Deuxième livre des Macchabées 9

BIBLES DES PEUPLES	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Vers ce temps-là Antiocus était revenu fort humilié des régions de la Perse.	1 But Judas Machabeus, and they that were with him, went privately into the towns: and calling together their kinsmen and friends, and taking unto them such as continued in the Jews' religion, they assembled six thousand men.
2 En effet il était allé jusqu’à une ville du nom de Persépolis, il avait essayé de piller le temple et de soumettre la ville, mais la foule s’était soulevée contre lui. Elle avait pris les armes et Antiocus, mis en fuite par les habitants du pays, avait dû se retirer sans gloire.	2 And they called upon the Lord that he would look upon his people that was trodden down by all, and would have pity on the temple, that was defiled by the wicked:
3 Comme il était dans la région d’Ekbatane, il apprit ce qui était arrivé à Nicanor et à l’armée de Timothée.	3 That he would have pity also upon the city that was destroyed, that was ready to be made even with the ground, and would hear the voice of the blood that cried to him:
4 Fou de colère, il pensait faire payer aux Juifs l’audace de ceux qui l’avaient obligé à fuir. Il ordonna donc au conducteur de son char de rouler sans s’arrêter pour arriver au plus tôt; mais la vengeance du ciel le poursuivait, car dans son orgueil il avait dit: “Aussitôt arrivé à Jérusalem, je ferai de cette ville le tombeau des Juifs.”	4 That he would remember also the most unjust deaths of innocent children, and the blasphemies offered to his name, and would shew his indignation on this occasion.
5 Mais voici que le Seigneur Dieu d’Israël, qui voit toute chose, le frappa d’une plaie incurable et horrible à voir. Il venait à peine de prononcer cette parole qu’il fut atteint d’un mal d’intestins sans espoir de guérison, avec des douleurs aiguës dans le ventre.	5 Now when Machabeus had gathered a multitude, he could not be withstood by the heathens: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy.
6 C’était bien juste, car il avait déchiré les entrailles des autres dans des supplices cruels et incroyables.	6 So coming unawares upon the towns and cities, he set them on fire, and taking possession of the most commodious places, he made no small slaughter of the enemies
7 Cependant, son insolence ne diminuait pas pour autant et, toujours rempli d’orgueil, il laissait aller contre les Juifs le feu de sa colère, ordonnant d’accélérer la marche. Soudain, dans un grand bruit, il tomba de son char en pleine course, et la chute fut si violente que tous les membres de son corps en furent disloqués.	7 And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where.
8 Lui qui tout à l’heure se prenait pour un surhomme, prêt à commander aux flots de la mer ou à peser dans une balance la masse des montagnes, il était maintenant jeté à terre; on l’emporta sur un brancard et la puissance de Dieu éclata aux yeux de tous.	8 Then Philip, seeing that the man gained ground by little and little, and that things for the most part succeeded prosperously with him, wrote to Ptolemee the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, to send aid to the king's affairs.
9 Des vers sortaient du corps de cet impie alors qu’il vivait encore, ses chairs s’en allaient en lambeaux avec d’atroces douleurs, et l’odeur de pourriture qui sortait de lui incommodait toute l’armée.	9 And he with all speed sent Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, giving him no fewer than twenty thousand armed men of different nations, to root out the whole race of the Jews, joining also with him Gorgias, a good soldier, and of great experience in matters of war.
10 À cause de cette odeur insupportable, plus personne maintenant ne pouvait rester auprès de celui qui autrefois semblait toucher aux astres du ciel.	10 And Nicanor purposed to raise for the king the tribute of two thousand talents, that was to be given to the Romans, by making so much money of the captive Jews:
11 Alors, au milieu de ses terribles souffrances, il commença à revenir de son grand orgueil et à reconnaître lui-même sa condition sous le fouet divin qui à chaque moment redoublait ses douleurs.	11 Wherefore he sent immediately to the cities upon the sea coast, to invite men together to buy up the Jewish slaves, promising that they should have ninety slaves for one talent, not reflecting on the vengeance, which was to follow him from the Almighty.
12 Lui-même ne pouvait plus supporter sa propre odeur, il reconnut: “Il est juste de se soumettre à Dieu et de ne pas s’égaler à la Divinité quand on est un simple mortel.”	12 Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand.
13 Cet homme souillé fit alors un vœu au Maître qui, à cette heure, ne devait plus avoir pitié de lui.	13 And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of God, fled away:
14 Il promettait de déclarer libre cette Ville Sainte vers laquelle il s’était hâté de revenir pour la raser et en faire le tombeau de ses habitants.	14 Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord, that he would deliver them from the wicked Nicanor, who had sold them before he came near them:
15 Il promettait de donner à tous les Juifs les mêmes droits qu’aux Athéniens, alors que peu avant il ne les jugeait pas dignes de sépulture et qu’il les donnait déjà, eux et leurs enfants, en pâture aux oiseaux de proie et aux bêtes féroces.	15 And if not for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he had made with their fathers, and for the sake of his holy and glorious name that was invoked upon them.
