Primo libro dei Maccabei 12

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Et vidit Ionathas quia tem pus eum adiuvat; et elegit vi ros et misitRomam statuere et renovare cum eis amicitiam;	1 When Jonathan saw that the times favored him, he sent selected men to Rome to confirm and renew his friendship with the Romans.
2 et ad Spartiatas et ad alia locamisit epistulas secundum eadem.	2 He also sent letters to Sparta and other places for the same purpose.
3 Et abierunt Romam et intraverunt curiam etdixerunt: “Ionathas summus sacerdos et gens Iudaeorum miserunt nos renovareamicitiam et societatem secundum pristinum”.	3 After reaching Rome, the men entered the senate chamber and said, "The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew the earlier friendship and alliance between you and them."
4 Et dederunt illis epistulas adipsos per loca, ut deducerent eos in terram Iudae cum pace.	4 The Romans gave them letters addressed to the authorities in the various places, requesting them to provide the envoys with safe conduct to the land of Judah.
5 Et hoc estexemplum epistularum, quas scripsit Ionathas Spartiatis:	5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 “ Ionathas summussacerdos et seniores gentis et sacerdotes et reliquus populus IudaeorumSpartiatis fratribus salutem.	6 "Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans.
7 Iampridem missae erant epistulae ad Oniam summumsacerdotem ab Ario, qui regnabat apud vos, quoniam estis fratres nostri, sicutrescriptum continet, quod subiectum est.	7 Long ago a letter was sent to the high priest Onias from Arius, who then reigned over you, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy shows.
8 Et suscepit Onias virum, qui missusfuerat, cum honore; et accepit epistulas, in quibus significabatur de societateet amicitia.	8 Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which clearly referred to alliance and friendship.
9 Nos igitur, cum nullo horum indigeremus, exhortationem habentessanctos libros, qui sunt in manibus nostris,	9 Though we have no need of these things, since we have for our encouragement the sacred books that are in our possession,
10 tentavimus mittere ad vosrenovare fraternitatem et amicitiam, ne forte alieni efficiamur a vobis; multaenim tempora transierunt, ex quo misistis ad nos.	10 we have ventured to send word to you for the renewal of brotherhood and friendship, so as not to become strangers to you altogether; a long time has passed since your mission to us.
11 Nos ergo in omni temporesine intermissione in diebus sollemnibus et ceteris, quibus oportet, memoressumus vestri in sacrificiis, quae offerimus, et in obsecrationibus, sicut fasest et decet meminisse fratrum.	11 We, on our part, have never ceased to remember you in the sacrifices and prayers that we offer on our feasts and other appropriate days, as it is right and proper to remember brothers.
12 Laetamur itaque de gloria vestra.	12 We likewise rejoice in your renown.
13 Nosautem circumdederunt multae tribulationes et multa proelia; et impugnaverunt nosreges, qui sunt in circuitu nostro.	13 But many hardships and wars have beset us, and the kings around us have attacked us.
14 Noluimus ergo vobis molesti esse etceteris sociis et amicis nostris in his proeliis;	14 We did not wish to be troublesome to you and to the rest of our allies and friends in these wars;
15 habemus enim de caeloauxilium, quod nos adiuvat, et liberati sumus nos ab inimicis nostris, ethumiliati sunt inimici nostri.	15 with the help of Heaven for our support, we have been saved from our enemies, and they have been humbled.
16 Elegimus itaque Numenium Antiochi filium etAntipatrem Iasonis filium et misimus ad Romanos renovare cum eis amicitiam etsocietatem pristinam;	16 So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.
17 mandavimus itaque eis, ut veniant etiam ad vos etsalutent vos et reddant vobis epistulas nostras de innovatione et fraternitatenostra.	17 We have also ordered them to come to you and greet you, and to deliver to you our letter about the renewal of our brotherhood.
18 Et nunc bene facietis respondentes nobis ad haec ”.	18 Therefore kindly send us an answer on this matter."
19 Et hoc est rescriptum epistularum, quas miserunt Oniae:	19 This is a copy of the letter that was sent to Onias:
20 “ Arius rexSpartiatarum Oniae sacerdoti magno salutem.	20 "Arius, king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest.
