Primus Machabaeorum 1

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Et factum est, postquam percussit Alexander Philippi Macedo, qui primus regnavit in Græcia, egressus de terra Cethim, Darium regem Persarum et Medorum :	1 Alexander of Macedon son of Philip had come from the land of Kittim and defeated Darius king of thePersians and Medes, whom he succeeded as ruler, at first of Hel as.
2 constituit prælia multa, et obtinuit omnium munitiones, et interfecit reges terræ,	2 He undertook many campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses, and put the local kings todeath.
3 et pertransiit usque ad fines terræ : et accepit spolia multitudinis gentium, et siluit terra in conspectu ejus.	3 So he advanced to the ends of the earth, plundering nation after nation; the earth grew silent beforehim, and his ambitious heart swel ed with pride.
4 Et congregavit virtutem, et exercitum fortem nimis : et exaltatum est, et elevatum cor ejus :	4 He assembled very powerful forces and subdued provinces, nations and princes, and they became histributaries.
5 et obtinuit regiones gentium, et tyrannos : et facti sunt illi in tributum.	5 But the time came when Alexander took to his bed, in the knowledge that he was dying.
6 Et post hæc decidit in lectum, et cognovit quia moreretur.	6 He summoned his officers, noblemen who had been brought up with him from his youth, and dividedhis kingdom among them while he was stil 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 Each of his officers established himself in his own region.
9 Et obtinuerunt pueri ejus regnum, unusquisque in loco suo :	9 Al assumed crowns after his death, they and their heirs after them for many years, bringing increasingevils on the world.
10 et imposuerunt omnes sibi diademata post mortem ejus, et filii eorum post eos annis multis, et multiplicata sunt mala in terra.	10 From these there grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once ahostage in Rome, he became king in the 107th year 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 It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. 'Come,'they said, 'let us al y ourselves with the gentiles surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from themmany misfortunes have overtaken 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 This proposal proved acceptable,
13 Et bonus visus est sermo in oculis eorum.	13 and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise thegentiles' observances.
14 Et destinaverunt aliqui de populo, et abierunt ad regem : et dedit illis potestatem ut facerent justitiam gentium.	14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the gentiles have,
15 Et ædificaverunt gymnasium in Jerosolymis secundum leges nationum :	15 disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to gentile rule as willingslaves of impiety.
16 et fecerunt sibi præputia, et recesserunt a testamento sancto, et juncti sunt nationibus, et venundati sunt ut facerent malum.	16 Once Antiochus had seen his authority established, he determined to make himself king of Egypt andthe ruler of 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 in massive strength, with chariots and elephants (and cavalry) and a large fleet.
18 Et intravit in Ægyptum in multitudine gravi, in curribus, et elephantis, et equitibus, et copiosa navium multitudine :	18 He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned back and fled before his advance,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 of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the country.
20 Et comprehendit civitates munitas in terra Ægypti, et accepit spolia terræ Ægypti.	20 After his conquest of Egypt, in the year 143, Antiochus turned about and advanced on Israel andJerusalem in massive strength.
21 Et convertit Antiochus, postquam percussit Ægyptum in centesimo et quadragesimo tertio anno : et ascendit ad Israël,	21 Insolently breaking into the sanctuary, he removed the golden altar and the lamp-stand for the lightwith all its fittings,
22 et ascendit Jerosolymam in multitudine gravi.	22 together with the table for the loaves of permanent offering, the libation vessels, the cups, the goldencensers, the veil, the crowns, and the golden decoration on the front of the Temple, which he stripped ofeverything.
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 He made off with the silver and gold and precious vessels; he discovered the secret treasures andseized them
24 Et accepit argentum, et aurum, et vasa concupiscibilia : et accepit thesauros occultos, quos invenit : et sublatis omnibus, abiit in terram suam.	24 and, removing all these, he went back to his own country, having shed much blood and uttered wordsof extreme arrogance.
25 Et fecit cædem hominum, et locutus est in superbia magna.	25 There was deep mourning for Israel throughout the country:
26 Et factus est planctus magnus in Israël, et in omni loco eorum :	26 Rulers and elders groaned; girls and young men wasted away; the women's beauty suffered achange;
27 et ingemuerunt principes et seniores ; virgines et juvenes infirmati sunt : et speciositas mulierum immutata est.	27 every bridegroom took up a dirge, the bride sat grief-stricken on her marriage-bed.
28 Omnis maritus sumpsit lamentum, et quæ sedebant in thoro maritali, lugebant :	28 The earth quaked because of its inhabitants and the whole House of Jacob was clothed 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 Mysarch through the cities of Judah. He came to Jerusalem with animpressive force,
30 Et post duos annos dierum, misit rex principem tributorum in civitates Juda, et venit Jerusalem cum turba magna.	30 and addressing them with what appeared to be peaceful words, he gained their confidence; thensuddenly he fell on the city, dealing it a terrible blow, and destroying many of the people of Israel.
