Primo libro dei Maccabei 1

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Et factum est, postquam per cussit Alexander Philippi Mace do, qui priusregnavit in Graecia, egressus de terra Cetthim, Darium regem Persarum etMedorum,	1 Alexander of Macedon son of Philip had come from the land of Kittim and defeated Darius king of thePersians and Medes, whom he succeeded as ruler, at first of Hel as.
2 constituit proelia multa et obtinuit munitiones et interfecit regesterrae;	2 He undertook many campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses, and put the local kings todeath.
3 et pertransiit usque ad fines terrae et accepit spolia multitudinisgentium, et siluit terra in conspectu eius, et exaltatum est et elevatum est coreius.	3 So he advanced to the ends of the earth, plundering nation after nation; the earth grew silent beforehim, and his ambitious heart swel ed with pride.
4 Et congregavit virtutem fortem nimis et obtinuit regiones gentium ettyrannos, et facti sunt illi in tributum.	4 He assembled very powerful forces and subdued provinces, nations and princes, and they became histributaries.
5 Et post haec decidit in lectum etcognovit quia moreretur;	5 But the time came when Alexander took to his bed, in the knowledge that he was dying.
6 et vocavit pueros suos nobiles, qui secum erantnutriti a iuventute, et divisit illis regnum suum, cum adhuc viveret.	6 He summoned his officers, noblemen who had been brought up with him from his youth, and dividedhis kingdom among them while he was stil alive.
7 Etregnavit Alexander annis duodecim et mortuus est.	7 Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died.
8 Et obtinuerunt pueri eiusregnum, unusquisque in loco suo;	8 Each of his officers established himself in his own region.
9 et imposuerunt omnes sibi diademata postmortem eius, et filii eorum post eos annis multis. Et multiplicata sunt mala interra.	9 Al assumed crowns after his death, they and their heirs after them for many years, bringing increasingevils on the world.
10 Et exiit ex eis radix peccatrix, Antiochus Epiphanes filius Antiochi regis,qui fuerat Romae obses, et regnavit in anno centesimo tricesimo septimo regniGraecorum.	10 From these there grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once ahostage in Rome, he became king in the 107th year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 In diebus illis exierunt ex Israel filii iniqui et suaseruntmultis dicentes: “ Eamus et disponamus testamentum cum gentibus, quae circanos sunt, quia, ex quo recessimus ab eis, invenerunt nos multa mala ”.	11 It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. 'Come,'they said, 'let us al y ourselves with the gentiles surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from themmany misfortunes have overtaken us.'
12 Etbonus visus est sermo in oculis eorum;	12 This proposal proved acceptable,
13 et destinaverunt aliqui de populo etabierunt ad regem, et dedit illis potestatem, ut facerent iustitias gentium.	13 and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise thegentiles' observances.
14 Et aedificaverunt gymnasium in Hierosolymis secundum leges nationum;	14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the gentiles have,
15 etfecerunt sibi praeputia et recesserunt a testamento sancto et iuncti suntnationibus et venumdati sunt, ut facerent malum.	15 disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to gentile rule as willingslaves of impiety.
16 Et paratum est regnum in conspectu Antiochi, et coepit regnare in terraAegypti, ut regnaret super duo regna.	16 Once Antiochus had seen his authority established, he determined to make himself king of Egypt andthe ruler of both kingdoms.
17 Et intravit in Aegyptum in multitudinegravi, in curribus et elephantis et equitibus et navium multitudine;	17 He invaded Egypt in massive strength, with chariots and elephants (and cavalry) and a large fleet.
18 etconstituit bellum adversus Ptolemaeum regem Aegypti, et veritus est Ptolemaeus afacie eius et fugit, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi.	18 He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned back and fled before his advance,leaving many casualties.
19 Et comprehenderuntcivitates munitas in terra Aegypti, et accepit spolia terrae Aegypti.	19 The fortified cities of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the country.
