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Lunedi, 13 maggio 2024 - Beata Vergine Maria di Fatima ( Letture di oggi)

II Livro dos Macabeus 10


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SAGRADA BIBLIANEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Sob a proteção do Senhor, Macabeu e seus companheiros retomaram o templo e a cidade.1 When Maccabeus and his companions, under the Lord's leadership, had recovered the temple and the city,
2 Destruíram os altares que os estrangeiros haviam edificado na praça pública, como também os troncos sagrados.2 they destroyed the altars erected by the Gentiles in the marketplace and the sacred enclosures.
3 Após terem purificado o templo, erigiram um outro altar dos perfumes; utilizaram uma pedra para tirar faíscas das quais eles se serviram para oferecer os sacrifícios, após dois anos de interrupção; queimaram o incenso, acenderam as lâmpadas e recolocaram os pães da proposição.3 After purifying the temple, they made a new altar. Then, with fire struck from flint, they offered sacrifice for the first time in two years, burned incense, and lighted lamps. They also set out the showbread.
4 Feitas estas coisas, prostraram-se por terra e pediram ao Senhor que não mais os entregasse a semelhantes calamidades, mas, se recaíssem nas ofensas, que corrigisse com brandura, sem entregá-los às mãos das nações ímpias e bárbaras.4 When they had done this, they prostrated themselves and begged the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, and that if they should sin at any time, he might chastise them with moderation and not hand them over to blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles.
5 Foi no dia do aniversário da profanação do templo pelos estrangeiros, isto é, no dia vinte e cinco do mês de Casleu, que eles o purificaram.5 On the anniversary of the day on which the temple had been profaned by the Gentiles, that is, the twenty-fifth of the same month Chislev, the purification of the temple took place.
6 Prolongaram as cerimônias e os festejos por oito dias, como na ocasião da festa dos tabernáculos, recordando-se de que, pouco antes, na ocasião dessa festa, habitavam nas montanhas e nas cavernas como animais selvagens.6 The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in caves on the mountains.
7 Foi assim que, levando tirsos, ramos verdejantes e palmas, cantaram hinos àquele que lhes havia concedido a dita de purificar o seu templo.7 Carrying rods entwined with leaves, green branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had brought about the purification of his own Place.
8 Decretaram por um edito público a toda a nação judia, que esses mesmos dias fossem solenizados em cada ano.8 By public edict and decree they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year.
9 Acabamos de narrar as circunstâncias da morte de Antíoco, cognominado Epífanes.9 Such was the end of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes.
10 Vamos agora proceder à narrativa dos acontecimentos sucedidos sob Antíoco Eupator, filho desse10 Now we shall relate what happened under Antiochus Eupator, the son of that godless man, and shall give a summary of the chief evils caused by the wars.
11 Assim que subiu ao trono, este príncipe pôs à frente dos negócios do reino um certo Lísias, ao qual nomeou também governador militar e chefe da Celesíria e da Fenícia,11 When Eupator succeeded to the kingdom, he put a certain Lysias in charge of the government as commander-in-chief of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
12 porque Ptolomeu, apelidado Macron, tomando a iniciativa de se mostrar justo para com os judeus, em vista da perseguição movida contra eles, procurou governá-los na paz;12 Ptolemy, surnamed Macron, had taken the lead in treating the Jews fairly because of the previous injustice that had been done them, and he endeavored to have peaceful relations with them.
13 mas, pelos favoritos do rei, ele havia sido denunciado a Eupator. Por outro lado, tachado muitas vezes de traidor, por ter deixado Chipre que lhe havia entregue Filometor e se ter posto a serviço de Antíoco Epífanes, e, em conseqüência, não podendo exercer com honra seu alto posto, envenenou-se e morreu.13 As a result, he was accused before Eupator by the King's Friends. In fact, on all sides he heard himself called a traitor for having abandoned Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and for having gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Since he could not command the respect due to his high office, he ended his life by taking poison.
14 Mas Górgias, tornado comandante do exército nessas paragens, tomava consigo tropas estrangeiras e aproveitava-se de todas as ocasiões para importunar os judeus.14 When Gorgias became governor of the region, he employed foreign troops and used every opportunity to attack the Jews.
15 Os idumeus, senhores de várias fortalezas importantes, em combinação com ele, molestavam os judeus, acolhiam os exilados de Jerusalém, e mantinham um estado de guerra contínuo.15 At the same time the Idumeans, who held some important strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they welcomed fugitives from Jerusalem and endeavored to continue the war.
16 Então Macabeu com seus companheiros atacaram as fortalezas da Iduméia, após haver rezado e invocado o auxílio de Deus.16 Maccabeus and his companions, after public prayers asking God to be their ally, moved quickly against the strongholds of the Idumeans.
17 Atacaram-nas com vigorosos esforços, apoderaram-se de todas, repeliram os que combatiam sobre as muralhas, mataram os que caíam em suas mãos e trucidaram não menos de vinte mil homens.17 Attacking vigorously, they gained control of the places, drove back all who manned the walls, and cut down those who opposed them, killing as many as twenty thousand men.
18 Nove mil fugitivos pelo menos haviam procurado abrigo em duas fortalezas, equipadas com o necessário para agüentar um cerco.18 When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers, containing everything necessary to sustain a siege,
19 Macabeu deixou Simão e José com Zaqueu e muitos homens, para expugná-los e dirigiu-se para onde se exigia mais a sua presença.19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, along with Zacchaeus and his men, in sufficient numbers to besiege them, while he himself went off to places where he was more urgently needed.
