Primus Machabaeorum 2

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In diebus illis surrexit Mathathias filius Joannis filii Simeonis, sacerdos ex filiis Joarib, ab Jerusalem, et consedit in monte Modin :	1 In those days Mattathias, son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the family of Joarib, left Jerusalem and settled in Modein.
2 et habebat filios quinque, Joannem, qui cognominabatur Gaddis :	2 He had five sons: John, who was called Gaddi;
3 et Simonem, qui cognominabatur Thasi :	3 Simon, who was called Thassi;
4 et Judam, qui vocabatur Machabæus :	4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus;
5 et Eleazarum, qui cognominabatur Abaron : et Jonathan, qui cognominabatur Apphus :	5 Eleazar, who was called Avaran; and Jonathan, who was called Apphus.
6 hi viderunt mala, quæ fiebant in populo Juda, et in Jerusalem.	6 When he saw the sacrileges that were being committed in Judah and in Jerusalem,
7 Et dixit Mathathias : Væ mihi ! ut quid natus sum videre contritionem populi mei, et contritionem civitatis sanctæ, et sedere illic, cum datur in manibus inimicorum ?	7 he said: "Woe is me! Why was I born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city, and to sit idle while it is given into the hands of enemies, and the sanctuary into the hands of strangers?
8 Sancta in manu extraneorum facta sunt : templum ejus sicut homo ignobilis.	8 "Her temple has become like a man disgraced,
9 Vasa gloriæ ejus captiva abducta sunt : trucidati sunt senes ejus in plateis, et juvenes ejus ceciderunt in gladio inimicorum.	9 her glorious ornaments have been carried off as spoils, Her infants have been murdered in her streets, her young men by the sword of the enemy.
10 Quæ gens non hæreditavit regnum ejus et non obtinuit spolia ejus ?	10 What nation has not taken its share of her realm, and laid its hand on her possessions?
11 Omnis compositio ejus ablata est. Quæ erat libera, facta est ancilla.	11 All her adornment has been taken away. From being free, she has become a slave.
12 Et ecce sancta nostra, et pulchritudo nostra, et claritas nostra desolata est, et coinquinaverunt ea gentes.	12 We see our sanctuary and our beauty and our glory laid waste, And the Gentiles have defiled them!
13 Quo ergo nobis adhuc vivere ?	13 Why are we still alive?"
14 Et scidit vestimenta sua Mathathias, et filii ejus : et operuerunt se ciliciis, et planxerunt valde.	14 Then Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and mourned bitterly.
15 Et venerunt illuc qui missi erant a rege Antiocho, ut cogerent eos, qui confugerant in civitatem Modin, immolare, et accendere thura, et a lege Dei discedere.	15 The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
16 Et multi de populo Israël consentientes accesserunt ad eos : sed Mathathias et filii ejus constanter steterunt.	16 Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
17 Et respondentes qui missi erant ab Antiocho, dixerunt Mathathiæ : Princeps, et clarissimus et magnus es in hac civitate, et ornatus filiis et fratribus :	17 Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: "You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kinsmen.
18 ergo accede prior, et fac jussum regis, sicut fecerunt omnes gentes, et viri Juda, et qui remanserunt in Jerusalem : et eris tu, et filii tui, inter amicos regis, et amplificatus auro, et argento, et muneribus multis.	18 Come now, be the first to obey the king's command, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends, and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
19 Et respondit Mathathias, et dixit magna voce : Etsi omnes gentes regi Antiocho obediunt, ut discedat unusquisque a servitute legis patrum suorum, et consentiat mandatis ejus :	19 But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: "Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king's orders,
20 ego et filii mei, et fratres mei, obediemus legi patrum nostrorum :	20 yet I and my sons and my kinsmen will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
21 propitius sit nobis Deus : non est nobis utile relinquere legem, et justitias Dei :	21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
22 non audiemus verba regis Antiochi, nec sacrificabimus transgredientes legis nostræ mandata, ut eamus altera via.	22 We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree."
23 Et ut cessavit loqui verba hæc, accessit quidam Judæus in omnium oculis sacrificare idolis super aram in civitate Modin, secundum jussum regis :	23 As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king's order.
