Primus Machabaeorum 1

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Et factum est, postquam percussit Alexander Philippi Macedo, qui primus regnavit in Græcia, egressus de terra Cethim, Darium regem Persarum et Medorum :	1 After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip's son, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece.
2 constituit prælia multa, et obtinuit omnium munitiones, et interfecit reges terræ,	2 He fought many campaigns, captured fortresses, and put kings to death.
3 et pertransiit usque ad fines terræ : et accepit spolia multitudinis gentium, et siluit terra in conspectu ejus.	3 He advanced to the ends of the earth, gathering plunder from many nations; the earth fell silent before him, and his heart became proud and arrogant.
4 Et congregavit virtutem, et exercitum fortem nimis : et exaltatum est, et elevatum cor ejus :	4 He collected a very strong army and conquered provinces, nations, and rulers, and they became his tributaries.
5 et obtinuit regiones gentium, et tyrannos : et facti sunt illi in tributum.	5 But after all this he took to his bed, realizing that he was going to die.
6 Et post hæc decidit in lectum, et cognovit quia moreretur.	6 He therefore summoned his officers, the nobles, who had been brought up with him from his youth, to divide his kingdom among them while he was still alive.
7 Et vocavit pueros suos nobiles, qui secum erant nutriti a juventute : et divisit illis regnum suum, cum adhuc viveret.	7 Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died.
8 Et regnavit Alexander annis duodecim, et mortuus est.	8 So his officers took over his kingdom, each in his own territory,
9 Et obtinuerunt pueri ejus regnum, unusquisque in loco suo :	9 and after his death they all put on royal crowns, and so did their sons after them for many years, causing much distress over the earth.
10 et imposuerunt omnes sibi diademata post mortem ejus, et filii eorum post eos annis multis, et multiplicata sunt mala in terra.	10 There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the year one hundred and thirty-seven of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 Et exiit ex eis radix peccatrix, Antiochus illustris, filius Antiochi regis, qui fuerat Romæ obses : et regnavit in anno centesimo trigesimo septimo regni Græcorum.	11 In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying: "Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
12 In diebus illis, exierunt ex Israël filii iniqui, et suaserunt multis, dicentes : Eamus, et disponamus testamentum cum gentibus, quæ circa nos sunt : quia ex quo recessimus ab eis, invenerunt nos multa mala.	12 The proposal was agreeable;
13 Et bonus visus est sermo in oculis eorum.	13 some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles.
14 Et destinaverunt aliqui de populo, et abierunt ad regem : et dedit illis potestatem ut facerent justitiam gentium.	14 Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom.
15 Et ædificaverunt gymnasium in Jerosolymis secundum leges nationum :	15 They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
16 et fecerunt sibi præputia, et recesserunt a testamento sancto, et juncti sunt nationibus, et venundati sunt ut facerent malum.	16 When his kingdom seemed secure, Antiochus proposed to become king of Egypt, so as to rule over both kingdoms.
17 Et paratum est regnum in conspectu Antiochi, et cœpit regnare in terra Ægypti ut regnaret super duo regna.	17 He invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants, and with a large fleet,
18 Et intravit in Ægyptum in multitudine gravi, in curribus, et elephantis, et equitibus, et copiosa navium multitudine :	18 to make war on Ptolemy, king of Egypt. Ptolemy was frightened at his presence and fled, leaving many casualties.
19 et constituit bellum adversus Ptolemæum regem Ægypti, et veritus est Ptolemæus a facie ejus, et fugit, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi.	19 The fortified cities in the land of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the land of Egypt.
20 Et comprehendit civitates munitas in terra Ægypti, et accepit spolia terræ Ægypti.	20 After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the year one hundred and forty-three, he returned and went up to Israel and to Jerusalem with a strong force.
21 Et convertit Antiochus, postquam percussit Ægyptum in centesimo et quadragesimo tertio anno : et ascendit ad Israël,	21 He insolently invaded the sanctuary and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its fixtures,
22 et ascendit Jerosolymam in multitudine gravi.	22 the offering table, the cups and the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple. He stripped off everything,
23 Et intravit in sanctificationem cum superbia, et accepit altare aureum, et candelabrum luminis, et universa vasa ejus, et mensam propositionis, et libatoria, et phialas, et mortariola aurea, et velum, et coronas, et ornamentum aureum, quod in facie templi erat : et comminuit omnia.	23 and took away the gold and silver and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find.
24 Et accepit argentum, et aurum, et vasa concupiscibilia : et accepit thesauros occultos, quos invenit : et sublatis omnibus, abiit in terram suam.	24 Taking all this, he went back to his own country, after he had spoken with great arrogance and shed much blood.
25 Et fecit cædem hominum, et locutus est in superbia magna.	25 And there was great mourning for Israel, in every place where they dwelt,
26 Et factus est planctus magnus in Israël, et in omni loco eorum :	26 and the rulers and the elders groaned. Virgins and young men languished, and the beauty of the women was disfigured.
27 et ingemuerunt principes et seniores ; virgines et juvenes infirmati sunt : et speciositas mulierum immutata est.	27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she who sat in the bridal chamber mourned,
28 Omnis maritus sumpsit lamentum, et quæ sedebant in thoro maritali, lugebant :	28 And the land was shaken on account of its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was covered with shame.
29 et commota est terra super habitantes in ea, et universa domus Jacob induit confusionem.	29 Two years later, the king sent the Mysian commander to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a strong force.
30 Et post duos annos dierum, misit rex principem tributorum in civitates Juda, et venit Jerusalem cum turba magna.	30 He spoke to them deceitfully in peaceful terms, and won their trust. Then he attacked the city suddenly, in a great onslaught, and destroyed many of the people in Israel.
