2 Macabeos 6

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	DOUAI-RHEIMS
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 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 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 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 Este recrudecimiento del mal se hacía penoso e insoportable para todos.	3 And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all.
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 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 El altar estaba repleto de ofrendas ilegítimas, proscritas por la Ley.	5 The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.
6 No se podía observar el sábado, y ni siquiera declararse judío.	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 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 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 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 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 Además, se ordenaba degollar a los que rehusaran adoptar las costumbres griegas. Todo esto hacía prever la inminente calamidad.	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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently 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 expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them in the fulness of their sins:)
15 para no tener que castigarnos más tarde, cuando nuestros pecados hayan llegado al colmo.	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 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: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not.
17 Que esto sirva solamente para recordar ciertas verdades. Y después de estas consideraciones, prosigamos la narración.	17 But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.
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 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 Pero él, prefiriendo una muerte honrosa a una vida infame, marchó voluntariamente al suplicio,	19 But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily 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 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 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 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 Obrando de esa manera, se libraría de la muerte y sería tratado humanitariamente por su antigua amistad con ellos.	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 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 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 «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 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 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 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 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 punishments 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 by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:
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 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 Al oír estas palabras, que consideraban una verdadera locura, los que lo conducían cambiaron en crueldad la benevolencia que antes le habían demostrado.	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 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 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 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 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.