| 1 Alessandro, figlio di Filippo il Macedone, uscito dalla regione dei Chittim, dopo aver sconfitto Dario, re dei Persiani e dei Medi, regnò al suo posto, cominciando dalla Grecia. | 1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece, |
| 2 Egli intraprese molte guerre, si impadronì di fortezze e uccise i re della regione. | 2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth, |
| 3 Egli raggiunse l’estremità della terra, depredò una quantità di nazioni finché la terra non ammutolì davanti a lui, mentre il suo cuore si esaltò e si insuperbì. | 3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up. |
| 4 Egli radunò un esercito fortissimo e ridusse in suo potere regioni, nazioni e re, che divennero suoi tributari. | 4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him. |
| 5 Infine, cadde ammalato e capì di essere vicino alla morte. | 5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die. |
| 6 Convocò i suoi ufficiali, i nobili che erano stati educati con lui fino dalla giovinezza e divise fra di loro il regno, mentre era ancora in vita. | 6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. |
| 7 Alessandro aveva regnato dodici anni quando morì. | 7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died. |
| 8 I suoi ufficiali presero il comando, ognuno nella sua zona. | 8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place. |
| 9 Tutti si imposero il diadema dopo la sua morte; lo stesso fecero i loro figli dopo di essi per molti anni e moltiplicarono i mali sulla terra. | 9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth. |
| 10 Da loro uscì un empio rampollo, Antioco Epifane, figlio del re Antioco, che era stato Tolomeo fu sgominato da lui e fuggì, mentre molti caddero feriti a morte. | 10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. |
| 11 In quei giorni sorsero in Israele uomini iniqui che persuasero molti dicendo: «Andiamo e concludiamo un patto con le nazioni che ci circondano; perché da quando ci siamo separati da esse molti mali sono piombati su di noi». | 11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow. |
| 12 Il discorso parve buono ai loro occhi. | 12 So this device pleased them well. |
| 13 Alcuni del popolo si fecero premura di andare dal re e questi concesse loro la facoltà di seguire le usanze dei Gentili. | 13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: |
| 14 Essi costruirono un ginnasio a Gerusalemme secondo l’uso dei Gentili, | 14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen: |
| 15 si fecero i prepuzi e si allontanarono dalla santa alleanza. Si aggiogarono ai Gentili e si vendettero per compiere il male. | 15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief. |
| 16 Ora, quando il suo regno apparve ben consolidato, Antioco decise di impadronirsi dell’Egitto per regnare su due regni. | 16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms. |
| 17 Egli entrò in Egitto con un grande esercito, con carri ed elefanti, con cavalleria e con una numerosa flotta. | 17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy, |
| 18 Attaccò battaglia con Tolomeo, re dell’Egitto; | 18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death. |
| 19 Così egli si impadronì delle roccheforti dell’Egitto e depredò la terra d’Egitto. | 19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof. |
| 20 Dopo aver vinto l’Egitto, Antioco tornò indietro nell’anno 143 e avanzò contro Israele e Gerusalemme con un grande esercito. | 20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude, |
| 21 Entrò con insolenza nel santuario e prese l’altare d’oro, il candelabro della luce e tutte le suppellettili; | 21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, |
| 22 la mensa della presenza, i vasi per le libazioni, le tazze, le scodelle d’oro, il velo, le corone e tutti gli ornamenti in oro, che erano sulla facciata del tempio, asportandone tutte le lamine. | 22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off. |
| 23 Egli prese l’argento, l’oro e le suppellettili preziose, prese anche i tesori nascosti che riuscì a trovare. | 23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found. |
| 24 Dopo aver preso tutto, fece ritorno nella sua terra. Egli aveva fatto una strage di uomini e parlato con molta arroganza. | 24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly. |
| 25 Ci fu allora un gran lutto in Israele, in ogni suo luogo. | 25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were; |
| 26 Gemettero capi e anziani, vergini e giovani perdettero ogni vigore svanì la bellezza delle donne. | 26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed. |
| 27 Ogni sposo intonò un lamento, nel talamo nuziale fu in angoscia la sposa. | 27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness, |
| 28 La terra si commosse a causa dei suoi abitanti e tutta la casa di Giacobbe si coprì di confusione. | 28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion. |
| 29 Dopo due anni, il re mandò nelle città di Giuda il sovrintendente ai tributi. Costui venne a Gerusalemme con numeroso esercito | 29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude, |
| 30 e pronunciò con inganno parole di pace agli abitanti ed essi gli credettero. All’improvviso, però, irruppe nella città e la colpì duramente, uccidendo molta gente in Israele. | 30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel. |
| 31 Depredata la città, egli la diede alle fiamme, ne abbatté le case e le mura di cinta. | 31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side. |
