Primo libro dei Maccabei 2

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 In diebus illis surrexit Mattha thias filius Ioannis filii Simeonissacerdos ex filiis Ioarib ab Ierusalem et consedit in Modin.	1 About then, Mattathias son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the line of Joarib, left Jerusalem andsettled in Modein.
2 Et habebat filiosquinque: Ioannem, qui cognominabatur Gaddis,	2 He had five sons, John known as Gaddi,
3 et Simonem, qui vocabatur Thasi,	3 Simon cal ed Thassi,
4 et Iudam, qui vocabatur Maccabaeus,	4 Judas cal ed Maccabaeus,
5 et Eleazarum, qui vocabatur Abaran, etIonathan, qui vocabatur Apphus.	5 Eleazar, cal ed Avaran, and Jonathan cal ed Apphus.
6 Et vidit blasphemias, quae fiebant in Iuda et in Ierusalem,	6 When he saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,
7 et dixit: “Vae mihi! Ut quid natus sum videre contritionem populi mei et contritionemcivitatis sanctae? Et sederunt illic, cum daretur ea in manibus inimicorum,sanctificatio in manu extraneorum.	7 he said, 'Alas that I should have been born to witness the ruin of my people and the ruin of the HolyCity, and to sit by while she is delivered over to her enemies, and the sanctuary into the hand of foreigners.
8 Factum est templum eius sicut homoignobilis,	8 'Her Temple has become like someone of no repute,
9 vasa gloriae eius captiva abducta sunt, trucidati sunt parvuli eiusin plateis eius, iuvenes eius in gladio inimicorum.	9 the vessels that were her glory have been carried off as booty, her babies have been slaughtered inher streets, her young men by the enemy's sword.
10 Quae gens non hereditavitregnum eius et non obtinuit spolia eius?	10 Is there a nation that has not claimed a share of her royal prerogatives, that has not taken some of herspoils?
11 Omnis ornatus eius ablatus est; quaeerat libera, facta est ancilla.	11 Al her ornaments have been snatched from her, her former freedom has become slavery.
12 Et ecce sancta nostra et pulchritudo nostraet gloria nostra desolata est, et polluerunt ea gentes.	12 See how the Holy Place, our beauty, our glory, is now laid waste, see how the gentiles have profanedit!
13 Ut quid nobis adhucvita? ”.	13 What have we left to live for?'
14 Et scidit vestimenta sua Matthathias et filii eius et operueruntse ciliciis et planxerunt valde.	14 Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and observed deep mourning.
15 Et venerunt, qui ex rege compellebant discessionem, in civitatem Modin, utsacrificarent.	15 The king's commissioners who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein for thesacrifices.
16 Et multi de Israel accesserunt ad eos, et Matthathias et filiieius congregati sunt.	16 Many Israelites gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew apart.
17 Et responderunt, qui missi erant a rege, et dixeruntMatthathiae: “ Princeps et nobilis et magnus es in hac civitate et confirmatusfiliis et fratribus.	17 The king's commissioners then addressed Mattathias as fol ows, 'You are a respected leader, a greatman in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you.
18 Nunc accede primus et fac iussum regis, sicut feceruntomnes gentes et viri Iudae et qui remanserunt in Ierusalem, et eris tu et filiitui inter amicos regis et tu et filii tui glorificabimini et argento et auro etmuneribus multis ”.	18 Be the first to step forward and conform to the king's decree, as all the nations have done, and theleaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shal be reckoned among the Friends of theKing, you and your sons wil be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.'
19 Et respondit Matthathias et dixit magna voce: “ Etsiomnes gentes, quae in domo regni sunt, regi oboediunt, ut discedat unusquisqueab officio patrum suorum, et consentiunt mandatis eius,	19 Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, 'Even if every nation living in the king's dominions obeys him,each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees,
20 et ego et filii meiet fratres mei ibimus in testamento patrum nostrorum.	20 I, my sons and my brothers will stil fol ow the covenant of our ancestors.
21 Propitius sit nobisDominus, ne derelinquamus legem et iustificationes.	21 May Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances.
22 Non audiemus verba regis,ut praetereamus officium nostrum dextra vel sinistra ”.	22 As for the king's orders, we will not fol ow them: we shal not swerve from our own religion either toright or to left.'
23 Et, ut cessavitloqui verba haec, accessit quidam Iudaeus in omnium oculis sacrificare superaram in Modin secundum iussum regis.	23 As he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of al to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modeinas the royal edict required.
24 Et vidit Matthathias et zelatus est, etcontremuerunt renes eius; et attulit iram secundum iudicium et insilienstrucidavit eum super aram.	24 When Mattathias saw this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent to hislegitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on the altar.
