Primo libro dei Maccabei 1

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 - Or avvenne che Alessandro figlio di Filippo, Macedone, primo a regnare in Grecia, uscito dalla terra di Cetim, dopo avere sconfitto Dario re dì Persia e de’ Medi,	1 Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes:
2 ingaggiò molte battaglie, prese tutte le fortezze, uccise i re delle genti,	2 He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:
3 s’avanzò sino all’estremità della terra, depredò una quantità di nazioni, ed il mondo ammutolì dinanzi a lui.	3 And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.
4 Radunò forze ed eserciti potentissimi, ed il suo cuore si gonfiò e s’insuperbì ;	4 And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.
5 soggiogò le regioni delle nazioni ed i loro capi, e se li rese tributarli.	5 And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him.
6 Dopo ciò cadde malato; e sentendosi in fine,	6 And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.
7 chiamò i suoi servi, grandi del regno che sino da giovani erano cresciuti con lui, e prima di morire divise tra loro il suo impero.	7 And he called his servants the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.
8 Regnò dunque Alessandro dodici anni, e mori.	8 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.
9 Ed i suoi generali ebbero il regno di lui, ciascuno in'una regione,	9 And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place:
10 e morto lui, tutti si cinsero la corona ; cosi, dopo loro, i loro figli per molti anni; e si moltiplicarono i mali sopra la terra.	10 And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth.
11 Or da quelli usci una progenie di peccato, Antioco l'illustre, figlio del re Antioco, ch’era stato ostaggio a Roma, e prese a regnare nell’anno centotrentasette del regno de’ Greci.	11 And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
12 In quel tempo vennero su da Israele de' figli scellerati, e persuasero molti con dire: « Andiamo, e facciamo alleanza coi gentili che ci stanno dintorno; perchè, da quando li lasciammo, ci piovvero addosso molti malanni ».	12 In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.
13 Parve a loro giusto questo discorso,	13 And the word seemed good in their eyes.
14 ed alcuni del popolo si incaricarono d’andare al re, il quale dette loro potestà di vivere a modo del gentili.	14 And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.
15 Edificarono dunque in Gerusalemme un ginnasio secondo i costumi pagani, si fecero i prepuzi, rinnegarono il patto santo [con Dio],	15 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:
16 fecero lega coi gentili, e venderono l’anima propria per far il male.	16 And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.
17 Ed il regno d’Antioco si raffermò, ed egli aspirò a regnare anche sull’ Egitto, per avere due regni.	17 And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms.
18 Entrò dunque in Egitto con un grande esercito, carri, elefanti, cavalieri e gran numero di navi;	18 And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships:
19 e mosse guerra contro Tolomeo re dell’ Egitto il quale ebbe paura di lui, e fuggì, lasciando sul campo molti de’ suoi.	19 And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death.
20 Antioco dunque s''impadronì della fortezza dell'Egitto, e depredò quella terra.	20 And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.
21 Così soggiogato l’Egitto, l’anno centoquarantatrè, Antioco tornò indietro, e si rivolse contro Israele.	21 And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel.
22 Sali a Gerusalemme con un grosso esercito,	22 And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
23 ed entrò con arroganza nel luogo santo. Prese l'altare d'oro, il candelabro delle lampade con tutti i suoi arredi, la mensa della proposizione, i vasi delle libazioni, le coppe ed i mortai d'oro, il velo, le corone, l’ornnmento d'oro che stava sulla fronte del tempio; e fece tutto in pezzi.	23 And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.
24 Prese l'argento e l'oro, e gli arredi preziosi, e tutti i tesori nascosti che potè trovare; e rapita ogni cosa, ritornò nella sua terra,	24 And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country.
25 dopo aver fatto strage d'uomini, e parlato con grande insolenza.	25 And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.
26 Allora fu gran pianto in Israele, e in tutte le sue contrade.	26 And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.
27 Gemettero i magnati e gli anziani, le fanciulle ed i giovani si sentivan mancare, la bellezza delle donne venne meno.	27 And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed.
28 Gli sposi si sfogavano in lamenti, e le spose piangevano sedute sul letto nuziale.	28 Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned:
29 La terra si commosse per i suoi abitanti, e tutta la casa di Giacobbe si ricopri di confusione.	29 And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
30 Passati due anni, il re mandò nelle città di Giuda il soprintendente ai tributi, il quale venne a Gerusalemme con molti uomini,	30 And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.
31 e con inganno parlò ai cittadini parole amichevoli, cosi che gli credettero.	31 And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.
32 Ma all' improvviso piombò sulla città, la colpi di gran piaga, e mise a morte gran gente in Israele.	32 And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel.
