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Lunedi, 29 aprile 2024 - Santa Caterina da Siena ( Letture di oggi)

1 Maccabees 5


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NEW JERUSALEMVULGATA
1 When the surrounding nations heard that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary restored to whatit had been before, they became very angry1 Et factum est, ut audierunt gentes in circuitu quia ædificatum est altare et sanctuarium sicut prius, iratæ sunt valde :
2 and decided to destroy the descendants of Jacob living among them; they began to murder and evictour people.2 et cogitabant tollere genus Jacob, qui erant inter eos, et cœperunt occidere de populo, et persequi.
3 Judas made war on the sons of Esau in Idumaea, in the region of Acrabattene where they werebesieging the Israelites. He dealt them a serious blow, drove them off and despoiled them.3 Et debellabat Judas filios Esau in Idumæa, et eos qui erant in Acrabathane, quia circumsedebant Israëlitas : et percussit eos plaga magna.
4 He also remembered the wickedness of the sons of Baean, who were a menace and a trap for thepeople with their ambushes on the roads.4 Et recordatus est malitiam filiorum Bean, qui erant populo in laqueum et in scandalum, insidiantes ei in via.
5 Having blockaded them in their town and besieged them, he put them under the curse of destruction;he then set fire to their towers and burned them down with everyone inside.5 Et conclusi sunt ab eo in turribus, et applicuit ad eos, et anathematizavit eos, et incendit turres eorum igni cum omnibus qui in eis erant.
6 Next, he crossed over to the Ammonites where he found a strong fighting force and a numerouspeople, commanded by Timotheus.6 Et transivit ad filios Ammon, et invenit manum fortem, et populum copiosum, et Timotheum ducem ipsorum :
7 He fought many battles with them, defeated them and cut them to pieces.7 et commisit cum eis prælia multa, et contriti sunt in conspectu eorum, et percussit eos :
8 Having captured Jazer and its dependent vil ages, he retired to Judaea.8 et cepit Gazer civitatem et filias ejus, et reversus est in Judæam.
9 Next, the gentiles of Gilead banded together to destroy the Israelites living in their territory. The latter,however, took refuge in the fortress of Dathema,9 Et congregatæ sunt gentes quæ sunt in Galaad adversus Israëlitas, qui erant in finibus eorum, ut tollerent eos : et fugerunt in Datheman munitionem.
10 and sent the fol owing letter to Judas and his brothers: 'The gentiles round us have bandedthemselves together against us to destroy us,10 Et miserunt litteras ad Judam et fratres ejus, dicentes : Congregatæ sunt adversum nos gentes per circuitum, ut nos auferant,
11 and they are preparing to storm the fortress in which we have taken refuge; Timotheus is in commandof their forces.11 et parant venire, et occupare munitionem, in quam confugimus : et Timotheus est dux exercitus eorum.
12 Come at once and rescue us from their clutches, for we have already suffered great losses.12 Nunc ergo veni, et eripe nos de manibus eorum, quia cecidit multitudo de nobis.
13 Al our countrymen living in Tobias' country have been killed, their women and children have beentaken into captivity, their property has been seized, and about a thousand men have been destroyed there.'13 Et omnes fratres nostri, qui erant in locis Tubin, interfecti sunt : et captivas duxerunt uxores eorum, et natos, et spolia, et peremerunt illic fere mille viros.
14 While the letter was being read, other messengers arrived from Galilee with their garments torn,bearing similar news,14 Et adhuc epistolæ legebantur, et ecce alii nuntii venerunt de Galilæa conscissis tunicis, nuntiantes secundum verba hæc :
15 'The people of Ptolemais, Tyre and Sidon have joined forces with the whole of gentile Galilee todestroy us!'15 dicentes convenisse adversum se a Ptolemaida, et Tyro, et Sidone : et repleta est omnis Galilæa alienigenis, ut nos consumant.
16 When Judas and the people heard this, they held a great assembly to decide what should be done fortheir oppressed countrymen who were under attack from their enemies.16 Ut audivit autem Judas et populus sermones istos, convenit ecclesia magna cogitare quid facerent fratribus suis, qui in tribulatione erant, et expugnabantur ab eis.
17 Judas said to his brother Simon, 'Pick your men and go and relieve your countrymen in Galilee, whilemy brother Jonathan and I make our way into Gilead.'17 Dixitque Judas Simoni fratri suo : Elige tibi viros, et vade, et libera fratres tuos in Galilæa : ego autem et frater meus Jonathas ibimus in Galaaditim.
