Primo libro dei Maccabei 4

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 - Gorgia dunque prese con sè cinquemila fanti e mille cavalieri scelti, e si misero in marcia di notte	1 Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of the best horsemen: and they removed out of the camp by night.
2 verso il campo de0 Giudei, per assalirli all’improvviso; uomini della cittadella facevan loro da guida.	2 That they might come upon the camp of the Jews, and strike them suddenly: and the men that were of the castle were their guides.
3 Giuda lo seppe, e si mosse egli pure, ed i suoi forti con lui, per dar addosso al nerbo delle forze del re ch’erano in Emmaus;	3 And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus.
4 giacché quell’esercito era ancora sparso fuori degli accampamenti.	4 For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp.
5 Gorgia pertanto arrivò di notte al campo di Giuda, e non vi trovò nessuno; li cercava pei monti, e diceva: «Questi sono fuggiti davanti a noi ».	5 And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and found no man, and he sought them in the mountains: for he said: These men flee from us.
6 Ma fatto giorno, apparve Giuda nella pianura con soli tremila fanti che non avevano spade nè arnesi di protezione;	6 And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men only, who neither had armour nor swords.
7 e videro il campo delle nazioni ben munito, soldati con corazze, e Cavalieri intorno, tutti pronti all’assalto.	7 And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was strong, and the men in breastplates, and the horsemen round about them, and these were trained up to war.
8 E disse Giuda agli uomini che aveva seco: « Non vi faccia paura il loro numero, e non temete il loro Impeto.	8 And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.
9 Ricordate fn qual modo i padri nostri furon salvati nel Mar Rosso, quando il Faraone li inseguiva con un esercito grande;	9 Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharao pursued them with a great army.
10 ora dunque leviamo al cielo le grida ed il Signore avrà misericordia di noi, si ricorderà del patto fermato coi padri nostri, ed abbatterà oggi sotto i nostri occhi questo esercito;	10 And now let us cry to heaven: and the Lord will have mercy on us, and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this army before our face this day:
11 cosi, tutte le genti sapranno che v’è chi salva e libera Israele ».	11 And all nations shall know that there is one that redeemeth and delivereth Israel.
12 I pagani alzarono gli occhi, e visto che quelli venivano contro di loro,	12 And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming against them.
13 uscirono dagli accampamenti per combattere. Quelli ch’eran con Giuda dettero flato alle trombe,	13 And they went out of the camp to battle, and they that were with Judas sounded the trumpet.
14 e si azzuffarono; i pagani furono sgominati, e fuggirono per la campagna,	14 And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed, and fled into the plain.
15 Gli ultimi caddero tutti sotto la spada, ed [i Giudei] l'inseguirono sino a Gezeron e sino ai piani dell'Idumea, d’Azoto, e di Jamnia, e ne caddero sino a tremila.	15 But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword, and they pursued them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains of Idumea, and of Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of them to the number of three thousand men.
16 E Giuda ritornò, con l'esercito che lo seguiva.	16 And Judas returned again with his army that followed him,
17 E disse alla sua gente: «Non pensate a far preda, perchè un'altra battaglia cl aspetta,	17 And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the spoils: for there is war before us:
18 e Gorgia col suo esercito ci è vicino, sulla montagna. Ora state fermi contro i nostri nemici, e vinceteli ; poi, senza più pensiero, attenderete a far preda ».	18 And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them, and you shall take the spoils afterwards with safety.
19 Non aveva finito di parlare che apparve sulla montagna una turma per esplorare.	19 And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part of them appeared looking forth from the mountain.
20 Gorgia vide che i suoi erano stati messi in fuga, e che gli accampamenti bruciavano; il fumo infatti che si vedeva, faceva conoscere l'accaduto.	20 And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, ad that they had set fire to the camp: for the smoke that was seen declared what was done.
21 Ciò visto, quelli ebbero un gran timore; vedendo poi Giuda ed il suo esercito nella pianura pronto a combattere,	21 And when they had seen this, they were seized with great fear, seeing at the same time Judas and his army in the plain ready to fight.
22 fuggiron tutti per le campagne degli stranieri.	22 So they all fled away into the land of the strangers.
23 Allora Giuda tornò a far bottino nei loro accampamenti, e presero gran quantità d'oro e di argento, giacinto, porpora marina e ricchezze molte ;	23 And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp, and they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.
24 e tornando indietro cantavano un inno, e benedicevano Iddio del cielo, perchè è buono, perchè la sua misericordia è nei secoli.	24 And returning home they sung a hymn, and blessed God in heaven, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Quel giorno fu per Israele una grande liberazione.	25 So Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26 Or tutti gli stranieri scampati vennero ad annunziare a Lisia quanto era accaduto.	26 And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told Lysias all that had happened.
27 Udendo ciò, costernato, si perse d'animo, perchè le cose in Israele non erano andate come egli aveva voluto, e come il re aveva ordinato.	27 And when he heard these things, he was amazed and discouraged: because things had not succeeded in Israel according to his mind, and as the king had commanded.
28 L'anno seguente, Lisia mise insieme sessantamila fanti scelti, e cinquemila cavalieri, per venirne a capo.	28 So the year following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand chosen men, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.
29 Vennero In Giudea, e si accamparono in Betoron, e Giuda venne loro incontro con diecimila uomini.	29 And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in Bethoron, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
30 Vedendo quell'esercito forte, Giuda pregò, e disse: «Benedetto sei tu, salvatore d'Israele, che per mano di David tuo servo annientasti la forza del gigante, e desti in mano a Gionata Aglio di Saul, ed al suo scudiere, il campo degli stranieri;	30 And they saw that the army was strong, and he prayed, and said: Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst break the violence of the mighty by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver up the camp of the strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul and of his armourbearer.