16 Il promettait d’orner des plus belles offrandes le Temple Saint qu’il avait jadis dépouillé, de lui rendre et bien au-delà, tous les objets sacrés et d’assurer sur ses propres revenus les frais des sacrifices.	16 But Machabeus calling together seven thousand that were with him, exhorted them not to be reconciled to the enemies, nor to fear the multitude of the enemies who came wrongfully against them, but to fight manfully:
17 Plus encore, il promettait de se faire juif et de parcourir tous les lieux habités pour y proclamer la toute-puissance de Dieu.	17 Setting before their eyes the injury they had unjustly done the holy place, and also the injury they had done to the city, which had been shamefully abused, besides their destroying the ordinances of the fathers.
18 Mais ses souffrances ne se calmèrent pas pour autant, car le juste jugement de Dieu s’était abattu sur lui; alors, se voyant dans un état désespéré, il écrivit aux Juifs cette lettre qui ressemblait à une supplication et qui était rédigée ainsi:	18 For, said he, they trust in their weapons, and in their boldness: but we trust in the Almighty Lord, who at a beck can utterly destroy both them that come against us, and the whole world.
19 “Le roi et général Antiocus salue les Juifs, ses excellents citoyens, et leur souhaite santé et bonheur parfaits.	19 Moreover he put them in mind also of the helps their fathers had received from God: and how under Sennacherib a hundred and eighty-five thousand had been destroyed.
20 Si vous et vos enfants vous portez bien, si vos affaires vont comme vous le souhaitez, j’en rends grâce au Ciel	20 And of the battle that they had fought against the Galatians in Babylonia, how they, being in all but six thousand, when it came to the point, and Macedonians their companions were a stand, slew a hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help they had from heaven, and for this they received many favours.
21 car je me rappelle avec affection les marques d’honneur et de bonté que j’ai reçues de vous. À mon retour des régions de Perse, je suis tombé dans une cruelle maladie et je crois nécessaire de me préoccuper de votre avenir à tous.	21 With these words they were greatly encouraged, and disposed even to die for the laws and their country.
22 Ce n’est pas que je désespère de guérir, j’ai même bon espoir de sortir de cette maladie;	22 So he appointed his brethren cap over each division of his army, Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to one fifteen hundred men.
23 mais je repense à mon père qui désignait son successeur lorsqu’il partait en campagne dans les provinces lointaines.	23 And after the holy Book had been read to them by Esdras, and he had given them for a watchword, The help of God: himself leading the first band, he joined battle with Nicanor:
24 Il voulait en effet qu’en cas d’un malheur imprévu ou d’une pénible nouvelle, les gens du royaume ne soient pas déconcertés, mais qu’ils sachent à qui le gouvernement était remis.	24 And the Almighty being their helper, they slew above nine thousand men: and having wounded and disabled the greater part of Nicanor's army, they obliged them to fly.
25 Je pense par ailleurs que les rois voisins et les princes des États qui m’entourent guettent les occasions et sont à l’affût de tout ce qui peut arriver. C’est pourquoi j’ai désigné comme roi mon fils Antiocus. Plus d’une fois, lorsque je parcourais les provinces lointaines, je l’ai recommandé à la plupart d’entre vous et je lui ai écrit la lettre recopiée ci-dessous.	25 And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they pursued them on every side.
26 Je vous demande donc et je vous prie de vous rappeler les bienfaits que vous avez reçus de moi, tous ensemble ou en particulier, et de nous conserver votre bienveillance, à moi comme à mon fils.	26 But they came back for want of time: for it was the day before the sabbath: and therefore they did not continue the pursuit.
27 Je suis certain qu’il poursuivra avec modération et humanité ma politique à votre égard et qu’il se montrera bienveillant envers vous.”	27 But when they had gathered together their arms and their spoils, they kept the sabbath: blessing the Lord who had delivered them that day, distilling the beginning of mercy upon them.
28 C’est ainsi que cet assassin, ce blasphémateur, passa par de terribles souffrances, comme il en avait fait subir aux autres, avant de mourir d’une mort misérable sur une terre étrangère, au milieu des montagnes.	28 Then after the sabbath they divided the spoils to the feeble and the orphans, and the widows: and the rest they took for themselves and their servants.
29 Philippe, son compagnon d’enfance, fit emporter son corps; puis il se réfugia en Égypte auprès de Ptolémée Philométor, car il craignait le jeune Antiocus.	29 When this was done, and they had all made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled to his servants unto the end.
	30 Moreover they slew above twenty thousand of them that were with Timotheus and Bacchides who fought them, and they made themselves masters of the high strong holds: and they divided amongst them many spoils, giving equal portions to the feeble, the fatherless and the widows, yea and the aged also.
	31 And when they had carefully gathered together their arms, they laid them all up in convenient places, and the residue of their spoils they carried to Jerusalem :
	32 They slew also Philarches who was with Timotheus, a wicked man, who had many ways afflicted the Jews.
	33 And when they kept the feast of the victory at Jerusalem, they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire to the holy gates, who had taken refuge in a certain house, rendering to him a worthy reward for his impieties:
	34 But as for that most wicked man Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to the sale of the Jews,
	35 Being through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom he had made no account, laying; aside his garment of glory, fleeing through the midland country, he came alone to Antioch, being rendered very unhappy by the destruction of his army.
	36 And he that had promised to levy the tribute for the Romans by the means of the captives of Jerusalem, now professed that the Jews had God for their protector, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws appointed by him.