18 He left Joseph son of Zechariah and the people's leader Azariah with the remainder of the army inJudaea to keep guard, and gave them these orders,18 Et reliquit Josephum filium Zachariæ, et Azariam, duces populi, cum residuo exercitu in Judæa ad custodiam :
19 'You are to be responsible for our people. Do not engage the gentiles until we return.'19 et præcepit illis, dicens : Præestote populo huic : et nolite bellum committere adversum gentes, donec revertamur.
20 Simon was al otted three thousand men for the expedition into Galilee, Judas eight thousand forGilead.20 Et partiti sunt Simoni viri tria millia, ut iret in Galilæam : Judæ autem octo millia in Galaaditim.
21 Simon advanced into Galilee, engaged the gentiles in several battles and swept all before him;21 Et abiit Simon in Galilæam, et commisit prælia multa cum gentibus : et contritæ sunt gentes a facie ejus, et persecutus est eos usque ad portam
22 he pursued them to the gate of Ptolemais, and they lost about three thousand men, whose spoils hecol ected.22 Ptolemaidis : et ceciderunt de gentibus fere tria millia virorum. Et accepit spolia eorum,
23 With him, he took away the Jews of Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives and children and all theirpossessions, and brought them into Judaea with great rejoicing.23 et assumpsit eos qui erant in Galilæa et in Arbatis, cum uxoribus, et natis, et omnibus quæ erant illis, et adduxit in Judæam cum lætitia magna.
24 Meanwhile Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and made a three-days'march through the desert,24 Et Judas Machabæus, et Jonathas frater ejus, transierunt Jordanem, et abierunt viam trium dierum per desertum.
25 where they encountered the Nabataeans, who gave them a friendly reception and told themeverything that had been happening to their brothers in Gilead,25 Et occurrerunt eis Nabuthæi, et susceperunt eos pacifice, et narraverunt eis omnia quæ acciderant fratribus eorum in Galaaditide,
26 many of whom, they said, were shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked and Carnaim,al large fortified towns.26 et quia multi ex eis comprehensi sunt in Barasa, et Bosor, et in Alimis, et in Casphor, et Mageth, et Carnaim : hæ omnes civitates munitæ et magnæ.
27 Others were blockaded in the other towns of Gilead, and the enemy planned to attack and capturethese strongholds the very next day, and destroy all the people inside them on one day.27 Sed et in ceteris civitatibus Galaaditidis tenentur comprehensi, et in crastinum constituerunt admovere exercitum civitatibus his, et comprehendere, et tollere eos in una die.
28 Judas and his army at once turned off by the desert road to Bozrah. He took the town and, having putal the males to the sword and col ected the booty, burned it down.28 Et convertit Judas et exercitus ejus viam in desertum Bosor repente, et occupavit civitatem : et occidit omnem masculum in ore gladii, et accepit omnia spolia eorum, et succendit eam igni.
29 When night came, he left the place, and they continued their march until they reached the fortress.29 Et surrexerunt inde nocte, et ibant usque ad munitionem.
30 In the light of dawn they looked, and there was an innumerable horde, setting up ladders and enginesto capture the fortress; the assault was just beginning.30 Et factum est diluculo, cum elevassent oculos suos, ecce populus multus, cujus non erat numerus, portantes scalas et machinas ut comprehenderent munitionem, et expugnarent eos.
31 When Judas saw that the attack had begun and that the war cry was rising to heaven from the city,mingled with trumpet cal s and a great clamour,31 Et vidit Judas quia cœpit bellum, et clamor belli ascendit ad cælum sicut tuba, et clamor magnus de civitate :
32 he said to the men of his army, 'Into battle today for your brothers!'32 et dixit exercitui suo : Pugnate hodie pro fratribus vestris.
33 Dividing them into three commands, he advanced on the enemy's rear, with trumpets sounding andprayers shouted aloud.33 Et venit tribus ordinibus post eos, et exclamaverunt tubis, et clamaverunt in oratione.
34 The troops of Timotheus, recognising that this was Maccabaeus, fled before his advance;Maccabaeus dealt them a crushing defeat; about eight thousand of their men fel that day.34 Et cognoverunt castra Timothei quia Machabæus est, et refugerunt a facie ejus : et percusserunt eos plaga magna. Et ceciderunt ex eis in die illa fere octo millia virorum.
