| 1 Essendo dunque in tutta pace abitata la città santa, e tuttora gelosamente osservate le leggi, a causa della pietà del pontefice Onia, e dell’odio che tutti avevano al male, | 1 While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were very well observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of wickedness, |
| 2 avveniva che gli stessi re e principi [stranieri] credevano degno di sommo onore il luogo [santo] , ed arricchivano il tempio con doni grandissimi; | 2 it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the finest presents, |
| 3 tanto che Seieuco re dell’Asia pagava delle sue rendite tutte le spese concernenti il ministero de’ sacrifizi. | 3 so that even Seleucus, the king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices. |
| 4 Ora, Simone della tribù di Beniamino, fatto intendente del tempio, tentava resistendogli però il principe de’sacerdoti, di macchinare nella città qualcosa d'iniquo. | 4 But a man named Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made captain of the temple, had a disagreement with the high priest about the administration of the city market; |
| 5 E non avendo potuto spuntarla con Onta, andò ad Apollonio figlio di Tarsea, prefetto allora della Celesiria e della Fenicia, | 5 and when he could not prevail over Onias he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia. |
| 6 e gli annunziò che l’erario in Gerusalemme riboccava di danaro senza numero, che il pubblico tesoro era immenso, nè serviva alle spese de’ sacrifizi, e che era possibile far cader ogni cosa in possesso del re. | 6 He reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the amount of the funds could not be reckoned, and that they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible for them to fall under the control of the king. |
| 7 Avendo Apollonio riferito al re quel che gli era stato riportato intorno a quelle ricchezze, il re chiamò Eliodoro sopraintendente a’ suoi affari, e lo inviò [a Gerusalemme] con l’ordine di portar via quel tesoro. | 7 When Apollonius met the king, he told him of the money about which he had been informed. The king chose Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the removal of the aforesaid money. |
| 8 Subito Eliodoro si mise in viaggio; in apparenza, come se fosse per visitar le città della Celesiria e della Fenicia, ma in realtà per eseguire la volontà del re. | 8 Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to carry out the king's purpose. |
| 9 Giunto in Gerusalemme, e benevolmente accolto in quella città dal sommo sacerdote, disse dell'informazione datagli intorno al tesoro, e non nascose il motivo pel quale era venuto; ma domandò se così veramente stavan le cose. | 9 When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of the city, he told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had come, and he inquired whether this really was the situation. |
| 10 Allora il sommo sacerdote gli dimostrò che quelli eran depositi e sostentamento di vedove e di pupilli; | 10 The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans, |
| 11 che parte di quanto gli aveva riferito l’empio Simone apparteneva ad Ircano figlio di Tobia, uomo molto eminente; e che in tutto erano quattrocento talenti d’argento e duecento d’oro. | 11 and also some money of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man of very prominent position, and that it totaled in all four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. To such an extent the impious Simon had misrepresented the facts. |
| 12 Che poi avessero a restar defraudati quelli che li avevano affidati ad un luogo e ad un tempio onorato in tutto il mondo per la sua maestà e santità, era addirittura impossibile. | 12 And he said that it was utterly impossible that wrong should be done to those people who had trusted in the holiness of the place and in the sanctity and inviolability of the temple which is honored throughout the whole world. |
| 13 Ma quegli, secondo quanto aveva avuto ordine dal re ripeteva che tutto ciò doveva assolutamente esser consegnato al re. | 13 But Heliodorus, because of the king's commands which he had, said that this money must in any case be confiscated for the king's treasury. |
| 14 Al giorno prefisso Eliodoro si fece avanti per venir ai fatti e tutta la città era in grand’emozione. | 14 So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of these funds. There was no little distress throughout the whole city. |
| 15 I sacerdoti, in veste sacerdotale prostrati innanzi all’altare, invocavano dal cielo colui che aveva posta la legge dei depositi, acciò li serbasse intatti a quelli che ve li avevano collocati. | 15 The priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priestly garments and called toward heaven upon him who had given the law about deposits, that he should keep them safe for those who had deposited them. |
| 16 Chi poi guardava in viso il sommo sacerdote, ne rimaneva commosso, perchè il suo aspetto e la mutazione del suo colore tradivano l’Interno suo dolore dell’animo: | 16 To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart, for his face and the change in his color disclosed the anguish of his soul. |
| 17 egli infatti spirava mestizia da tutta la persona, ed il tremito del suo corpo manifestava a chi lo rimirava il dolore del suo cuore. | 17 For terror and bodily trembling had come over the man, which plainly showed to those who looked at him the pain lodged in his heart. |
| 18 Altri a gruppi accorrevano dalle case a supplicar con pubbliche preghiere perchè il luogo santo stava per essere conculcato. | 18 People also hurried out of their houses in crowds to make a general supplication because the holy place was about to be brought into contempt. |
| 19 Le donne, cinte il petto di cilizi affluivano per le piazze; fin anche delle vergini che stavano ritirate, alcune accorrevano ad Onia, altre alle mura ed altre rimiravano dalle finestre; | 19 Women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. Some of the maidens who were kept indoors ran together to the gates, and some to the walls, while others peered out of the windows. |
| 20 tutte poi, levando al cielo le mani, si raccomandavano. | 20 And holding up their hands to heaven, they all made entreaty. |
