Primo libro dei Maccabei 6

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 - Ora il re Antioco, percorrendo le regioni superiori, seppe esservi in Persia una città nobilissima, Elimalde, ricca d'argento e d'oro;	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.
2 ed in quella un tempio ricchissimo con arnesi d'oro, corazze e scudi lasciativi da Alessandro, figlio di Filippo, re macedone, che regnò pel primo in Grecia.	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.
3 Venne dunque e cercava di prendere la città e depredarla ; ma non potè, perchè la cosa fu risaputa da quelli che erano nella città	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.
4 ed Insorsero e combatterono; ed il re fuggi di lì, e con gran tristezza se n'andò, per tornare In Babilonia.	4 And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia.
5 Ed ecco venirgli in Persia l'annunzio che era stato messo in fuga il suo esercito nella terra di Giuda ;	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:
6 che primieramente Lisia s'era avanzato con grandi forze, ma era stato ributtato da'Giudei; che questi s'erano ingranditi con le armi e gli uomini e le spoglie copiose prese nel campo degli sconfitti;	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:
7 che avevano rovesciata l'abominazione da lui collocata sull'altare di Gerusalemme, e circondato di alte mura come prima il luogo santo, e perfino anche la sua città Betsura.	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.
8 Quando dunque il re seppe queste cose, si turbò, ne fu grandemente scosso, ai mise a letto, e cadde in languore per la tristezza che le cose non erano accadute come egli aveva pensato.	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.
9 E vi stette molto tempo, crechè la sua malinconia andava crescendo, e credè di morire.	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.
10 Chiamò dunque tutti i suoi amici, e disse loro: « Il sonno se n'è andato dagli occhi miei, sono abbattuto d'animo e sgomento per l'amarezza,	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.
11 e dico a me stesso: - In quanta tribolazione son venuto, ed in quali onde di tristezza ora mi trovo, io che ero così lieto e riverito nella mia potenza ;	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!
12 ora ripenso ai mali da me fatti in Gerusalemme, da dove portai via tutte le ricchezze d'oro e d'argento che v'erano e feci senza motivo disperdere gli abitanti della Giudea.	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.
13 Riconosco dunque che a causa di ciò mi sono sopraggiunti questi mali, ed ora muoio di tristezza grande In terra straniera - ».	13 I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.
14 E chiamò Filippo, uno de' suoi amici, e lo pose a capo di tutto il suo regno,	14 Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom.
15 consegnandogli il diadema, il manto e l'anello, acciò prendesse con sè il figlio suo Antioco, e lo educasse per poi farlo re.	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.
16 Ed ivi Antioco morì, l'anno centoquarantanove.	16 So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and forty-nine.
17 Quando Lisia seppe che il re era morto, volle che regnasse il figlio di lui, Antioco, giovinetto, che egli aveva educato e gli mise nome Eupatore.	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.
18 Or quelli che erano nella rocca [di Gerusalemme] vessavano gli Israeliti nei pressi del tempio, cercando sempre di nuocere a loro, e di avvantaggiare i Gentili.	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.
19 Per questo, Giuda voleva disperderli, e radunò tutte le sue forze per espugnarli.	19 And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all the people, to besiege them.
20 Si riunirono dunque, e vi misero l'assedio, l'anno centocinquanta, e fecero baliste e macchine.	20 And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines.
21 Ma alcuni degli assediati, a' quali soggiunsero alcuni empii d'Israele, uscirono,	21 And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.
22 andarono al re, e gli dissero: < Inaino a quando lasceral di far giustizia, e di vendicare i nostri fratelli?	22 And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge our brethren?
23 Noi abbiamo voluto servire il padre tuo, fare secondo i suoi ordini, ed obbedire a' suoi editti ;	23 We determined to serve thy father and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
24 per questo, i nostri concittadini s'alienarono da noi; quanti di noi ne trovavano, tanti n'uccidevano, e confiscavano i nostri beni.	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.
25 Nè su noi soli ha messo le mani, ma anche in tutto il nostro territorio;	25 Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.
26 ora hanno circondato la rocca di Gerusalemme per impadronirsene, hanno fortificato la fortezza di Betsura,	26 And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the stronghold of Bethsura:
27 e se non li preverrai senza indugio, faranno cose anche più grandi, e non potrai più trattenerli ».	27 And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.
28 Ciò udito, il re s’adirò, e convocò tutti i suoi amici, i capi del suo esercito, ed i preposti alla cavalleria ;	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.
29 ed anche da altri regni e dalle isole marittime gli vennero milizie assoldate.	29 There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea hired troops.
30 L’esercito suo era di centomila pedoni, ventimila cavalieri, e trentadue elefanti ammaestrati alla guerra.	30 And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.
31 Vennero dunque per l’Idumea, ed assediarono Betsura, combattendo per molti giorni, fecero anche delle macchine, ma quei di dentro uscirono, e le incendiarono, e si difesero valorosamente.	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.
32 Allora Giuda lasciò da parte la rocca, e mosse il campo per Betzacara, contro il campo del re.	32 And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp.