20 Etreversus est Antiochus, postquam percussit Aegyptum in centesimo et quadragesimotertio anno, et ascendit ad Israel et ad Hierosolyma in multitudine gravi	20 After his conquest of Egypt, in the year 143, Antiochus turned about and advanced on Israel andJerusalem in massive strength.
21 etintravit in sanctificationem cum superbia et accepit altare aureum etcandelabrum luminis et universa vasa eius	21 Insolently breaking into the sanctuary, he removed the golden altar and the lamp-stand for the lightwith all its fittings,
22 et mensam propositionis etlibatoria et phialas et pateras aureas et velum et coronas et ornamentum aureum,quod in facie templi erat; et comminuit omnia.	22 together with the table for the loaves of permanent offering, the libation vessels, the cups, the goldencensers, the veil, the crowns, and the golden decoration on the front of the Temple, which he stripped ofeverything.
23 Et accepit argentum et aurumet vasa concupiscibilia et accepit thesauros occultos, quos invenit;	23 He made off with the silver and gold and precious vessels; he discovered the secret treasures andseized them
24 et,sublatis omnibus, abiit in terram suam et fecit caedem hominum et locutus estsuperbia magna.	24 and, removing all these, he went back to his own country, having shed much blood and uttered wordsof extreme arrogance.
25 Et factus est planctus magnus in Israel et in omni loco eorum;	25 There was deep mourning for Israel throughout the country:
26 etingemuerunt principes et seniores, virgines et iuvenes infirmati sunt, etspeciositas mulierum immutata est,	26 Rulers and elders groaned; girls and young men wasted away; the women's beauty suffered achange;
27 omnis maritus sumpsit lamentum, et, quaesedebat in toro maritali, lugebat;	27 every bridegroom took up a dirge, the bride sat grief-stricken on her marriage-bed.
28 et commota est terra super habitantes inea, et universa domus Iacob induit confusionem.	28 The earth quaked because of its inhabitants and the whole House of Jacob was clothed with shame.
29 Et post duos annos dierum misit rex principem tributorum in civitates Iudaeet venit Ierusalem cum turba magna;	29 Two years later the king sent the Mysarch through the cities of Judah. He came to Jerusalem with animpressive force,
30 et locutus est ad eos verba pacifica indolo, et crediderunt ei. Et irruit super civitatem repente et percussit eamplaga magna et perdidit populum multum ex Israel.	30 and addressing them with what appeared to be peaceful words, he gained their confidence; thensuddenly he fell on the city, dealing it a terrible blow, and destroying many of the people of Israel.
31 Et accepit spolia civitatiset succendit eam igne et destruxit domos eius et muros eius in circuitu;	31 He pil aged the city and set it on fire, tore down its houses and encircling wal ,
32 etcaptivas duxerunt mulieres et natos et pecora possederunt.	32 took the women and children captive and commandeered the cattle.
33 Et aedificaveruntcivitatem David muro magno et firmo et turribus firmis; et facta est illis inarcem.	33 They then rebuilt the City of David with a great strong wal and strong towers and made this theirCitadel.
34 Et posuerunt illic gentem peccatricem, viros iniquos, et convalueruntin ea;	34 There they installed a brood of sinners, of renegades, who fortified themselves inside it,
35 et posuerunt arma et escas et, congregatis spoliis Ierusalem,reposuerunt illic; et facti sunt in laqueum magnum.	35 storing arms and provisions, and depositing there the loot they had collected from Jerusalem; theywere to prove a great trouble.
36 Et factum est hoc adinsidias sanctificationi et in diabolum malum in Israel semper;	36 It became an ambush for the sanctuary, an evil adversary for Israel at all times.
37 et effuderuntsanguinem innocentem per circuitum sanctificationis et contaminaveruntsanctificationem.	37 They shed innocent blood al round the sanctuary and defiled the sanctuary itself.
