Primo libro dei Maccabei 12

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
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 circumstances were working in his favour, he sent a select mission to Rometo confirm and renew his treaty of friendship with the Romans.
2 et ad Spartiatas et ad alia locamisit epistulas secundum eadem.	2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.
3 Et abierunt Romam et intraverunt curiam etdixerunt: “Ionathas summus sacerdos et gens Iudaeorum miserunt nos renovareamicitiam et societatem secundum pristinum”.	3 The envoys made their way to Rome, entered the Senate and said, 'Jonathan the high priest and theJewish nation have sent us to renew your treaty of friendship and al iance with them as before.'
4 Et dederunt illis epistulas adipsos per loca, ut deducerent eos in terram Iudae cum pace.	4 The Senate gave them letters to the authorities of each place, to procure their safe conduct toJudaea.
5 Et hoc estexemplum epistularum, quas scripsit Ionathas Spartiatis:	5 The fol owing is the copy of the letter 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 to theSpartans their brothers, greetings.
7 Iampridem missae erant epistulae ad Oniam summumsacerdotem ab Ario, qui regnabat apud vos, quoniam estis fratres nostri, sicutrescriptum continet, quod subiectum est.	7 'In the past, a letter was sent to Onias, the high priest, from Areios, one of your kings, stating that youare indeed our brothers, as the copy subjoined attests.
8 Et suscepit Onias virum, qui missusfuerat, cum honore; et accepit epistulas, in quibus significabatur de societateet amicitia.	8 Onias received the envoy with honour, and accepted the letter, in which a clear declaration was made of friendship and al iance.
9 Nos igitur, cum nullo horum indigeremus, exhortationem habentessanctos libros, qui sunt in manibus nostris,	9 For our part, though we have no need of these, having the consolation of the holy books in ourpossession,
10 tentavimus mittere ad vosrenovare fraternitatem et amicitiam, ne forte alieni efficiamur a vobis; multaenim tempora transierunt, ex quo misistis ad nos.	10 we venture to send to renew our fraternal friendship with you, so that we may not become strangersto you, a long time having elapsed since you last wrote 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, for our part, on every occasion, at our festivals and on other appointed days, unfailinglyremember you in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and fitting to remember brothers.
12 Laetamur itaque de gloria vestra.	12 We rejoice in your renown.
13 Nosautem circumdederunt multae tribulationes et multa proelia; et impugnaverunt nosreges, qui sunt in circuitu nostro.	13 'We ourselves, however, have had many trials and many wars, the neighbouring kings making waron us.
14 Noluimus ergo vobis molesti esse etceteris sociis et amicis nostris in his proeliis;	14 We were unwil ing to trouble you or our other al ies and friends during these wars,
15 habemus enim de caeloauxilium, quod nos adiuvat, et liberati sumus nos ab inimicis nostris, ethumiliati sunt inimici nostri.	15 since we have the support of Heaven to help us, thanks to which we have been delivered from ourenemies, and they are the ones who have been brought low.
16 Elegimus itaque Numenium Antiochi filium etAntipatrem Iasonis filium et misimus ad Romanos renovare cum eis amicitiam etsocietatem pristinam;	16 We have therefore chosen Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, and sent themto the Romans to renew our former treaty of friendship and alliance,
17 mandavimus itaque eis, ut veniant etiam ad vos etsalutent vos et reddant vobis epistulas nostras de innovatione et fraternitatenostra.	17 and we have ordered them also to visit you, to greet you and deliver you this letter of oursconcerning the renewal of our brotherhood;
18 Et nunc bene facietis respondentes nobis ad haec ”.	18 we shal be grateful for an answer to it.'
19 Et hoc est rescriptum epistularum, quas miserunt Oniae:	19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias:
20 “ Arius rexSpartiatarum Oniae sacerdoti magno salutem.	20 'Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings.
21 Inventum est in scriptura deSpartiatis et Iudaeis quoniam sunt fratres et quod sunt de genere Abraham.	21 'It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and ofthe race of Abraham.
22 Etnunc, ex quo haec cognovimus, bene facietis scribentes nobis de pace vestra.	22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you wil send us news of yourwelfare.
23 Sed et nos rescribimus vobis. Pecora vestra et possessiones vestrae nostraesunt; et, quae nostra, vestra sunt. Mandamus itaque, ut annuntient vobissecundum haec ”.	23 Our own message to you is this: your flocks and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours, andwe are instructing our envoys to give you a message to this effect.'
24 Et audivit Ionathas quoniam regressi sunt principes Demetrii cum exercitumulto supra quam prius pugnare adversus eum.	24 Jonathan learned that Demetrius' generals had returned with a larger army than before to make waron him.
25 Et exiit ab Ierusalem etoccurrit eis in Amathitem regionem; non enim dedit eis spatium, ut ingrederenturregionem eius.	25 He therefore left Jerusalem and went to engage them in the area of Hamath, not giving them thetime to invade his own territory.
26 Et misit speculatores in castra eorum, et reversirenuntiaverunt ei quod ita constituunt supervenire illis nocte.	26 He sent spies into their camp, who told him on their return that the enemy were taking up positionsfor a night attack on the Jews.
27 Cumoccidisset autem sol, praecepit Ionathas suis vigilare et esse in armis paratosad pugnam tota nocte; et emisit custodes per circuitum castrorum.	27 At sunset, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch with their weapons at hand, in readiness to fightat any time during the night, and posted advance guards al round 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 On learning that Jonathan and his men were ready to fight, the enemy took fright and, with quakinghearts, lit fires in their bivouac and decamped.
