Primus Machabaeorum 2

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 In diebus illis surrexit Mathathias filius Joannis filii Simeonis, sacerdos ex filiis Joarib, ab Jerusalem, et consedit in monte Modin :	1 About then, Mattathias son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the line of Joarib, left Jerusalem andsettled in Modein.
2 et habebat filios quinque, Joannem, qui cognominabatur Gaddis :	2 He had five sons, John known as Gaddi,
3 et Simonem, qui cognominabatur Thasi :	3 Simon cal ed Thassi,
4 et Judam, qui vocabatur Machabæus :	4 Judas cal ed Maccabaeus,
5 et Eleazarum, qui cognominabatur Abaron : et Jonathan, qui cognominabatur Apphus :	5 Eleazar, cal ed Avaran, and Jonathan cal ed Apphus.
6 hi viderunt mala, quæ fiebant in populo Juda, et in Jerusalem.	6 When he saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and 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, 'Alas that I should have been born to witness the ruin of my people and the ruin of the HolyCity, and to sit by while she is delivered over to her enemies, and the sanctuary into the hand of foreigners.
8 Sancta in manu extraneorum facta sunt : templum ejus sicut homo ignobilis.	8 'Her Temple has become like someone of no repute,
9 Vasa gloriæ ejus captiva abducta sunt : trucidati sunt senes ejus in plateis, et juvenes ejus ceciderunt in gladio inimicorum.	9 the vessels that were her glory have been carried off as booty, her babies have been slaughtered inher streets, her young men by the enemy's sword.
10 Quæ gens non hæreditavit regnum ejus et non obtinuit spolia ejus ?	10 Is there a nation that has not claimed a share of her royal prerogatives, that has not taken some of herspoils?
11 Omnis compositio ejus ablata est. Quæ erat libera, facta est ancilla.	11 Al her ornaments have been snatched from her, her former freedom has become slavery.
12 Et ecce sancta nostra, et pulchritudo nostra, et claritas nostra desolata est, et coinquinaverunt ea gentes.	12 See how the Holy Place, our beauty, our glory, is now laid waste, see how the gentiles have profanedit!
13 Quo ergo nobis adhuc vivere ?	13 What have we left to live for?'
14 Et scidit vestimenta sua Mathathias, et filii ejus : et operuerunt se ciliciis, et planxerunt valde.	14 Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and observed deep mourning.
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 king's commissioners who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein for thesacrifices.
16 Et multi de populo Israël consentientes accesserunt ad eos : sed Mathathias et filii ejus constanter steterunt.	16 Many Israelites gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew 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 The king's commissioners then addressed Mattathias as fol ows, 'You are a respected leader, a greatman in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you.
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 Be the first to step forward and conform to the king's decree, as all the nations have done, and theleaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shal be reckoned among the Friends of theKing, you and your sons wil be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.'
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 Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, 'Even if every nation living in the king's dominions obeys him,each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees,
20 ego et filii mei, et fratres mei, obediemus legi patrum nostrorum :	20 I, my sons and my brothers will stil fol ow the covenant of our ancestors.
21 propitius sit nobis Deus : non est nobis utile relinquere legem, et justitias Dei :	21 May Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances.
22 non audiemus verba regis Antiochi, nec sacrificabimus transgredientes legis nostræ mandata, ut eamus altera via.	22 As for the king's orders, we will not fol ow them: we shal not swerve from our own religion either toright or to left.'
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 speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of al to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modeinas the royal edict required.
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 this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent to hislegitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on 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 killed the king's commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and toredown the altar.
26 et zelatus est legem, sicut fecit Phinees Zamri filio Salomi.	26 In his zeal for the Law he acted as Phinehas had against 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 town, shouting at the top of his voice, 'Let everyone who has anyzeal for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.'
28 Et fugit ipse, et filii ejus in montes, et reliquerunt quæcumque habebant in civitate.	28 Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving al their possessions behind in the town.
29 Tunc descenderunt multi quærentes judicium, et justitiam, in desertum :	29 Many people who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there,
30 et sederunt ibi ipsi, et filii eorum, et mulieres eorum, et pecora eorum : quoniam inundaverunt super eos mala.	30 taking with them their sons, their wives and their cattle, so oppressive had their sufferings become.
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 Word was brought to the royal officials and forces stationed in Jerusalem, in the City of David, thatthose who had repudiated the king's edict had gone down to the hiding places in the desert.
32 Et statim perrexerunt ad eos, et constituerunt adversus eos prælium in die sabbatorum,	32 A strong detachment went after them, and when it came up with them ranged itself against them inbattle formation, preparing to attack them on the Sabbath day,
33 et dixerunt ad eos : Resistitis et nunc adhuc ? exite, et facite secundum verbum regis Antiochi, et vivetis.	33 and said, 'Enough of this! Come out and do as the king orders and you will be spared.'
34 Et dixerunt : Non exibimus, neque faciemus verbum regis, ut polluamus diem sabbatorum.	34 The others, however, replied, 'We refuse to come out, and we wil not obey the king's orders andprofane the Sabbath day.'
35 Et concitaverunt adversus eos prælium.	35 The royal forces at once went into action,
36 Et non responderunt eis, nec lapidem miserunt in eos, nec oppilaverunt loca occulta,	36 but the others offered no opposition; not a stone was thrown, there was no barricading of the hidingplaces.