38 Et fugerunt habitatores Ierusalem propter eos, et facta esthabitatio exterorum, et facta est extera semini suo; et nati eius reliquerunteam.	38 The citizens of Jerusalem fled because of them, she became a dwelling-place of strangers; estrangedfrom her own offspring, her children forsook her.
39 Sanctificatio eius desolata est sicut solitudo, dies festi eius conversisunt in luctum, sabbata eius in opprobrium, honor eius in nihilum.	39 Her sanctuary became as forsaken as a desert, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbathsinto a mockery, her honour into reproach.
40 Secundumgloriam eius multiplicata est ignominia eius, et sublimitas eius conversa est inluctum.	40 Her dishonour now ful y matched her former glory, her greatness was turned into grief.
41 Et scripsit rex Antiochus omni regno suo, ut essent universi populus unus,	41 The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that al were to become a single people,each nation renouncing its particular customs.
42 et relinqueret unusquisque legem suam. Et receperunt omnes gentes secundumverbum regis Antiochi;	42 Al the gentiles conformed to the king's decree,
43 et multi ex Israel consenserunt cultui eius etsacrificaverunt idolis et coinquinaverunt sabbatum.	43 and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.
44 Et misit rex libros permanus nuntiorum in Ierusalem et in civitates Iudae, ut sequerentur leges gentiumterrae,	44 The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adoptcustoms foreign to the country,
45 et prohibere holocausta et sacrificia et placationes fieri in temploDei et contaminare sabbata et dies sollemnes	45 banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts,
46 et polluere sancta et sanctos,	46 defiling the sanctuary and everything holy,
47 instruere aras et templa et idola et immolare porcina et pecora communia	47 building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts,
48 et relinquere filios suos incircumcisos et polluere animas eorum in omni immundoet abominatione,	48 leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to al kinds of impurity and abomination,
49 ita ut obliviscerentur legem et immutarent omnesiustificationes;	49 so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it.
50 et, quicumque non fecerit secundum verbum regis Antiochi,morietur.	50 Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death.
51 Secundum omnia verba haec scripsit omni regno suo et praeposuitconsideratores super omnem populum et mandavit civitatibus Iudae immolare percivitatem et civitatem.	51 Writing in such terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the whole peopleand directed al the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city by city.
52 Et congregati sunt multi de populo ad eos, omnes, quidereliquerant legem Domini, et fecerunt mala in terra;	52 Many of the people -- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed evil inthe country,
53 et posuerunt Israel inabditis et in absconditis fugitivorum locis.	53 forcing Israel into hiding in any possible place of refuge.
54 Die quinta decima mensis Casleu, quinto et quadragesimo et centesimo anno,aedificavit abominationem desolationis super altare; et per civitates Iudae incircuitu aedificaverunt aras	54 On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of thealtar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah
55 et ante ianuas domorum et in plateissacrificabant.	55 and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 Et libros legis, quos invenerunt, combusserunt igne scindenteseos;	56 Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned.
57 et ubicumque inveniebatur apud aliquem liber testamenti, et si quisconsentiebat legi, constitutio regis interficiebat eum.	57 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, theking's decree sentenced him to death.
58 In virtute suafaciebant haec Israeli, omnibus, qui inveniebantur in omni mense et mense incivitatibus.	58 Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel.
59 Et quinta et vicesima die mensis sacrificabant super aram, quaeerat super altare;	59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar ofburnt offering.
60 et mulieres, quae circumciderant filios suos,interficiebant secundum iussum	60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict
61 — et suspendebant infantes a cervicibuseorum — et domos eorum et eos, qui circumciderant illos.	61 with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who hadperformed the circumcision were executed with them.
62 Et multi in Israelobtinuerunt et confortati sunt apud se, ut non manducarent immunda,	62 Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food.
63 etelegerunt mori, ut non polluerentur escis et non profanarent testamentumsanctum, et moriebantur.	63 They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, andthey were executed.
64 Et facta est ira magna super Israel valde.	64 It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.