Secondo libro dei Maccabei 11

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 - Ma poco tempo dopo, Lisia, tutore del re, suo parente, e preposto a' suoi negozi, furibondo per quel che era accaduto,	1 But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.
2 radunati ottomila uomini e tutta la cavalleria, veniva contro a' Giudei, pensandosi di prender la città e farne l’abitazione dei Gentili ;	2 But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.
3 di servirsi del tempio come fonte di guadagno al pari degli altri templi pagani, e di metter a prezzo ogni anno il sommo sacerdozio.	3 And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the leaves of proposition.
4 E niente pensando alla potenza di Dio, trasportato dall’orgoglio, fidava nella moltitudine de' suoi fanti, nelle migliaia di cavalieri, e negli ottanta elefanti.	4 And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.
5 Entrato dunque in Giudea, e giunto davanti a Betsura, posta in angusto luogo a cinque stadil di distanza da Gerusalemme, espugnò quella fortezza.	5 Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.
6 Quando il Maccabeo ed i suoi seppero che venivano espugnate fortezze, còn gemiti e lacrime pregavano lì Signore, essi e tutto il popolo, che mandasse un buon angelo a salvare Israele.	6 And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.
7 Ed egli stesso, il Maccabeo, per primo, prese le armi, esortava gli altri ad esporsi con lui al cimento, e portar aiuto ai loro fratelli.	7 Therefore they now, carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.
8 Or mentre con animo risoluto avanzavano da Gerusalemme, apparve loro un cavaliere che li precedeva, in candida sopravveste, con armi d’oro, brandendo la lancia.	8 And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.
9 Allora, tutti ad una voce benedissero il misericordioso Signore, e s’inanimirono, pronti a superare non solo gli uomini ma anche le bestie più feroci, e delle mura di ferro.	9 And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.
10 Andavano dunque con slancio, avendo dal cielo un aiuto, per la misericordia di Dio verso di loro.	10 But now we will relate the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.
11 Con impeto da leoni irrompendo contro i nemici, ne abbatterono undicimila fanti e milleseicento cavalieri;	11 For when he was come to the crown. he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.
12 tutti gli altri, poi, li misero in fuga; molti di loro feriti, gettate le armi, fuggirono; ed anche lo stesso Lisia non scampò che con un’ignobile fuga.	12 For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.
13 Allora, siccome egli non era uno stolto, ripensando fra sè all’umiliazione subita, e comprendendo che gli Ebrei erano invincibili perchè sorretti dall’aiuto dell’onnipotente Dio, mandò a loro,	13 But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.
14 promettendo che accorderebbe loro tutto quello che è giusto, e sospingerebbe il re ad esser loro amico.	14 But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.
15 Acconsentì il Maccabeo alla preghiera di Lisia, provvedendo a comune vantaggio; e tutto quello che egli chiese pel Giudei scrivendo a Lisia, il re lo concesse.	15 And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.
16 La lettera scritta a' Giudei da Lisia diceva così: « Lisia, al popolo de' Giudei, salute.	16 Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:
17 Giovanni ed Abesalom, mandati da voi a portarmi le vostre lettere, chiedevano,che lo facessi ciò che per loro mezzo mi fu esposto.	17 And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.
18 Pertanto, tutto quello che al re si poteva riferire, l'esposi; ed egli ha conceduto quello che le circostanze consentivano.	18 And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,
19 Se dunque negli affari vi manterrete fedeli, io cercherò di esservi favorevole anche per l’avvenire.	19 Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.
20 Dell’altre cose poi, ho dato commissione a loro ed a’ legati miei, di parlarne una per una a voce con voi.	20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded For the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.
21 Statevi bene. L’anno centoquarantotto, a dì ventiquattro del mese di Dloscoro ».	21 But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.
22 La lettera vpoi del re diceva così: «Il re Antioco, a Lisia fratello, salute.	22 So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.
23 Trasferito fra gli dèi il padre nostro, volendo noi che i nostri sudditi stiano tranquilli, cd attendano con cura alle loro faccende,	23 And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.
24 abbiamo saputo che i Giudei non si son piegati alla volontà del padre mio che passassero ai riti dei Greci, ma vogliono conservare le proprie istituzioni, e perciò domandano che concediamo loro di vivere secondo le loro leggi.	24 But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.
25 Volendo pertanto che anche questa nazione stia in pace, abbiamo giudicato e stabilito che sia loro restituito il tempio, acciò si governino secondo le consuetudini degli avi loro.	25 But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,
26 Farai dunque bene mandando legati a portar loro la pace, affinchè, conosciuto il nostro volere, siano contenti, e s’applichino al proprio bene ».	26 And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.
27 Ai Giudei poi il re scrisse così: « Il re Antioco, al senato dei Giudei, ed agli altri Giudei, salute.	27 And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.
28 Se state bene, è quel che vogliamo, ed anche noi stiamo bene.	28 But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety o victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.
29 È venuto a noi Menelao, a dirci che vorreste venire a visitare i vostri connazionali che sono con noi.	29 But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:
30 A quelli dunque che saranno in viaggio, sino ai trenta del mese di Xantico, diamo libertà di sicurezza.	30 Two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.
31 Che i Giudei usino del cibi e delle leggi loro come per l'innanzi, e che nessuno di loro in verun modo riceva molestie per ciò che inavvertitamente avessero fatto.	31 And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
32 Abbiamo mandato anche Menelao, a parlarvi.	32 But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.
33 Statevi bene. L'anno centoquarantotto, ai quindici del mese di Xantico ».	33 Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.
34 Anche i Romani mandarono una lettera del seguente tenore: « Quinto Memmio e Tito Manilio, legati de' Romani, al popolo del Giudei, salute.	34 But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.
35 Di ciò che Lisia parente del re v’ ha conceduto, conveniamo anche noi.	35 But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.
36 Di quelle cose poi delle quali giudicò dover riferire al re, conferitene fra voi maturamente, e mandateci subito qualcuno, acciò risolviamo quel che a voi conviene; perchè noi stiamo per andar in Antiochia.	36 Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set Are to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.
37 Affrettatevi dunque a riscriverci affinchè sappiamo anche noi quali sono i vostri desiderii.	37 And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.
38 Statevi bene. L'anno centoquarantotto, ai quindici del mese di Xantico ».	38 And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.