31 rinserra ora questo esercito fra le mani d'Israele tuo popolo, e restino concisi con tutto il loro numero ed i loro cavalieri;	31 Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their host and their horsemen.
32 metti in loro lo spavento, marcisca la loro audacia e potenza, e s'annientino da se medesimi.	32 Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness of their strength to languish, and let them quake at their own destruction.
33 Atterrali tu con la spada di quelli che tl amano, e quanti conoscono il tuo nome ti cantino inni di lode!».	33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee: and let all that know thy name, praise thee with hymns.
34 Attaccarono la battaglia, e caddero dell'esercito di Lisia cinquemila uomini.	34 And they joined battle: and there fell of the army of Lysias five thousand men.
35 Lisia poi, vista la fuga de'suoi ed il valore de' Giudei preparati a vincere o morire da forti, se n'andò in Antiochia a levare, soldati, per poi, cresciuti di numero, tornare in Giudea.	35 And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight, and how bold the Jews were, and that they were ready either to live, or to die manfully, he went to Antioch, and chose soldiers, that they might come again into Judea with greater numbers.
36 "Dissero poi Giuda ed i suol fratelli: «Ecco, i nostri nemici son stati sconfìtti; andiamo a purificare il luogo santo, e rinnovarvi il culto ».	36 Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them.
37 Si radunò tutto l'esercito, e salirono al monte Sion.	37 And all the army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion.
38 Ivi trovarono deserto il santuario, profanato l'altare, bruciate le porte, cresciuti nel cortili gli sterpi come in un bosco o pei monti, e rovinate le celle.	38 And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down.
39 Allora si strapparon le vesti, e piansero di gran pianto, e si coprirono il capo di cenere,	39 And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads:
40 e caddero con la faccia a terra, e sonarono le trombe del segnali, e levarono grida sino al cielo.	40 And they fell face down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven.
41 Allora Giuda mise in ordine degli uomini che tenessero a bada quelli della cittadella, sinché fosse purificato il santuario.	41 Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy places.
42 indi, scelse dei sacerdoti senza macchia, zelanti della legge di Dio,	42 And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the law of God:
43 i quali mondarono il luogo santo, e gettarono in luogo immondo le pietre contaminate.	43 And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that had been defiled into an unclean place.
44 Poi pensò che cosa fare dell’altare degli olocausti, profanato,	44 And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been profaned, what he should do with it.
45 e parve a loro ben fatto di distruggerlo, acciò, cosi contaminato dai pagani non fosse a loro di obbrobrio. Lo demolirono dunque,	45 And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down.
46 e ne riposero le pietre sulla montagna del tempio, in luogo adatto, sino a che venisse un profeta e decidesse il da farne.	46 And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer concerning them.
47 Poi presero delle pietre non lavorate, secondo la legge, e ne edificarono il nuovo altare, conforme a quello di prima;	47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former:
48 riedificarono le mura del santuario e le costruzioni interne ; santificarono il tempio ed i cortili;	48 And they built up the holy places, and the things that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple, and the courts.
49 rifecero i vasi santi, ricollocarono nel tempio il candelabro, l’altare degl' incensi, e la mensa;	49 And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.
50 misero l’incenso sull’altare, ed accesero le lucerne che erano sul candelabro ed illuminavano il santuario.	50 And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple.
51 Posero sulla mensa i pani, attaccarono i veli, e condussero a termine tutto il loro lavoro.	51 And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun to make.
52 Ai venticinque del nono mese, (cioè del mese Casleu) dell’anno ccntoquarantotto, s’alzarono avanti l’alba,	52 And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.
53 ed offrirono un sacrifizio secondo la legge sull’altare degli olocausti che avevano costruito di nuovo.	53 And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.
54 Proprio alla stessa epoca e nello stesso giorno nel quale i pagani l’avevano contaminato, fu rinnovato tra cantici e suoni di cetre, psalterii e cimbali.	54 According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals.
55 Il popolo tutto si prostrò sino a terra, ed adorarono e benedissero quegli che dal cielo li aveva cosi prosperati.	55 And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them.
56 Per otto giorni celebrarono la dedicazione dell’altare, offrendo con giubilo olocausti e sacrifizi! di ringraziamento e di lode.	56 And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.
57 Ornarono la fronte del tempio di corone d’oro e scudetti, riattarono gl’ ingressi e le celle, e vi rimisero le porte.	57 And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them.
58 E fu pel popolo un’allegrezza indicibile, e fu scancellato l’obbrobrio inflitto dalle nazioni.	58 And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.
59 E Giuda ed i suoi fratelli e tutta l’assemblea d’Israele stabilirono che il giorno della dedicazione dell’altare si celebrasse di anno in anno, al suo tempo, per otto giorni, cominciando coi venticinque del mese di Casleu, con gaudio e letizia.	59 And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.
60 Al medesimo tempo, fortificarono il monte Sion, edificandovi all'intorno alte mura e forti torri, acciò non venissero i gentili, e l’espugnassero, come avevano fatto prima.	60 They built up also at that time mount Sion, with high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down as they did before.
61 Vi collocò a guardia un presidio, e così fortificandolo munì anche Betsura, di modo che il popolo [d’Israele] avesse una difesa contro gl’ Idumei.	61 And he placed a garrison there to keep it, and he fortified it to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defence against Idumea.