21 Inventum est in scriptura deSpartiatis et Iudaeis quoniam sunt fratres et quod sunt de genere Abraham.	21 A document has been found stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers; both nations descended from Abraham.
22 Etnunc, ex quo haec cognovimus, bene facietis scribentes nobis de pace vestra.	22 Now that we have learned this, kindly write to us about your welfare.
23 Sed et nos rescribimus vobis. Pecora vestra et possessiones vestrae nostraesunt; et, quae nostra, vestra sunt. Mandamus itaque, ut annuntient vobissecundum haec ”.	23 We, on our part, are informing you that your cattle and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours. We have, therefore, given orders that you should be told of this."
24 Et audivit Ionathas quoniam regressi sunt principes Demetrii cum exercitumulto supra quam prius pugnare adversus eum.	24 Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had returned to attack him with a stronger army than before.
25 Et exiit ab Ierusalem etoccurrit eis in Amathitem regionem; non enim dedit eis spatium, ut ingrederenturregionem eius.	25 He set out from Jerusalem and went into the country of Hamath to meet them, giving them no time to enter his province.
26 Et misit speculatores in castra eorum, et reversirenuntiaverunt ei quod ita constituunt supervenire illis nocte.	26 The spies he had sent into their camp came back and reported that the enemy had made ready to attack the Jews that very night.
27 Cumoccidisset autem sol, praecepit Ionathas suis vigilare et esse in armis paratosad pugnam tota nocte; et emisit custodes per circuitum castrorum.	27 Therefore, when the sun set, Jonathan ordered his men to be on guard and to remain armed, ready for combat, throughout the night. He also set outposts all around the camp.
28 Etaudierunt adversarii quod paratus est Ionathas cum suis in bellum, et timueruntet formidaverunt in corde suo et accenderunt focos in castris suis.	28 When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, their hearts sank with fear and dread. They lighted fires and then withdrew.
29 Ionathasautem et, qui cum eo erant, non cognoverunt usque mane; videbant enim luminariaardentia.	29 But because Jonathan and his men were watching the lights burning, they did not know what had happened until morning.
30 Et insecutus est eos Ionathas et non comprehendit eos; transierantenim flumen Eleutherum.	30 Then Jonathan pursued them, but he could not overtake them, for they had crossed the river Eleutherus.
31 Et divertit Ionathas ad Arabas, qui vocanturZabadaei, et percussit eos et accepit spolia eorum.	31 So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabadeans, overwhelming and plundering them.
32 Et iunxit et venitDamascum et perambulabat omnem regionem illam.	32 Then he marched on to Damascus and traversed that whole region.
33 Simon autem exiit et venitusque ad Ascalonem et ad proxima praesidia et declinavit in Ioppen et occupaviteam;	33 Simon also set out and went as far as Ashkalon and its neighboring strongholds. He then turned to Joppa and occupied it,
34 audivit enim quod vellent praesidium tradere partibus Demetrii, etposuit ibi custodes, ut custodirent eam.	34 for he heard that its men had intended to hand over this stronghold to the supporters of Demetrius. He left a garrison there to guard it.
35 Et reversus est Ionathas et convocavit seniores populi et cogitavit cum eisaedificare praesidia in Iudaea	35 When Jonathan returned, he assembled the elders of the people, and with them he made plans for building strongholds in Judea,
36 et altius extollere muros Ierusalem etexaltare altitudinem magnam inter medium arcis et civitatis, ut separaret eam acivitate, ut esset ipsa singulariter, ut neque emant neque vendant.	36 for making the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and for erecting a high barrier between the citadel and the city, that would isolate the citadel and so prevent its garrison from commerce with the city.
37 Etconvenerunt, ut aedificarent civitatem; et cecidit de muro, qui erat supertorrentem a subsolano, et reparavit eum, qui vocatur Chaphenatha.	37 The people therefore worked together on building up the city, for part of the east wall above the ravine had collapsed. The quarter called Chaphenatha was also repaired.