25 Et virum regis, qui cogebat immolare, occidit inipso tempore et aram destruxit;	25 At the same time he killed the king's commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and toredown the altar.
26 et zelatus est legem, sicut fecit PhineesZambri filio Salom.	26 In his zeal for the Law he acted as Phinehas had against Zimri son of Salu.
27 Et exclamavit Matthathias voce magna in civitate dicens:“ Omnis, qui zelum habet legis statuens testamentum, exeat post me ”.	27 Then Mattathias went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, 'Let everyone who has anyzeal for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.'
28 Etfugit ipse et filii eius in montes, et reliquerunt quaecumque habebant incivitate.	28 Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving al their possessions behind in the town.
29 Tunc descenderunt multi quaerentes iustitiam et iudicium indesertum, ut sederent ibi,	29 Many people who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there,
30 ipsi et filii eorum et mulieres eorum et pecoraeorum, quoniam induraverant super eos mala.	30 taking with them their sons, their wives and their cattle, so oppressive had their sufferings become.
31 Et renuntiatum est viris regis et exercitui, qui erat in Ierusalem civitateDavid, quoniam descenderunt viri quidam, qui dissipaverant mandatum regis, inloca occulta in deserto.	31 Word was brought to the royal officials and forces stationed in Jerusalem, in the City of David, thatthose who had repudiated the king's edict had gone down to the hiding places in the desert.
32 Et cucurrerunt post illos multi, et deprehendenteseos applicaverunt contra eos et constituerunt adversus eos proelium in diesabbatorum	32 A strong detachment went after them, and when it came up with them ranged itself against them inbattle formation, preparing to attack them on the Sabbath day,
33 et dixerunt ad eos: “ Usque hoc nunc! Exite et facite secundumverbum regis et vivetis ”.	33 and said, 'Enough of this! Come out and do as the king orders and you will be spared.'
34 Et dixerunt: “ Non exibimus neque faciemusverbum regis, ut polluamus diem sabbatorum ”.	34 The others, however, replied, 'We refuse to come out, and we wil not obey the king's orders andprofane the Sabbath day.'
35 Et concitaverunt adversus eosproelium.	35 The royal forces at once went into action,
36 Et non responderunt eis nec lapidem miserunt in eos necoppilaverunt loca occulta	36 but the others offered no opposition; not a stone was thrown, there was no barricading of the hidingplaces.
37 dicentes: “ Moriamur omnes in simplicitatenostra, et testes erunt super nos caelum et terra quod iniuste perditis nos ”.	37 They only said, 'Let us all die innocent; let heaven and earth bear witness that you are massacring uswith no pretence of justice.'
38 Et insurrexerunt in eos in bello sabbatis; et mortui sunt ipsi et uxoreseorum et filii eorum et pecora eorum usque ad mille animas hominum.	38 The attack was pressed home on the Sabbath itself, and they were slaughtered, with their wives andchildren and cattle, to the number of one thousand persons.
39 Et cognovit Matthathias et amici eius et luctum habuerunt super eos valde;	39 When the news reached Mattathias and his friends, they mourned them bitterly
40 et dixit vir proximo suo: “ Si omnes fecerimus, sicut fratres nostri fecerunt,et non pugnaverimus adversus gentes pro animabus nostris et iustificationibusnostris, nunc citius disperdent nos a terra ”.	40 and said to one another, 'If we al do as our brothers have done, and refuse to fight the gentiles for ourlives and institutions, they wil only destroy us the sooner from the earth.'
41 Et cogitaverunt in die illadicentes: “ Omnis homo, quicumque venerit ad nos in bello die sabbatorum,pugnemus adversus eum et non moriemur omnes, sicut mortui sunt fratres nostri inoccultis ”.	41 So then and there they came to this decision, 'If anyone attacks us on the Sabbath day, whoever hemay be, we shall resist him; we must not al be kil ed, as our brothers were in the hiding places.'
42 Tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Asidaeorum fortis viribusex Israel, omnis voluntarius in lege;	42 Soon they were joined by the Hasidaean party, stout fighting men of Israel, each one a volunteer onthe side of the Law.
43 et omnes, qui fugiebant a malis, additisunt ad eos et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum.	43 Al the refugees from the persecution ral ied to them, giving them added support.
44 Et constituerunt exercitum etpercusserunt peccatores in ira sua et viros iniquos in indignatione sua; etceteri fugerunt ad nationes, ut se liberarent.	44 They organised themselves into an armed force, striking down the sinners in their anger, and therenegades in their fury, and those who escaped them fled to the gentiles for safety.