37 dicentes : Moriamur omnes in simplicitate nostra : et testes erunt super nos cælum et terra, quod injuste perditis nos.	37 They only said, 'Let us all die innocent; let heaven and earth bear witness that you are massacring uswith no pretence of justice.'
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 The attack was pressed home on the Sabbath itself, and they were slaughtered, with their wives andchildren and cattle, to the number of one thousand persons.
39 Et cognovit Mathathias et amici ejus, et luctum habuerunt super eos valde.	39 When the news reached Mattathias and his friends, they mourned them bitterly
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 and said to one another, 'If we al do as our brothers have done, and refuse to fight the gentiles for ourlives and institutions, they wil only destroy us the sooner 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 So then and there they came to this decision, 'If anyone attacks us on the Sabbath day, whoever hemay be, we shall resist him; we must not al be kil ed, as our brothers were in the hiding places.'
42 Tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Assidæorum fortis viribus ex Israël, omnis voluntarius in lege :	42 Soon they were joined by the Hasidaean party, stout fighting men of Israel, each one a volunteer onthe side of the Law.
43 et omnes, qui fugiebant a malis, additi sunt ad eos, et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum.	43 Al the refugees from the persecution ral ied to them, giving them added support.
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 organised themselves into an armed force, striking down the sinners in their anger, and therenegades in their fury, and those who escaped them fled to the gentiles for safety.
45 Et circuivit Mathathias et amici ejus, et destruxerunt aras :	45 Mattathias and his friends made a tour, overthrowing the altars
46 et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israël : et in fortitudine.	46 and forcibly circumcising al the boys they found uncircumcised in the territories of Israel.
47 Et persecuti sunt filios superbiæ, et prosperatum est opus in manibus eorum :	47 They hunted down the upstarts and managed their campaign to good effect.
48 et obtinuerunt legem de manibus gentium, et de manibus regum, et non dederant cornu peccatori.	48 They wrested the Law out of the control of the gentiles and the kings and reduced the sinners toimpotence.
49 Et appropinquaverunt dies Mathathiæ moriendi, et dixit filiis suis : Nunc confortata est superbia, et castigatio, et tempus eversionis, et ira indignationis.	49 As the days of Mattathias were drawing to a close, he said to his sons, 'Arrogance and outrage arenow in the ascendant; it is a period of turmoil and bitter hatred.
50 Nunc ergo, o filii, æmulatores estote legis, et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum vestrorum,	50 This is the time, my children, for you to have a burning zeal for the Law and to give your lives for thecovenant of our ancestors.
51 et mementote operum patrum, quæ fecerunt in generationibus suis : et accipietis gloriam magnam, et nomen æternum.	51 Remember the deeds performed by our ancestors, each in his generation, and you wil win greathonour and everlasting renown.
52 Abraham nonne in tentatione inventus est fidelis, et reputatum est ei ad justitiam ?	52 Was not Abraham tested and found faithful, was that not considered as justifying him?
53 Joseph in tempore angustiæ suæ custodivit mandatum, et factus est dominus Ægypti.	53 Joseph in the time of his distress maintained the Law, and so became lord of Egypt.
54 Phinees pater noster, zelando zelum Dei, accepit testamentum sacerdotii æterni.	54 Phinehas, our father, in return for his burning zeal, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood.
55 Jesus dum implevit verbum, factus est dux in Israël.	55 Joshua, for carrying out his task, became judge of Israel.
56 Caleb dum testificatur in ecclesia, accepit hæreditatem.	56 Caleb, for his testimony before the assembled people, received an inheritance in the land.
57 David in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in sæcula.	57 David for his generous heart inherited the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58 Elias, dum zelat zelum legis, receptus est in cælum.	58 Elijah for his consuming fervour for the Law was caught up to heaven itself.
59 Ananias et Azarias et Misaël credentes, liberati sunt de flamma.	59 Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their fidelity, were saved from the flame.
60 Daniel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de ore leonum.	60 Daniel for his singleness of heart was rescued from the lion's jaws.
61 Et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem : quia omnes qui sperant in eum, non infirmantur.	61 Know then that, generation after generation, no one who hopes in him will be overcome.
62 Et a verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis, quia gloria ejus stercus et vermis est :	62 Do not fear the threats of the sinner, al his brave show must come to the dunghill and the worms.
63 hodie extollitur, et cras non invenietur : quia conversus est in terram suam, et cogitatio ejus periit.	63 Exalted today, tomorrow he is nowhere to be found, for he has returned to the dust he came from andhis scheming is brought to nothing.
64 Vos ergo filii, confortamini, et viriliter agite in lege : quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis.	64 My children, be resolute and courageous for the Law, for it wil bring you glory.
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, I know he is a man of sound judgement. Listen to him al your lives; lethim take your father's place.
66 Et Judas Machabæus, fortis viribus a juventute sua, sit vobis princeps militiæ, et ipse aget bellum populi.	66 Judas Maccabaeus, strong and brave from his youth, let him be your general and conduct the waragainst the gentiles.
67 Et adducetis ad vos omnes factores legis : et vindicate vindictam populi vestri.	67 The rest of you are to enrol in your ranks al those who keep the Law, and to assure the vengeance ofyour people.
68 Retribuite retributionem gentibus, et intendite in præceptum legis.	68 Pay back the gentiles to the ful , and hold fast to the ordinance of the Law.'
69 Et benedixit eos, et appositus est ad patres suos.	69 Then he blessed them and was joined to his ancestors.
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 146 and was buried in his ancestral tomb at Modein, and al Israel mourned himdeeply.