Scrutatio

Domenica, 12 maggio 2024 - Santi Nereo e Achilleo ( Letture di oggi)

2 Macabeos 10


font
EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOSKING JAMES BIBLE
1 Macabeo y sus partidarios, guiados por el Señor, recuperaron el Templo y la Ciudad,1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
2 derribaron los altares erigidos por los extranjeros en la vía pública y también los recintos sagrados.2 But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down.
3 Una vez purificado el Templo, construyeron otro altar. Luego, sacando fuego del pedernal, ofrecieron un sacrificio, después de dos años de interrupción, y renovaron el incienso, las lámparas y los panes de la ofrenda.3 And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and shewbread.
4 Hecho esto, postrados profundamente, suplicaron al Señor que nunca más los dejara caer en semejantes desgracias, y si alguna vez volvían a pecar, los corrigiera él mismo con bondad, en lugar de entregarlos a los paganos blasfemos y crueles.4 When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any more against him, that he himself would chasten them with mercy, and that they might not be delivered unto the blasphemous and barbarous nations.
5 El mismo día en que el Templo había sido profanado por los extranjeros –es decir, el veinticinco del mes de Quisleu– tuvo lugar la purificación del Templo.5 Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu.
6 Todos la celebraron con alegría, durante ocho días, como se celebra la fiesta de las Chozas, recordando que poco tiempo antes habían tenido que pasar esa firma fiesta en las montañas y las cavernas, igual que las fieras.6 And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.
7 Por eso, llevando en la mano tirsos, ramas verdes y palmas, elevaban himnos a Aquel que había llevado a término la purificación de su Lugar santo.7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.
8 Y por una resolución votada públicamente, ordenaron que toda la nación de los judíos celebrara cada año esta misma fiesta.8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.
9 Tales fueron las circunstancias de la muerte de Antíoco, llamado Epífanes.9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.
10 Ahora vamos a exponer los hechos concernientes a Antíoco Eupátor, hijo de aquel impío, relatando sucintamente los males que acompañan a las guerras.10 Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of this wicked man, gathering briefly the calamities of the wars.
11 Este, después que heredó el trono, puso al frente de los asuntos de Estado a un tal Lisias, nombrándolo además gobernador supremo de Celesiria y Fenicia.11 So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria and Phenice.
12 A todo esto, Tolomeo, llamado Macrón, que fue el primero en tratar con justicia a los judíos, reparando así las injusticias cometidas, procuraba resolver pacíficamente los asuntos referentes a ellos.12 For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do justice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them, endeavoured to continue peace with them.
13 A causa de esto, fue acusado ante Eupátor por los Amigos del rey, y a cada momento oía que lo llamaban traidor por haber abandonado Chipre, cuyo gobierno le había confiado Filométor, para pasarse a Antíoco Epífanes. Y al no poder desempeñar con honor tan alto cargo, se quitó la vida, envenenándose.13 Whereupon being accused of the king's friends before Eupator, and called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus, that Philometor had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself and died.
14 Gorgias, nombrado jefe militar de la región, mantenía un ejército de mercenarios y no perdía la ocasión de hostigar a los judíos.14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:
15 Al mismo tiempo que él, los idumeos, que dominaban importantes fortificaciones, hostilizaban a los judíos, y trataban de fomentar la guerra, acogiendo a los fugitivos de Jerusalén.15 And therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.
16 Los partidarios del Macabeo, después de celebrar una rogativa y de pedir a Dios que luchara en favor de ellos, se lanzaron contra las fortificaciones de los idumeos.16 Then they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and besought God that he would be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,
17 Los atacaron resueltamente y se apoderaron de las fortalezas, haciendo retroceder a todos los que combatían en las murallas y degollando a cuantos caían en sus manos. Así mataron por lo menos a veinte mil.17 And assaulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept off all that fought upon the wall, and slew all that fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.
18 En dos torres muy bien fortificadas y abastecidas de todo lo necesario para resistir el asedio, se habían refugiado no menos de nueve mil hombres.18 And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege,
19 El Macabeo dejó entonces a Simón y a José, junto con Zaqueo y muchos otros –en número suficiente para asediarlos– y él partió para otros lugares donde era más necesaria su presencia.19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them that were with him, who were enough to besiege them, and departed himself unto those places which more needed his help.