35 Then, wheeling on Alema, he attacked and captured it and, having killed all the males and col ectedthe booty, burned the place down.35 Et divertit Judas in Maspha, et expugnavit, et cepit eam : et occidit omnem masculum ejus, et sumpsit spolia ejus, et succendit eam igni.
36 From there he moved on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor and the remaining towns of Gilead.36 Inde perrexit, et cepit Casbon, et Mageth, et Bosor, et reliquas civitates Galaaditidis.
37 After these events, Timotheus mustered another force and pitched camp opposite Raphon, on the farside of the stream-bed.37 Post hæc autem verba congregavit Timotheus exercitum alium, et castra posuit contra Raphon trans torrentem.
38 Judas sent men to reconnoitre the camp, and these reported back as fol ows, 'With him are massedal the gentiles surrounding us, making a very numerous army,38 Et misit Judas speculari exercitum : et renuntiaverunt ei, dicentes : Quia convenerunt ad eum omnes gentes quæ in circuitu nostro sunt, exercitus multus nimis :
39 with Arab mercenaries as auxiliaries; they are encamped on the far side of the stream-bed, and readyto launch an attack on you.' Judas then advanced to engage them,39 et Arabas conduxerunt in auxilium sibi, et castra posuerunt trans torrentem, parati ad te venire in prælium. Et abiit Judas obviam illis.
40 and was approaching the watercourse with his troops when Timotheus told the commanders of hisarmy, 'If he crosses first we shal not be able to resist him, because he wil have a great advantage over us;40 Et ait Timotheus principibus exercitus sui : Cum appropinquaverit Judas, et exercitus ejus, ad torrentem aquæ : si transierit ad nos prior, non poterimus sustinere eum, quia potens poterit adversum nos ;
41 but if he is afraid and camps on the other side of the stream, we shall cross over to him and theadvantage will then be ours.'41 si vero timuerit transire, et posuerit castra extra flumen, transfretamus ad eos, et poterimus adversus illum.
42 As soon as Judas reached the watercourse, he posted people's scribes along it, giving them thisorder: 'Do not let anyone pitch his tent; al are to go into battle!'42 Ut autem appropinquavit Judas ad torrentem aquæ, statuit scribas populi secus torrentem, et mandavit eis, dicens : Neminem hominem reliqueritis, sed veniant omnes in prælium.
43 He was himself the first across to the enemy side, with al the people fol owing. He defeated al theopposing gentiles, who threw down their arms and ran for refuge in the sanctuary of Carnaim.43 Et transfretavit ad illos prior, et omnis populus post eum, et contritæ sunt omnes gentes a facie eorum, et projecerunt arma sua, et fugerunt ad fanum, quod erat in Carnaim.
44 The Jews first captured the town and then burned down the temple with everyone inside. And soCarnaim was overthrown, and the enemy could offer no further resistance to Judas.44 Et occupavit ipsam civitatem, et fanum succendit igni cum omnibus qui erant in ipso : et oppressa est Carnaim, et non potuit sustinere contra faciem Judæ.
45 Next, Judas assembled al the Israelites living in Gilead, from the least to the greatest, with theirwives, children and belongings, an enormous muster, to take them to Judaea.45 Et congregavit Judas universos Israëlitas, qui erant in Galaaditide, a minimo usque ad maximum, et uxores eorum, et natos, et exercitum magnum valde, ut venirent in terram Juda.
46 They reached Ephron, a large town straddling the road and strongly fortified. As it was impossible toby-pass it either to right or to left, there was nothing for it but to march straight through.46 Et venerunt usque Ephron : et hæc civitas magna in ingressu posita, munita valde, et non erat declinare ab ea dextera vel sinistra, sed per mediam iter erat.
47 But the people of the town denied them passage and barricaded the gates with stones.47 Et incluserunt se qui erant in civitate, et obstruxerunt portas lapidibus : et misit ad eos Judas verbis pacificis,
48 Judas sent them a conciliatory message in these terms, 'We want to pass through your territory toreach our own; no one wil do you any harm, we only want to go through on foot.' But they would not open up forhim.48 dicens : Transeamus per terram vestram, ut eamus in terram nostram : et nemo vobis nocebit, tantum pedibus transibimus. Et nolebant eis aperire.