33 Ed il re si mosse avanti giorno, spinse con impeto le sue schiere per la via di Betzacara, e queste si apparecchiarono alla battaglia, e sonaron le trombe.	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:
34 Fecero bere agli elefanti del succo d’uva e di more per eccitarli a battaglia,	34 And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries to provoke them to fight.
35 e li spartirono fra le legioni; stavano intorno a ciascun elefante mille uomini con corazze di maglia e con elmi di bronzo in capo; cinquecento cavalieri scelti erano inoltre distribuiti attorno ad ogni animale,	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.
36 già da tempo avvezzati a stare dovunque era l'elefante, andare dovunque esso andava, e non lasciarlo mai.	36 These before the time wheresoever the beast was, the were there: and withersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it.
37 Portavano poi, gli elefanti, sul dorso, delle forti torri di legno, a difesa, e sulle torri, macchine di guerra; ed in ciascuna torre trentadue uomini di valore, che di lì combattevano, ed un indiano per guidare la bestia.	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.
38 Il resto della cavalleria fu posto di qua e di là, in due ali, per eccitare con le trombe l'esercito e mantenere serrate le file dei fanti.	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.
39 Ora quando il sole rifulse sugli elmi d’oro e di bronzo, i monti ne risplenderono, come illuminati da lampade accese.	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.
40 Una parte dell’esercito regio s’avviò per le alture de' monti, un'altra per la pianura, procedendo cauti ed ordinati.	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.
41 Gli abitanti di que’ luoghi restavano attoniti allo strepito della moltitudine, al passo di tanta gente, al cozzo delle armi; era infatti un esercito di gran numero e forza.	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.
42 Giuda dunque ed i suol vennero avanti in battaglia, e dell'esercito del re caddero seicento uomini.	42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king's army six hundred men.
43 Eleazaro figlio di Saura vide un elefante armato di regia armatura che sopravanzava tutti gli altri, e giudicò che il re vi fosse sopra;	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:
44 allora volle sacrificarsi per liberare il suo popolo ed acquistarsi un nome immortale.	44 And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name.
45 Corse audacemente verso di quello, passando in mezzo alla legione, uccidendo a destra e a sinistra; cadevano quelli di qua e di là,	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.
46 ed egli arrivò tra i piedi dell'elefante, e gli si mise sotto, e l'uccise, e questo cadendogli addosso ve lo schiacciò.	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.
47 Ma vedendo [i Giudei] le forze del re, e l'impeto del suo esercito, si ritirarono.	47 Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.
48 Le schiere del re salirono verso Gerusalemme e posero il campo in Giudea e contro il monte Sion.	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.
49 Concluse la pace con quelli che erano in Betsura, ed essi uscirono dalla città, perchè dentro non vi eran più viveri, essendo quello per la terra un anno sabatico.	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.
50 Il re dunque s'impadronì di Betsura, e vi pose a guardia un presidio.	50 And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it.
51 Poi andò ad accamparsi di contro al luogo santo, per molti giorni, piantandovi baliste, macchine, attrezzi per lanciar fuoco, arnesi per scagliar pietre e dardi, scorpioni per lanciar frecce, e fionde.	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.
52 Ma anche i Giudei opposero macchine a macchine, e si difesero a lungo.	52 And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days.
53 Non v’erano però viveri nella città, perchè era Panno sabatico, ed i Gentili rimasti in Giudea avevano consumato gli avanzi messi da parte;	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.
54 perciò non rimasero nel luogo santo che pochi uomini, la fame avendoli colpiti, ed essendosi dispersi ciascuno pel proprio paese.	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.
55 E Lisia seppe che Filippo, scelto dal re Antioco, prima di morire, a tutore del figlio suo Antioco sinché questi regnasse,	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,
56 era tornato dallo Persia e dalla Media conducendo seco un esercito, ed aspirava a prender egli il governo del 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:
57 S'affrettò allora ad andar a dire al re ed ai capi delPesercito: « Ogni giorno scemiamo di numero, abbiam pochi viveri, il luogo che assediamo è ben difeso, e dobbiamo provvedere al buon ordine del regno.	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.
58 Ora dunque diamo la mano a questa gente, e facciamo pace con loro e con tutta la loro nazione;	58 Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation.
59 stabiliamo con loro che si regolino secondo le loro leggi, come prima ; giacché essi si son adirati con noi, ed han fatto tutte queste cose, per amore delle loro leggi che noi avevamo disprezzate ».	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.
60 Piacque la proposta al re ed ai principi, e mandarono ai Giudei per far pace, ed essi l'accettarono;	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.
61 il re ed i principi la giurarono, e quelli uscirono dalla cittadella.	61 And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the stronghold.
62 Ed il re entrò sul monte Sion, e vide le sue fortificazioni, e subito ruppe il giuramento da lui dato, e fece atterrare il muro che lo contornava.	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.
63 Dipoi si partì frettolosamente, tornò in Antiochia, e trovò Filippo che si era impadronito della città; combattè contro di lui, ed occupò egli la città.	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.