Secondo libro dei Maccabei 4

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Simon autem praedictus, qui pecuniarum et patriae delator exstitit, maleloquebatur de Onia, tamquam ipse Heliodorum instigasset et malorum auctorfuisset;	1 The Simon mentioned above as the informer about the funds against his own country, made false accusation that it was Onias who threatened Heliodorus and instigated the whole miserable affair.
2 benefactoremque civitatis et curatorem gentis suae et aemulatoremlegum audebat insidiatorem rerum dicere.	2 He dared to brand as a plotter against the government the man who was a benefactor of the city, a protector of his compatriots, and a zealous defender of the laws.
3 Sed cum inimicitia in tantumprocederet, ut etiam per quendam eorum, qui a Simone probati essent, homicidiafierent,	3 When Simon's hostility reached such a point that murders were being committed by one of his henchmen,
4 considerans Onias periculum contentionis et Apollonium Menesthei,ducem Coelesyriae et Phoenicis, augentem malitiam Simonis,	4 Onias saw that the opposition was serious and that Apollonius, son of Menestheus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was abetting Simon's wickedness.
5 ad regem secontulit, non ut civium accusator, sed quod utile esset in commune etsingulariter universae multitudinis prospiciens.	5 So he had recourse to the king, not as an accuser of his countrymen, but as a man looking to the general and particular good of all the people.
6 Videbat enim sine regaliprovidentia impossibile esse pacem adhuc rebus obtingere, nec Simonem cessaturuma stultitia.	6 He saw that, unless the king intervened, it would be impossible to have a peaceful government, and that Simon would not desist from his folly.
7 Sed post Seleuci vitae excessum, cum suscepisset regnum Antiochus, quiEpiphanes appellabatur, ambiebat Iason frater Oniae summum sacerdotium,	7 But Seleucus died, and when Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes succeeded him on the throne, Onias' brother Jason obtained the high priesthood by corrupt means:
8 promittens regi per interpellationem argenti talenta trecenta sexaginta et exreditu quodam alio talenta octoginta;	8 in an interview, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, as well as eighty talents from another source of income.
9 super haec autem promittebat et aliacentum quinquaginta se perscripturum, si concederetur per potestatem eiusgymnasium et ephebiam sibi constituere et eos, qui in Hierosolymis erant,Antiochenos scribere.	9 Besides this he agreed to pay a hundred and fifty more, if he were given authority to establish a gymnasium and a youth club for it and to enroll men in Jerusalem as Antiochians.
10 Quod cum rex annuisset, et obtinuisset principatum,statim ad Graecam consuetudinem contribules suos transferre coepit.	10 When Jason received the king's approval and came into office, he immediately initiated his countrymen into the Greek way of life.
11 Et,amotis his, quae humanitatis causa Iudaeis a regibus fuerant constituta perIoannem patrem Eupolemi, qui apud Romanos de amicitia et societate functus estlegatione, et legitima civium iura destituens, pravos mores innovabat.	11 He set aside the royal concessions granted to the Jews through the mediation of John, father of Eupolemus (that Eupolemus who would later go on an embassy to the Romans to establish a treaty of friendship with them); he abrogated the lawful institutions and introduced customs contrary to the law.
12 Prompte enim sub ipsa arce gymnasium constituit et optimos quosque epheborumsubigens sub petasum ducebat.	12 He quickly established a gymnasium at the very foot of the acropolis, where he induced the noblest young men to wear the Greek hat.
13 Erat autem sic culmen quoddam Graecaeconversationis et profectus alienigenarum moris, propter impii et non summisacerdotis Iasonis inauditam contaminationem,	13 The craze for Hellenism and foreign customs reached such a pitch, through the outrageous wickedness of the ungodly pseudo-high-priest Jason,
14 ita ut sacerdotes iam non circaaltaris officia dediti essent, sed contempto templo et sacrificiis neglectis,festinarent participes fieri iniquae in palaestra praebitionis post disciprovocationem	14 that the priests no longer cared about the service of the altar. Disdaining the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened, at the signal for the discus-throwing, to take part in the unlawful exercises on the athletic field.
15 et patrios quidem honores nihil habentes, Graecas autem gloriasoptimas aestimantes.	15 They despised what their ancestors had regarded as honors, while they highly prized what the Greeks esteemed as glory.
16 Quarum gratia periculosa eos contentio habebat, etquorum instituta aemulabantur ac per omnia consimiles esse cupiebant, hos hosteset ultores habuerunt.	16 Precisely because of this, they found themselves in serious trouble: the very people whose manner of life they emulated, and whom they desired to imitate in everything, became their enemies and oppressors.
17 In leges enim divinas impie agere non est facile, sedhaec tempus sequens declarabit.	17 It is no light matter to flout the laws of God, as the following period will show.