| 32 Condussero in schiavitù le donne con i bambini e si impadronirono del bestiame. | 32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle. |
| 33 Essi fortificarono la città di David con un muro grande e solido e con torri solide, trasformandola in una loro fortezza. | 33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them. |
| 34 Vi stabilirono gente peccatrice, uomini iniqui, che vi si rafforzarono. | 34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein. |
| 35 Vi collocarono armi e vettovaglie e vi depositarono il bottino di Gerusalemme. Costoro divennero come un gran laccio. | 35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare: |
| 36 Fu un’insidia per il santuario e un avversario irriducibilmente malefico per Israele. | 36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel. |
| 37 Essi versarono sangue innocente intorno al santuario e contaminarono i luoghi santi. | 37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it: |
| 38 Per causa loro fuggirono gli abitanti di Gerusalemme, e questa divenne una colonia di stranieri. Essa diventò straniera ai suoi figli, i suoi figli la abbandonarono. | 38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her. |
| 39 Il santuario divenne desolato come un deserto, le sue feste si cambiarono in giorni di lamento, i suoi sabati in obbrobrio, il suo onore in disprezzo. | 39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt. |
| 40 Grande come la sua gloria di una volta fu la sua ignominia, la sua magnificenza si cambiò in lutto. | 40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning. |
| 41 Il re, poi, scrisse a tutto il regno, dichiarando che tutti dovevano formare un solo popolo, | 41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, |
| 42 che ognuno doveva abbandonare le proprie usanze. Tutte le nazioni si adattarono all’ordine del re. | 42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king. |
| 43 Anche molti in Israele furono favorevoli al suo culto, sacrificarono agli idoli e profanarono il sabato. | 43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. |
| 44 Il re mandò, per mezzo dei corrieri, lettere a Gerusalemme e nelle città di Giuda, ordinando di seguire usi estranei al paese, | 44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land, |
| 45 di cessare gli olocausti, i sacrifici e le libazioni nel santuario e di profanare i sabati e le feste, | 45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days: |
| 46 di contaminare il santuario e i luoghi santi, | 46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people: |
| 47 di edificare altari, recinti e tempietti per gli idoli e di sacrificare porci e animali immondi, | 47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts: |
| 48 di lasciare i figli incirconcisi e di macchiarsi di ogni immondezza e profanazione, | 48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation: |
| 49 così da dimenticare la legge e cambiare tutte le tradizioni. | 49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. |
| 50 Chiunque non si fosse conformato all’editto del re sarebbe stato condannato a morte. | 50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die. |
| 51 In questi termini egli scrisse a tutto il regno, costituì ispettori sopra tutto il popolo e ordinò alle città di Giuda di offrire sacrifici città per città. | 51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city. |
| 52 Molti del popolo, cioè quanti avevano abbandonato la legge, si uniformarono a essi e commisero del male nel paese. | 52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land; |
| 53 Costoro costrinsero il popolo di Israele a vivere in nascondigli, in ogni rifugio. | 53 And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour. |
| 54 Il 15 di Casleu dell’anno 145, Antioco costruì l’abominio della desolazione sull’altare ed edificò are nelle città di Giuda all’intorno. | 54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side; |
| 55 Sulle porte delle case e nelle piazze offrivano incenso; | 55 And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. |
| 56 facevano a pezzi e bruciavano i libri della legge, che riuscivano a trovare. | 56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire. |
| 57 L’editto del re condannava a morte colui presso il quale si trovava il libro dell’alleanza e chi osservava la legge. | 57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death. |
| 58 Agivano con la forza contro gli Israeliti che, mese per mese, venivano scoperti nelle città; | 58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities. |
| 59 e il 25 del mese sacrificavano sopra l’ara, che era nel luogo dei sacrifici. | 59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. |
| 60 Condannarono a morte, secondo l’ordine, le donne che avevano circonciso i figli, | 60 At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised. |
| 61 con i bambini sospesi al collo, insieme con i familiari e con coloro che avevano praticato la circoncisione. | 61 And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them. |
| 62 Tuttavia molti in Israele non perdettero coraggio; costoro decisero generosamente, insieme, di non mangiare cibi immondi. | 62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing. |
| 63 Essi preferirono morire pur di non contaminarsi con cibi proibiti e di non profanare la santa alleanza; così morirono. | 63 Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died. |
| 64 Grandissima fu l'ira sopra Israele. | 64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel. |