24 et vidit Mathathias, et doluit, et contremuerunt renes ejus, et accensus est furor ejus secundum judicium legis, et insiliens trucidavit eum super aram :	24 When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
25 sed et virum, quem rex Antiochus miserat, qui cogebat immolare, occidit in ipso tempore, et aram destruxit :	25 At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
26 et zelatus est legem, sicut fecit Phinees Zamri filio Salomi.	26 Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
27 Et exclamavit Mathathias voce magna in civitate, dicens : Omnis qui zelum habet legis, statuens testamentum, exeat post me.	27 Then Mattathias went through the city shouting, "Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
28 Et fugit ipse, et filii ejus in montes, et reliquerunt quæcumque habebant in civitate.	28 Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
29 Tunc descenderunt multi quærentes judicium, et justitiam, in desertum :	29 Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom went out into the desert to settle there,
30 et sederunt ibi ipsi, et filii eorum, et mulieres eorum, et pecora eorum : quoniam inundaverunt super eos mala.	30 they and their sons, their wives and their cattle, because misfortunes pressed so hard on them.
31 Et renuntiatum est viris regis, et exercitui qui erat in Jerusalem civitate David, quoniam discessissent viri quidam, qui dissipaverunt mandatum regis, in loca occulta in deserto, et abiissent post illos multi.	31 It was reported to the officers and soldiers of the king who were in the City of David, in Jerusalem, that certain men who had flouted the king's order had gone out to the hiding places in the desert.
32 Et statim perrexerunt ad eos, et constituerunt adversus eos prælium in die sabbatorum,	32 Many hurried out after them, and having caught up with them, camped opposite and prepared to attack them on the sabbath.
33 et dixerunt ad eos : Resistitis et nunc adhuc ? exite, et facite secundum verbum regis Antiochi, et vivetis.	33 "Enough of this!" the pursuers said to them. "Come out and obey the king's command, and your lives will be spared."
34 Et dixerunt : Non exibimus, neque faciemus verbum regis, ut polluamus diem sabbatorum.	34 But they replied, "We will not come out, nor will we obey the king's command to profane the sabbath."
35 Et concitaverunt adversus eos prælium.	35 Then the enemy attacked them at once;
36 Et non responderunt eis, nec lapidem miserunt in eos, nec oppilaverunt loca occulta,	36 but they did not retaliate; they neither threw stones, nor blocked up their own hiding places.
37 dicentes : Moriamur omnes in simplicitate nostra : et testes erunt super nos cælum et terra, quod injuste perditis nos.	37 They said, "Let us all die without reproach; heaven and earth are our witnesses that you destroy us unjustly."
38 Et intulerunt illis bellum sabbatis : et mortui sunt ipsi, et uxores eorum, et filii eorum, et pecora eorum usque ad mille animas hominum.	38 So the officers and soldiers attacked them on the sabbath, and they died with their wives, their children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
39 Et cognovit Mathathias et amici ejus, et luctum habuerunt super eos valde.	39 When Mattathias and his friends heard of it, they mourned deeply for them.
40 Et dixit vir proximo suo : Si omnes fecerimus sicut fratres nostri fecerunt, et non pugnaverimus adversus gentes pro animabus nostris et justificationibus nostris, nunc citius disperdent nos a terra.	40 "If we all do as our kinsmen have done," they said to one another, "and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our traditions, they will soon destroy us from the earth."
41 Et cogitaverunt in die illa, dicentes : Omnis homo, quicumque venerit ad nos in bello die sabbatorum, pugnemus adversus eum : et non moriemur omnes, sicut mortui sunt fratres nostri in occultis.	41 On that day they came to this decision: "Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kinsmen died in the hiding places."
42 Tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Assidæorum fortis viribus ex Israël, omnis voluntarius in lege :	42 Then they were joined by a group of Hasideans, valiant Israelites, all of them devout followers of the law.
43 et omnes, qui fugiebant a malis, additi sunt ad eos, et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum.	43 And all those who were fleeing from the disaster joined them and supported them.
44 Et collegerunt exercitum, et percusserunt peccatores in ira sua, et viros iniquos in indignatione sua : et ceteri fugerunt ad nationes, ut evaderent.	44 They gathered an army and struck down sinners in their anger and lawbreakers in their wrath, and the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.
