2 Maccabees 9

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	BIBBIA RICCIOTTI
1 About that time, as it happened, Antiochus had retreated in disorder from the region of Persia.	1 - In quel medesimo tempo, Antioco tornava vergognosamente dalla Persia.
2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temples and control the city. Therefore the people rushed to the rescue with arms, and Antiochus and his men were defeated, with the result that Antiochus was put to flight by the inhabitants and beat a shameful retreat.	2 Era entrato nella cosiddetta Persepoli, tentando di spogliare il tempio e opprimere la città; ma essendo corsa alle armi la popolazione, fu messo in fuga, e così avvenne che, dopo quella sconfitta Antioco se ne tornava ignominiosamente.
3 While he was in Ecbatana, news came to him of what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timothy.	3 Giunto presso Ecbatana, seppe che cosa era accaduto a Nicanore e Timoteo.
4 Transported with rage, he conceived the idea of turning upon the Jews the injury done by those who had put him to flight; so he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he completed the journey. But the judgment of heaven rode with him! For in his arrogance he said, "When I get there I will make Jerusalem a cemetery of Jews."	4 Montato per questo In furore, pensava di far ricadere sui Giudei l’obbrobrio ricevuto da quelli che l’avevano messo in fuga; perciò dette ordine di far accelerare il suo cocchio viaggiando senza posa, incalzato dal giudizio del cielo per aver detto con tanta superbia che verrebbe a Gerusalemme, e ne farebbe tutto un sepolcro di Giudei.
5 But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him an incurable and unseen blow. As soon as he ceased speaking he was seized with a pain in his bowels for which there was no relief and with sharp internal tortures--	5 Ma il Signore Dio di Israele, che tutto vede, lo percosse d’insanabile invisibile plaga. Infatti, com’ebbe pronunziate quelle parole, lo prese un acerbo dolore delle viscere con intimi crudeli tormenti;
6 and that very justly, for he had tortured the bowels of others with many and strange inflictions.	6 e ciò con molta giustizia, avendo egli con molti e nuovi supplizi torturate le viscere altrui; nè però in alcun modo rinunziava alla sua malignità.
7 Yet he did not in any way stop his insolence, but was even more filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, and giving orders to hasten the journey. And so it came about that he fell out of his chariot as it was rushing along, and the fall was so hard as to torture every limb of his body.	7 Che anzi, pieno di superbia, spirando nell’anima fuoco contro i Giudei, e dando ordine d’affrettar la corsa, avvenne che andando cosi impetuosamente cadde dal cocchio, e per la grave percossa gli si sconquassarono le membra.
8 Thus he who had just been thinking that he could command the waves of the sea, in his superhuman arrogance, and imagining that he could weigh the high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and carried in a litter, making the power of God manifest to all.	8 E quegli che s’immaginava di comandare anche ai flutti del mare, e di pesare su una stadera i monti più alti, ora umiliato sino a terra veniva condotto in una portantina, testimoniando in se medesimo la manifesta potenza di Dio.
9 And so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and pain, his flesh rotted away, and because of his stench the whole army felt revulsion at his decay.	9 Poiché dal corpo di quell’empio scaturivano i vermi, le carni di lui vivente fra i dolori cadevano a pezzi, ed il fetido suo odore dava noia a’suoi soldati;
10 Because of his intolerable stench no one was able to carry the man who a little while before had thought that he could touch the stars of heaven.	10 quegli che poco prima si pensava di toccar con mano le stelle del cielo, nessuno ora poteva sopportarlo» per l'intollerabile fetore.
11 Then it was that, broken in spirit, he began to lose much of his arrogance and to come to his senses under the scourge of God, for he was tortured with pain every moment.	11 Allora, smontato dalla sua grande superbia, ammonito dal divino castigo, cominciò a riconoscersi, mentre i suol dolori aumentavano ad ogni istante.
12 And when he could not endure his own stench, he uttered these words: "It is right to be subject to God, and no mortal should think that he is equal to God."	12 non potendo nemmen egli reggere al proprio fetore, disse: « È giusto essere sottoposti a Dio, e che un mortale non si faccia eguale a Dio ».
13 Then the abominable fellow made a vow to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him, stating	13 Quello scellerato adunque pregava il Signore, dal quale però non stava per ricevere misericordia.
14 that the holy city, which he was hastening to level to the ground and to make a cemetery, he was now declaring to be free;	14 La città alla quale con tanta fretta s’indirizzava per raderla al suolo e farne un sepolcro d’ammucchiati cadaveri, ora si propone di dichiararla libera.