20 Pero los hombres de Simón, dominados por la codicia, se dejaron sobornar por algunos de los que estaban en las torres y, a cambio de setenta mil dracmas, dejaron escapar a unos cuantos.20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for money through certain of those that were in the castle, and took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of them escape.
21 Cuando el Macabeo se enteró de lo sucedido, reunió a los jefes del pueblo y acusó a aquellos hombres de haber vendido por dinero a sus hermanos, dejando en libertad a sus propios enemigos.21 But when it was told Maccabeus what was done, he called the governors of the people together, and accused those men, that they had sold their brethren for money, and set their enemies free to fight against them.
22 Luego los hizo ejecutar por traidores, e inmediatamente tomó las dos torres.22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
23 Llevando todo a feliz término, con las armas en la mano, logró matar en las dos fortalezas a más de veinte mil hombres.23 And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty thousand.
24 Timoteo, que ya antes había sido derrotado por los judíos, después de reclutar numerosas tropas extranjeras y de reunir una considerable cantidad de caballos traídos de Asia, se presentó con la intención de conquistar Judea por las armas.24 Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of arms.
25 Mientras él se aproximaba, el Macabeo y sus hombres cubrieron de polvo su cabeza y se ciñeron la cintura con cilicios, para suplicar a Dios.25 But when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned themselves to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,
26 Postrados al pie del altar, le pedían que se mostrara propicio con ellos, haciéndose enemigo de sus enemigos y adversario de sus adversarios, como lo declara la Ley.26 And fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.
27 Al terminar la súplica, empuñaron las armas y avanzaron un buen trecho fuera de la ciudad. Cuando estuvieron cerca de sus enemigos, se detuvieron.27 So after the prayer they took their weapons, and went on further from the city: and when they drew near to their enemies, they kept by themselves.
28 Al despuntar el alba, los dos bandos se lanzaron al combate. Unos tenían como prenda de éxito y de victoria, además de su valor, su confianza en el Señor; los otros combatían impulsados sólo por su arrojo.28 Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one part having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the Lord for a pledge of their success and victory: the other side making their rage leader of their battle
29 En lo más encarnizado de la batalla, los enemigos vieron aparecer en el cielo cinco hombres majestuosos montados en caballos con frenos de oro, que se pusieron al frente de los judíos.29 But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the enemies from heaven five comely men upon horses, with bridles of gold, and two of them led the Jews,
30 Esos hombres colocaron al Macabeo en medio de ellos y, cubriéndolo con sus armas, lo hicieron invulnerable, mientras arrojaban flechas y rayos contra los adversarios. Estos, enceguecidos por el resplandor se dispersaron en el más completo desorden.30 And took Maccabeus betwixt them, and covered him on every side weapons, and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness, and full of trouble, they were killed.
31 Así perecieron veinte mil quinientos soldados y seiscientos jinetes.31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
32 El mismo Timoteo tuvo que refugiarse en una fortaleza muy bien defendida, llamada Guézer, donde gobernaba Quereas.32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.
33 Las tropas de Macabeo, enardecidas por la victoria, sitiaron la ciudadela durante cuatro días.33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days.
34 Los defensores, confiados en la solidez inexpugnable de la plaza fuerte, proferías blasfemias y maldiciones.34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.
35 Pero al amanecer del quinto día, veinte jóvenes de las tropas del Macabeo, enfurecidos por las blasfemias, saltaron virilmente sobre la muralla y, con ímpetu salvaje, mataban a todos los que se les ponían delante.35 Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabeus' company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage killed all that they met withal.
36 Otros, igualmente, escalaban el muro para atacar a los sitiados por el lado opuesto, prendían fuego a las torres y, encendiendo hogueras, quemaban vivos a los blasfemos. Otros, mientras tanto, derribaron las puertas y, abriendo paso al resto del ejército, se apoderaron de la ciudad.36 Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them that were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates, and, having received in the rest of the army, took the city,
37 A Timoteo, que estaba escondido en una cisterna, lo degollaron junto con su hermano Quereas y con Apolófanes.37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with Apollophanes.
38 Una vez concluidas estas proezas, bendijeron al Señor con himnos y acciones de gracias, porque él había concedido tan grandes beneficios a Israel y les había dado la victoria.38 When this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and thanksgiving, who had done so great things for Israel, and given them the victory.