Secondo libro dei Maccabei 15

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Nicanor autem, ut comperit eos, qui cum Iuda erant, in locis esse iuxtaSamariam, cogitavit requietionis die cum omni securitate eos aggredi.	1 When Nicanor learned that Judas and his companions were in the territory of Samaria, he decided to attack them in all safety on the day of rest.
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 The Jews who were forced to follow him pleaded, "Do not massacre them in that way, like a savage barbarian, but show respect for the day which the All-seeing has exalted with holiness above all other days."
3 ille infelix interrogavit, si est potens incaelo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum.	3 At this the thrice-sinful wretch asked if there was a ruler in heaven who prescribed the keeping of the sabbath day.
4 Et respondentibus illis: “ EstDominus vivus ipse in caelo potens, qui iussit colere septimam diem ”;	4 When they replied that there was indeed such a ruler in heaven, the living LORD himself, who commanded the observance of the sabbath day,
5 atille ait: “ Et ego potens sum super terram, qui impero sumi arma et negotiaregis impleri ”. Tamen non obtinuit, ut nefarium consilium perficeret.	5 he said, "I, on my part, am ruler on earth, and my orders are that you take up arms and carry out the king's business." Nevertheless he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.
6 Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia cervicem erigens cogitaverat communetrophaeum statuere de iis, qui cum Iuda erant.	6 In his utter boastfulness and arrogance Nicanor had determined to erect a public monument of victory over Judas and his men.
7 Maccabaeus autem sineintermissione confidebat cum omni spe auxilium se consequi a Domino;	7 But Maccabeus remained confident, fully convinced that he would receive help from the LORD.
8 ethortabatur suos, ne formidarent adventum nationum, sed in mente habentesadiutoria sibi facta de caelo et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturamvictoriam.	8 He urged his men not to fear the enemy, but mindful of the help they had received from Heaven in the past, to expect that now, too, victory would be given them by the Almighty.
9 Et allocutus eos de Lege et Prophetis, admonens eos etiam decertaminibus, quae perfecerant, promptiores constituit eos.	9 By encouraging them with words from the law and the prophets, and by reminding them of the battles they had already won, he filled them with fresh enthusiasm.
10 Et, animis eorumexcitatis, denuntiavit simul ostendens gentium fallaciam et iuramentorumpraevaricationem.	10 Having stirred up their courage, he gave his orders and pointed out at the same time the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation 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 When he had armed each of them, not so much with the safety of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of vision, worthy of belief.
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 What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in every virtuous practice, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community.
13 Post hoc sic apparuisse virumcanitie et gloria praestantem et mirabilem quandam et magni decoris esseeminentiam circa illum.	13 Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air about him of extraordinary, majestic authority.
14 Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: “ Hic est fratrumamator, qui multum orat pro populo et sancta civitate, Ieremias propheta Dei ”.	14 Onias then said of him, "This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his brethren and fervently prays for his people and their holy city."
15 Protendentem autem Ieremiam dextram dedisse Iudae gladium aureum et, cumdaret, dixisse haec:	15 Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said,
16 “ Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quoconfringes adversarios ”.	16 "Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your 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 Encouraged by Judas' noble words, which had power to instill valor and stir young hearts to courage, the Jews determined not to delay, but to charge gallantly and decide the issue by hand-to-hand combat with the utmost courage, since their city and its temple with the sacred vessels 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 They were not so much concerned about their wives and children or their brothers and kinsmen; their first and foremost fear was for the consecrated sanctuary.
19 Sed et eos, qui in civitate erantcomprehensi, non minima sollicitudo habebat propter illum sub aperto concursum.	19 Those who remained in the city suffered a like agony, anxious as they were about the battle in the open country.
20 Et, cum iam omnes exspectarent iudicium futurum, hostesque iam committerent,atque exercitus esset ordinatus, et bestiae opportuno in loco constitutae, etequitatus dispositus,	20 Everyone now awaited the decisive moment. The enemy were already drawing near with their troops drawn up in battle line, their elephants placed in strategic positions, and their cavalry stationed on the flanks.
