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Lunedi, 13 maggio 2024 - Beata Vergine Maria di Fatima ( Letture di oggi)

2 Maccabees 8


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KING JAMES BIBLEBIBLIA
1 Then Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them all such as continued in the Jews' religion, and assembled about six thousand men.1 Judas, llamado también Macabeo, y sus compañeros entraban sigilosamente en los pueblos, llamaban a sus hermanos de raza y acogiendo a los que permanecían fieles al judaísmo, llegaron a reunir 6.000 hombres.
2 And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people that was trodden down of all; and also pity the temple profaned of ungodly men;2 Rogaban al Señor que mirase por aquel pueblo que todos conculcaban; que tuviese piedad del santuario profanado por los hombres impíos;
3 And that he would have compassion upon the city, sore defaced, and ready to be made even with the ground; and hear the blood that cried unto him,3 que se compadeciese de la ciudad destruida y a punto de ser arrasada, y que escuchase las voces de la sangre que clamaba a él;
4 And remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants, and the blasphemies committed against his name; and that he would shew his hatred against the wicked.4 que se acordase de la inicua matanza de niños inocentes y de las blasfemias proferidas contra su nombre, y que mostrase su odio al mal.
5 Now when Maccabeis had his company about him, he could not be withstood by the heathen: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy.5 Macabeo, con su tropa organizada, fue ya invencible para los gentiles, al haberse cambiado en misericordia la cólera del Señor.
6 Therefore he came at unawares, and burnt up towns and cities, and got into his hands the most commodious places, and overcame and put to flight no small number of his enemies.6 Llegando de improviso, incendiaba ciudades y pueblos; después de ocupar las posiciones estratégicas, causaba al enemigo grandes pérdidas.
7 But specially took he advantage of the night for such privy attempts, insomuch that the fruit of his holiness was spread every where.7 Prefería la noche como aliada para tales incursiones. La fama de su valor se extendía por todas partes.
8 So when Philip saw that this man increased by little and little, and that things prospered with him still more and more, he wrote unto Ptolemeus, the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, to yield more aid to the king's affairs.8 Al ver Filipo que este hombre progesaba paulatinamente y que sus éxitos eran cada día más frecuentes, escribió a Tolomeo, estratega de Celesiria y Fenicia para que viniese en ayuda de los intereses del rey.
9 Then forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty thousand of all nations under him, to root out the whole generation of the Jews; and with him he joined also Gorgias a captain, who in matters of war had great experience.9 Este designó enseguida a Nicanor, hijo de Patroclo, uno de sus primeros amigos, y le envió al frente de no menos de 20.000 hombres de todas las naciones para exterminar la raza entera de Judea. Puso a su lado a Gorgias, general con experiencia en lides guerreras.
10 So Nicanor undertook to make so much money of the captive Jews, as should defray the tribute of two thousand talents, which the king was to pay to the Romans.10 Nicanor intentaba, por su parte, saldar con la venta de prisioneros judíos, el tributo de 2.000 talentos que el rey debía a los romanos.
11 Wherefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast, proclaiming a sale of the captive Jews, and promising that they should have fourscore and ten bodies for one talent, not expecting the vengeance that was to follow upon him from the Almighty God.11 Pronto envió a las ciudades marítimas una invitación para que vinieran a comprar esclavos judíos, prometiendo entregar noventa esclavos por un talento sin esperarse el castigo del Todopoderoso que estaba a punto de caer sobre él.
12 Now when word was brought unto Judas of Nicanor's coming, and he had imparted unto those that were with him that the army was at hand,12 Llegó a Judas la noticia de la expedición de Nicanor. Cuando comunicó a los que le acompañaban que el ejército se acercaba,
13 They that were fearful, and distrusted the justice of God, fled, and conveyed themselves away.13 los cobardes y desconfiados de la justicia divina, comenzaron a escaparse y alejarse del lugar;
14 Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord to deliver them, sold by the wicked Nicanor before they met together:14 los demás vendían todo lo que les quedaba, y pedían al mismo tiempo al Señor que librara a los que el impío Nicanor tenía vendidos aun ante de haberse enfrentado.
15 And if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants he had made with their fathers, and for his holy and glorious name's sake, by which they were called.15 Si no por ellos, sí por las alianzas con sus padres y porque invocaban en su favor el venerable y majestuoso Nombre.
16 So Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six thousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen, who came wrongly against them; but to fight manfully,16 Después de reunir a los suyos, en número de 6.000, el Macabeo les exhortaba a no dejarse amedrentar por los enemigos y a no temer a la muchedumbre de gentiles que injustamente venían contra ellos, sino a combatir con valor,
17 And to set before their eyes the injury that they had unjustly done to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the city, whereof they made a mockery, and also the taking away of the government of their forefathers:17 teniendo a la vista el ultraje que inicuamente habían inferido al Lugar Santo, los suplicios infligidos a la ciudad y la abolición de las instituciones ancestrales.
18 For they, said he, trust in their weapons and boldness; but our confidence is in the Almighty who at a beck can cast down both them that come against us, and also all the world.18 «Ellos, les dijo, confían en sus armas y en su audacia; pero nosotros tenemos nuestra confianza puesta en Dios Todopoderoso, que puede abatir con un gesto a los que vienen contra nosotros y al mundo entero».
