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Mercoledi, 15 maggio 2024 - Sant'Isidoro agricoltore ( Letture di oggi)

2 Maccabees 10


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DOUAI-RHEIMSVULGATA
1 At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia.1 Machabæus autem, et qui cum eo erant, Domino se protegente, templum quidem et civitatem recepit :
2 For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city: but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight returned with disgrace.2 aras autem quas alienigenæ per plateas exstruxerant, itemque delubra demolitus est :
3 Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.3 et purgato templo, aliud altare fecerunt, et de ignitis lapidibus igne concepto sacrificia obtulerunt post biennium, et incensum, et lucernas, et panes propositionis posuerunt.
4 And swelling with anger he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.4 Quibus gestis, rogabant Dominum prostrati in terram, ne amplius talibus malis inciderent : sed et, siquando peccassent, ut ab ipso mitius corriperentur, et non barbaris ac blasphemis hominibus traderentur.
5 But the Lord the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts.5 Qua die autem templum ab alienigenis pollutum fuerat, contigit eadem die purificationem fieri, vigesima quinta mensis qui fuit Casleu.
6 And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.6 Et cum lætitia diebus octo egerunt in modum tabernaculorum, recordantes quod ante modicum temporis diem solemnem tabernaculorum in montibus et in speluncis more bestiarum egerant.
7 Moreover being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.7 Propter quod thyrsos, et ramos virides, et palmas præferebant ei qui prosperavit mundari locum suum.
8 Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:8 Et decreverunt communi præcepto et decreto universæ genti Judæorum omnibus annis agere dies istos.
9 So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army.9 Et Antiochi quidem, qui appellatus est Nobilis, vitæ excessus ita se habuit.
10 And the man that thought a little to before he could reach the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.10 Nunc autem de Eupatore Antiochi impii filio quæ gesta sunt narrabimus, breviantes mala quæ in bellis gesta sunt.
11 And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment11 Hic enim suscepto regno, constituit super negotia regni Lysiam quemdam, Phœnicis et Syriæ militiæ principem.
12 And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not equal himself to God.12 Nam Ptolemæus, qui dicebatur Macer, justi tenax erga Judæos esse constituit, et præcipue propter iniquitatem quæ facta erat in eos, et pacifice agere cum eis.
13 Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.13 Sed ob hoc accusatus ab amicis apud Eupatorem, cum frequenter proditor audiret, eo quod Cyprum creditam sibi a Philometore deseruisset, et ad Antiochum Nobilem translatus etiam ab eo recessisset, veneno vitam finivit.
14 And the city to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a, common buryingplace, he now desireth to make free.14 Gorgias autem cum esset dux locorum, assumptis advenis, frequenter Judæos debellabat.
15 And the Jews whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.15 Judæi vero qui tenebant opportunas munitiones, fugatos ab Jerosolymis suscipiebant, et bellare tentabant.
16 The holy temple also which before he had spoiled, he promiseth to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.16 Hi vero qui erant cum Machabæo, per orationes Dominum rogantes ut esset sibi adjutor, impetum fecerunt in munitiones Idumæorum :
17 Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God.17 multaque vi insistentes, loca obtinuerunt, occurrentes interemerunt, et omnes simul non minus viginti millibus trucidaverunt.
18 But his pains not ceasing (for the just judgment of God was come upon him) despairing of life he wrote to the Jews in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:18 Quidam autem cum confugissent in duas turres valde munitas, omnem apparatum ad repugnandum habentes,
19 To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus king and ruler wisheth much health and welfare, and happiness.19 Machabæus ad eorum expugnationem relicto Simone, et Josepho, itemque Zachæo, eisque qui cum ipsis erant satis multis, ipse ad eas quæ amplius perurgebant pugnas conversus est.
20 If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.20 Hi vero qui cum Simone erant, cupiditate ducti, a quibusdam qui in turribus erant, suasi sunt pecunia : et septuaginta millibus didrachmis acceptis, dimiserunt quosdam effugere.
21 As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:21 Cum autem Machabæo nuntiatum esset quod factum est, principibus populi congregatis accusavit quod pecunia fratres vendidissent, adversariis eorum dimissis.
22 Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.22 Hos igitur proditores factos interfecit, et confestim duas turres occupavit.
23 But considering that my father also, at what time she led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:23 Armis autem ac manibus omnia prospere agendo in duabus munitionibus plus quam viginti millia peremit.
24 To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall out, or ally bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.24 At Timotheus, qui prius a Judæis fuerat superatus, convocato exercitu peregrinæ multitudinis, et congregato equitatu Asiano, advenit quasi armis Judæam capturus.
25 Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes and borderers wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.25 Machabæus autem et qui cum ipso erant, appropinquante illo, deprecabantur Dominum, caput terra aspergentes, lumbosque ciliciis præcincti,
26 I pray you therefore, and request of you, that remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.26 ad altaris crepidinem provoluti, ut sibi propitius, inimicis autem eorum esset inimicus, et adversariis adversaretur, sicut lex dicit.
27 For I trust that he will behave with I moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.27 Et ita post orationem, sumptis armis, longius de civitate procedentes, et proximi hostibus effecti, resederunt.
28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer, being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country among the mountains.28 Primo autem solis ortu utrique commiserunt : isti quidem victoriæ et prosperitatis sponsorem cum virtute Dominum habentes : illi autem ducem belli animum habebant.
29 But Philip that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.29 Sed cum vehemens pugna esset, apparuerunt adversariis de cælo viri quinque in equis, frenis aureis decori, ducatum Judæis præstantes :
30 ex quibus duo Machabæum medium habentes, armis suis circumseptum incolumem conservabant : in adversarios autem tela et fulmina jaciebant, ex quo et cæcitate confusi et repleti perturbatione, cadebant.
31 Interfecti sunt autem viginti millia quingenti, et equites sexcenti.
32 Timotheus vero confugit in Gazaram præsidium munitum, cui præerat Chæreas.
33 Machabæus autem et qui cum eo erant, lætantes obsederunt præsidium diebus quatuor.
34 At hi qui intus erant, loci firmitate confisi, supra modum maledicebant, et sermones nefandos jactabant.
35 Sed cum dies quinta illucesceret, viginti juvenes ex his qui cum Machabæo erant, accensi animis propter blasphemiam, viriliter accesserunt ad murum, et feroci animo incedentes ascendebant :
36 sed et alii similiter ascendentes, turres portasque succendere aggressi sunt, atque ipsos maledicos vivos concremare.
37 Per continuum autem biduum præsidio vastato, Timotheum occultantem se in quodam repertum loco peremerunt : et fratrem illius Chæream et Apollophanem occiderunt.
38 Quibus gestis, in hymnis et confessionibus benedicebant Dominum, qui magna fecit in Israël, et victoriam dedit illis.