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, contemplating the hosts before him, their elaborate equipment, and the fierceness of their elephants, stretched out his hands toward heaven and called upon the LORD who works miracles; for he knew that it is not through arms but through the LORD'S decision that victory is won by those who deserve it.
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 He prayed to him thus: "You, O LORD, sent your angel in the days of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he slew a hundred and eighty-five thousand men of Sennacherib's army.
23 et nunc,Dominator caelorum, mitte angelum bonum ante nos in timorem et tremorem;	23 Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel now to spread fear and dread before us.
24 magnitudine brachii tui exterreantur, qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversussanctum populum tuum ”. Et hic quidem in his finem fecit.	24 By the might of your arm may those be struck down who have blasphemously come against your holy people!" With this he ended his prayer.
25 Qui autem cum Nicanore erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant;	25 Nicanor and his men advanced to the sound of trumpets and battle songs.
26 hi veroqui erant cum Iuda, cum invocatione et orationibus congressi sunt cum hostibus.	26 But Judas and his men met the army with supplication and prayers.
27 Et manibus quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt nonminus triginta quinque milia, praesentia Dei magnifice delectati.	27 Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced greatly over this manifestation of God's power.
28 Cumquecessassent ab opere et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem proruisse cumarmis suis;	28 When the battle was over and they were joyfully departing, they discovered Nicanor lying there in all his armor;
29 facto itaque clamore et tumultu, patria voce omnipotentem Dominumbenedicebant.	29 so they raised tumultuous shouts in their native tongue in praise of the divine Sovereign.
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 Then Judas, who was ever in body and soul the chief defender of his fellow citizens, and had maintained from youth his affection for his countrymen, ordered Nicanor's head and whole right arm to be cut off and taken to Jerusalem.
31 Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus, antealtare stans accersiit eos, qui in arce erant;	31 When he arrived there, he assembled his countrymen, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for those in the citadel.
32 et, ostenso capite iniquiNicanoris et manu nefarii, quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Deimagnifice gloriatus est,	32 He showed them the vile Nicanor's head and the wretched blasphemer's arm that had been boastfully stretched out against the holy dwelling of the Almighty.
33 linguam etiam impii Nicanoris praecisam dixitparticulatim avibus daturum, pretia autem dementiae contra templum suspendere.	33 He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor, saying he would feed it piecemeal to the birds and would hang up the other wages of his folly opposite the temple.
34 Omnes igitur in caelum benedixerunt manifestum Dominum dicentes: “Benedictus, qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit! ”.	34 At this, everyone looked toward heaven and praised the Lord who manifests his divine power, saying, "Blessed be he who has kept his own Place undefiled!"
35 Alligavit autemNicanoris caput de summa arce evidens omnibus et manifestum signum auxiliiDomini.	35 Judas hung up Nicanor's head on the wall of the citadel, a clear and evident proof to all of the Lord's help.
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 By public vote it was unanimously decreed never to let this day pass unobserved, but to celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic, the eve of Mordecai's Day.
37 Igitur his erga Nicanorem sic gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebraeiscivitate possessa, ego quoque hic faciam finem sermonis.	37 Since Nicanor's doings ended in this way, with the city remaining in possession of the Hebrews from that time on, I will bring my own story to an end here too.
38 Et, si quidem beneet apte compositioni, hoc et ipse volebam; sin autem exigue et modice, hoc est,quod assequi poteram.	38 If it is well written and to the point, that is what I wanted; if it is poorly done and mediocre, that is the best I could do.
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 Just as it is harmful to drink wine alone or water alone, whereas mixing wine with water makes a more pleasant drink that increases delight, so a skillfully composed story delights the ears of those who read the work. Let this, then, be the end.