1 Macabeos 8

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Entre tanto, la fama de los romanos llegó a oídos de Judas: supo que eran guerreros valerosos, se mostraban benévolos con todos sus aliados y entablaban amistad con todos los que acudían a ellos; sobre todo, se enteró de que eran guerreros valerosos.	1 Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.
2 Le habían contado, en efecto, sus campañas y las proezas que habían realizado entre los galos, dominándolos y sometiéndolos a tributo,	2 And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they conquered them, and brought them under tribute:
3 como así también todo lo que habían hecho en la región de España, para adueñarse de las minas de plata y de oro que hay allí,	3 And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:
4 y cómo gracias a su habilidad y constancia, se habían apoderado de todo el territorio, a pesar de ser un lugar muy distante. Asimismo, a los reyes que habían venido a combatirlos desde los confines de la tierra, los habían derrotado, aplastándolos completamente, mientras que los restantes les pagaban tributo cada año.	4 And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.
5 Ellos habían derrotado y sometido a Filipo y a Perseo, reyes de Quitím, y a cuantos se les opusieron.	5 And that they had defeated in battle Philip, and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:
6 También habían vencido a Antíoco el Grande, rey de Asia, que les había hecho la guerra con ciento veinte elefantes, con caballos, carros y un ejército muy numeroso:	6 And how Antiochus the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them:
7 lo tomaron prisionero y le impusieron, a él y a sus sucesores, un fuerte tributo, además de la entrega de rehenes y la cesión	7 And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8 de sus mejores provincias –la región de la India, Media y Lidia– que luego entregaron al rey Eumenes.	8 And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them they gave to king Eumenes.
9 Los de Grecia habían pensado ir a exterminarlos,	9 And that they who were in Greece had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
10 pero los romanos, al enterarse, habían enviado contra ellos a un solo general para combatirlos: así mataron a muchos de ellos, llevaron prisioneros a sus mujeres y sus niños, saquearon sus bienes, sometieron al país, arrasaron sus fortalezas y les impusieron su dominio hasta el día de hoy.	10 And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.
11 También destruyeron y sometieron a los demás reinos y a las islas que alguna vez les opusieron resistencia.	11 And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.
12 En cambio, mantuvieron su amistad con sus aliados y con todos los que buscaron su apoyo. Tienen bajo su dominio a los reyes vecinos y lejanos y son temidos por todos los que oyen en hablar de ellos.	12 But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.
13 Sólo reinan los que ellos quieren ayudar a reinar, y deponen a los que quieren. Están en el apogeo de su poder.	13 That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from a kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
14 Sin embargo, ninguno de ellos se ciñe la corona ni se reviste de púrpura para engrandecerse.	14 And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.
15 Antes bien, han creado un Senado, donde cada día sesionan trescientos veinte senadores, que deliberan constantemente sobre los asuntos del pueblo, a fin de asegurar el orden público.	15 And that they made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right.
16 Cada año confían a un solo hombre el poder y el dominio sobre toda la nación, y todos le obedecen, sin que haya entre ellos envidias ni celos.	16 And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy, nor jealousy amongst them.
17 Judas eligió a Eupólemo, hijo de Juan, hijo de Hacós, y a Jasón, hijo de Eleazar, y los envió a Roma para concertar un pacto de amistad,	17 So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them.
18 con el fin de librarse del yugo, porque veían que los griegos tenían esclavizado a Israel.	18 And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
19 Ellos partieron para Roma y, después de un larguísimo viaje, se presentaron ante el Senado y dijeron:	19 And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:
20 «Judas, llamado Macabeo, sus hermanos y el Pueblo judío nos han enviado para concertar con ustedes un pacto de paz y para que nos inscriban en el número de sus aliados y amigos».	20 Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you, to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.
21 La propuesta agradó a los romanos.	21 And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22 Y esta es la copia del documento que grabaron en planchas de bronce y enviaron a Jerusalén como memorial de paz y de alianza:	22 And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance.
23 «¡Que los romanos y la nación de los judíos tengan felicidad en el mar y en la tierra para siempre! ¡Lejos de ellos la espada y el enemigo!	23 GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
24 Si una guerra amenaza primero a Roma, o a cualquiera de sus aliados, en cualquier parte de sus dominios,	24 But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
25 la nación de los judíos luchará a su lado de todo corazón según se lo exijan las circunstancias.	25 The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:
26 Los enemigos no recibirán trigo, ni armas, ni dinero, ni naves. Así lo ha establecido Roma. Observarán sus compromisos sin ninguna compensación.	26 Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.
27 De la misma manera, si una guerra amenaza primero a la nación de los judíos, los romanos lucharán a su lado, con toda el alma según se lo exijan las circunstancias.	27 In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them.
28 Sus agresores no recibirán trigo, ni armas, ni dinero, ni naves. Así lo ha establecido Roma. Observarán sus compromisos con lealtad».	28 And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.
29 Estas son las cláusulas que los romanos estipularon con el Pueblo judío.	29 According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.
30 «Si posteriormente unos y otros deciden añadir o quitar algo, lo harán de común acuerdo, y lo que añadan o quiten tendrá fuerza obligatoria».	30 And if after this one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.
31 Con relación a los males que el rey Demetrio ha causado a los judíos, ya le hemos escrito lo siguiente: «¿Por qué has hecho sentir pesadamente tu yugo sobre los judíos, nuestros amigos y aliados?	31 Moreover concerning the evils that Demetrius the king hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends, and allies, the Jews?
32 Si vuelven a quejarse de ti, nosotros les haremos justicia y te haremos la guerra por mar y por tierra».	32 If therefore they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.