Día 156 La Biblia en un año (canon ortodoxo)

Judit 12

1 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine. 2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought. 3 Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation. 4 Then said Judith unto him, As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined. 5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch, 6 and sent to Holofernes, saying, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer. 7 Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp. 8 And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people. 9 So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening. 10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet. 11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us. 12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn. 13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us, and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor. 14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death. 15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them. 16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company: for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her. 17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us. 18 So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born. 19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared. 20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank much more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

Judit 13

1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long. 2 And Judith was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying along on his bed: for he was filled with wine. 3 Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose. 4 So all went forth, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the work of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. 5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute my enterprise to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us. 6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence, 7 and approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day. 8 And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him, 9 and tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid; 10 and she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom [unto prayer]: and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof. 11 Then said Judith afar off to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: God, [even] our God, is with us, to shew [his] power yet in Israel, and his strength against the enemy, as he hath even done this day. 12 Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city. 13 And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them. 14 Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God, praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night. 15 So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, Behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman. 16 As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and [yet] hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me. 17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves, and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people. 18 Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies. 19 For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for ever. 20 And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things, because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it.

Judit 14

1 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls. 2 And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians; but go not down. 3 Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and they shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face. 4 So ye, and all that inherit the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go. 5 But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us, as it were to his death. 6 Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed. 7 But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith's feet, and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacle of Juda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished. 8 Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she spake unto them. 9 And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city. 10 And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day. 11 And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain. 12 But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their leaders, which came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers. 13 So they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that had the charge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down upon us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed. 14 Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Judith. 15 But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head was taken from him. 16 Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments. 17 After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried, 18 These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for, behold, Holofernes [lieth] upon the ground without a head. 19 When the captains of the Assyrians' army heard these words, they rent their coats, and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.

Hechos 23

1 ENTONCES Pablo, poniendo los ojos en el concilio, dice: Varones hermanos, yo con toda buena conciencia he conversado delante de Dios hasta el día de hoy. 2 El príncipe de los sacerdotes, Ananías, mandó entonces á los que estaban delante de él, que le hiriesen en la boca. 3 Entonces Pablo le dijo: Herirte ha Dios, pared blanqueada: ¿y estás tú sentado para juzgarme conforme á la ley, y contra la ley me mandas herir? 4 Y los que estaban presentes dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios maldices? 5 Y Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que era el sumo sacerdote; pues escrito está: Al príncipe de tu pueblo no maldecirás. 6 Entonces Pablo, sabiendo que la una parte era de Saduceos, y la otra de Fariseos, clamó en el concilio: Varones hermanos, yo soy Fariseo, hijo de Fariseo: de la esperanza y de la resurrección de los muertos soy yo juzgado. 7 Y como hubo dicho esto, fué hecha disensión entre los Fariseos y los Saduceos; y la multitud fué dividida. 8 Porque los Saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección, ni ángel, ni espíritu; mas los Fariseos confiesan ambas cosas. 9 Y levantóse un gran clamor: y levantándose los escribas de la parte de los Fariseos, contendían diciendo: Ningún mal hallamos en este hombre; que si espíritu le ha hablado, ó ángel, no resistamos á Dios. 10 Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuese despedazado de ellos, mandó venir soldados, y arrebatarle de en medio de ellos, y llevarle á la fortaleza. 11 Y la noche siguiente, presentándosele el Señor, le dijo: Confía, Pablo; que como has testificado de mí en Jerusalem, así es menester testifiques también en Roma. 12 Y venido el día, algunos de los Judíos se juntaron, é hicieron voto bajo de maldición, diciendo que ni comerían ni beberían hasta que hubiesen muerto á Pablo. 13 Y eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración; 14 Los cuales se fueron á los príncipes de los sacerdotes y á los ancianos, y dijeron: Nosotros hemos hecho voto debajo de maldición, que no hemos de gustar nada hasta que hayamos muerto á Pablo. 15 Ahora pues, vosotros, con el concilio, requerid al tribuno que le saque mañana á vosotros como que queréis entender de él alguna cosa más cierta; y nosotros, antes que él llegue, estaremos aparejados para matarle. 16 Entonces un hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo las asechanzas, fué, y entró en la fortaleza, y dió aviso á Pablo. 17 Y Pablo, llamando á uno de los centuriones, dice: Lleva á este mancebo al tribuno, porque tiene cierto aviso que darle. 18 El entonces tomándole, le llevó al tribuno, y dijo: El preso Pablo, llamándome, me rogó que trajese á ti este mancebo, que tiene algo que hablarte. 19 Y el tribuno, tomándole de la mano y retirándose aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme? 20 Y él dijo: Los Judíos han concertado rogarte que mañana saques á Pablo al concilio, como que han de inquirir de él alguna cosa más cierta. 21 Mas tú no los creas; porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le acechan, los cuales han hecho voto debajo de maldición, de no comer ni beber hasta que le hayan muerto; y ahora están apercibidos esperando tu promesa. 22 Entonces el tribuno despidió al mancebo, mandándole que á nadie dijese que le había dado aviso de esto. 23 Y llamados dos centuriones, mandó que apercibiesen para la hora tercia de la noche doscientos soldados, que fuesen hasta Cesarea, y setenta de á caballo, y doscientos lanceros; 24 Y que aparejasen cabalgaduras en que poniendo á Pablo, le llevasen en salvo á Félix el Presidente. 25 Y escribió una carta en estos términos: 26 Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo gobernador Félix: Salud. 27 A este hombre, aprehendido de los Judíos, y que iban ellos á matar, libré yo acudiendo con la tropa, habiendo entendido que era Romano. 28 Y queriendo saber la causa por qué le acusaban, le llevé al concilio de ellos: 29 Y hallé que le acusaban de cuestiones de la ley de ellos, y que ningún crimen tenía digno de muerte ó de prisión. 30 Mas siéndome dado aviso de asechanzas que le habían aparejado los Judíos, luego al punto le he enviado á ti, intimando también á los acusadores que traten delante de ti lo que [tienen] contra él. Pásalo bien. 31 Y los soldados, tomando á Pablo como les era mandado, lleváronle de noche á Antipatris. 32 Y al día siguiente, dejando á los de á caballo que fuesen con él, se volvieron á la fortaleza. 33 Y como llegaron á Cesarea, y dieron la carta al gobernador, presentaron también á Pablo delante de él. 34 Y el gobernador, leída la carta, preguntó de qué provincia era; y entendiendo que de Cilicia, 35 Te oiré, dijo, cuando vinieren tus acusadores. Y mandó que le guardasen en el pretorio de Herodes.