29 Ionathasautem et, qui cum eo erant, non cognoverunt usque mane; videbant enim luminariaardentia.	29 Jonathan and his men, watching the glow of the fires, were unaware of their withdrawal untilmorning,
30 Et insecutus est eos Ionathas et non comprehendit eos; transierantenim flumen Eleutherum.	30 and although Jonathan pursued them, he failed to overtake them, for they had already crossed theriver Eleutherus.
31 Et divertit Ionathas ad Arabas, qui vocanturZabadaei, et percussit eos et accepit spolia eorum.	31 So Jonathan wheeled round on the Arabs cal ed Zabadaeans, beat them and plundered them;
32 Et iunxit et venitDamascum et perambulabat omnem regionem illam.	32 then, breaking camp, he went to Damascus, thus crossing the whole province.
33 Simon autem exiit et venitusque ad Ascalonem et ad proxima praesidia et declinavit in Ioppen et occupaviteam;	33 Simon, meanwhile, had also set out and had penetrated as far as Ascalon and the neighbouringtowns. He then turned on Joppa and moved quickly to occupy it,
34 audivit enim quod vellent praesidium tradere partibus Demetrii, etposuit ibi custodes, ut custodirent eam.	34 for he had heard of their intention to hand over this strong point to the supporters of Demetrius; hestationed a garrison there to hold it.
35 Et reversus est Ionathas et convocavit seniores populi et cogitavit cum eisaedificare praesidia in Iudaea	35 Jonathan, on his return, cal ed a meeting of the elders of the people and decided with them to buildfortresses in Judaea
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 and to heighten the walls of Jerusalem and erect a high barrier between the Citadel and the city, tocut the former off from the city and isolate it, to prevent the occupants from buying or sel ing.
37 Etconvenerunt, ut aedificarent civitatem; et cecidit de muro, qui erat supertorrentem a subsolano, et reparavit eum, qui vocatur Chaphenatha.	37 Rebuilding the city was a co-operative effort: part of the wall over the eastern ravine had fal en down;he restored the quarter called Chaphenatha.
38 Et Simonaedificavit Adida in Sephela et munivit eam et imposuit portas et seras.	38 Simon, meanwhile, rebuilt Adida in the lowlands, fortifying it, and erecting gates with bolts.
39 Et quaesivit Tryphon regnare Asiae et imponere sibi diadema et extenderemanum in Antiochum regem.	39 Trypho's ambition was to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and overpower 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 He was apprehensive that Jonathan might not al ow him to do this, and might even make war onhim, so he set out and came to Beth-Shean, in the hopes of finding some pretext for having him arrested and putto death.
41 Et exivit Ionathas obviam illi cumquadraginta milibus virorum electorum in proelium et venit Bethsan.	41 Jonathan went out to intercept him, with forty thousand picked men in battle order, and arrived atBeth-Shean.
42 Et viditTryphon quia venit cum exercitu multo et extendere in eum manus timuit	42 When Trypho saw him there with a large force, he hesitated to make any move against him.
43 etexcepit eum cum honore et commendavit eum omnibus amicis suis et dedit ei muneraet praecepit exercitibus suis, ut oboedirent ei sicut sibi.	43 He even received him with honour, commended him to al his friends, gave him presents andordered his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself.
44 Et dixitIonathae: “ Ut quid vexasti universum populum, cum bellum nobis non sit?	44 He said to Jonathan, 'Why have you given all these people so much trouble, when there is no threatof war between us?
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 Send them back home; pick yourself a few men as your bodyguard, and come with me to Ptolemais,which I am going to hand over to you, with the other fortresses and the remaining troops and al the officials;after which, I shal take the road for home. This was my purpose in coming here.'
46 Et credidit ei et fecit, sicut dixit, et dimisit exercitum, etabierunt in terram Iudae.	46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he dismissed his forces, who went back to Judaea.
47 Retinuit autem secum tria milia virorum, ex quibusremisit in Galilaeam duo milia; mille autem venerunt cum eo.	47 With him he retained three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousandaccompanied him.
48 Ut autemintravit Ptolemaidam Ionathas, clauserunt portas Ptolemenses et comprehenderunteum; et omnes, qui cum eo intraverant, gladio interfecerunt.	48 But as soon as Jonathan had entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates, seizedhim, and put al those who had entered with him to the sword.
49 Et misit Tryphonexercitum et equites in Galilaeam et in campum magnum, ut perderent omnes sociosIonathae.	49 Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's supporters.
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, concluding that he had been taken and had perished with his companions, encouraged oneanother, marching with closed ranks and ready to give battle,
51 Et videntes hi, qui insecuti fuerant, quia pro anima res estillis, reversi sunt;	51 and when their pursuers saw that they would 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 Al reached Judaea safe and sound, and there they lamented Jonathan and his companions, beingvery frightened indeed; al Israel was plunged into mourning.
53 Et quaesierunt omnes gentes, quae erant in circuitueorum, conterere eos; dixerunt enim:	53 The surrounding nations were al now looking for ways of destroying them: 'They have no leader,'they said, 'no ally; we have only to attack them now, and we shall blot out their very memory from all peoples.'
54 “Non habent principem et adiuvantem;nunc ergo expugnemus illos et tollamus de hominibus memoriam eorum ”.