Secondo libro dei Maccabei 15

NOVA VULGATA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Nicanor autem, ut comperit eos, qui cum Iuda erant, in locis esse iuxtaSamariam, cogitavit requietionis die cum omni securitate eos aggredi.	1 But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius the son of Seleucus was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis to places proper for his purpose.
2 Iudaeisvero, qui illum per necessitatem sequebantur, dicentibus: “ Ne ita ferociteret barbare disperdas, sed honorem tribue praehonoratae diei cum sanctificationeab eo, qui universa conspicit ”,	2 And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general Lysias.
3 ille infelix interrogavit, si est potens incaelo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum.	3 Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
4 Et respondentibus illis: “ EstDominus vivus ipse in caelo potens, qui iussit colere septimam diem ”;	4 Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.
5 atille ait: “ Et ego potens sum super terram, qui impero sumi arma et negotiaregis impleri ”. Tamen non obtinuit, ut nefarium consilium perficeret.	5 But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,
6 Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia cervicem erigens cogitaverat communetrophaeum statuere de iis, qui cum Iuda erant.	6 He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.
7 Maccabaeus autem sineintermissione confidebat cum omni spe auxilium se consequi a Domino;	7 For I also being deprived of my ancestors' glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:
8 ethortabatur suos, ne formidarent adventum nationum, sed in mente habentesadiutoria sibi facta de caelo et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturamvictoriam.	8 Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of those men.
9 Et allocutus eos de Lege et Prophetis, admonens eos etiam decertaminibus, quae perfecerant, promptiores constituit eos.	9 Wherefore, 0 king, seeing thou knoweat all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,
10 Et, animis eorumexcitatis, denuntiavit simul ostendens gentium fallaciam et iuramentorumpraevaricationem.	10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
11 Cum autem singulos illorum armavisset, non tam clipeorum ethastarum munitione quam per bonos sermones exhortatione, cumque somnium fidedignum exposuisset, supra modum universos laetificavit.	11 Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.
12 Erat autem huiuscemodi visus eius: Oniam, qui fuerat summus sacerdos, virumhonestum et bonum, verecundum occursu, modestum moribus et eloquium digneproferentem et qui a puero omnes virtutes domesticas exercuerat, manusprotendentem orare pro omni populo Iudaeorum.	12 And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:
13 Post hoc sic apparuisse virumcanitie et gloria praestantem et mirabilem quandam et magni decoris esseeminentiam circa illum.	13 Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.
14 Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: “ Hic est fratrumamator, qui multum orat pro populo et sancta civitate, Ieremias propheta Dei ”.	14 Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by docks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.
15 Protendentem autem Ieremiam dextram dedisse Iudae gladium aureum et, cumdaret, dixisse haec:	15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him, who chose his people to keep them for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.
16 “ Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quoconfringes adversarios ”.	16 Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.
17 Exhortati itaque Iudae sermonibus bonis valde, et qui poterant ad virtutemincitare et animos iuvenum confortare, statuerunt castra non tendere, sedfortiter inferri et cum omni virtute confligentes de negotiis iudicare, eo quodcivitas et sancta et templum periclitarentur.	17 Now Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor, but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
18 Erat enim timor pro uxoribus etfiliis itemque pro fratribus et cognatis in minore parte iacens, maximus vero etprimus pro sanctificato templo.	18 Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas' companions, and the greatness of courage with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.
19 Sed et eos, qui in civitate erantcomprehensi, non minima sollicitudo habebat propter illum sub aperto concursum.	19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to present and receive the right hands.
20 Et, cum iam omnes exspectarent iudicium futurum, hostesque iam committerent,atque exercitus esset ordinatus, et bestiae opportuno in loco constitutae, etequitatus dispositus,	20 And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, the) were all of one mind to consent to covenants.
21 considerans Maccabaeus adventum multitudinis etapparatum varium armorum et ferocitatem bestiarum, extendens manus in caelumprodigia facientem Dominum invocavit, sciens quoniam non est per arma, sed proutab ipso iudicatum fuerit dignis tribuit victoriam.	21 So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.
22 Dixit autem invocans hocmodo: “ Tu, Domine, qui misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Iudaeae, etinterfecit de castris Sennacherib ad centum octoginta quinque milia,	22 But Judas ordered men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might he suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.
23 et nunc,Dominator caelorum, mitte angelum bonum ante nos in timorem et tremorem;	23 And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.
24 magnitudine brachii tui exterreantur, qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversussanctum populum tuum ”. Et hic quidem in his finem fecit.	24 And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.
25 Qui autem cum Nicanore erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant;	25 And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
26 hi veroqui erant cum Iuda, cum invocatione et orationibus congressi sunt cum hostibus.	26 But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
27 Et manibus quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt nonminus triginta quinque milia, praesentia Dei magnifice delectati.	27 Then the king being in a rage and provoked with this man's wicked accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying, that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.
28 Cumquecessassent ab opere et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem proruisse cumarmis suis;	28 When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.
29 facto itaque clamore et tumultu, patria voce omnipotentem Dominumbenedicebant.	29 But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders.
30 Et praecepit ille, qui per omnia corpore et animo primus fueratin certamine pro civibus, qui iuventutis benevolentiam in suam gentemconservaverat, caput Nicanoris abscindi et manum cum umero, ac Hierosolymamperferri.	30 But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner: and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.
31 Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus, antealtare stans accersiit eos, qui in arce erant;	31 But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
32 et, ostenso capite iniquiNicanoris et manu nefarii, quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Deimagnifice gloriatus est,	32 And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,
33 linguam etiam impii Nicanoris praecisam dixitparticulatim avibus daturum, pretia autem dementiae contra templum suspendere.	33 And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.
34 Omnes igitur in caelum benedixerunt manifestum Dominum dicentes: “Benedictus, qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit! ”.	34 And when he had spoken thus he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35 Alligavit autemNicanoris caput de summa arce evidens omnibus et manifestum signum auxiliiDomini.	35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.
36 Itaque omnes communi consilio decreverunt nullo modo diem istumabsque celebritate praeterire, habere autem celebrem tertiam decimam diem,mensis duodecimi — Adar dicitur voce Syriaca — pridie Mardochaei diei.	36 Therefore now, 0 Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled which was lately cleansed.
37 Igitur his erga Nicanorem sic gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebraeiscivitate possessa, ego quoque hic faciam finem sermonis.	37 Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his affection was called the father of the Jews.
38 Et, si quidem beneet apte compositioni, hoc et ipse volebam; sin autem exigue et modice, hoc est,quod assequi poteram.	38 This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.
39 Sicut enim vinum solummodo bibere, similiter autemrursus et aquam, contrarium est, quemadmodum autem vinum aquae contemperatum iamet delectabilem gratiam perficit, huiusmodi etiam structura sermonis delectataures eorum, quibus contingat compositionem legere. Hic autem erit finis.	39 So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
	40 For he thought by insnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.
	41 Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:
	42 Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.
	43 But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:
	44 But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.
	45 And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:
	46 And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels with both hands, he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.