18 Cum autem quinquennalis agon Tyri celebraretur, et rex praesens esset,	18 When the quinquennial games were held at Tyre in the presence of the king,
19 misit Iason facinorosus ab Hierosolymis spectatores Antiochenses portantesargenti drachmas trecentas in sacrificium Herculis; quas etiam postulaverunt hi,qui asportaverant, ne in sacrificium erogarentur, quia non oporteret, sed inalium sumptum eas deputari.	19 the vile Jason sent envoys as representatives of the Antiochians of Jerusalem, to bring there three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Hercules. But the bearers themselves decided that the money should not be spent on a sacrifice, as that was not right, but should be used for some other purpose.
20 Sed haec ceciderunt: propter illum quidem, quimiserat, in sacrificium Herculis; propter eos autem, qui afferebant, in fabricamtriremium.	20 So the contribution destined by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules was in fact applied, by those who brought it, to the construction of triremes.
21 Misso autem in Aegyptum Apollonio Menesthei filio propter ascensumad solium Philometoris regis, cum cognovisset Antiochus alienum se ab illiusnegotiis effectum, propriae securitati consuluit; inde cum Ioppen venisset, secontulit Hierosolymam.	21 When Apollonius, son of Menestheus, was sent to Egypt for the coronation of King Philometor, Antiochus learned that the king was opposed to his policies; so he took measures for his own security.
22 Et magnifice ab Iasone et civitate susceptus, cumfacularum luminibus et acclamationibus introductus est; deinde sic in Phoenicenexercitum convertit.	22 After going to Joppa, he proceeded to Jerusalem. There he was received with great pomp by Jason and the people of the city, who escorted him with torchlights and acclamations; following this, he led his army into Phoenicia.
23 Et post triennii tempus misit Iason Menelaum supradicti Simonis fratremportantem pecunias regi et de negotiis necessariis commonitiones perlaturum.	23 Three years later Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforementioned Simon, to deliver the money to the king, and to obtain decisions on some important matters.
24 At ille commendatus regi, cum se magnificasset facie potestatis, in semetipsumcontulit summum sacerdotium superponens Iasoni talenta argenti trecenta;	24 When he had been introduced to the king, he flattered him with such an air of authority that he secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25 acceptisque regiis mandatis, venit nihil quidem gerens dignum sacerdotio, animosvero crudelis tyranni et ferae barbarae iram habens.	25 He returned with the royal commission, but with nothing that made him worthy of the high priesthood; he had the temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a wild beast.
26 Et Iason quidem, quiproprium fratrem circumvenerat, ipse circumventus ab alio profugus in Ammanitemexpulsus est regionem.	26 Then Jason, who had cheated his own brother and now saw himself cheated by another man, was driven out as a fugitive to the country of the Ammonites.
27 Menelaus autem principatum quidem obtinuit; depecuniis vero regi promissis nihil debite agebat,	27 Although Menelaus had obtained the office, he did not make any payments of the money he had promised to the king,
28 cum vero exactionem faceretSostratus, qui arci erat praepositus, nam ad hunc exactio vectigaliumpertinebat. Quam ob causam utrique a rege sunt advocati;	28 in spite of the demand of Sostratus, the commandant of the citadel, whose duty it was to collect the taxes. For this reason, both were summoned before the king.
29 et Menelaus quidemreliquit summi sacerdotii successorem Lysimachum fratrem suum, Sostratus autemCratetem, qui praeerat Cypriis.	29 Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus as his substitute in the high priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates, commander of the Cypriots, as his substitute.
30 Talibus autem constitutis, contigit Tarsenses et Mallotas seditionem movere,eo quod Antiochidi, regis concubinae, dono essent dati.	30 While these things were taking place, the people of Tarsus and Mallus rose in revolt, because their cities had been given as a gift to Antiochis, the king's mistress.
31 Festinanter itaquerex venit sedare illos, relicto suffecto uno ex iis in dignitate constitutisAndronico.	31 The king, therefore, went off in haste to settle the affair, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, as his deputy.
32 Ratus autem Menelaus accepisse se tempus opportunum, aurea quaedamvasa e templo furatus donavit Andronico; et alia vendiderat Tyri et per vicinascivitates.	32 Then Menelaus, thinking this a good opportunity, stole some gold vessels from the temple and presented them to Andronicus; he had already sold some other vessels in Tyre and in the neighboring cities.
33 Quod cum certissime cognovisset Onias, arguebat eum, ipse in locotuto se continens in Daphne secus Antiochiam.	33 When Onias had clear evidence of the facts, he made a public protest, after withdrawing to the inviolable sanctuary at Daphne, near Antioch.
34 Unde Menelaus seorsumapprehendens Andronicum rogabat, ut Oniam interficeret. At vero ille, cumvenisset ad Oniam et cum fidem dolo dedisset ac dexteram accepisset dedissetquecum iureiurando, quamvis esset ei suspectus, suasit de asylo procedere, quemstatim peremit, non veritus iustitiam.	34 Thereupon Menelaus approached Andronicus privately and asked him to lay hands on Onias. So Andronicus went to Onias, and by treacherously reassuring him through sworn pledges with right hands joined, persuaded him, in spite of his suspicions, to leave the sanctuary. Then, without any regard for justice, he immediately put him to death.
