Secondo libro dei Maccabei 10

BIBBIA CEI 2008	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Intanto il Maccabeo e i suoi uomini, guidati dal Signore, rioccuparono il tempio e la città	1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
2 e distrussero gli altari innalzati dagli stranieri sulle piazze e i recinti sacri.	2 But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down.
3 Purificarono il tempio e vi costruirono un altro altare; poi, facendo scintille con le pietre, ne trassero il fuoco e offrirono sacrifici, dopo un’interruzione di due anni e prepararono l’altare degli incensi, le lampade e l’offerta dei pani.	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 Fatto ciò, prostrati a terra, supplicarono il Signore di non farli più incorrere in quei mali ma, qualora peccassero di nuovo, di venire da lui corretti con clemenza, e non abbandonati in mano a un popolo di barbari e bestemmiatori.	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 La purificazione del tempio avvenne nello stesso giorno in cui gli stranieri l’avevano profanato, il venticinque dello stesso mese, cioè di Chisleu.	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 Con gioia passarono otto giorni come nella festa delle Capanne, ricordando come poco tempo prima avevano passato la festa delle Capanne dispersi sui monti e nelle caverne come animali selvatici.	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 Perciò, tenendo in mano bastoni ornati, rami verdi e palme, innalzavano inni a colui che li aveva felicemente condotti alla purificazione del suo proprio tempio.	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 Poi con pubblico editto, confermato da una deliberazione comune, decretarono che tutta la nazione dei Giudei celebrasse ogni anno questi giorni.	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 Tali furono le vicende riguardanti la morte di Antioco, chiamato Epìfane.	9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.
10 Ora invece esporremo le cose accadute sotto Antioco Eupàtore, figlio di quell’empio, sintetizzando le principali sventure causate dalle guerre.	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 Costui, dunque, succeduto nel regno, nominò incaricato degli affari un certo Lisia, governatore generale della Celesiria e della 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 Infatti Tolomeo, chiamato Macrone, che aveva cominciato a praticare la giustizia verso i Giudei, a causa dei torti che erano stati fatti loro, cercava di trattare con loro pacificamente.	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 Per questo motivo fu accusato dagli amici presso l’Eupàtore. Sentendosi poi chiamare spesso traditore per aver abbandonato Cipro, a lui affidata dal Filomètore, ed essere passato dalla parte di Antioco Epìfane, non potendo esercitare con onore la carica, datosi il veleno, pose fine alla propria vita.	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 Gorgia, divenuto stratega della regione, assoldava stranieri e manteneva viva la guerra contro i Giudei.	14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:
15 Insieme con lui anche gli Idumei, che occupavano fortezze importanti, lottavano contro i Giudei e, dando asilo a tutti i fuorusciti da Gerusalemme, cominciarono a fomentare la guerra.	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 Gli uomini del Maccabeo pertanto, dopo aver innalzato preghiere e supplicato Dio che si facesse loro alleato, mossero contro le fortezze degli Idumei	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 e, attaccandole con energia, si impadronirono delle posizioni, respinsero tutti quelli che combattevano sulle mura e trucidarono quanti erano venuti a tiro; ne uccisero così non meno di ventimila.	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 Non meno di novemila tuttavia fuggirono in due torri saldamente fortificate e fornite di tutto l’occorrente per sostenere l’assedio.	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 Allora il Maccabeo, lasciando Simone e Giuseppe, Zaccheo e i suoi uomini, sufficienti per quell’assedio, si recò in zone più critiche.	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 Ma gli uomini di Simone, vinti dalla prospettiva del guadagno, si lasciarono persuadere per denaro da alcuni che erano nelle torri e, ricevute settantamila dracme, ne lasciarono fuggire alcuni.	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 Quando fu riferito al Maccabeo l’accaduto, radunati i capi del popolo, li accusò di aver venduto per denaro i loro fratelli, mettendo in libertà i loro nemici.	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 Fece giustiziare coloro che si erano resi colpevoli di tradimento e senza indugio espugnò le due torri.	22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
23 Essendo riuscito in ogni impresa con le armi in mano, mise a morte nelle due fortezze più di ventimila uomini.	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 Timòteo, che prima era stato battuto dai Giudei, assoldò forze straniere in grande numero, radunò buona parte della cavalleria dell’Asia e avanzò con l’intenzione di soggiogare la Giudea con le armi.	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 Gli uomini del Maccabeo, al suo avvicinarsi, si cosparsero il capo di polvere per la preghiera a Dio e, con i fianchi cinti di sacco,	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 si prostrarono davanti all’altare e supplicarono Dio di mostrarsi loro propizio e di farsi nemico dei loro nemici e avversario dei loro avversari, come attesta la legge.	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 Terminata la preghiera, presero le armi e uscirono dalla città per un bel tratto. Quando furono vicini ai nemici, si fermarono.	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 Appena spuntata la luce del mattino, iniziò l’attacco dalle due parti, gli uni avendo a garanzia del successo e della vittoria gloriosa la fiducia nel Signore, gli altri assumendo come guida nel conflitto il loro ardire.	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 Si era accesa una lotta durissima, apparvero dal cielo ai nemici cinque uomini splendidi su cavalli dalle briglie d’oro, che si misero alla guida dei Giudei.	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 Essi presero in mezzo il Maccabeo e, riparandolo con le loro armature, lo rendevano invulnerabile; scagliavano invece dardi e folgori contro gli avversari i quali, confusi e accecati, si dispersero in preda al disordine.	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 Ne furono uccisi ventimilacinquecento e seicento cavalieri.	31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
32 Timòteo si rifugiò in una fortezza chiamata Ghezer, saldamente difesa, dove era comandante Cherea.	32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.
33 Ma i soldati del Maccabeo assediarono con entusiasmo la fortezza per quattro giorni.	33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days.
34 Gli assediati, fidando nelle fortificazioni del luogo, bestemmiavano in modo orribile e lanciavano orrende frasi.	34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.
35 Alle prime luci del quinto giorno, venti giovani del Maccabeo, accesi di sdegno per le bestemmie, presero d’assalto le mura coraggiosamente e, con selvaggio furore, travolsero chiunque trovavano.	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 Anche altri, attaccando con una manovra di aggiramento, incendiarono le torri e, accesi dei fuochi, bruciarono vivi i bestemmiatori; altri ancora sfondarono le porte e, fatto entrare il resto dell’esercito, affrettarono la presa della città.	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 Trucidarono Timòteo che si era nascosto in una cisterna, suo fratello Cherea e Apollòfane.	37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with Apollophanes.
38 Compiuta l’impresa, con canti e inni di lode benedicevano il Signore, che aveva tanto favorito Israele e concesso loro la vittoria.	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.