2 Maccabees 13

DOUAI-RHEIMS	LA SACRA BIBBIA
1 When these covenants were made, Lyslas went to the king, and the Jews gave themselves to husbandry.	1 Nell'anno 149 giunse notizia agli uomini di Giuda che Antioco Eupàtore si avvicinava con le sue truppe alla Giudea,
2 But they that were behind, namely, Timotheus and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in peace, and to be quiet.	2 e con lui vi era anche Lisia, suo tutore e ministro, avendo ciascuno un esercito greco di centodiecimila fanti, cinquemilatrecento cavalieri, ventidue elefanti e trecento carri falcati.
3 The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: they desired the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no enmity to them.	3 Si era unito a loro anche Menelao, il quale stimolava Antioco con grande furberia, non per la salvezza della patria, ma sperando di riottenere il potere.
4 Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace : when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of them.	4 Il Re dei re, però, eccitò lo sdegno di Antioco contro questo scellerato, poiché, avendogli Lisia dimostrato che era la causa di tutti i mali, egli ordinò di condurlo a Berèa e di farlo perire come si usa in quel luogo.
5 But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having called upon God the just judge,	5 Vi è, infatti, in quel luogo, una torre di cinquanta cubiti, piena di cenere e munita di una macchina ruotante, che da ogni parte fa cadere a precipizio sulla cenere.
6 He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword them that escaped from the fire.	6 Dall'alto, chi è colpevole di furto sacrilego o ha raggiunto il colmo di certi altri delitti, tutti lo spingono verso la rovina.
7 And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites.	7 Con tale sorte accadde di morire all'iniquo Menelao, senza avere neppure la sepoltura.
8 But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them,	8 E molto giustamente, poiché dopo aver compiuto molti delitti contro l'altare, il cui fuoco è puro al pari della cenere, nella cenere trovò la morte.
9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, end set the haven on fire with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.	9 Il re, dunque, pieno di feroci sentimenti, veniva per mostrare ai Giudei cose peggiori di quelle accadute sotto suo padre.
10 And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen and Ave hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon them.	10 Appreso ciò, Giuda diede ordine alla moltitudine d'invocare giorno e notte il Signore affinché, come altre volte, così anche ora venisse in soccorso di coloro che stavano per essere privati della legge, della patria e del santo tempio,
11 And after a hard fight, in which by the help of God they got the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other things.	11 e non permettesse che il popolo, che da poco aveva ripreso animo, cadesse nelle mani degli infami gentili.
12 And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they departed to their tents.	12 Quando tutti insieme ebbero fatto ciò, implorando il Signore misericordioso per tre giorni ininterrotti, con lamenti, digiuni e prostrazioni, Giuda tenne loro un'esortazione e comandò di star preparati.
13 He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, the name of which is Casphin.	13 Quindi, incontratosi da solo con gli anziani, fu deciso di uscire per regolare l'affare con l'aiuto di Dio, prima che l'esercito del re invadesse la Giudea e si impadronisse della città.
14 But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.	14 Perciò, affidata la protezione dell'impresa al Creatore del mondo ed esortati i suoi uomini a lottare eroicamente fino alla morte per le leggi, il tempio, la città, la patria e le istituzioni, fece porre l'accampamento nei pressi di Modin.
15 But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho in the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls.	15 Data ai suoi la parola d'ordine: "Vittoria di Dio", con alcuni giovani scelti tra i migliori, piombò di notte sulla tenda del re e sull'accampamento, uccise duemila uomini e trafisse il più grosso degli elefanti con il suo guidatore.
16 And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining of two furlongs broad seemed to run with the blood of the slain.	16 Alla fine, riempito l'accampamento di spavento e di confusione, si ritirarono con pieno successo.
17 From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa to the Jews that are called Tubianites.	17 Appariva già il giorno, quando la cosa fu compiuta con la protezione del Signore che aveva soccorso Giuda.
18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold :	18 Allora il re, avendo avuto un saggio dell'audacia dei Giudei, tentò di occupare quei luoghi con stratagemmi.
19 But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten thousand men.	19 Marciò contro Bet-Zur, piazza fortificata dei Giudei; ma fu respinto, ostacolato e battuto,
20 And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, and divided them by bands, went forth against Timetheus, who had with him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.	20 poiché Giuda riuscì a far pervenire agli assediati il necessario.
21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent the women and children, and the other baggage before him into a fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable and hard to come at, by reason of the straitness of the places.	21 Un certo Rodoco, delle file dei Giudei, aveva comunicato ai nemici i segreti dell'esercito giudaico. Fu perciò ricercato, catturato e tolto di mezzo.
22 But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of their own swords.	22 Il re trattò per la seconda volta con gli uomini di Bet-Zur, diede loro la destra in segno di pace, la ricevette e andò via. Attaccò gli uomini di Giuda, ma ebbe la peggio.
23 But Judas was vehemently earnest in punishing the profane, of whom he slew thirty thousand men.	23 Venne poi a sapere che in Antiochia Filippo, lasciato a capo degli affari, si era ribellato. Costernato, convocò i Giudei, si sottomise, giurò su tutto ciò che era giusto, si riconciliò, offrì un sacrificio, onorò il tempio e fu generoso con il luogo santo.
24 And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived.	24 Poi salutò Giuda Maccabeo e lasciò Egemònide quale stratega da Tolemaide fino al paese dei Gerreni.
25 And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the saving of their brethren.	25 Passò per Tolemaide; ma gli abitanti di Tolemaide erano irritati per gli accordi. Infatti erano preoccupati per le convenzioni e volevano respingerle.
26 Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty thousand persons.	26 Lisia però salì sulla tribuna, si difese come poté, li persuase, li calmò, se li rese favorevoli e partì per Antiochia. In questo modo andarono le cose circa la spedizione e la ritirata del re.
27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls made a vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, and a provision of darts.
28 But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city; and slew five and twenty thousand of them that were within.
29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem.
30 But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their adversity they had treated them with humanity:
31 They gave them thanks exhorting them to be still friendly to their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks being at hand.
32 And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias the governor of Idumea.
33 And he came out with three thousand footmen, and four hundred horsemen.
34 And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the Jews were slain.
35 But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor's band, a valiant man, took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and so Gorgias escaped to Maresa.
36 But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the battle:
37 Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a loud voice, he put Gorgias' soldiers to flight.
38 So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the place.
39 And the day following Judas cam with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers.
40 And they found under the coats o the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth the Jews:
41 Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden.
42 And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain.
43 And making a gathering, he twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,
44 (For if he had not hoped that the that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
45 And because he considered that the who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.
46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
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90 that all plainly saw, for this cause they were slain.