Secondo libro dei Maccabei 14

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Sed post triennii tempus co gnoverunt, qui cum Iuda erant, DemetriumSeleuci per portum apud Tripolim adnavigantem cum multitudine valida et navibus,	1 Three years later, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had sailed into the port of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet,
2 tenuisse regionem, sublato Antiocho et procuratore eius Lysia.	2 and that he had occupied the country, after doing away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.
3 Alcimus autemquidam, qui summus sacerdos fuerat, sed voluntarie coinquinatus temporibusseditionis, considerans nullo modo sibi esse salutem neque accessum ultra adsanctum altare,	3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, who had willfully incurred defilement at the time of the revolt, realized that there was no way for him to salvage his position and regain access to the holy altar.
4 venit ad regem Demetrium, centesimo quinquagesimo primo anno,offerens ei coronam auream et palmam, super haec et thallos, qui templi essevidebantur; et ipsa quidem die siluit.	4 So he went to King Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that occasion he kept quiet.
5 Tempus autem opportunum dementiae suaenactus, convocatus a Demetrio ad consilium et interrogatus quo proposito etconsilio Iudaei niterentur,	5 But he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when he was invited to the council by Demetrius and questioned about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews. He replied:
6 ad haec respondit: “ Ipsi, qui dicuntur Asidaei,Iudaeorum, quibus praeest Iudas Maccabaeus, bella nutriunt et seditiones moventnec patiuntur regnum esse quietum.	6 "Those Jews called Hasideans, led by Judas Maccabeus, are warmongers, who stir up sedition and keep the kingdom from enjoying peace and quiet.
7 Unde ego defraudatus parentum gloria, dicoautem summo sacerdotio, huc nunc veni,	7 For this reason, now that I am deprived of my ancestral dignity, that is to say, the high priesthood, I have come here--
8 primo quidem de his, quae pertinent adregem, mera fide sentiens, secundo autem etiam civibus meis consulens; namillorum praedictorum inconsiderantia universum genus nostrum non modice laborat.	8 first, out of my genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of consideration for my own countrymen, since our entire nation is suffering great affliction from the unreasonable conduct of the people just mentioned.
9 Sed his singulis, tu rex, cognitis, et regioni et obsesso generi nostro,secundum quam habes omnibus obviam humanitatem, prospice;	9 When you have informed yourself in detail on these matters, O king, act in the interest of our country and its hard-pressed people with the same gracious consideration that you show toward all.
10 nam, quamdiusuperest Iudas, impossibile est pacem esse negotiis ”.	10 As long as Judas is around, it is impossible for the state to enjoy peace."
11 Talibus autem ab hoc dictis, velocius ceteri amici hostiliter se habentesadversus Iudam inflammaverunt Demetrium.	11 When he had said this, the other Friends who were hostile to Judas quickly added fuel to Demetrius' indignation.
12 Qui statim assumens Nicanorem, quifuit praepositus elephantorum, et ducem ostendens Iudaeae misit,	12 The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him governor of Judea. He sent him off
13 datismandatis, ut ipsum quidem Iudam occideret; eos vero, qui cum illo erant,dispergeret et constitueret Alcimum maximi templi summum sacerdotem.	13 with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
14 Tuncgentes, quae de Iudaea fugerant Iudam, gregatim se Nicanori miscebant, miseriaset clades Iudaeorum prosperitates rerum suarum existimantes fore.	14 The Gentiles from Judea, who would have banished Judas, came flocking to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.
15 Audito itaque Nicanoris adventu et conventu nationum, conspersi terrarogabant eum, qui populum suum constituit usque in aeternum quique suamportionem signis evidentibus protegit.	15 When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the Gentiles were rallying to him, they sprinkled themselves with earth and prayed to him who established his people forever, and who always comes to the aid of his heritage.