45 Et circuivit Matthathias etamici eius, et destruxerunt aras;	45 Mattathias and his friends made a tour, overthrowing the altars
46 et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos,quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israel, in fortitudine.	46 and forcibly circumcising al the boys they found uncircumcised in the territories of Israel.
47 Et persecuti suntfilios superbiae, et prosperatum est opus in manu eorum;	47 They hunted down the upstarts and managed their campaign to good effect.
48 et obtinuerunt legemde manu gentium et de manu regum et non dederunt cornu peccatori.	48 They wrested the Law out of the control of the gentiles and the kings and reduced the sinners toimpotence.
49 Et appropinquaverunt dies Matthathiae moriendi, et dixit filiis suis: “Nunc confirmata est superbia et castigatio et tempus eversionis et iraindignationis.	49 As the days of Mattathias were drawing to a close, he said to his sons, 'Arrogance and outrage arenow in the ascendant; it is a period of turmoil and bitter hatred.
50 Nunc, o filii, aemulatores estote legis; et date animasvestras pro testamento patrum vestrorum.	50 This is the time, my children, for you to have a burning zeal for the Law and to give your lives for thecovenant of our ancestors.
51 Et mementote operum patrum, quaefecerunt in generationibus suis, et accipietis gloriam magnam et nomen aeternum.	51 Remember the deeds performed by our ancestors, each in his generation, and you wil win greathonour and everlasting renown.
52 Abraham, nonne in tentatione inventus est fidelis, et reputatum est ei adiustitiam?	52 Was not Abraham tested and found faithful, was that not considered as justifying him?
53 Ioseph in tempore angustiae suae custodivit mandatum et factus estdominus Aegypti.	53 Joseph in the time of his distress maintained the Law, and so became lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees pater noster zelando zelum Dei accepit testamentumsacerdotii aeterni.	54 Phinehas, our father, in return for his burning zeal, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood.
55 Iosue, dum implet verbum, factus est iudex in Israel.	55 Joshua, for carrying out his task, became judge of Israel.
56 Chaleb, dum testificatur in ecclesia, accepit hereditatem.	56 Caleb, for his testimony before the assembled people, received an inheritance in the land.
57 David in suamisericordia consecutus est sedem regni in saecula.	57 David for his generous heart inherited the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58 Elias, dum zelat zelumlegis, receptus est in caelum.	58 Elijah for his consuming fervour for the Law was caught up to heaven itself.
59 Ananias et Azarias et Misael credentesliberati sunt de flamma.	59 Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their fidelity, were saved from the flame.
60 Daniel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de oreleonum.	60 Daniel for his singleness of heart was rescued from the lion's jaws.
61 Et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem, quia omnes, quisperant in eum, non infirmabuntur.	61 Know then that, generation after generation, no one who hopes in him will be overcome.
62 Et a verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis,quia gloria eius in stercora et in vermes;	62 Do not fear the threats of the sinner, al his brave show must come to the dunghill and the worms.
63 hodie extolletur et cras noninvenietur, quia conversus est in pulverem suam, et cogitatio eius peribit.	63 Exalted today, tomorrow he is nowhere to be found, for he has returned to the dust he came from andhis scheming is brought to nothing.
64 Filii, confortamini et viriliter agite in lege, quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis.	64 My children, be resolute and courageous for the Law, for it wil bring you glory.
65 Et ecce Simon frater vester, scio quod vir consilii est: ipsum audite semper;ipse erit vobis pater.	65 'Here is your brother Simeon, I know he is a man of sound judgement. Listen to him al your lives; lethim take your father's place.
66 Et Iudas Maccabaeus fortis viribus a iuventute suaerit vobis princeps militiae; et ipse pugnabit bellum populi.	66 Judas Maccabaeus, strong and brave from his youth, let him be your general and conduct the waragainst the gentiles.
67 Et adducetis advos omnes factores legis et vindicate vindictam populi vestri;	67 The rest of you are to enrol in your ranks al those who keep the Law, and to assure the vengeance ofyour people.
68 retribuiteretributionem gentibus et intendite in praeceptum legis ”.	68 Pay back the gentiles to the ful , and hold fast to the ordinance of the Law.'
69 Et benedixit eos et appositus est ad patres suos.	69 Then he blessed them and was joined to his ancestors.
70 Et defunctus est annocentesimo et quadragesimo sexto; et sepultus est in sepulcris patrum suorum inModin, et planxerunt eum omnis Israel planctu magno.	70 He died in the year 146 and was buried in his ancestral tomb at Modein, and al Israel mourned himdeeply.