33 Saccheggiò la città, la dette alle fiamme, e ne distrusse le case e le mura di cinta.	33 And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about:
34 E menarono in ischiavitù le donne ed i fanciulli, e s'impadronirono degli armenti.	34 And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed.
35 Poi fortificarono la città di David con mura grandi e solide, e solide torri, e ne fecero la loro rocca.	35 And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them:
36 E vi posero una razza malvagia, uomini iniqui, che vi si rafforzarono, portandovi armi e viveri; misero insieme le spoglie di Gerusalemme,	36 And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem;
37 ed ivi le depositarono; e divennero un gran pericolo.	37 And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.
38 Fu questa un' insidia al luogo santo, ed una grande avversità per Israele.	38 And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.
39 Versarono il sangue innocente attorno al santuario, e contaminarono il luogo santo.	39 And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.
40 per cagion loro, gli abitanti di Gerusalemme fuggirono, la città divenne abitazione di stranieri, straniera al suo popolo ed i suoi figli l'abbandonarono.	40 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her.
41 Il suo santuario divenne desolato come un deserto; i suoi giorni di festa si convertirono in lutto, i suoi sabati in obbrobrio, il suo splendore in un niente;	41 Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.
42 la sua ignominia fu grande quanto già la sua gloria, e la sua eccellenza sì converse in lutto.	42 Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning.
43 Ed il re Antioco scrisse a tutto il suo regno, che si facesse un popolo solo, e che ognuno lasciasse da parte la propria legge.	43 And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.
44 Tutti i pagani acconsentirono alla parola del re Antioco;	44 And all nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus.
45 ed anche in Israele molti si piegarono alla sua imposizione, sacrificarono agli idoli, e violarono il sabato.	45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.
46 Ed il re per mezzo di corrieri mandò lettere a Gerusalemme ed a tutte le città di Giuda, ordinando che seguissero le leggi del gentili del paese,	46 And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that they should follow the law of the nations of the earth,
47 vietassero d'offrire nel tempio di Dio gli olocausti, e i sacrifizi e le ostie di pace,	47 And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.
48 e proibissero di celebrare il sabato ed i giorni di solennità.	48 And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated.
49 Comandò che si profanasse il luogo santo, ed il santo popolo d'Israele ;	49 And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel.
50 che s'edificassero are e templi ed idoli, e si immolassero carni porcine ed animali immondi;	50 And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.
51 che lasciassero incirconcisi i figli, e si macchiasse l'anima con ogni sorta di immondezze ed abominazioni, ponendo in abbandono la legge, e sovvertendo tutti gli ordinamenti di Dio ;	51 And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that they should forget the law, and should change all the justifications of God.
52 chiunque non facesse secondo il comando del re Antioco, fosse messo a morte.	52 And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.
53 Tutte queste cose fece cosi scrivere a tutto il suo regno, e mise a capo del popolo del soprintendenti, che a così fare lo costringessero,	53 According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom, and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things.
54 e questi comandarono alle città di Giuda di sacrificare [agl’idoli].	54 And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.
55 Molti del popolo passaron dalla lor parte, abbandonando la legge del Signore, fecero il male nel loro paese,	55 Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land:
56 e costrinsero il popolo d’Israele a rifugiarsi nelle caverne e ne’ luoghi dove sogliono nascondersi i fuggiaschi.	56 And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.
57 Ai quindici del mese Casleu dell’anno centoquarantacinque, il re Antioco fece porre sull’altare di Dio l’abominevole idolo di desolazione; e per tutte le città di Giuda all’intorno furono alzati altari;	57 On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:
58 davanti alle porte delle case, e per le piazzerai bruciava incenso e si sacrificava;	58 And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets.
59 e si strapparono i libri della legge di Dio, e li gettarono sul fuoco;	59 And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:
60 o presso chiunque si trovavano libri della legge del Signore, e chiunque la legge del Signore osservava, lo trucidavano secondo l’editto del re.	60 And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king.
61 Cosi violentemente facevano con quelli del popolo d'Israele che mese per mese venivano scoperti,	61 Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.
62 ed ai venticinque del mese sacrificavano sull’ara posta di contro all’altare.	62 And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.
63 Le donne che facevan circoncidere i figli venivan trucidate, secondo il comando del re Antioco;	63 Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus.
64 i figli erano impiccati per il collo in tutte le loro case, e quelli che li circoncidevano eran trucidati.	64 And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.
65 Ma molti del popolo d’Israele giurarono in cuor loro di non mangiar cibi immondi, ed elessero piuttosto morire che macchiarsi con cibi immondi ;	65 And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die than to be defiled with unclean meats.
66 non vollero trasgredire la legge santa di Dio, e furon messi a morte.	66 And they would not break the holy law of God, and they were put to death:
67 Fu grande a dismisura il castigo [di Dio] sopra il popolo.	67 And there was very great wrath upon the people.