16 Imperante autem duce, statim indeprofectus congreditur eis ad castellum Dessau.	16 At their leader's command, they set out at once and came upon the enemy at the village of Adasa.
17 Simon vero frater Iudaecommiserat cum Nicanore, sed lente ob repentinum adversariorum silentium victusevaserat.	17 Judas' brother Simon had engaged Nicanor, but because of the sudden appearance of the enemy suffered a slight repulse.
18 Nicanor tamen audiens quam virtutem haberent, qui cum Iuda erant, et animimagnitudinem pro patriae certaminibus, sanguine iudicium facere metuebat.	18 However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his men, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed.
19 Quam ob rem misit Posidonium et Theodotum et Matthathiam, ut darent dextrasatque acciperent.	19 So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement.
20 Et, cum diu de his consilium ageretur, et ipse dux admultitudinem rettulisset, et paribus suffragiis pareret sententia, sponsionibuspacis annuerunt.	20 After a long discussion of the terms, each leader communicated them to his troops; and when general agreement was expressed, they assented to the treaty.
21 Itaque diem constituerunt, qua secreto convenirent eodem, etprocessit utrimque currus, posuerunt sellas;	21 A day was set on which the leaders would meet by themselves. From each side a chariot came forward and thrones were set in place.
22 disposuit Iudas armatos paratoslocis opportunis, ne forte ab hostibus repente mali aliquid fieret; congruumcolloquium fecerunt.	22 Judas had posted armed men in readiness at suitable points for fear that the enemy might suddenly carry out some treacherous plan. But the conference was held in the proper way.
23 Morabatur Nicanor Hierosolymis nihilque inique agebatgregesque turbarum, quae congregatae fuerant, dimisit.	23 Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem, where he did nothing out of place. He got rid of the throngs of ordinary people who gathered around him;
24 Habebat autem Iudamsemper in conspectu, ex animo erat viro inclinatus.	24 but he always kept Judas in his company, for he had a cordial affection for the man.
25 Rogavit eum ducere uxoremfiliosque procreare. Nuptias fecit, quiete egit, communiter vivebat.	25 He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life.
26 Alcimus autem, videns mutuam illorum benevolentiam et factas conventiones,accipiens venit ad Demetrium et dicebat Nicanorem aliena sentire a rebus; Iudamenim regni insidiatorem socium sibi designavit.	26 When Alcimus saw their friendship for each other, he took the treaty that had been made, went to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor was plotting against the state, and that he had appointed Judas, the conspirator against the kingdom, to be his successor.
27 Itaque rex exasperatus etpessimi huius criminationibus irritatus, scripsit Nicanori dicens graviterquidem se ferre de conventionibus, iubere tamen Maccabaeum citius vinctummittere Antiochiam.	27 Stirred up by the villain's calumnies, the king became enraged. He wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the treaty, and ordering him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch without delay.
28 Quibus cognitis, Nicanor confusus erat et aegre ferebat,si ea, quae convenerant, irrita faceret, nulla a viro facta iniuria;	28 When this message reached Nicanor he was dismayed, for he hated to break his agreement with a man who had done no wrong.
29 sed,quia regi resisti non poterat, opportunitatem observabat, ut artificio illudperficeret.	29 However, there was no way of opposing the king, so he watched for an opportunity to carry out this order by a stratagem.
30 At Maccabaeus videns secum austerius agere Nicanorem et consuetumoccursum ferocius exhibentem, intellegens non ex optimo esse austeritatem, nonpaucis suorum congregatis, occultavit se a Nicanore.	30 But Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor was becoming cool in his dealings with him, and acting with unaccustomed rudeness when they met; he concluded that this coldness betokened no good. So he gathered together a large number of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor.
31 Quod cum ille cognovitfortiter se a viro astutia praeventum, venit ad maximum et sanctum templum etsacerdotibus solitas hostias offerentibus iussit sibi tradi virum.	31 When Nicanor realized that he had been disgracefully outwitted by the man, he went to the great and holy temple, at a time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrender Judas.
