2 Maccabees 9

DOUAI-RHEIMS	BIBBIA VOLGARE
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.	1 In quel medesimo tempo Antioco tornava inonestamente di Persia.
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:	2 Però ch' era entrato in una terra chiamata Persepoli, e tentò di spogliare i templi e opprimere la città; ma (loro accorgendosi) corse tutta la multitudine all' arme, e tutti si misero in fuga; e a questo modo accaddette che Antioco dopo la fuga se ne tornò con vergogna.
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:	3 Ed essendo venuto appresso Ecbatana, conobbe quello ch' era intervenuto a Nicanore e Timoteo.
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.	4 Ed elevato con ira, pensavasi di poter rivoltare la ingiuria di coloro che l' aveano cacciato, sopra i Giudei; per questo adunque comandò che fosse sollecitati i carri, andandosene sanza dimora, costrignendolo a questo il giudicio celeste, però che egli parlò così superbamente di venire in Ierusalem, e farla una congregazione di sepolcri di Giudei.
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.	5 Ma il Signore Iddio d'Israel, il qual vede tutto, lo percosse di una piaga insanabile. Avendo adunque compiuto questo parlare, lo pigliò uno crudele dolore nelle viscere, e alcuni amari tormenti interiori.
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	6 E questo li addivenne assai giustamente, però che avea tormentato le viscere di molti con nuovi cruciati, avvenga che esso per questo dalla malizia sua non cessasse.
7 And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where.	7 Sopra di questo, anco ripieno di superbia, gettava fuoco con l' animo contro alli Giudei; e comandando che fosse accelerato il cammino, addivenne che andando lui con impeto, cadette del carro, e per la grande percussione del corpo era cruciato in tutti li membri del corpo.
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.	8 E quello, al quale li parea anco di comandare alle onde del mare, ripieno sopra modo di ambizione, e di pesar le altezze de' monti con la statera, ora umiliato a terra, era portato nella barella, provando la manifesta virtù di Dio,
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.	9 per tal modo che del corpo dell' empio li vermi bullivano, e vivendo consumavano le carni sue con dolori; anco per lo grande fetore, che usciva del corpo suo, era gravato molto lo esercito.
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:	10 E quello il quale poco inanzi si pensava di pigliare le stelle del cielo, niuno lo potea portare per cagione dello intollerabile fetore.
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.	11 Per questo adunque, dedotto dalla grave superbia, cominciò venire alla cognizione di sè stesso, stimulato dalla divina piaga, augumentandosi continuamente li dolori.
12 Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand.	12 Ed essendo anco venuto a tanto che non potea sostenere il suo fetore, disse: egli [è] cosa giusta esser suddito a Dio, e l' uomo mortale non sentir di sè quelle cose che s' appartengono a Dio.
13 And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of God, fled away:	13 Facea orazione a Dio questo uomo scelesto, dal quale non era atto a conseguitar misericordia.
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:	14 E la città, alla qual lui con festinanzia andava acciò che la ruinasse a terra e facessela una congregazion di sepolcri, ora desidera di farla libera.
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.	15 Eli Giudei, li quali non deliberava che fusseno degni di sepultura, ma avea deliberato di darli a mangiare agli uccelli e alle bestie (della terra), e avea detto di esterminarli con i loro figliuoli, ora promette di farli eguali alli Ateniesi, (civè a quelli di Atene).
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:	16 E anco il templo santo, il qual per avanti avea spogliato, promette di ornarlo di ottimi doni, e multiplicar i santi vasi, e dar delle sue entrate le spese pertinenti alli sacrificii.
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.	17 E sopra di queste cose promettea di farsi Giudeo, e tutto il luogo della terra perambulare, e predicare la potenza di Dio.
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.	18 Ma non cessando i dolori, però ch' era venuto sopra di lui il giusto giudicio di Dio, disperando scrisse a' Giudei una epistola in modo di deprecazione, la qual contenea queste cose:
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.	19 Agli ottimi cittadini Giudei molta salute dice il re e principe Antioco, desiderando che siate sani e felici.
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.	20 Se voi e li figliuoli vostri sete sani, e secondo il giudicio vostro tutte le cose vi succedono, referiamo molte grazie.
21 With these words they were greatly encouraged, and disposed even to die for the laws and their country.	21 E io essendo tornato de' luoghi di Persia, ed essendo infirmato, hommi ricordato benignamente di voi; ed essendo pigliato di questa grave infirmità, pensai esser cosa opportuna, per la comune utilità, aver qual [che] diligenza (di voi),
22 So he appointed his brethren cap over each division of his army, Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to one fifteen hundred men.	22 non mi disperando, ma avendo gran speranza di campar di questa infirmità.
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:	23 Considerando che anco il mio padre, in quelli tempi che lui conducea lo esèrcito alle parti superiori, dimostrò chi dovea succedere dopo lui nello principato;
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.	24 chè se avvenisse alcuna cosa contraria, ovver qualche cosa difficile (e pericolosa) fusse nunciata, sapendo quelli i quali erano nelle regioni, a chi era lasciata la signoria e tutto il governo delle cose, non si turbasseno (e non rimanessero divisi);
25 And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they pursued them on every side.	25 e io considerando (e attendendo a queste cose, e massimamente) a quelli che sono propinqui e potenti, e tutti i vicini che soleno mover insidie alli tempi, e aspettando la succession delle cose, (sappiate che io) ho designato Antioco mio figliuolo re, il qual spesse volte correndo nelli reami superiori, io lo commendava a molti di voi; e scrissi a lui quelle cose che sono soggette.
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.	26 Pregovi adunque che vi ricordiate delli beneficii pubblici e privati, acciò che ciascuno di voi conservi la sua fede a me e al mio figliuolo.
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.	27 Però ch' io mi confido che lui si porterà modesta e umanamente, e seguitando il mio comune proposito, saravvi utile.
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.	28 Adunque questo omicida e bestemmiatore, gravissimamente percosso, e come lui avea trattato gli altri, disperso nelli monti, morissi di vita molto miserabile.
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.	29 Transportava il corpo suo Filippo, nutrito di quel latte che lui fu nutrito; il qual temendo il figliuolo di Antioco, andò in Egitto a Tolomeo Filometore.
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.