II Livro dos Macabeus 6

SAGRADA BIBLIA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Pouco tempo depois, um velho ateniense foi enviado pelo rei para forçar os judeus a abandonar os costumes dos antepassados, banir as leis de Deus da cidade,	1 But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God:
2 macular o templo de Jerusalém, dedicá-lo a Júpiter Olímpico e consagrar o do monte Garizim, segundo o caráter dos habitantes do lugar, a Júpiter Hospitaleiro.	2 And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Gazarim of Jupiter Hospitalis, according as they were that inhabited the place.
3 Dura e penosa foi para todos essa avalanche de mal.	3 And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all.
4 O templo encheu-se de lascívias e das orgias dos gentios que se divertiam com meretrizes, unindo-se às mulheres nos átrios sagrados e introduzindo coisas ilegais.	4 For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were not lawful.
5 O altar estava coberto de vítimas impuras, interditas pelas leis.	5 The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.
6 Não se permitia mais a observância do sábado, a celebração das antigas festas, nem mesmo confessar-se judeu.	6 And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a Jew.
7 Em cada mês, no dia natalício do rei, realizava-se um sacrifício; os judeus eram odiosamente forçados a tomar parte no banquete ritual e, por ocasião das festas em honra de Dionísio, deviam forçosamente acompanhar o cortejo de Baco, coroados com hera.	7 But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they wore compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus.
8 Por instigação dos ptolomeus, foi publicado um decreto que obrigava as cidades helênicas dos arredores a tratar os judeus do mesmo modo e levá-los à participação nos banquetes rituais, com a ordem de matar os que se recusassem a adotar os costumes helênicos.	8 And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:
9 Podiam-se, pois, prever as aflições que os aguardavam.	9 And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen.
10 Assim, duas mulheres foram acusadas de circuncidarem suas crianças: foram arrastadas publicamente pela cidade, com seus filhinhos pendurados aos peitos e precipitadas do alto das muralhas.	10 For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: whom, when they had openly led about through the city with the infants hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls.
11 Outros se haviam retirado às cavernas vizinhas para aí celebrarem secretamente o dia de sábado. Denunciados a Filipe, foram todos queimados, pois não ousaram defender-se, por respeito à santidade do dia.	11 And others that had met together in caves that were near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day.
12 Suplico aos que lerem este livro, que não se deixem abater por esses tristes acontecimentos, mas que considerem que esses castigos tiveram em mira não a ruína, mas a correção de nossa raça;	12 Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.
13 porque é sinal de uma grande benevolência a seu respeito o fato de não suportar por muito tempo os maus e de, ao contrário, castigá-los sem tardança.	13 For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished.
14 Quanto às outras nações, o Senhor espera pacientemente, antes de puni-las, que tenham enchido a medida de suas iniqüidades; a nós, porém, ele prefere não nos tratar assim,	14 For, not as with other nations (whom the Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them in the fulness of their sins:)
15 com receio de ter que nos punir mais tarde, quando tivermos pecado demasiadamente.	15 Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to their height, and then take vengeance on us.
16 Assim, não nos retire ele jamais a sua misericórdia e não abandone seu povo, no momento em que o corrige pela adversidade!	16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not.
17 Mas que tudo isso seja dito apenas a título de lembrança, e, com estas palavras, voltemos à narração.	17 But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.
18 Havia certo homem já de idade avançada e de bela aparência, Eleazar, que se sentava no primeiro lugar entre os doutores da lei. Queriam coagi-lo a comer carne de porco, abrindo-lhe a boca à força.	18 Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.
19 Mas ele, cuspindo e preferindo morrer com honra a viver na infâmia,	19 But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.
20 caminhou voluntariamente para o instrumento de tortura, como devem caminhar os que têm a coragem de rejeitar o que não é permitido comer por amor à vida.	20 And considering in what manner he was come to ii;, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.
21 Ora, os encarregados desse ímpio banquete ritual, já desde muito tempo possuíam relações de amizade com Eleazar. Tomaram-no à parte e rogaram-lhe que fizesse trazer as carnes permitidas, que ele mesmo	21 But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:
22 Desse modo, ele seria preservado da morte, e granjearia sua benevolência em vista da antiga amizade.	22 That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.
23 Mas Eleazar, tomando uma bela resolução, digna de sua idade, da autoridade que lhe conferia sua velhice, do prestígio que lhe outorgavam seus cabelos brancos, da vida íntegra conservada desde a infância, digna sobretudo das sagradas leis estabelecidas por Deus, preferiu ser conduzido à morte.	23 But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.
24 Não é próprio da nossa idade, respondeu ele, usar de tal fingimento, para não acontecer que muitos jovens suspeitem de que Eleazar, aos noventa anos, tenha passado aos costumes estrangeiros.	24 For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:
25 Eles mesmos, após o meu gesto hipócrita, e por um pouco de vida, se deixariam arrastar por causa de mim, e isso seria para a minha velhice a desonra e a vergonha.	25 And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, end hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.
26 E mesmo se eu me livrasse agora dos castigos dos homens, não poderia escapar, nem vivo nem morto, das mãos do Todo-poderoso.	26 For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.
27 Sendo assim, se eu morrer agora corajosamente, mostrar-me-ei digno de minha velhice, e terei deixado aos jovens um nobre exemplo de zelo generoso, segundo o qual é preciso dar a vida pelas santas e veneráveis leis.	27 Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:
28 Ditas estas palavras, ele dirigiu-se ao suplício.	28 And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.
29 Aqueles que o levavam transformaram em dureza a benevolência, que pouco antes haviam tido para com ele, julgando insensatas suas palavras.	29 And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.
30 E quando ele estava prestes a morrer sob os golpes, exclamou entre suspiros: O Senhor que possui a ciência santíssima o vê: podendo eu livrar-me da morte, sofro em meu corpo os tormentos cruéis dos açoites,	30 But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear thee.
31 Dessa maneira passou à outra vida, deixando com sua morte não somente aos jovens, mas também a toda a sua gente, um exemplo de coragem e um memorial de virtude.	31 Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.