15 and the Jews, whom he had not considered worth burying but had planned to throw out with their children to the beasts, for the birds to pick, he would make, all of them, equal to citizens of Athens;	15 I Giudei, dei quali aveva detto che non li reputerebbe nemmeno degni di sepoltura, ma li abbandonerebbe in pasto agli uccelli ed alle fiere» e li sterminerebbe sino al bambini lattanti, ora promette di metterli alla pari con gli Ateniesi.
16 and the holy sanctuary, which he had formerly plundered, he would adorn with the finest offerings; and the holy vessels he would give back, all of them, many times over; and the expenses incurred for the sacrifices he would provide from his own revenues;	16 E il tempio santo, già da lui depredato, lo arricchirà di doni preziosi, ne moltiplicherà i sacri arredi, e provvederà con le sue proprie rendite alle spese concernenti i sacrifizi.
17 and in addition to all this he also would become a Jew and would visit every inhabited place to proclaim the power of God.	17 Ed oltre a ciò, si farà Giudeo egli stesso, ed andrà per tutto il mondo a far nota la potenza di Dio.
18 But when his sufferings did not in any way abate, for the judgment of God had justly come upon him, he gave up all hope for himself and wrote to the Jews the following letter, in the form of a supplication. This was its content:	18 Ma non cessando i suoi dolori, perchè l’aveva arrivato il giusto giudizio di Dio, privo ormai di speranza, scrisse ai Giudei, a modo di preghiera una lettera in questi termini:
19 "To his worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus their king and general sends hearty greetings and good wishes for their health and prosperity.	19 « Ai Giudei ottimi cittadini, il re e principe Antioco augura molta salute, e star bene, ed esser felici.
20 If you and your children are well and your affairs are as you wish, I am glad. As my hope is in heaven,	20 Se voi ed i vostri figliuoli state bene, e tutto va a seconda dei vostri deslderii ne rendiamo [a Dio] somme grazie.
21 I remember with affection your esteem and good will. On my way back from the region of Persia I suffered an annoying illness, and I have deemed it necessary to take thought for the general security of all.	21 io mi trovo infermo, ma serbo di voi grata memoria; colto da grave infermità nel mio ritorno dalle regioni della Persia, ho creduto necessario di provvedere al comun bene.
22 I do not despair of my condition, for I have good hope of recovering from my illness,	22 Non dispero di me medesimo; anzi ho molta speranza di scampare dal male.
23 but I observed that my father, on the occasions when he made expeditions into the upper country, appointed his successor,	23 Ma ho considerato che anche il padre mio, quando conduceva il suo esercito nelle province superiori, designò chi prenderebbe il principato dopo di lui;
24 so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm would not be troubled, for they would know to whom the government was left.	24 affinchè, se qualche disavventura accadesse, o si sapesse di qualunque difficoltà, non sopravvenissero turbamenti nelle province, sapendosi già a chi sarebbe affidata la somma delle cose.
25 Moreover, I understand how the princes along the borders and the neighbors to my kingdom keep watching for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. So I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I have often entrusted and commended to most of you when I hastened off to the upper provinces; and I have written to him what is written here.	25 Considerando inoltre che gli altri principi ed i vicini stanno in agguato ed aspettano l’occasione, ho designato per re il figlio mio Antioco, il quale spesso, venendo io nelle province superiori, ho raccomandato a molti di voi ; e gli ho scritto quanto segue.
26 I therefore urge and beseech you to remember the public and private services rendered to you and to maintain your present good will, each of you, toward me and my son.	26 vi prego dunque e vi chieggo che vi ricordiate in pubblico ed In privato dei miei benefizi, sì che ciascuno serbi fede a me ed al figlio mio. Ed io confido ch’egli si condurrà con moderazione e clemenza, seconderà le mie vedute, e vi sarà favorevole ».
27 For I am sure that he will follow my policy and will treat you with moderation and kindness."	27 Cosi quell’omicida e bestemmiatore fu severisslmamente colpito, e come aveva egli trattato gli altri, finì la vita con una miserabile morte, fuggiasco, sui monti.
28 So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the more intense suffering, such as he had inflicted on others, came to the end of his life by a most pitiable fate, among the mountains in a strange land.	28 Filippo suo coetaneo ne trasportò il cadavere; ma temendo il figlio d’Antloco, andò in Egitto, presso Tolomeo Filometore.
29 And Philip, one of his courtiers, took his body home; then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he betook himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.