1 Maccabees 6

DOUAI-RHEIMS	BIBBIA CEI 2008
1 Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold.	1 Mentre il re Antioco percorreva le regioni settentrionali, sentì che c’era in Persia la città di Elimàide, famosa per ricchezza, argento e oro;
2 And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich: and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian that reigned first in Greece, had left there.	2 che c’era un tempio ricchissimo, dove si trovavano armature d’oro, corazze e armi, lasciate là da Alessandro, figlio di Filippo, il re macèdone che aveva regnato per primo sui Greci.
3 Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it: But he was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the city.	3 Allora vi si recò e cercava di impadronirsi della città e di depredarla, ma non vi riuscì, perché il suo piano fu risaputo dagli abitanti della città,
4 And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia.	4 che si opposero a lui con le armi; egli fu messo in fuga e dovette ritirarsi con grande tristezza e tornare a Babilonia.
5 And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him, how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight:	5 Venne poi un messaggero in Persia ad annunciargli che erano state sconfitte le truppe inviate contro Giuda.
6 And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that thy were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed:	6 Lisia si era mosso con un esercito tra i più agguerriti, ma era stato messo in fuga dai nemici, i quali si erano rinforzati con armi e truppe e ingenti spoglie, tolte alle truppe che avevano sconfitto,
7 And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also his city.	7 e inoltre avevano demolito l’abominio da lui innalzato sull’altare a Gerusalemme, avevano cinto di alte mura, come prima, il santuario e Bet-Sur, che era una sua città.
8 And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined.	8 Il re, sentendo queste notizie, rimase sbigottito e scosso terribilmente; si mise a letto e cadde ammalato per la tristezza, perché non era avvenuto secondo quanto aveva desiderato.
9 And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die.	9 Rimase così molti giorni, perché si rinnovava in lui una forte depressione e credeva di morire.
10 And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety.	10 Chiamò tutti i suoi amici e disse loro: «Se ne va il sonno dai miei occhi e l’animo è oppresso dai dispiaceri.
11 And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power!	11 Ho detto in cuor mio: in quale tribolazione sono giunto, in quale terribile agitazione sono caduto, io che ero così fortunato e benvoluto sul mio trono!
12 But now I remember the evils that I have done in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause.	12 Ora mi ricordo dei mali che ho commesso a Gerusalemme, portando via tutti gli arredi d’oro e d’argento che vi si trovavano e mandando a sopprimere gli abitanti di Giuda senza ragione.
13 I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.	13 Riconosco che a causa di tali cose mi colpiscono questi mali; ed ecco, muoio nella più profonda tristezza in paese straniero».
14 Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom.	14 Poi chiamò Filippo, uno dei suoi amici, lo costituì reggente su tutto il suo regno
15 And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he should go to Antiochus his son, and should bring him up for the kingdom.	15 e gli diede il diadema, la sua veste e l’anello, con l’incarico di guidare Antioco, suo figlio, e di educarlo a regnare.
16 So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and forty-nine.	16 Il re Antioco morì in quel luogo l’anno centoquarantanove.
17 And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he brought up young: and he called his name Eupator.	17 Lisia fu informato che il re era morto e dispose che regnasse Antioco, suo figlio, che egli aveva educato fin da piccolo, e lo chiamò Eupàtore.
18 Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles.	18 Ora coloro che risiedevano nella Cittadella impedivano il passaggio degli Israeliti intorno al tempio e cercavano di molestarli continuamente e di sostenere i pagani.
19 And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all the people, to besiege them.	19 Giuda si propose di eliminarli e radunò in assemblea tutto il popolo per stringerli d’assedio.
20 And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines.	20 Si organizzarono dunque e posero l’assedio attorno alla Cittadella nell’anno centocinquanta, e Giuda fece costruire terrapieni e macchine.
21 And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.	21 Ma alcuni di loro sfuggirono all’assedio; a essi si unirono alcuni rinnegati d’Israele
22 And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge our brethren?	22 e insieme andarono dal re e gli dissero: «Fino a quando non farai giustizia e vendetta dei nostri fratelli?
23 We determined to serve thy father and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:	23 Noi siamo stati lieti di servire tuo padre, di comportarci secondo i suoi comandi e di obbedire ai suoi editti.
24 And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances.	24 Per questo i figli del nostro popolo hanno posto assedio alla fortezza e si sono estraniati da noi; inoltre uccidono quanti di noi capitano nelle loro mani e si dividono i nostri averi.
25 Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.	25 E non soltanto contro di noi stendono le mani, ma anche su tutto il tuo territorio.
26 And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the stronghold of Bethsura:	26 Ed ecco, ora hanno posto il campo contro la Cittadella, a Gerusalemme, per espugnarla e hanno fortificato il santuario e Bet-Sur.
27 And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.	27 Se tu non sarai sollecito nel prevenirli, faranno di peggio e non li potrai più arrestare».
28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen.	28 Quando ebbe sentito tutto questo, il re si adirò e radunò tutti i suoi amici, comandanti dell’esercito e della cavalleria.
29 There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea hired troops.	29 Anche dagli altri regni e dalle isole del mare gli giunsero truppe mercenarie.
30 And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.	30 Gli effettivi del suo esercito assommavano a centomila fanti, ventimila cavalieri e trentadue elefanti addestrati alla guerra.
31 And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth and burnt them with fire, and fought manfully.	31 Passarono per l’Idumea e posero il campo contro Bet-Sur; attaccarono per molti giorni e allestirono macchine, ma quelli uscivano, le incendiavano e contrattaccavano con valore.
32 And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp.	32 Giuda allora levò il campo dalla Cittadella e lo trasferì a Bet-Zaccaria, di fronte al campo del re.