| 21 Era veramente compassionevole lo spettacolo di quella confusa moltitudine e del gran sacerdote posto in tal angustia. | 21 There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole populace and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish. |
| 22 Quelli dunque invocavano l'onnipotente Iddio, acciò i depositi a loro affidati restassero intatti a quelli che li avevano consegnati. | 22 While they were calling upon the Almighty Lord that he would keep what had been entrusted safe and secure for those who had entrusted it, |
| 23 Eliodoro però, per eseguire nel luogo stesso quel che aveva stabilito venne co' suoi satelliti presso l'erario. | 23 Heliodorus went on with what had been decided. |
| 24 Ma lo spirito di Dio onnipotente si manifestò con grande evidenza, in guisa che tutti quelli i quali avevano osato obbedire ad Eliodoro, rovesciati per divina virtù, furon colpiti da impotenza e spavento. | 24 But when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, then and there the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a manifestation that all who had been so bold as to accompany him were astounded by the power of God, and became faint with terror. |
| 25 Poiché apparve loro un cavallo ornato di ricchissima bardatura, con sopra un terribile cavaliere; coi piedi davanti dava furiosi calci ad Eliodoro; e quegli che lo cavalcava appariva aver armatura d’oro. | 25 For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned horse, with a rider of frightening mien, and it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor and weapons of gold. |
| 26 Apparvero poi, altri due giovani, di vigoroso aspetto, splendidi di bellezza essi e le loro vesti, che misero in mezzo Eliodoro, e da ambedue le parti lo flagellavano senza posa con ripetuti colpi. | 26 Two young men also appeared to him, remarkably strong, gloriously beautiful and splendidly dressed, who stood on each side of him and scourged him continuously, inflicting many blows on him. |
| 27 Egli cadde subitamente per terra, circonfuso da profonda caligine; lo presero e messolo su una sedia portatile lo condussero via. | 27 When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him, his men took him up and put him on a stretcher |
| 28 Cosi, quegli ehe con tanti cursori e satelliti era entrato in quell’erario, veniva portato via per manifesta riconosciuta virtù di Dio, senza che alcuno gli recasse aiuto. | 28 and carried him away, this man who had just entered the aforesaid treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard but was now unable to help himself; and they recognized clearly the sovereign power of God. |
| 29 Egli per quella divina potenza giaceva muto, privo d’ogni speranza di salvezza; | 29 While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention and deprived of any hope of recovery, |
| 30 gli altri invece benedicevano il Signore perché glorificava il suo luogo, ed il tempio, che poco prima era pieno di spavento e d’agitazione, per quella manifestazione dell’onnipotente Signore si riempi di letizia e di gaudio. | 30 they praised the Lord who had acted marvelously for his own place. And the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and disturbance, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the Almighty Lord had appeared. |
| 31 Ma allora alcuni amici d’Eliodoro si raccomandarono ad Onia, acciò pregasse l’Altissimo a risparmiar la vita di colui che era ridotto agli estremi. | 31 Quickly some of Heliodorus' friends asked Onias to call upon the Most High and to grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath. |
| 32 Ed il sommo sacerdote, considerando che il re avrebbe potuto sospettare di qualche malizia de' Giudei a danno di Eliodoro, offri per la sua salvezza un sacrifizio salutare. | 32 And the high priest, fearing that the king might get the notion that some foul play had been perpetrated by the Jews with regard to Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for the man's recovery. |
| 33 Or mentre il sommo sacerdote pregava, que' medesimi vestiti, vestiti dalle medesime vesti si fecero innanzi ad Eliodoro, e gli dissero: «Rendi grazie al sacerdote Onia, perchè per amor suo il Signore t’ha lasciato in vita. | 33 While the high priest was making the offering of atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus dressed in the same clothing, and they stood and said, "Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life. |
| 34 Tu poi, così da Dio flagellato, annunzia a tutti la grandezza e potenza di Dio». Ciò detto, disparvero. | 34 And see that you, who have been scourged by heaven, report to all men the majestic power of God." Having said this they vanished. |
| 35 Eliodoro infatti, offerto a Dio un sacrifizio, fatte grandi promesse e voti a lui che gli aveva salvata la vita, e rese grazie ad Onia, preso con sè il suo esercito ritornò al re; | 35 Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to the Savior of his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, he marched off with his forces to the king. |
| 36 ed a tutti rendeva testimonianza delle opere del gran Dio, che aveva vedute co’suoi occhi. | 36 And he bore testimony to all men of the deeds of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes. |
| 37 Quando poi il re domandò ad Eliodoro chi sarebbe adatto a venir mandato un’altra volta a Gerusalemme, rispose: | 37 When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied, |
| 38 «Se hai un nemico o un insidiatore del regno tuo, mandalo là, e ti ritornerà flagellato, seppure la scamperà; perchè in quel luogo c’ è veramente come la potenza di Dio; | 38 "If you have any enemy or plotter against your government, send him there, for you will get him back thoroughly scourged, if he escapes at all, for there certainly is about the place some power of God. |
| 39 perchè quegli che abita ne’ cieli visita e custodisce quel luogo e percuote e disperde quelli che vanno per farvi del male ». | 39 For he who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself and brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it injury." |
| 40 Così dunque passaron le cose, quanto ad Eliodoro, ed alla conservazione dell’erario. Malvagità d’alcuni sommi sacerdoti, | 40 This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury. |