20 Todavia, os companheiros de Simão, seduzidos pelo dinheiro, deixaram-se corromper por alguns dos que se achavam nas torres da cidadela, e, mediante a soma de setenta mil dracmas, deixaram escapar muitos deles.20 But some of the men in Simon's force who were money lovers let themselves be bribed by some of the men in the towers; on receiving seventy thousand drachmas, they allowed a number of them to escape.
21 Ouvindo essas notícias, Macabeu acusou-os diante da assembléia dos chefes de terem vendido seus irmãos a troco de dinheiro, entregando os inimigos à liberdade.21 When Maccabeus was told what had happened, he assembled the rulers of the people and accused those men of having sold their kinsmen for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them.
22 Comprovada a sua traição, mandou executá-los e, em seguida, tomou conta das duas cidadelas.22 So he put them to death as traitors, and without delay captured the two towers.
23 Coroadas de êxito as lutas de ambos os lados, ele matou mais de vinte mil homens nas duas fortalezas.23 As he was successful at arms in all his undertakings, he destroyed more than twenty thousand men in the two strongholds.
24 Anteriormente vencido pelos judeus, Timóteo coligou copiosas tropas estrangeiras e reuniu na Ásia uma numerosa cavalaria, indo em direção à Judéia com a intenção de conquistá-la pelas armas.24 Timothy, who had previously been defeated by the Jews, gathered a tremendous force of foreign troops and collected a large number of cavalry from Asia; then he appeared in Judea, ready to conquer it by force.
25 Com a sua chegada, Macabeu e seus companheiros cobriram a cabeça com terra e cingiram os rins com sacos, em sinal de prece;25 At his approach, Maccabeus and his men made supplication to God, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins in sackcloth.
26 em seguida, prostrados aos pés do altar, rogaram a Deus piedade para com eles, pedindo que se declarasse inimigo de seus inimigos e adversário de seus adversários, conforme a promessa formal da lei.26 Lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, they begged him to be gracious to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and a foe to their foes, as the law declares.
27 Terminada a oração, empunharam as armas, retiraram-se para bem longe da cidade e fizeram alto diante do inimigo.27 After the prayer, they took up their arms and advanced a considerable distance from the city, halting when they were close to the enemy.
28 Ao despontar a aurora, travaram combate os dois lados, contando uns com o êxito e a vitória, por causa de sua valentia e do socorro do Senhor, e os outros entregando-se ao combate, apoiados no próprio furor.28 As soon as dawn broke, the armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord, and the other taking fury as their leader in the fight.
29 No auge do combate, viram os inimigos aparecer no céu cinco magníficos guerreiros, montados em cavalos ajaezados com freios de ouro, que se colocaram à frente dos judeus.29 In the midst of the fierce battle, there appeared to the enemy from the heavens five majestic men riding on golden-bridled horses, who led the Jews on.
30 Postando Macabeu no meio deles e protegendo-o com suas armas, tornavam-no invulnerável. Ao mesmo tempo lançavam dardos e raios sobre os inimigos, cegando-os, gerando entre eles a confusão, pondo-os em desordem.30 They surrounded Maccabeus, and shielding him with their own armor, kept him from being wounded. They shot arrows and hurled thunderbolts at the enemy, who were bewildered and blinded, thrown into confusion and routed.
31 Foram, pois, mortos vinte mil e quinhentos infantes e seiscentos cavaleiros.31 Twenty-five hundred of their foot soldiers and six hundred of their horsemen were slain.
32 Timóteo fugiu para uma praça muito forte, chamada Gazara, cujo comandante era Queréias.32 Timothy, however, fled to a well-fortified stronghold called Gazara, where Chaereas was in command.
33 Macabeu e os que se achavam com ele assediaram-na com ardor durante quatro dias,33 For four days Maccabeus and his men eagerly besieged the fortress.
34 enquanto os que se encontravam nela não cessavam de blasfemar e injuriar, confiados em seus muros.34 Those inside, relying on the strength of the place, kept repeating outrageous blasphemies and uttering abominable words.
35 Amanhecendo, porém, o quinto dia, um grupo de vinte jovens do exército de Macabeu, inflamado de cólera por causa dessas blasfêmias, atirou-se corajosamente à muralha e massacrou tudo o que encontrou.35 When the fifth day dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, angered over such blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they encountered.
36 Outros subiram do mesmo modo o muro, atearam fogo às torres, acenderam fogueiras, nas quais queimaram vivos os blasfemadores; outros ainda arrombaram as portas, fizeram entrar o restante do exército e ocuparam a cidade.36 Others who climbed up the same way swung around on the defenders, taking the besieged in the rear; they put the towers to the torch, spread the fire and burned the blasphemers alive. Still others broke down the gates and let in the rest of the troops, who took possession of the city.
37 Mataram Timóteo, oculto numa cisterna, seu irmão Queréias e Apolofanes.37 Timothy had hidden in a cistern, but they killed him, along with his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.
38 Após essa façanha, cantaram hinos e cânticos ao Senhor, que havia operado grandes prodígios em favor de Israel, concedendo-lhe a vitória.38 On completing these exploits, they blessed, with hymns of grateful praise, the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and grants them victory.