38 Et Simonaedificavit Adida in Sephela et munivit eam et imposuit portas et seras.	38 Simon likewise built up Adida in the Shephelah, and strengthened its fortifications by providing them with gates and bars.
39 Et quaesivit Tryphon regnare Asiae et imponere sibi diadema et extenderemanum in Antiochum regem.	39 Trypho was determined to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and do away with King Antiochus.
40 Et veritus est, ne forte non permitteret eumIonathas et ne forte pugnaret adversus eum, et quaerebat comprehendere eum etoccidere et exsurgens abiit in Bethsan.	40 But he was afraid that Jonathan would not permit him, but would fight against him. Looking for a way to seize and kill him, he set out and reached Beth-shan.
41 Et exivit Ionathas obviam illi cumquadraginta milibus virorum electorum in proelium et venit Bethsan.	41 Jonathan marched out against him with forty thousand picked fighting men and came to Beth-shan.
42 Et viditTryphon quia venit cum exercitu multo et extendere in eum manus timuit	42 But when Trypho saw that Jonathan had arrived with a large army he was afraid to offer him violence.
43 etexcepit eum cum honore et commendavit eum omnibus amicis suis et dedit ei muneraet praecepit exercitibus suis, ut oboedirent ei sicut sibi.	43 Instead, he received him with honor, introduced him to all his friends, and gave him presents. He also ordered his friends and soldiers to obey him as they would himself.
44 Et dixitIonathae: “ Ut quid vexasti universum populum, cum bellum nobis non sit?	44 Then he said to Jonathan: "Why have you put all your soldiers to so much trouble when we are not at war?
45 Etnunc remitte eos in domos suas. Elige autem tibi viros paucos, qui tecum sint,et veni mecum Ptolemaidam, et tradam eam tibi et reliqua praesidia et reliquumexercitum et universos praepositos negotiis et conversus abibo; propterea enimveni ”.	45 Pick out a few men to stay with you, send the rest back home, and then come with me to Ptolemais. I will hand it over to you together with other strongholds and their garrisons, as well as the officials, then I will leave and go home. That is why I came here."
46 Et credidit ei et fecit, sicut dixit, et dimisit exercitum, etabierunt in terram Iudae.	46 Jonathan believed him and did as he said. He dismissed his troops, and they returned to the land of Judah.
47 Retinuit autem secum tria milia virorum, ex quibusremisit in Galilaeam duo milia; mille autem venerunt cum eo.	47 But he kept with him three thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand to Galilee while one thousand accompanied him.
48 Ut autemintravit Ptolemaidam Ionathas, clauserunt portas Ptolemenses et comprehenderunteum; et omnes, qui cum eo intraverant, gladio interfecerunt.	48 Then as soon as Jonathan had entered Ptolemais, the men of the city closed the gates and seized him; all who had entered with him, they killed with the sword.
49 Et misit Tryphonexercitum et equites in Galilaeam et in campum magnum, ut perderent omnes sociosIonathae.	49 Trypho sent soldiers and cavalry to Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's men.
50 At illi, cum cognovissent quia comprehensus est Ionathas et periit,et omnes, qui cum eo erant, hortati sunt semetipsos et ibant conglobati paratiin proelium.	50 These, upon learning that Jonathan had been captured and his companions killed, encouraged one another and went out in compact body ready to fight.
51 Et videntes hi, qui insecuti fuerant, quia pro anima res estillis, reversi sunt;	51 As their pursuers saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back.
52 illi autem venerunt omnes cum pace in terram Iudae etplanxerunt Ionathan et eos, qui cum ipso fuerant, et timuerunt valde; et luxitIsrael luctu magno.	52 Thus all these men of Jonathan came safely into the land of Judah. They mourned over Jonathan and his men, and were in great fear, and all Israel fell into deep mourning.
53 Et quaesierunt omnes gentes, quae erant in circuitueorum, conterere eos; dixerunt enim:	53 All the nations round about sought to destroy them. They said, "Now that they have no leader to help them, let us make war on them and wipe out their memory from among men."
54 “Non habent principem et adiuvantem;nunc ergo expugnemus illos et tollamus de hominibus memoriam eorum ”.