31 Et locutus est ad eos verba pacifica in dolo : et crediderunt ei.	31 He pil aged the city and set it on fire, tore down its houses and encircling wal ,
32 Et irruit super civitatem repente, et percussit eam plaga magna, et perdidit populum multum ex Israël.	32 took the women and children captive and commandeered the cattle.
33 Et accepit spolia civitatis : et succendit eam igni, et destruxit domos ejus, et muros ejus in circuitu :	33 They then rebuilt the City of David with a great strong wal and strong towers and made this theirCitadel.
34 et captivas duxerunt mulieres, et natos et pecora possederunt.	34 There they installed a brood of sinners, of renegades, 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 arms and provisions, and depositing there the loot they had collected from Jerusalem; theywere to prove a great trouble.
36 et posuerunt illic gentem peccatricem viros iniquos, et convaluerunt in ea : et posuerunt arma, et escas, et congregaverunt spolia Jerusalem :	36 It became an ambush for the sanctuary, an evil adversary for Israel at all times.
37 et reposuerunt illic : et facti sunt in laqueum magnum.	37 They shed innocent blood al round the sanctuary and defiled the sanctuary itself.
38 Et factum est hoc ad insidias sanctificationi, et in diabolum malum in Israël :	38 The citizens of Jerusalem fled because of them, she became a dwelling-place of strangers; estrangedfrom her own offspring, her children forsook her.
39 et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem per circuitum sanctificationis, et contaminaverunt sanctificationem.	39 Her sanctuary became as forsaken as a desert, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbathsinto a mockery, her honour into reproach.
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 dishonour now ful y matched her former glory, her greatness was turned into grief.
41 Sanctificatio ejus desolata est sicut solitudo ; dies festi ejus conversi sunt in luctum, sabbata ejus in opprobrium, honores ejus in nihilum.	41 The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that al were to become a single people,each nation renouncing its particular customs.
42 Secundum gloriam ejus multiplicata est ignominia ejus, et sublimitas ejus conversa est in luctum.	42 Al the gentiles conformed to the king's decree,
43 Et scripsit rex Antiochus omni regno suo ut esset omnis populus unus : et relinqueret unusquisque legem suam.	43 and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.
44 Et consenserunt omnes gentes secundum verbum regis Antiochi :	44 The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adoptcustoms foreign to the country,
45 et multi ex Israël consenserunt servituti ejus, et sacrificaverunt idolis, et coinquinaverunt sabbatum.	45 banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts,
46 Et misit rex libros per manus nuntiorum in Jerusalem, et in omnes civitates Juda, ut sequerentur leges gentium terræ,	46 defiling the sanctuary and everything holy,
47 et prohiberent holocausta et sacrificia, et placationes fieri in templo Dei,	47 building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts,
48 et prohiberent celebrari sabbatum, et dies solemnes :	48 leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to al kinds of impurity and abomination,
49 et jussit coinquinari sancta, et sanctum populum Israël.	49 so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it.
50 Et jussit ædificari aras, et templa, et idola, et immolari carnes suillas, et pecora communia,	50 Anyone not obeying the king's command was to 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 Writing in such terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the whole peopleand directed al the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city by city.
52 et quicumque non fecissent secundum verbum regis Antiochi, morerentur.	52 Many of the people -- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed evil inthe country,
53 Secundum omnia verba hæc scripsit omni regno suo : et præposuit principes populo, qui hæc fieri cogerent.	53 forcing Israel into hiding in any possible place of refuge.
54 Et jusserunt civitatibus Juda sacrificare.	54 On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of thealtar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah
55 Et congregati sunt multi de populo ad eos qui dereliquerant legem Domini, et fecerunt mala super terram :	55 and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 et effugaverunt populum Israël in abditis, et in absconditis fugitivorum locis.	56 Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned.
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 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, theking's decree sentenced him to death.
58 et ante januas domorum et in plateis incendebant thura, et sacrificabant :	58 Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel.
59 et libros legis Dei combusserunt igni, scindentes eos :	59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar ofburnt offering.
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 according to the edict
61 In virtute sua faciebant hæc populo Israël, qui inveniebatur in omni mense et mense in civitatibus.	61 with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who hadperformed the circumcision were executed with them.
62 Et quinta et vigesima die mensis sacrificabant super aram, quæ erat contra altare.	62 Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food.
63 Et mulieres, quæ circumcidebant filios suos, trucidabantur secundum jussum regis Antiochi,	63 They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, andthey were executed.
64 et suspendebant pueros a cervicibus per universas domos eorum : et eos, qui circumciderant illos, trucidabant.	64 It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.
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.