49 So Judas sent an order down the column for everyone to halt where he stood.49 Et præcepit Judas prædicare in castris, ut applicarent unusquisque in quo erat loco :
50 The fighting men took up their positions; Judas attacked the town al day and night, and the town fellto him.50 et applicuerunt se viri virtutis, et oppugnavit civitatem illam tota die et tota nocte, et tradita est civitas in manu ejus :
51 He put all the males to the sword, rased the town to the ground, plundered it and marched through thetown square over the bodies of the dead.51 et peremerunt omnem masculum in ore gladii, et eradicavit eam, et accepit spolia ejus : et transivit per totam civitatem super interfectos.
52 They then crossed the Jordan into the Great Plain, opposite Beth-Shean,52 Et transgressi sunt Jordanem in campo magno, contra faciem Bethsan.
53 Judas al the time ral ying the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way until they reachedJudaea.53 Et erat Judas congregans extremos, et exhortabatur populum per totam viam, donec venirent in terram Juda :
54 They climbed Mount Zion in joy and gladness and presented burnt offerings because they hadreturned safe and sound without having lost a single man.54 et ascenderunt in montem Sion cum lætitia, et gaudio, et obtulerunt holocausta, quod nemo ex eis cecidisset donec reverterentur in pace.
55 While Judas and Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon his brother in Galilee outside Ptolemais,55 Et in diebus quibus erat Judas et Jonathas in terra Galaad, et Simon frater ejus in Galilæa contra faciem Ptolemaidis,
56 Joseph son of Zechariah, and Azariah, who were in command of the army, heard of their valiantdeeds and of the battles they had been fighting,56 audivit Josephus Zachariæ filius, et Azarias princeps virtutis, res bene gestas, et prælia quæ facta sunt,
57 and said, 'Let us make a name for ourselves too and go and fight the nations around us.'57 et dixit : Faciamus et ipsi nobis nomen, et eamus pugnare adversus gentes quæ in circuitu nostro sunt.
58 So they issued orders to the men under their command and marched on Jamnia.58 Et præcepit his qui erant in exercitu suo, et abierunt Jamniam.
59 Gorgias and his men came out of the town and gave battle.59 Et exivit Gorgias de civitate, et viri ejus obviam illis in pugnam.
60 Joseph and Azariah were routed and pursued as far as the frontiers of Judaea. That day about twothousand Israelites lost their lives.60 Et fugati sunt Josephus et Azarias usque in fines Judææ : et ceciderunt illo die de populo Israël ad duo millia viri, et facta est fuga magna in populo :
61 Our people thus met with a great reverse, because they had not listened to Judas and his brothers,thinking that they would do something equal y valiant.61 quia non audierunt Judam, et fratres ejus, existimantes fortiter se facturos.
62 They were not, however, of the same breed of men as those to whom the deliverance of Israel wasentrusted.62 Ipsi autem non erant de semine virorum illorum, per quos salus facta est in Israël.
63 The noble Judas and his brothers, however, were held in high honour throughout Israel and among althe nations wherever their name was heard,63 Et viri Juda magnificati sunt valde in conspectu omnis Israël, et gentium omnium ubi audiebatur nomen eorum.
64 and people thronged round to acclaim them.64 Et convenerunt ad eos fausta acclamantes.
65 Judas marched out with his brothers to fight the Edomites in the country towards the south; hestormed Hebron and its dependent vil ages, threw down its fortifications and burned down its encircling towers.65 Et exivit Judas et fratres ejus, et expugnabant filios Esau in terra quæ ad austrum est, et percussit Chebron et filias ejus : et muros ejus, et turres succendit igni in circuitu.
66 Leaving there, he made for the country of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.66 Et movit castra ut iret in terram alienigenarum, et perambulabat Samariam.
67 Among the fal en in that day's fighting were some priests who sought to prove their courage there byjoining in the battle, a foolhardy venture.67 In die illa ceciderunt sacerdotes in bello, dum volunt fortiter facere, dum sine consilio exeunt in prælium.
68 Judas next turned on Azotus, which belonged to the Philistines; he overthrew their altars, burned thestatues of their gods and, having pil aged their towns, withdrew to Judaea.68 Et declinavit Judas in Azotum in terram alienigenarum, et diruit aras eorum, et sculptilia deorum ipsorum succendit igni : et cepit spolia civitatum, et reversus est in terram Juda.