32 Quibus cumiuramento dicentibus nescire se ubi esset, qui quaerebatur, extendens dexteramad templum	32 As they declared under oath that they did not know where the wanted man was,
33 iuravit haec: “ Nisi Iudam mihi vinctum tradideritis, istud Deifanum in planitiem deducam et altare effodiam et templum hic Libero illustreerigam ”.	33 he raised his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground; I will tear down the altar, and erect here a splendid temple to Dionysus."
34 Et, his dictis, abiit. Sacerdotes autem protendentes manus incaelum invocabant eum, qui semper propugnator fuit gentis nostrae, haecdicentes:	34 With these words he went away. The priests stretched out their hands toward heaven, calling upon the unfailing defender of our nation in these words:
35 “ Tu, Domine universorum, qui nullius indiges, voluisti templumhabitationis tuae fieri in nobis;	35 "Lord of all, though you are in need of nothing, you have approved of a temple for your dwelling place among us.
36 et nunc, Sancte, omnis sanctificationisDomine, conserva in aeternum impollutam domum istam, quae nuper mundata est ”.	36 Therefore, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house, which has been so recently purified."
37 Razis autem quidam de senioribus ab Hierosolymis delatus est Nicanori, viramator civitatis et valde bene audiens, qui pro affectu pater Iudaeorumappellabatur.	37 A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a patriot. A man highly regarded, he was called a father of the Jews because of his love for them.
38 Hic enim pristinis temporibus seditionis iudicium pertuleratIudaismi corpusque et animam pro Iudaismo tradiderat cum omni perseverantia.	38 In the early days of the revolt, he had been convicted of Judaism, and had risked body and life in his ardent zeal for it.
39 Volens autem Nicanor manifestare odium, quod habebat in Iudaeos, misit militessupra quingentos, ut eum comprehenderent;	39 Nicanor, to show his detestation of the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him.
40 putabat enim, si illum cepisset, secladem istis illaturum.	40 He thought that by arresting such a man he would deal the Jews a hard blow.
41 Turbis autem turrim iam occupaturis et atrii ianuaevim facientibus atque iubentibus ignem admovere et portas incendi, ipse undiquecomprehensus supposuit sibi gladium	41 But when these troops, on the point of capturing the tower, were forcing the outer gate and calling for fire to set the door ablaze, Razis, now caught on all sides, turned his sword against himself,
42 volens nobiliter mori potius quamsubditus fieri peccatoribus et nobilitate sua indignis iniuriis affici.	42 preferring to die nobly rather than fall into the hands of vile men and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth.
43 Sed,cum per contentionis festinationem non certo ictu plagam dedisset, et turbaeintra ostia irrumperent, recurrens audacter ad murum praecipitavit semetipsumviriliter in turbas;	43 In the excitement of the struggle he failed to strike exactly. So while the troops rushed in through the doors, he gallantly ran up to the top of the wall and with manly courage threw himself down into the crowd.
44 quibus velociter locum dantibus intervallo facto, venitper medium spatium vacuum.	44 But as they quickly drew back and left an opening, he fell into the middle of the empty space.
45 Et, cum adhuc spiraret, accensus animis surrexitet, cum sanguis ad modum fontis deflueret, et gravissima essent vulnera, cursuturbas pertransiens et stans supra quandam petram praeruptam,	45 Still breathing, and inflamed with anger, he got up and ran through the crowd, with blood gushing from his frightful wounds.
46 prorsusexsanguis iam effectus, proferens intestina et sumens utrisque manibus proiecitsuper turbas et invocans Dominatorem vitae ac spiritus, ut haec ipsi iterumredderet, ita vita defunctus est.	46 Then, standing on a steep rock, as he lost the last of his blood, he tore out his entrails and flung them with both hands into the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and of spirit to give these back to him again. Such was the manner of his death.