33 And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets:	33 Ma il re si mosse alle prime luci dell’alba e trasferì lo schieramento con mossa fulminea lungo la strada di Bet-Zaccaria; le truppe si disposero a battaglia e suonarono le trombe.
34 And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries to provoke them to fight.	34 Posero innanzi agli elefanti succo d’uva e di more per stimolarli al combattimento.
35 And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were chosen for every beast.	35 Distribuirono le bestie tra le falangi e affiancarono a ciascun elefante mille uomini, protetti da corazze a maglia e da elmi di bronzo in testa, e cinquecento cavalieri scelti, disposti in ordine intorno a ciascuna bestia:
36 These before the time wheresoever the beast was, the were there: and withersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it.	36 questi in ogni caso si tenevano ai lati della bestia e, quando si spostava, si spostavano insieme senza allontanarsi da essa.
37 And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers, which covered every one of them: and engines upon them: and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above; and an Indian to rule the beast.	37 Sopra ogni elefante vi erano solide torrette di legno, ben protette dagli attacchi, legate con appositi congegni, e su ogni torretta stavano quattro soldati, che di là bersagliavano, e un conducente indiano.
38 And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that side at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof.	38 Il resto della cavalleria si dispose di qua e di là sui due fianchi dello schieramento, per terrorizzare i nemici e proteggere le falangi.
39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire.	39 Quando il sole brillava sugli scudi d’oro e di bronzo, ne risplendevano per quei riflessi i monti e brillavano come fiaccole ardenti.
40 And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on warily and orderly.	40 Un distaccamento delle truppe del re si dispose sulle cime dei monti, un altro nella pianura e avanzavano sicuri e ordinati.
41 And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong.	41 Tremavano quanti sentivano il frastuono di quella moltitudine e la marcia di tanta gente e il cozzo delle armi: era veramente un esercito immenso e forte.
42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king's army six hundred men.	42 Giuda con le sue truppe si avvicinò per attaccare lo schieramento e caddero nel campo del re seicento uomini.
43 And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him that the king was on it:	43 Eleàzaro, chiamato Auaràn, vide uno degli elefanti, protetto da corazze regie, sopravanzare tutte le altre bestie e pensò che sopra ci fosse il re;
44 And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name.	44 volle allora sacrificarsi per salvare il suo popolo e procurarsi nome eterno.
45 And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side.	45 Corse dunque verso l’animale con coraggio, attraverso la falange, e colpiva a morte a destra e a sinistra, mentre i nemici si dividevano davanti a lui, ritirandosi sui due lati.
46 And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there.	46 S’introdusse sotto l’elefante, lo infilzò con la spada e lo uccise; quello cadde a terra sopra di lui, che morì all’istante.
47 Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.	47 Ma vedendo la potenza delle forze del re e l’impeto delle milizie, i Giudei si ritirarono.
48 But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and mount Sion.	48 Allora i reparti dell’esercito del re salirono per attaccarli a Gerusalemme e il re si accampò contro la Giudea e il monte Sion.
49 And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land.	49 Fece pace con quelli che erano a Bet-Sur, i quali uscirono dalla città, non avendo più vettovaglie per sostenere l’assedio: la terra infatti era nel riposo dell’anno sabbatico.
50 And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it.	50 Il re s’impadronì di Bet-Sur e vi pose un presidio a guardia.
51 And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings.	51 Si accampò presso il santuario per molto tempo e allestì terrapieni e macchine, ordigni incendiari e baliste, scorpioni per lanciare frecce, e fionde.
52 And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days.	52 Anche i difensori opposero macchine alle loro macchine e i combattimenti durarono molti giorni.
53 But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up.	53 Ma non c’erano più viveri nei depositi, poiché era in corso l’anno sabbatico e coloro che erano arrivati in Giudea per sfuggire ai pagani avevano consumato il resto delle provviste.
54 And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place.	54 Furono allora lasciati pochi uomini nel santuario, poiché li aveva sorpresi la fame, e si dispersero ciascuno nel suo paese.
55 Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, and to reign, to be king,	55 Lisia poi venne a sapere che Filippo, al quale il re Antioco, ancora in vita, aveva affidato l’incarico di educare Antioco, suo figlio, destinato al regno,
56 Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom:	56 era tornato dalla Persia e dalla Media; era con lui l’esercito partito con il re e cercava di prendere in mano il governo.
57 Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom.	57 Allora in fretta fece cenno di voler partire e disse al re e ai comandanti dell’esercito e ai soldati: «Noi ci esauriamo di giorno in giorno: il cibo è scarso e il luogo che assediamo è ben munito, mentre gli affari del regno incombono su di noi.
58 Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation.	58 Ora dunque offriamo la destra a questi uomini e facciamo pace con loro e con tutto il loro popolo
59 And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things.	59 e permettiamo loro di seguire le loro tradizioni, come prima; proprio per queste tradizioni, che noi abbiamo cercato di distruggere, essi si sono irritati e hanno provocato tutto questo».
60 And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it.	60 La proposta piacque al re e a tutti i capi; mandò a negoziare la pace con loro, ed essi accettarono.
61 And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the stronghold.	61 Il re e i capi giurarono davanti a loro, ed essi a tali patti uscirono dalla fortezza.
62 Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about.	62 Ma quando il re fece l’ingresso sul monte Sion e vide le fortificazioni del luogo, violò il giuramento che aveva fatto e impose la distruzione delle mura di cinta.
63 And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city.	63 Poi partì in fretta e fece ritorno ad Antiòchia; vi trovò Filippo padrone della città, gli fece guerra e s’impadronì della città con la forza.