2 Macabeos 6

BIBLIA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Poco tiempo después, el rey envió al ateniense Geronta para obligar a los judíos a que desertaran de las leyes de sus padres y a que dejaran de vivir según las leyes de su 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 y además para contaminar el Templo de Jerusalén, dedicándolo a Zeus Olímpico, y el de Garizim, a Zeus Hospitalario, como lo habían pedido los habitantes del 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 era para todos penoso e insoportable.	3 And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all.
4 El Templo estaba lleno de desórdenes y orgías por parte de los paganos que holgaban con meretrices y que en los atrios sagrados andaban con mujeres, y hasta introducían allí cosas prohibidas.	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 víctimas ilícitas, prohibidas por las leyes.	5 The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.
6 No se podía ni celebrar el sábado, ni guardar las fiestas patrias, ni siquiera confesarse 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 antes bien eran obligados con amarga violencia a la celebración mensual del nacimiento del rey con un banquete sacrificial y, cuando llegaba la fiesta de Dióniso, eran forzados a formar parte de su cortejo, coronados de hiedra.	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 los habitantes de Tolemaida salió un decreto para las vecinas ciudades griegas, obligándolas a que procedieran de la misma forma contra los judíos y a que les hicieran participar en los banquetes sacrificiales,	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 con orden de degollar a los que no adoptaran el cambio a las costumbres griegas. Podíase ya entrever la calamidad inminente.	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; las hicieron recorrer públicamente la ciudad con los niños colgados del pecho, y las precipitaron desde 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 cuevas próximas para celebrar a escondidas el día séptimo, fueron denunciados a Filipo y quemados juntos, sin que quisieran hacer nada en su defensa, por respeto a la santidad del 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 desconcierten por estas desgracias; piensen antes bien que estos castigos buscan no la destrucción, sino la educación de nuestra raza;	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 pues el no tolerar por mucho tiempo a los impíos, de modo que pronto caigan en castigos, es señal de gran benevolencia.	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 Pues con las demás naciones el Soberano, para castigarlas, aguarda pacientemente a que lleguen a colmar la medida de sus pecados; pero con nosotros ha decidido no proceder así,	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 que no tenga luego que castigarnos, al llegar nuestros pecados a la medida colmada.	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 mismo nunca retira de nosotros su misericordia: cuando corrige con la desgracia, no está abandonando a su propio pueblo.	16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not.
17 Quede esto dicho a modo de recuerdo. Después de estas pocas palabras, 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 A Eleazar, uno de los principales escribas, varón de ya avanzada edad y de muy noble aspecto, le forzaban a abrir la boca y a comer carne de puerco.	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, marchaba voluntariamente al suplicio del apaleamiento,	19 But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.
20 después de escupir todo, que es como deben proceder los que tienen valentía rechazar los alimentos que no es lícito probar ni 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 estaban encargados del banquete sacrificial contrario a la Ley, tomándole aparte en razón del conocimiento que de antiguo tenían con este hombre, le invitaban a traer carne preparada por él mismo, y que le fuera lícita; a simular como si comiera la mandada por el rey, tomada del sacrificio,	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 para que, obrando así, se librara de la muerte, y por su antigua amistad hacia ellos alcanzara benevolencia.	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, de la prestancia de su ancianidad, de sus experimentadas y ejemplares canas, de su inmejorable proceder desde niño y, sobre todo, de la legislación santa dada por Dios, se mostró consecuente consigo diciendo que se le mandara pronto al Hades.	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 «Porque a nuestra edad no es digno fingir, no sea que muchos jóvenes creyendo que Eleazar, a sus 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 también ellos por mi simulación y por mi apego a este breve resto de vida, se desvíen por mi culpa y yo atraiga mancha y deshonra a mi vejez.	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 Pues aunque me libre al presente del castigo de los hombres, sin embargo ni vivo ni muerto podré escapar 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, al abandonar ahora valientemente la vida, me mostraré digno de mi ancianidad,	27 Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:
28 dejando a los jóvenes un ejemplo noble al morir generosamente con ánimo y nobleza por las leyes venerables y santas». Habiendo dicho esto, se fue enseguida al suplicio del apaleamiento.	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 Los que le llevaban cambiaron su suavidad de poco antes en dureza, después de oír las referidas palabras que ellos consideraban una locura;	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 él, por su parte, a punto ya de morir por los golpes, dijo entre suspiros: «El Señor, que posee la ciencia santa, sabe bien que, pudiendo librarme de la muerte, soporto flagelado en mi cuerpo recios dolores, pero en mi alma los sufro con gusto por temor de 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 llegó a su tránsito. (No sólo a los jóvenes, sino también a la gran mayoría de la nación, Eleazar dejó su muerte como ejemplo de nobleza y 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.