Secondo libro dei Maccabei 10

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 - Il Maccabeo dunque, e quelli che lo seguivano, protetti da Dio, rioccuparono il tempio e la città;	1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
2 abbatterono le are ed i tempietti che gli stranieri avevano alzati per le piazze;	2 But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down.
3 quindi, purificato il tempio, costruirono un nuovo altare, e col fuoco cavato da pietre focaie offrirono sacrifizi dopo due anni, e riposero al suo luogo l'incenso, le lucerne, ed i pani della proposizione.	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 Dopo di che, prostrati a terra, supplicavano il Signore di non più ricadere in tali sventure; ma che, se anche talora peccassero, fossero da lui più benignamente ripresi, e non dati in mano a 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 Ora, in quel giorno stesso nel quale il tempio era stato profanato dagli stranieri, in quel medesimo fu purificato: ai venticinque del mese detto di Casleu.	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 E con letizia fecero festa otto giorni come pei tabernacoli, ricordando che poco tempo prima, avevano passato il giorno solenne del tabernacoli pei monti e nelle spelonche, come le bestie.	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, In onore di Colui che aveva felicemente fatto mondare il suo luogo, portavano fasci e rami, verdeggianti e palme.	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 Ed ordinarono con pubblico editto e decreto a tutta la nazione Giudea di celebrare questi giorni ogni anno.	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 Tale dunque fu il termine della vita di Antioco detto il Nobile.	9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.
10 Ora poi, racconteremo le Imprese d’ Eupatore figlio dell’empio Antioco, compendiando i mali che accompagnarono quelle 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 Egli adunque, preso possesso del regno, pose a capo degli affari del regno un certo Lisia, comandante della milizia in Fenicia ed in Siria.	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 Giacché Tolomeo, detto il Magro, s’era proposto d’esser giusto a tutta prova verso i Giudei, specialmente In vista dell’iniquo trattamento che loro era stato fatto, e d’usare con loro benevolenza.	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 Ma per questo motivo, accusato dagli amici presso Eupatore, sentendosi ad ogni momento chiamar traditore perché aveva abbandonato Cipro affidatagli da Fllometore, e passato alla parte d’Antioco il Nobile se n’era poi allontanato, s’uccise di veleno.	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 poi, essendo a capo di quelle regioni, assoldati degli stranieri, spesso molestava i Giudei.	14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:
15 Ed i Giudei, che occupavano vantaggiose posizioni fortificate, accoglievano i fuggiaschi da Gerusalemme, e tentavano di far 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 Ma quelli che erano col Maccabeo, ricorsi con preghiere al Signore acciò li aiutasse, fecero impeto contro le fortezze degl'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 dopo vigorosi sforzi le conquistarono, sbaragliarono gli oppositori, ed in tutto ne ucciser 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 Ma alcuni essendosi rifugiati in due ben munite torri fornite di tutto, il necessario alla difesa,	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 il Maccabeo lasciò ad espugnarle Simone e Giuseppe, ed anche Zaccheo, e quelli che eran con loro, molti assai; ed egli andò ad altre imprese più urgenti.	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 quelli che eran con Simone, vinti dalla cupidigia, si lasciarono persuadére per danaro da alcuni di quelli che erano nelle torri, e, ricevute settantunmila didramme lasciarono che quelli fuggissero.	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 l’accaduto fu annunziato al Maccabeo, egli, convocati i maggiorenti del popolo accusò costoro d’aver vénduto per danaro i fratelli, lasciando liberi 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 Quelli adunque, convinti di tradimento, li mise a morte, e subito occupò quelle due torri.	22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
23 E tutto riuscendogli bene con le armi e col braccio, in quelle due fortezze uccise 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 Ma Timoteo, che già era stato sconfitto dai Giudei, messo insieme un esercito di gente straniera, e la cavalleria dell’Asia, venne con l’intenzione di conquistare 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 Il Maccabeo, e quelli che eran con lui, all’avvicinarsi di Timoteo, pregavano il Signore, col capo coperto di polvere, co’ fianchi cinti di cilizio,	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 prostrati ai piedi dell’altare, perché fosse a loro favorevole, ai loro nemici nemico, ed agli avversari avversario, come dice 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 Dopo avere cosi pregato, prese le armi, s’avanzarono assai fuori dalla città, e giunti in vicinanza de’ 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 Ma appena fatto giorno, da ambedue le parti s’azzuffarono; gli uni avendo mallevadore della vittoria e del buon successo il Signore e la sua potenza, gli altri avendo quasi a condottiero il loro furore.	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 Ed ecco infuriando la pugna, apparvero dal ciclo al nemici cinque uomini a cavallo, belli d’armature d’oro, sulla prima fila de’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 due di loro, avendo in mezzo il Maccabeo e coprendolo con le loro armi, lo rendevano invulnerabile; contro i nemici, poi, scagliavano dardi e folgori, talché quelli abbagliati ed atterrili cadevano.	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 Furono dunque uccisi ventlmilacinquecento fanti e seicento cavalieri.	31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
32 Timoteo poi fuggì in Gazara, cittadella fortificata al comando di Cherea.	32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.
33 Il Maccabeo ed i suoi, giubilanti, assediarono per quattro giorni la cittadella.	33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days.
34 E quelli che erano dentro, fidenti nella fortezza della posizione, vomitavano maledizioni e parole infami.	34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.
35 Ma al principiare del quinto giorno, venti giovani di quelli che erano col Maccabeo, non potendo sopportare quelle bestemmie, si accostarono valorosamente alle mura, e con animo intrepido cominciarono a salire.	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 Allora, anche altri similmente salendo si dettero ad incendiare le torri e le porte, ed abbruciar vivi quei bestemmiatori.	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 Duraron due giorni a devastare la piazza, ed avendo trovato nascosto Timoteo in un certo luogo, uccisero lui, il fratello suo Cherea, ed Apollofane.	37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with Apollophanes.
38 Dopo di che, con inni e cantici benedicevano il Signore, il quale aveva fatto cose grandi in Israele, e data a 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.