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Martedi, 7 maggio 2024 - Santa Flavia ( Letture di oggi)

2 Maccabees 9


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KING JAMES BIBLENOVA VULGATA
1 About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia1 Eodem autem tempore Anti ochus inhoneste revertebatur de regionibus circaPersidem.
2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame.2 Intraverat enim in eam, quae dicitur Persepolis, et tentavitexspoliare templum et civitatem opprimere; quapropter, multitudine ad armorumauxilium concurrente, in fugam versi sunt; et contigit ut Antiochus in fugamversus ab indigenis turpiter rediret.
3 Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.3 Et cum esset circa Ecbatana, nuntiatasunt ea, quae erga Nicanorem et Timotheum gesta sunt.
4 Then swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of GOd now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jews.4 Elatus autem iraarbitrabatur se etiam iniuriam illorum, qui se fugaverant, in Iudaeosretorquere; ideoque iussit, ut auriga sine intermissione iter perficeret,caelesti iam eum comitante iudicio. Ita enim superbe locutus erat: “ Congeriemsepulcri Iudaeorum Hierosolymam faciam, cum venero illo ”.
5 But the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts;5 Sed qui universa conspicit, Dominus, Deus Israel, percussit eum insanabili etinvisibili plaga; et continuo ut is finivit sermonem, apprehendit eum dolordirus viscerum et amara internorum tormenta,
6 And that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments.6 perquam iuste, quippe qui multiset novis cruciatibus aliorum torserat viscera.
7 Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained.7 Ille vero nullo modo abarrogantia cessabat; super hoc autem superbia repletus erat, ignem spirans animoin Iudaeos et praecipiens iter accelerari. Contigit autem, ut et ille caderet decurru, qui ferebatur impetu, et gravi lapsu corruens in omnibus corporis membrisvexaretur.
8 And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God.8 Isque, qui nuper videbatur fluctibus maris imperare propter superhominem iactantiam et in statera montium altitudines appendere, humiliatus adterram in gestatorio portabatur manifestam Dei virtutem omnibus ostendens,
9 So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.9 itaut de oculis impii vermes scaturirent, ac viventis in doloribus et maeroribuscarnes eius diffluerent, illiusque odore totus exercitus gravaretur propterputredinem.
10 And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink.10 Et qui paulo ante sidera caeli contingere se arbitrabatur, eumnemo poterat propter intolerabilem foetoris gravitatem portare.
11 Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.11 Hinc igitur coepit multum superbiae deponere confractus et ad agnitionemvenire divina plaga, per momenta doloribus extensus.
12 And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God.12 Et, cum nec ipsefoetorem suum ferre posset, ita ait: “ Iustum est subditum esse Deo etmortalem non superbe sentire ”.
13 This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,13 Orabat autem hic scelestus Dominum, ei nonamplius miserturum, ita dicens:
14 That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would set at liberty:14 sanctam quidem civitatem, ad quam festinansveniebat, ut eam solo aequalem faceret ac sepulcrum congestorum strueret,liberam ostendere;
15 And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens:15 Iudaeos autem, quos decreverat nec sepultura quidem sedignos habiturum, sed avibus devorandos cum parvulis se feris proiecturum, omneshos aequales Atheniensibus facturum;
16 And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:16 templum vero sanctum, quod priusexspoliaverat, pulcherrimis donis ornaturum et sacra vasa multiplicia cuncta seredditurum, et pertinentes ad sacrificia sumptus de redditibus suispraestaturum;
17 Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.17 super haec autem et Iudaeum se futurum et omnem locumhabitabilem perambulaturum praedicantem Dei potestatem.
18 But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:18 Sed omnino non cessantibus doloribus — supervenerat enim in eum iustum Deiiudicium — semetipsum desperans scripsit ad Iudaeos hanc infra rescriptamepistulam modum deprecationis habentem, haec continentem:
19 Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:19 “ Optimis civibusIudaeis plurimam salutem et bene valere et esse felices, rex et dux Antiochus.
20 If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.20 Si bene valetis et filii vestri, et res vestrae ex sententia sunt vobis,precans refero quidem Deo maximam gratiam, in caelum spem habens;
21 As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:21 ego vero ininfirmitate constitutus eram, vestri autem honoris et benevolentiae memineramcum affectione. Reversus de Persidis locis et in infirmitatem incidens molestiamhabentem, necessarium duxi pro communi omnium securitate curam habere.
22 Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.22 Nondesperans memetipsum, sed spem multam habens effugiendi infirmitatem,
23 But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries. appointed a successor,23 respiciens autem quod et pater meus, quibus temporibus in superiora loca duxitexercitum, ostendit, qui susciperet principatum;
24 To the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:24 ut, si quid contrariumaccideret aut etiam quid difficile nuntiaretur, scientes hi, qui circa regionemerant, cui esset rerum summa derelicta, non turbarentur.
25 Again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event. I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:25 Ad haec autemconsiderans de proximo potentes et vicinos regno temporibus insidiantes eteventum exspectantes, designavi filium Antiochum regem, quem saepe recurrens insuperiora regna plurimis vestrum committebam et commendabam; et scripsi ad eum,quae subiecta sunt.
26 Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son.26 Oro itaque vos et peto memores beneficiorum publice etprivatim, ut unusquisque conservet hanc, quam habetis benevolentiam in me et infilium.
27 For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably and graciously yield to your desires.27 Confido enim eum modeste et humane, sequentem propositum meum,vobiscum acturum ”.
28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he entreated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains.28 Igitur homicida et blasphemus pessima perpessus, ut ipse alios tractaverat,peregre in montibus miserabili obitu vita functus est.
29 And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus Philometor.29 Transferebat autemcorpus Philippus collactaneus eius, qui etiam metuens filium Antiochi adPtolemaeum Philometorem in Aegyptum se contulit.