Secondo libro dei Maccabei 11

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Sed parvo prorsus post tem pore, Lysias procurator regis et propinquusac negotiorum praepositus graviter ferens de his, quae acciderant,	1 Very soon afterward, Lysias, guardian and kinsman of the king and head of the government, being greatly displeased at what had happened,
2 congregatisoctoginta milibus et equitatu universo, veniebat adversus Iudaeos existimans secivitatem quidem Graecis habitaculum facturum;	2 mustered about eighty thousand infantry and all his cavalry and marched against the Jews. His plan was to make Jerusalem a Greek settlement;
3 templum vero in pecuniaequaestum sicut cetera delubra gentium habiturum, et per singulos annos venalesacerdotium facturum,	3 to levy tribute on the temple, as he did on the sanctuaries of the other nations; and to put the high priesthood up for sale every year.
4 nequaquam recogitans Dei potestatem, sed elatusmultitudine peditum et milibus equitum et octoginta elephantis.	4 He did not take God's power into account at all, but felt exultant confidence in his myriads of foot soldiers, his thousands of horsemen, and his eighty elephants.
5 Ingressusautem Iudaeam et appropians Bethsuris, munito quidem praesidio, distanti autemab Hierosolymis intervallo quinque stadiorum, illud obsidione premebat.	5 So he invaded Judea, and when he reached Beth-zur, a fortified place about twenty miles from Jerusalem, launched a strong attack against it.
6 Utautem, qui cum Maccabaeo erant, cognoverunt eum expugnare praesidia, cumfletibus et lacrimis rogabant Dominum, et omnis turba simul, ut bonum angelummitteret ad salutem Israel.	6 When Maccabeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people begged the Lord with lamentations and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.
7 Et ipse primus Maccabaeus, sumptis armis, ceterosadhortatus est simul secum periculum subire et ferre auxilium fratribus suis;simul autem et prompto animo impetum fecerunt.	7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he exhorted the others to join him in risking their lives to help their kinsmen. Then they resolutely set out together.
8 Ilico vero, cum propeHierosolymam essent, apparuit praecedens eos eques in veste candida armaturamauream vibrans.	8 Suddenly, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white garments and brandishing gold weapons.
9 Tunc omnes simul benedixerunt misericordem Deum etconvaluerunt animis non solum homines, sed et bestias ferocissimas et murosferreos parati penetrare.	9 Then all of them together thanked God for his mercy, and their hearts were filled with such courage that they were ready to assault not only men, but the most savage beasts, yes, even walls of iron.
10 Praeibant in apparatu de caelo habentes adiutorem,miserante super eos Domino.	10 Now that the Lord had shown his mercy toward them, they advanced in battle order with the aid of their heavenly ally.
11 Leonum autem more impetu irruentes in hostes,prostraverunt ex eis undecim milia peditum et equitum mille sescentos, universosautem in fugam verterunt.	11 Hurling themselves upon the enemy like lions, they laid low eleven thousand foot soldiers and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the rest to flight.
12 Plures autem ex eis vulnerati, nudi evaserunt; sedet ipse Lysias turpiter fugiens evasit.	12 Most of those who got away were wounded and stripped of their arms, while Lysias himself escaped only by shameful flight.
13 Et, quia non insensatus erat, secum ipse reputans factam erga se deminutionemet intellegens invictos esse Hebraeos, potente Deo auxiliante, misit ad eos	13 But Lysias was not a stupid man. He reflected on the defeat he had suffered, and came to realize that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God was their ally. He therefore sent a message
14 suasitque eis se consensurum omnibus, quae iusta sunt, et regem quoquepersuasurum, ut necessarium crederet se amicum eis esse.	14 persuading them to settle everything on just terms, and promising to persuade the king also, and to induce him to become their friend.
15 Annuit autemMaccabaeus in omnibus, quae Lysias rogabat, utilitati consulens; quaecumque enimMaccabaeus scriptis tradidit Lysiae de Iudaeis, rex concessit.	15 Maccabeus, solicitous for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed; and the king, on his part, granted in behalf of the Jews all the written requests of Maccabeus to Lysias.
16 Nam erant scriptae Iudaeis epistulae a Lysia quidem hunc modum continentes:“ Lysias populo Iudaeorum salutem.	16 These are the terms of the letter which Lysias wrote to the Jews: "Lysias sends greetings to the Jewish people.
17 Ioannes et Abessalom, qui missi fueranta vobis tradentes responsum rescriptum, postulabant circum ea, quae per illudsignificabantur.	17 John and Absalom, your envoys, have presented your signed communication and asked about the matters contained in it.