45 Et circuivit Mathathias et amici ejus, et destruxerunt aras :	45 Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the pagan altars;
46 et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israël : et in fortitudine.	46 they also enforced circumcision for any uncircumcised boys whom they found in the territory of Israel.
47 Et persecuti sunt filios superbiæ, et prosperatum est opus in manibus eorum :	47 They put to flight the arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands.
48 et obtinuerunt legem de manibus gentium, et de manibus regum, et non dederant cornu peccatori.	48 They saved the law from the hands of the Gentiles and of the kings and did not let the sinner triumph.
49 Et appropinquaverunt dies Mathathiæ moriendi, et dixit filiis suis : Nunc confortata est superbia, et castigatio, et tempus eversionis, et ira indignationis.	49 When the time came for Mattathias to die, he said to his sons: "Arrogance and scorn have now grown strong; it is a time of disaster and violent anger.
50 Nunc ergo, o filii, æmulatores estote legis, et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum vestrorum,	50 Therefore, my sons, be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.
51 et mementote operum patrum, quæ fecerunt in generationibus suis : et accipietis gloriam magnam, et nomen æternum.	51 "Remember the deeds that our fathers did in their times, and you shall win great glory and an everlasting name.
52 Abraham nonne in tentatione inventus est fidelis, et reputatum est ei ad justitiam ?	52 Was not Abraham found faithful in trial, and it was reputed to him as uprightness?
53 Joseph in tempore angustiæ suæ custodivit mandatum, et factus est dominus Ægypti.	53 Joseph, when in distress, kept the commandment, and he became master of Egypt.
54 Phinees pater noster, zelando zelum Dei, accepit testamentum sacerdotii æterni.	54 Phinehas our father, for his burning zeal, received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Jesus dum implevit verbum, factus est dux in Israël.	55 Joshua, for executing his commission, became a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb dum testificatur in ecclesia, accepit hæreditatem.	56 Caleb, for bearing witness before the assembly, received an inheritance in the land.
57 David in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in sæcula.	57 David, for his piety, received as a heritage a throne of everlasting royalty.
58 Elias, dum zelat zelum legis, receptus est in cælum.	58 Elijah, for his burning zeal for the law, was taken up to heaven.
59 Ananias et Azarias et Misaël credentes, liberati sunt de flamma.	59 Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their faith, were saved from the fire.
60 Daniel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de ore leonum.	60 Daniel, for his innocence, was delivered from the jaws of lions.
61 Et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem : quia omnes qui sperant in eum, non infirmantur.	61 And so, consider this from generation to generation, that none who hope in him shall fail in strength.
62 Et a verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis, quia gloria ejus stercus et vermis est :	62 Do not fear the words of a sinful man, for his glory ends in corruption and worms.
63 hodie extollitur, et cras non invenietur : quia conversus est in terram suam, et cogitatio ejus periit.	63 Today he is exalted, and tomorrow he is not to be found, because he has returned to his dust, and his schemes have perished.
64 Vos ergo filii, confortamini, et viriliter agite in lege : quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis.	64 Children! be courageous and strong in keeping the law, for by it you shall be glorified.
65 Et ecce Simon frater vester, scio quod vir consilii est : ipsum audite semper, et ipse erit vobis pater.	65 "Here is your brother Simeon who I know is a wise man; listen to him always, and he will be a father to you.
66 Et Judas Machabæus, fortis viribus a juventute sua, sit vobis princeps militiæ, et ipse aget bellum populi.	66 And Judas Maccabeus, a warrior from his youth, shall be the leader of your army and direct the war against the nations.
67 Et adducetis ad vos omnes factores legis : et vindicate vindictam populi vestri.	67 You shall also gather about you all who observe the law, and you shall avenge the wrongs of your people.
68 Retribuite retributionem gentibus, et intendite in præceptum legis.	68 Pay back the Gentiles what they deserve, and observe the precepts of the law."
69 Et benedixit eos, et appositus est ad patres suos.	69 Then he blessed them, and he was united with his fathers.
70 Et defunctus est anno centesimo et quadragesimo sexto : et sepultus est a filiis suis in sepulchris patrum suorum in Modin, et planxerunt eum omnis Israël planctu magno.	70 He died in the year one hundred and forty-six, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers in Modein, and all Israel mourned him greatly.