Secondo libro dei Maccabei 15

NOVA VULGATA	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Nicanor autem, ut comperit eos, qui cum Iuda erant, in locis esse iuxtaSamariam, cogitavit requietionis die cum omni securitate eos aggredi.	1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.
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 Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all other days.
3 ille infelix interrogavit, si est potens incaelo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum.	3 Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.
4 Et respondentibus illis: “ EstDominus vivus ipse in caelo potens, qui iussit colere septimam diem ”;	4 And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:
5 atille ait: “ Et ego potens sum super terram, qui impero sumi arma et negotiaregis impleri ”. Tamen non obtinuit, ut nefarium consilium perficeret.	5 Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.
6 Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia cervicem erigens cogitaverat communetrophaeum statuere de iis, qui cum Iuda erant.	6 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.
7 Maccabaeus autem sineintermissione confidebat cum omni spe auxilium se consequi a Domino;	7 But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:
8 ethortabatur suos, ne formidarent adventum nationum, sed in mente habentesadiutoria sibi facta de caelo et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturamvictoriam.	8 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.
9 Et allocutus eos de Lege et Prophetis, admonens eos etiam decertaminibus, quae perfecerant, promptiores constituit eos.	9 And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.
10 Et, animis eorumexcitatis, denuntiavit simul ostendens gentium fallaciam et iuramentorumpraevaricationem.	10 And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.
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 Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.
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 this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.
13 Post hoc sic apparuisse virumcanitie et gloria praestantem et mirabilem quandam et magni decoris esseeminentiam circa illum.	13 This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.
14 Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: “ Hic est fratrumamator, qui multum orat pro populo et sancta civitate, Ieremias propheta Dei ”.	14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.
15 Protendentem autem Ieremiam dextram dedisse Iudae gladium aureum et, cumdaret, dixisse haec:	15 Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,
16 “ Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quoconfringes adversarios ”.	16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.
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 Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.
18 Erat enim timor pro uxoribus etfiliis itemque pro fratribus et cognatis in minore parte iacens, maximus vero etprimus pro sanctificato templo.	18 For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and folks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.
19 Sed et eos, qui in civitate erantcomprehensi, non minima sollicitudo habebat propter illum sub aperto concursum.	19 Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.
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 now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,
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 Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:
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 Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:
23 et nunc,Dominator caelorum, mitte angelum bonum ante nos in timorem et tremorem;	23 Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them;
24 magnitudine brachii tui exterreantur, qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversussanctum populum tuum ”. Et hic quidem in his finem fecit.	24 And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.
25 Qui autem cum Nicanore erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant;	25 Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.
26 hi veroqui erant cum Iuda, cum invocatione et orationibus congressi sunt cum hostibus.	26 But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer.
27 Et manibus quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt nonminus triginta quinque milia, praesentia Dei magnifice delectati.	27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.
28 Cumquecessassent ab opere et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem proruisse cumarmis suis;	28 Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.
29 facto itaque clamore et tumultu, patria voce omnipotentem Dominumbenedicebant.	29 Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.
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 And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.
31 Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus, antealtare stans accersiit eos, qui in arce erant;	31 So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower,
32 et, ostenso capite iniquiNicanoris et manu nefarii, quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Deimagnifice gloriatus est,	32 And shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty.
33 linguam etiam impii Nicanoris praecisam dixitparticulatim avibus daturum, pretia autem dementiae contra templum suspendere.	33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple.
34 Omnes igitur in caelum benedixerunt manifestum Dominum dicentes: “Benedictus, qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit! ”.	34 So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.
35 Alligavit autemNicanoris caput de summa arce evidens omnibus et manifestum signum auxiliiDomini.	35 He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.
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 And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day.
37 Igitur his erga Nicanorem sic gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebraeiscivitate possessa, ego quoque hic faciam finem sermonis.	37 Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.
38 Et, si quidem beneet apte compositioni, hoc et ipse volebam; sin autem exigue et modice, hoc est,quod assequi poteram.	38 And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.
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 For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.