18 Quaecumque igitur oportebat etiam regi perferri, exposui;et, quae res permittebat, concessit.	18 Whatever had to be referred to the king I called to his attention, and the things that were acceptable he has granted.
19 Si igitur in negotiis benevolentiamconservaveritis, et deinceps bonorum vobis causa esse tentabo.	19 If you maintain your loyalty to the government, I will endeavor to further your interests in the future.
20 De ceterisautem per singula mandavi et istis et his, qui a me missi sunt, colloquivobiscum.	20 On the details of these matters I have authorized my representatives, as well as your envoys, to confer with you.
21 Bene valete. Anno centesimo quadragesimo octavo, mensis IovisCorinthii die vicesima et quarta ”.	21 Farewell." The year one hundred and forty-eight, the twenty-fourth of Dioscorinthius.
22 Regis autem epistula ista continebat: “ Rex Antiochus Lysiae fratrisalutem.	22 The king's letter read thus: "King Antiochus sends greetings to his brother Lysias.
23 Patre nostro inter deos translato, nos volentes eos, qui sunt inregno nostro, sine tumultu attendere ad rerum suarum curam,	23 Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, we wish the subjects of our kingdom to be undisturbed in conducting their own affairs.
24 audientes Iudaeosnon consensisse patri, ut transferrentur ad Graecas institutiones, sed suoipsorum instituto adhaerentes postulare sibi concedi legitima sua;	24 We understand that the Jews do not agree with our father's policy concerning Greek customs but prefer their own way of life. They are petitioning us to let them retain their own customs.
25 cupientesigitur hanc quoque gentem extra tumultum esse, iudicamus templum illis restituiremque agi secundum suorum maiorum consuetudinem.	25 Since we desire that this people too should be undisturbed, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live in keeping with the customs of their ancestors.
26 Bene igitur feceris, simiseris ad eos et dexteram dederis ut, cognita nostra voluntate, bono animo sintet libenter propriarum rerum instaurationi deserviant ”.	26 Accordingly, please send them messengers to give them our assurances of friendship, so that, when they learn of our decision, they may have nothing to worry about but may contentedly go about their own business."
27 Ad gentem vero regis epistula talis erat: “ Rex Antiochus senatui Iudaeorumet ceteris Iudaeis salutem.	27 The king's letter to the people was as follows: "King Antiochus sends greetings to the Jewish senate and to the rest of the Jews.
28 Si valetis, sic est, ut volumus; sed et ipsi benevalemus.	28 If you are well, it is what we desire. We too are in good health.
29 Manifestavit nobis Menelaus velle vos redire et in negotiis propriisversari.	29 Menelaus has told us of your wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.
30 His igitur, qui commeant usque ad diem tricesimum mensis Xanthici,erit dextera cum securitate,	30 Therefore, those who return by the thirtieth of Xanthicus will have our assurance of full permission
31 ut Iudaei utantur cibis et legibus suis sicut etprius, et nemo eorum ullo modo molestiam patietur de his, quae per ignorantiamgesta sunt.	31 to observe their dietary laws and other laws, just as before, and none of the Jews shall be molested in any way for faults committed through ignorance.
32 Misimus autem et Menelaum, qui vos alloquatur.	32 I have also sent Menelaus to reassure you.
33 Valete. Annocentesimo quadragesimo octavo, Xanthici mensis quinta decima die ”.	33 Farewell." In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.
34 Miserunt autem etiam Romani epistulam ita se habentem: “ Quintus Memmius,Titus Manius, legati Romanorum populo Iudaeorum salutem.	34 The Romans also sent them a letter as follows: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, legates of the Romans, send greetings to the Jewish people.
35 De his, quae Lysiascognatus regis concessit vobis, et nos consentimus.	35 Whatever Lysias, kinsman of the king, has granted you, we also approve.
36 De quibus autem ad regemiudicavit referendum, confestim aliquem mittite inter vos conferentes de his, utproponamus, sicut congruit vobis; nos enim Antiochiam accedimus.	36 But the matters on which he passed judgment should be submitted to the king. As soon as you have considered them, send someone to us with your decisions so that we may present them to your advantage, for we are on our way to Antioch.
37 Ideoquefestinate et mittite aliquos, ut nos quoque sciamus cuius estis voluntatis.	37 Make haste, then, to send us those who can inform us of your intentions.
38 Bene valete. Anno centesimo quadragesimo octavo, quinta decima die mensisXanthici ”.	38 Farewell." In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.