2 Macabeos 6

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Poco tiempo después, el rey envió a un consejero ateniense para que obligara a los judíos a abandonar las costumbres de sus padres y a no vivir conforme a las leyes de Dios;	1 Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:
2 a profanar el Templo de Jerusalén, dedicándolo a Júpiter Olímpico, y a dedicar el del monte Garizim a Júpiter Hospitalario, conforme a la idiosincrasia de los habitantes de aquel lugar.	2 And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.
3 Este recrudecimiento del mal se hacía penoso e insoportable para todos.	3 The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:
4 El Templo se llenó del desenfreno y las orgías de los paganos, que se divertían con prostitutas y tenían relaciones con mujeres en los atrios sagrados, e incluso, introducían allí objetos prohibidos.	4 For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.
5 El altar estaba repleto de ofrendas ilegítimas, proscritas por la Ley.	5 The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.
6 No se podía observar el sábado, y ni siquiera declararse judío.	6 Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.
7 Por el contrario, todos se veían penosamente forzados a participar del banquete ritual con que se conmemoraba cada mes el nacimiento del rey; y cuando llegaban las fiestas dionisíacas, se los obligaba a seguir el cortejo de Dionisios, coronados de guirnaldas.	7 And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.
8 Por instigación de Tolomeo, se publicó un decreto dirigido a las ciudades griegas de los alrededores, obligándolas a que procedieran de la misma manera contra los judíos y los hicieran participar en los banquetes rituales.	8 Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:
9 Además, se ordenaba degollar a los que rehusaran adoptar las costumbres griegas. Todo esto hacía prever la inminente calamidad.	9 And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.
10 Dos mujeres fueron delatadas por haber circuncidado a sus hijos, y después de hacerlas pasear públicamente por la ciudad con sus niños colgados del pecho, las precipitaron desde lo alto de la muralla.	10 For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.
11 Otros, que se habían reunido en las cavernas cercanas para celebrar ocultamente el día sábado, fueron denunciados a Filipo y quemados todos juntos, ya que no se habían atrevido a defenderse por respeto a la santidad de aquel día.	11 And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.
12 Ruego a los lectores de este libro que no se dejen impresionar por estas calamidades. Piensen más bien que estos castigos no han sucedido para la ruina, sino para la educación de nuestro pueblo.	12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.
13 Porque es una señal de gran benevolencia no tolerar por mucho tiempo a los impíos, sino infligirles rápidamente un castigo.	13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.
14 Antes de castigar a las otras naciones, el Soberano espera pacientemente que colmen la medida de sus pecados; pero con nosotros ha decidido obrar de otra manera,	14 For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,
15 para no tener que castigarnos más tarde, cuando nuestros pecados hayan llegado al colmo.	15 Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.
16 Por eso nunca retira de nosotros su misericordia, y aunque corrige a su pueblo por medio de la adversidad, no lo abandona.	16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.
17 Que esto sirva solamente para recordar ciertas verdades. Y después de estas consideraciones, prosigamos la narración.	17 But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.
18 Eleazar, uno de los principales maestros de la Ley, de edad muy avanzada y de noble aspecto, fue forzado a abrir la boca para comer carne de cerdo.	18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.
19 Pero él, prefiriendo una muerte honrosa a una vida infame, marchó voluntariamente al suplicio,	19 But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,
20 después de haber escupido la carne, como deben hacerlo los que tienen el valor de rechazar lo que no está permitido comer, ni siquiera por amor a la vida.	20 As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.
21 Los que presidían este banquete ritual contrario a la Ley, como lo conocían desde hacía mucho tiempo, lo llevaron aparte y le rogaron que hiciera traer carne preparada expresamente para él y que le estuviera permitido comer. Asimismo le dijeron que fingiera comer la carne del sacrificio, conforme a la orden del rey.	21 But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
22 Obrando de esa manera, se libraría de la muerte y sería tratado humanitariamente por su antigua amistad con ellos.	22 That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour.
23 Pero él, tomando una noble resolución, digna de su edad, del prestigio de su vejez, de sus veneradas canas, de la vida ejemplar que había llevado desde su infancia y, sobre todo, de la santa legislación establecida por Dios, se mostró consecuentemente consigo mismo, pidiendo que lo enviaran de inmediato a la morada de los muertos.	23 But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.
24 «A nuestra edad, decía, no está bien fingir. De lo contrario, muchos jóvenes creerán que Eleazar, a los noventa años, se ha pasado a las costumbres paganas.	24 For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;
25 Entonces también ellos, a causa de mi simulación y de mi apego a lo poco que me resta de vida, se desviarán por culpa mía, y yo atraeré sobre mi vejez la infamia y el deshonor.	25 And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.
26 Porque, aunque ahora me librara del castigo de los hombres, no podría escapar, ni vivo ni muerto, de las manos del Todopoderoso.	26 For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.
27 Por eso, me mostraré digno de mi vejez entregando mi vida valientemente.	27 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth,
28 Así dejaré a los jóvenes un noble ejemplo, al morir con entusiasmo y generosidad por las venerables y santas leyes». Dicho esto, se encaminó resueltamente al suplicio.	28 And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment:
29 Al oír estas palabras, que consideraban una verdadera locura, los que lo conducían cambiaron en crueldad la benevolencia que antes le habían demostrado.	29 They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.
30 Pero él, a punto ya de morir bajo los golpes, dijo entre gemidos: «El Señor, que posee el santo conocimiento, sabe muy bien que, pudiendo librarme de la muerte, soporto crueles dolores en mi cuerpo azotado; pero mi alma los padece gustosamente por temor a él».	30 But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.
31 De este modo, Eleazar dejó al morir, no sólo a los jóvenes, sino a la nación entera, su propia muerte como ejemplo de generosidad y como recuerdo de virtud.	31 And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.