31 Et locutus est ad eos verba pacifica in dolo : et crediderunt ei.	31 He plundered the city and set fire to it, demolished its houses and its surrounding walls,
32 Et irruit super civitatem repente, et percussit eam plaga magna, et perdidit populum multum ex Israël.	32 took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle.
33 Et accepit spolia civitatis : et succendit eam igni, et destruxit domos ejus, et muros ejus in circuitu :	33 Then they built up the City of David with a high, massive wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.
34 et captivas duxerunt mulieres, et natos et pecora possederunt.	34 There they installed a sinful race, perverse men, who fortified themselves inside it,
35 Et ædificaverunt civitatem David muro magno et firmo, et turribus firmis, et facta est illis in arcem :	35 storing up weapons and provisions, and depositing there the plunder they had collected from Jerusalem. And they became a great threat.
36 et posuerunt illic gentem peccatricem viros iniquos, et convaluerunt in ea : et posuerunt arma, et escas, et congregaverunt spolia Jerusalem :	36 The citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, and a wicked adversary to Israel at all times.
37 et reposuerunt illic : et facti sunt in laqueum magnum.	37 And they shed innocent blood around the sanctuary; they defiled the sanctuary.
38 Et factum est hoc ad insidias sanctificationi, et in diabolum malum in Israël :	38 Because of them the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away, and she became the abode of strangers. She became a stranger to her own offspring, and her children forsook her.
39 et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem per circuitum sanctificationis, et contaminaverunt sanctificationem.	39 Her sanctuary was as desolate as a wilderness; her feasts were turned into mourning, Her sabbaths to shame, her honor to contempt.
40 Et fugerunt habitatores Jerusalem propter eos, et facta est habitatio exterorum, et facta est extera semini suo, et nati ejus reliquerunt eam.	40 Her dishonor was as great as her glory had been, and her exalation was turned into mourning.
41 Sanctificatio ejus desolata est sicut solitudo ; dies festi ejus conversi sunt in luctum, sabbata ejus in opprobrium, honores ejus in nihilum.	41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42 Secundum gloriam ejus multiplicata est ignominia ejus, et sublimitas ejus conversa est in luctum.	42 each abandoning his particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
43 Et scripsit rex Antiochus omni regno suo ut esset omnis populus unus : et relinqueret unusquisque legem suam.	43 and many Israelites were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44 Et consenserunt omnes gentes secundum verbum regis Antiochi :	44 The king sent messengers with letters to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land;
45 et multi ex Israël consenserunt servituti ejus, et sacrificaverunt idolis, et coinquinaverunt sabbatum.	45 to prohibit holocausts, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days,
46 Et misit rex libros per manus nuntiorum in Jerusalem, et in omnes civitates Juda, ut sequerentur leges gentium terræ,	46 to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers,
47 et prohiberent holocausta et sacrificia, et placationes fieri in templo Dei,	47 to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals,
48 et prohiberent celebrari sabbatum, et dies solemnes :	48 to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to let themselves be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination,
49 et jussit coinquinari sancta, et sanctum populum Israël.	49 so that they might forget the law and change all their observances.
50 Et jussit ædificari aras, et templa, et idola, et immolari carnes suillas, et pecora communia,	50 Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king should be put to death.
51 et relinquere filios suos incircumcisos, et coinquinari animas eorum in omnibus immundis, et abominationibus, ita ut obliviscerentur legem, et immutarent omnes justificationes Dei :	51 Such were the orders he published throughout his kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people, and he ordered the cities of Judah to offer sacrifices, each city in turn.
52 et quicumque non fecissent secundum verbum regis Antiochi, morerentur.	52 Many of the people, those who abandoned the law, joined them and committed evil in the land.
53 Secundum omnia verba hæc scripsit omni regno suo : et præposuit principes populo, qui hæc fieri cogerent.	53 Israel was driven into hiding, wherever places of refuge could be found.
54 Et jusserunt civitatibus Juda sacrificare.	54 On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of holocausts, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
55 Et congregati sunt multi de populo ad eos qui dereliquerant legem Domini, et fecerunt mala super terram :	55 They also burnt incense at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 et effugaverunt populum Israël in abditis, et in absconditis fugitivorum locis.	56 Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
57 Die quintadecima mensis Casleu, quinto et quadragesimo et centesimo anno, ædificavit rex Antiochus abominandum idolum desolationis super altare Dei, et per universas civitates Juda in circuitu ædificaverunt aras :	57 Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.
58 et ante januas domorum et in plateis incendebant thura, et sacrificabant :	58 So they used their power against Israel, against those who were caught, each month, in the cities.
59 et libros legis Dei combusserunt igni, scindentes eos :	59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month they sacrificed on the altar erected over the altar of holocausts.
60 et apud quemcumque inveniebantur libri testamenti Domini, et quicumque observabat legem Domini, secundum edictum regis trucidabant eum.	60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree,
61 In virtute sua faciebant hæc populo Israël, qui inveniebatur in omni mense et mense in civitatibus.	61 with the babies hung from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.
62 Et quinta et vigesima die mensis sacrificabant super aram, quæ erat contra altare.	62 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
63 Et mulieres, quæ circumcidebant filios suos, trucidabantur secundum jussum regis Antiochi,	63 they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
64 et suspendebant pueros a cervicibus per universas domos eorum : et eos, qui circumciderant illos, trucidabant.
65 Et multi de populo Israël definierunt apud se, ut non manducarent immunda : et elegerunt magis mori, quam cibis coinquinari immundis :
66 et noluerunt infringere legem Dei sanctam, et trucidati sunt :
67 et facta est ira magna super populum valde.