Secondo libro dei Maccabei 10

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 - Il Maccabeo dunque, e quelli che lo seguivano, protetti da Dio, rioccuparono il tempio e la città;	1 When Maccabeus and his companions, under the Lord's leadership, had recovered the temple and the city,
2 abbatterono le are ed i tempietti che gli stranieri avevano alzati per le piazze;	2 they destroyed the altars erected by the Gentiles in the marketplace and the sacred enclosures.
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 After purifying the temple, they made a new altar. Then, with fire struck from flint, they offered sacrifice for the first time in two years, burned incense, and lighted lamps. They also set out the showbread.
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 they had done this, they prostrated themselves and begged the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, and that if they should sin at any time, he might chastise them with moderation and not hand them over to blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles.
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 On the anniversary of the day on which the temple had been profaned by the Gentiles, that is, the twenty-fifth of the same month Chislev, the purification of the temple took place.
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 The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in caves on the mountains.
7 Perciò, In onore di Colui che aveva felicemente fatto mondare il suo luogo, portavano fasci e rami, verdeggianti e palme.	7 Carrying rods entwined with leaves, green branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had brought about the purification of his own Place.
8 Ed ordinarono con pubblico editto e decreto a tutta la nazione Giudea di celebrare questi giorni ogni anno.	8 By public edict and decree they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year.
9 Tale dunque fu il termine della vita di Antioco detto il Nobile.	9 Such was the end of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes.
10 Ora poi, racconteremo le Imprese d’ Eupatore figlio dell’empio Antioco, compendiando i mali che accompagnarono quelle guerre.	10 Now we shall relate what happened under Antiochus Eupator, the son of that godless man, and shall give a summary of the chief evils caused by 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 When Eupator succeeded to the kingdom, he put a certain Lysias in charge of the government as commander-in-chief of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
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 Ptolemy, surnamed Macron, had taken the lead in treating the Jews fairly because of the previous injustice that had been done them, and he endeavored to have peaceful relations 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 As a result, he was accused before Eupator by the King's Friends. In fact, on all sides he heard himself called a traitor for having abandoned Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and for having gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Since he could not command the respect due to his high office, he ended his life by taking poison.
14 Gorgia poi, essendo a capo di quelle regioni, assoldati degli stranieri, spesso molestava i Giudei.	14 When Gorgias became governor of the region, he employed foreign troops and used every opportunity to attack the Jews.
15 Ed i Giudei, che occupavano vantaggiose posizioni fortificate, accoglievano i fuggiaschi da Gerusalemme, e tentavano di far guerra.	15 At the same time the Idumeans, who held some important strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they welcomed fugitives from Jerusalem and endeavored to continue the war.
16 Ma quelli che erano col Maccabeo, ricorsi con preghiere al Signore acciò li aiutasse, fecero impeto contro le fortezze degl'Idumei,	16 Maccabeus and his companions, after public prayers asking God to be their ally, moved quickly against the strongholds of the Idumeans.
17 e dopo vigorosi sforzi le conquistarono, sbaragliarono gli oppositori, ed in tutto ne ucciser non meno di ventimila.	17 Attacking vigorously, they gained control of the places, drove back all who manned the walls, and cut down those who opposed them, killing as many as twenty thousand men.
18 Ma alcuni essendosi rifugiati in due ben munite torri fornite di tutto, il necessario alla difesa,	18 When at least nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers, containing everything necessary to sustain a 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, along with Zacchaeus and his men, in sufficient numbers to besiege them, while he himself went off to places where he was more urgently needed.
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 But some of the men in Simon's force who were money lovers let themselves be bribed by some of the men in the towers; on receiving seventy thousand drachmas, they allowed a number of them to 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 When Maccabeus was told what had happened, he assembled the rulers of the people and accused those men of having sold their kinsmen for money by setting 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 put them to death as traitors, and without delay captured the two towers.
23 E tutto riuscendogli bene con le armi e col braccio, in quelle due fortezze uccise più di ventimila uomini.	23 As he was successful at arms in all his undertakings, he destroyed more than twenty thousand men in the two strongholds.
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 Timothy, who had previously been defeated by the Jews, gathered a tremendous force of foreign troops and collected a large number of cavalry from Asia; then he appeared in Judea, ready to conquer it by force.
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 At his approach, Maccabeus and his men made supplication to God, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins in 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 Lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, they begged him to be gracious to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and a foe to their foes, as the law declares.
27 Dopo avere cosi pregato, prese le armi, s’avanzarono assai fuori dalla città, e giunti in vicinanza de’ nemici, si fermarono.	27 After the prayer, they took up their arms and advanced a considerable distance from the city, halting when they were close to the enemy.
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 As soon as dawn broke, the armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord, and the other taking fury as their leader in the fight.
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 In the midst of the fierce battle, there appeared to the enemy from the heavens five majestic men riding on golden-bridled horses, who led the Jews on.
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 They surrounded Maccabeus, and shielding him with their own armor, kept him from being wounded. They shot arrows and hurled thunderbolts at the enemy, who were bewildered and blinded, thrown into confusion and routed.
31 Furono dunque uccisi ventlmilacinquecento fanti e seicento cavalieri.	31 Twenty-five hundred of their foot soldiers and six hundred of their horsemen were slain.
32 Timoteo poi fuggì in Gazara, cittadella fortificata al comando di Cherea.	32 Timothy, however, fled to a well-fortified stronghold called Gazara, where Chaereas was in command.
33 Il Maccabeo ed i suoi, giubilanti, assediarono per quattro giorni la cittadella.	33 For four days Maccabeus and his men eagerly besieged the fortress.
34 E quelli che erano dentro, fidenti nella fortezza della posizione, vomitavano maledizioni e parole infami.	34 Those inside, relying on the strength of the place, kept repeating outrageous blasphemies and uttering abominable 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 When the fifth day dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, angered over such blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they encountered.
36 Allora, anche altri similmente salendo si dettero ad incendiare le torri e le porte, ed abbruciar vivi quei bestemmiatori.	36 Others who climbed up the same way swung around on the defenders, taking the besieged in the rear; they put the towers to the torch, spread the fire and burned the blasphemers alive. Still others broke down the gates and let in the rest of the troops, who took possession of 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 Timothy had hidden in a cistern, but they killed him, along with his brother Chaereas, and 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 On completing these exploits, they blessed, with hymns of grateful praise, the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and grants them victory.