19 Moreover, he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers had found, and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand perished.19 Les enumeró los auxilios dispensados a sus antecesores, especialmente frente a Senaquerib, cuando perecieron 185.000,
20 And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians, and that the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed an hundred and twenty thousand because of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great booty.20 y el recibido en Babilonia, en la batalla contra los gálatas, cuando entraron en acción todos los 8.000 judíos junto a los 4.000 macedonios, y cuando los macedonios se hallaban en apuros, los 8.000 derrotaron a 120.000, gracias al auxilio que les llegó del cielo, y se hicieron con un gran botín.
21 Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die for the law and the country, he divided his army into four parts;21 Después de haberlos enardecido con estas palabras y de haberlos dispuesto a morir por las leyes y por la patria, dividió el ejército en cuatro cuerpos.
22 And joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to wit Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred men.22 Puso a sus hermanos, Simón, José y Jonatán, al frente de cada cuerpo, dejando a las órdenes de cada uno 1.500 hombres.
23 Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, The help of God; himself leading the first band,23 Además mandó a Esdrías que leyera el libro sagrado; luego, dando como consigna «Auxilio de Dios», él mismo al frente del primer cuerpo trabó combate con Nicanor.
24 And by the help of the Almighty they slew above nine thousand of their enemies, and wounded and maimed the most part of Nicanor's host, and so put all to flight;24 Al ponerse el Todopoderoso de su parte en la lucha, dieron muerte a más de 9.000 enemigos, hirieron y mutilaron a la mayor parte del ejército de Nicanor, y a todos los demás los pusieron en fuga.
25 And took their money that came to buy them, and pursued them far: but lacking time they returned:25 Se apoderaron del dinero de los que habían venido a comprarlos. Después de haberlos perseguido bastante tiempo, se volvieron, obligados por la hora,
26 For it was the day before the sabbath, and therefore they would no longer pursue them.26 pues era víspera del sábado, y por esta causa no continuaron en su persecución.
27 So when they had gathered their armour together, and spoiled their enemies, they occupied themselves about the sabbath, yielding exceeding praise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them unto that day, which was the beginning of mercy distilling upon them.27 Una vez que hubieron amontonado las armas y recogido los despojos de los enemigos, comenzaron la celebración del sábado, desbordándose en bendiciones y alabanzas al Señor que en aquel día les había salvado, estableciendo el comienzo de su misericordia.
28 And after the sabbath, when they had given part of the spoils to the maimed, and the widows, and orphans, the residue they divided among themselves and their servants.28 Al acabar el sábado, dieron una parte del botín a los que habían sufrido la persecución, así como a las viudas y huérfanos; ellos y sus hijos se repartieron el resto.
29 When this was done, and they had made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.29 Hecho esto, en rogativa pública rogaron al Señor misericordioso que se reconciliara del todo con sus siervos.
30 Moreover of those that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, they slew above twenty thousand, and very easily got high and strong holds, and divided among themselves many spoils more, and made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves.30 En su combate con las tropas de Timoteo y Báquides, mataron a éstos más de 20.000 hombres, se adueñaron por completo de altas fortalezas y dividieron el inmenso botín en partes iguales, una para ellos y otra para los que habían sufrido la persecución, los huérfanos y las viudas, así como para los ancianos.
31 And when they had gathered their armour together, they laid them up all carefully in convenient places, and the remnant of the spoils they brought to Jerusalem.31 Con todo cuidado reunieron las armas capturadas en lugares convenientes y llevaron a Jerusalén el resto de los despojos.
32 They slew also Philarches, that wicked person, who was with Timotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways.32 Mataron al filarca de la escolta de Timoteo, hombre muy impío que había causado mucho pesar a los judíos.
33 Furthermore at such time as they kept the feast for the victory in their country they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire upon the holy gates, who had fled into a little house; and so he received a reward meet for his wickedness.33 Mientras celebraban la victoria en su patria, quemaron a los que habían incendiado los portones sagrados, así como a Calístenes, que estaban refugiados en una misma casita, y que recibieron así la merecida paga de su impiedad.
34 As for that most ungracious Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to buy the Jews,34 Nicanor, tres veces criminal, que había traído a los mil comerciantes para la venta de los judíos,
35 He was through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom he made least account; and putting off his glorious apparel, and discharging his company, he came like a fugitive servant through the midland unto Antioch having very great dishonour, for that his host was destroyed.35 con el auxilio del Señor, quedó humillado por los mismos que él despreciaba como los más viles; despojándose de sus galas, como un fugitivo a campo través, buscando la soledad llegó hasta Antioquía con mucha suerte, después del desastre de su ejército.
36 Thus he, that took upon him to make good to the Romans their tribute by means of captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the Jews had God to fight for them, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws that he gave them.36 El que había pretendido saldar el tributo debido a los romanos con la venta de los prisioneros de Jerusalén, proclamaba que los judíos tenían a Alguien que les defendía, y que los judíos eran invulnerables por el hecho de que seguían las leyes prescritas por Aquél.