35 Ob quam causam non solum Iudaei, sedmulti quoque ex aliis nationibus indignabantur et moleste ferebant de nece viriiniusta.	35 As a result, not only the Jews, but many people of other nations as well, were indignant and angry over the unjust murder of the man.
36 Sed regressum regem de Ciliciae locis interpellabant, qui erant percivitatem Iudaei, simul et Graecis scelus conquerentibus, de eo quod sineratione Onias interfectus esset.	36 When the king returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews of the city, together with the Greeks who detested the crime, went to see him about the murder of Onias.
37 Contristatus itaque animo Antiochus etflexus ad misericordiam lacrimas fudit, propter defuncti sobrietatem et multammodestiam;	37 Antiochus was deeply grieved and full of pity; he wept as he recalled the prudence and noble conduct of the deceased.
38 accensusque animis, confestim ablata Andronici purpura ac tuniciseius discissis, circumduxit per totam civitatem usque ad eundem locum, in quo inOniam impietatem commiserat, atque illic sacrilegum interfectorem e mundosustulit, Domino illi condignam retribuente poenam.	38 Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped Andronicus of his purple robe, tore off his other garments, and had him led through the whole city to the very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias; and there he put the murderer to death. Thus the Lord rendered him the punishment he deserved.
39 Multis autem sacrilegiis per civitatem a Lysimacho commissis Menelaiconsilio, et divulgata foris fama, congregata est multitudo adversum Lysimachum,vasis aureis iam multis dissipatis.	39 Many sacrilegious thefts had been committed by Lysimachus in the city with the connivance of Menelaus. When word was spread that a large number of gold vessels had been stolen, the people assembled in protest against Lysimachus.
40 Turbis autem insurgentibus et irarepletis, Lysimachus, armatis fere tribus milibus, iniquis manibus coepit, ducequodam Aurano, aetate non minus ac dementia provecto.	40 As the crowds, now thoroughly enraged, began to riot, Lysimachus launched an unjustified attack against them with about three thousand armed men under the leadership of Auranus, a man as advanced in folly as he was in years.
41 Sed ut intellexeruntconatum Lymachi, alii lapides, alii fustes validos arripuere, quidam vero exadiacente cinere manu apprehenderunt et mixtim iecerunt in eos, qui circaLysimachum erant.	41 Reacting against Lysimachus' attack, the people picked up stones or pieces of wood or handfuls of the ashes lying there and threw them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and his men.
42 Quam ob causam multos quidem vulneraverunt, quosdam autemet prostraverunt, omnes vero in fugam compulerunt; ipsum vero sacrilegum secusaerarium interfecerunt.	42 As a result, they wounded many of them and even killed a few, while they put all the rest to flight. The sacrilegious thief himself they slew near the treasury.
43 De his ergo coepit iudicium adversus Menelaum agitari.	43 Charges about this affair were brought against Menelaus.
44 Et cum venisset rexTyrum, apud ipsum causam egerunt missi tres viri a senatu.	44 When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented to him the justice of their cause.
45 Et cum iamsuperaretur Menelaus, promisit Ptolemaeo Dorymenis multas pecunias ad suadendumregi.	45 But Menelaus, seeing himself on the losing side, promised Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, a substantial sum of money if he would win the king over.
46 Unde Ptolemaeus, excipiens seorsum in quoddam atrium columnatum quasirefrigerandi gratia regem, deduxit a sententia.	46 So Ptolemy retired with the king under a colonnade, as if to get some fresh air, and persuaded him to change his mind.
47 Et Menelaum quidem universaemalitiae reum criminibus absolvit; miseros autem, qui etiam si apud Scythascausam dixissent, innocentes iudicarentur, hos morte damnavit.	47 Menelaus, who was the cause of all the trouble, the king acquitted of the charges, while he condemned to death those poor men who would have been declared innocent even if they had pleaded their case before Scythians.
48 Cito ergoiniustam poenam dederunt, qui pro civitate et populo et sacris vasis causamprosecuti sunt.	48 Thus, those who had prosecuted the case for the city, for the people, and for the sacred vessels, quickly suffered unjust punishment.
49 Quam ob rem Tyrii quoque in malefactum indignati, quaeque adsepulturam eorum necessaria essent, magno sumptu praestiterunt.	49 For this reason, even some Tyrians were indignant over the crime and provided sumptuously for their burial.
50 Menelausautem propter eorum, qui in potentia erant, avaritiam permanebat in potestate,crescens in malitia magnus civium insidiator constitutus.	50 But Menelaus, thanks to the covetousness of the men in power, remained in office, where he grew in wickedness and became the chief plotter against his fellow citizens.