices, qu’ils n’aient résolu de faire servir à leur usage, osant se nourrir de choses qu’il ne leur est pas même permis de toucher de leurs mains. Puisqu’ils agissent ainsi, il est certain qu’ils seront livrés à la ruine. 13 Voilà ce que je sais, moi, ta servante, et j’ai fui loin d’eux, et le Seigneur m’a envoyée t’en informer. 14 Car moi, ta servante, je sers Dieu, maintenant même que je suis auprès de toi ; et ta servante sortira du camp pour aller prier Dieu. 15 Et il me fera connaître quand il doit les châtier pour leur péché, et je viendrai te l’annoncer. Je te conduirai alors à travers la Judée jusqu’à Jérusalem, et tu trouveras tout le peuple d’Israël comme des brebis qui n’ont plus de pasteur, et il n’y aura pas même un chien qui aboie contre toi. 16 C’est la prescience de Dieu qui m’a révélé ces choses ; 17 et comme il est irrité contre eux, j’ai reçu mission de te les annoncer. » 18 Tout ce discours plut à Holoferne et à ses serviteurs. Ils admiraient la sagesse de Judith et se disaient les uns aux autres : 19 « Il n’existe pas sur la terre de femme qui soit semblable à celle-ci pour la prestance, pour la beauté et pour la sagesse de ses discours. » Holoferne lui dit : 20 « Dieu a bien fait de t’envoyer devant ce peuple, pour nous le livrer entre les mains. 21 Comme ta proposition est bonne, si ton Dieu fait cela pour moi, il sera aussi mon Dieu, et toi, tu seras grande dans la maison de Nabuchodonosor, et ton nom deviendra célèbre dans toute la terre. »