Primus Machabaeorum 3

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Et surrexit Judas, qui vocabatur Machabæus, filius ejus, pro eo :	1 Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took his place.
2 et adjuvabant eum omnes fratres ejus, et universi qui se conjunxerant patri ejus, et præliabantur prælium Israël cum lætitia.	2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father supported him, and they carried on Israel's war joyfully.
3 Et dilatavit gloriam populo suo, et induit se loricam sicut gigas, et succinxit se arma bellica sua in præliis, et protegebat castra gladio suo.	3 He spread abroad the glory of his people, and put on his breastplate like a giant. He armed himself with weapons of war; he planned battles and protected the camp with his sword.
4 Similis factus est leoni in operibus suis, et sicut catulus leonis rugiens in venatione.	4 In his actions he was like a lion, like a young lion roaring for prey.
5 Et persecutus est iniquos perscrutans eos : et qui conturbabant populum suum, eos succendit flammis :	5 He pursued the wicked, hunting them out, and those who troubled his people he destroyed by fire.
6 et repulsi sunt inimici ejus præ timore ejus, et omnes operarii iniquitatis conturbati sunt : et directa est salus in manu ejus.	6 The lawbreakers were cowed by fear of him, and all evildoers were dismayed. By his hand redemption was happily achieved,
7 Et exacerbabat reges multos, et lætificabat Jacob in operibus suis, et in sæculum memoria ejus in benedictione.	7 and he afflicted many kings; He made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his memory is blessed forever.
8 Et perambulavit civitates Juda, et perdidit impios ex eis, et avertit iram ab Israël.	8 He went about the cities of Judah destroying the impious there. He turned away wrath from Israel
9 Et nominatus est usque ad novissimum terræ, et congregavit pereuntes.	9 and was renowned to the ends of the earth; he gathered together those who were perishing.
10 Et congregavit Apollonius gentes, et a Samaria virtutem multam et magnam ad bellandum contra Israël.	10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles, together with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel.
11 Et cognovit Judas, et exiit obviam illi : et percussit, et occidit illum : et ceciderunt vulnerati multi, et reliqui fugerunt.	11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and defeated and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled.
12 Et accepit spolia eorum : et gladium Apollonii abstulit Judas, et erat pugnans in eo omnibus diebus.	12 Their possessions were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who fought with it the rest of his life.
13 Et audivit Seron princeps exercitus Syriæ, quod congregavit Judas congregationem fidelium, et ecclesiam secum,	13 But Seron, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered many about him, an assembly of faithful men ready for war.
14 et ait : Faciam mihi nomen, et glorificabor in regno, et debellabo Judam, et eos qui cum ipso sunt, qui spernebant verbum regis.	14 So he said, "I will make a name for myself and win glory in the kingdom by defeating Judas and his followers, who have despised the king's command."
15 Et præparavit se : et ascenderunt cum eo castra impiorum fortes auxiliarii ut facerent vindictam in filios Israël.	15 And again a large company of renegades advanced with him to help him take revenge on the Israelites.
16 Et appropinquaverunt usque ad Bethoron : et exivit Judas obviam illi cum paucis.	16 When he reached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a few men.
17 Ut autem viderunt exercitum venientem sibi obviam, dixerunt Judæ : Quomodo poterimus pauci pugnare contra multitudinem tantam, et tam fortem, et nos fatigati sumus jejunio hodie ?	17 But when they saw the army coming against them, they said to Judas: "How can we, few as we are, fight such a mighty host as this? Besides, we are weak today from fasting."
18 Et ait Judas : Facile est concludi multos in manus paucorum : et non est differentia in conspectu Dei cæli liberare in multis, et in paucis :	18 But Judas said: "It is easy for many to be overcome by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few;
19 quoniam non in multitudine exercitus victoria belli, sed de cælo fortitudo est.	19 for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven.
20 Ipsi veniunt ad nos in multitudine contumaci, et superbia, ut disperdant nos, et uxores nostras, et filios nostros, et ut spolient nos :	20 With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us;
21 nos vero pugnabimus pro animabus nostris, et legibus nostris :	21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws.
22 et ipse Dominus conteret eos ante faciem nostram : vos autem ne timueritis eos.	22 He himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them."
23 Ut cessavit autem loqui, insiluit in eos subito : et contritus est Seron et exercitus ejus in conspectu ipsius :	23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly upon Seron and his army, who were crushed before him.
24 et persecutus est eum in descensu Bethoron usque in campum, et ceciderunt ex eis octingenti viri, reliqui autem fugerunt in terram Philisthiim.	24 He pursued Seron down the descent of Beth-horon into the plain. About eight hundred of their men fell, and the rest fled to the country of the Philistines.
25 Et cecidit timor Judæ ac fratrum ejus, et formido super omnes gentes in circuitu eorum :	25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and dread fell upon the Gentiles about them.
26 et pervenit ad regem nomen ejus, et de præliis Judæ narrabant omnes gentes.	26 His fame reached the king, and all the Gentiles talked about the battles of Judas.
27 Ut audivit autem rex Antiochus sermones istos, iratus est animo : et misit, et congregavit exercitum universi regni sui, castra fortia valde :	27 When Antiochus heard about these events, he was angry; so he ordered a muster of all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army.
28 et aperuit ærarium suum, et dedit stipendia exercitui in annum : et mandavit illis ut essent parati ad omnia.	28 He opened his treasure chests, gave his soldiers a year's pay, and commanded them to be prepared for anything.
29 Et vidit quod defecit pecunia de thesauris suis, et tributa regionis modica propter dissensionem et plagam quam fecit in terra, ut tolleret legitima, quæ erant a primis diebus :	29 He then found that this exhausted the money in his treasury; moreover the income from the province was small, because of the dissension and distress he had brought upon the land by abolishing the laws which had been in effect from of old.
30 et timuit ne non haberet ut semel et bis, in sumptus et donaria, quæ dederat ante larga manu : et abundaverat super reges qui ante eum fuerant.	30 He feared that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough for his expenses and for the gifts that he had previously given with a more liberal hand than the preceding kings.
31 Et consternatus erat animo valde, et cogitavit ire in Persidem, et accipere tributa regionum, et congregare argentum multum.	31 Greatly perplexed, he decided to go to Persia and levy tribute on those provinces, and so raise a large sum of money.
32 Et reliquit Lysiam hominem nobilem de genere regali, super negotia regia, a flumine Euphrate usque ad flumen Ægypti,	32 He left Lysias, a nobleman of royal blood, in charge of the king's affairs from the Euphrates River to the frontier of Egypt,
33 et ut nutriret Antiochum filium suum, donec rediret.	33 and commissioned him to take care of his son Antiochus until his own return.
34 Et tradidit ei medium exercitum, et elephantos : et mandavit ei de omnibus quæ volebat, et de inhabitantibus Judæam, et Jerusalem :	34 He entrusted to him half of the army, and the elephants, and gave him instructions concerning everything he wanted done. As for the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem,
35 et ut mitteret ad eos exercitum ad conterendam et extirpandam virtutem Israël, et reliquias Jerusalem, et auferendam memoriam eorum de loco :	35 Lysias was to send an army against them to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem and efface their memory from the land.
36 et ut constitueret habitatores filios alienigenas in omnibus finibus eorum, et sorte distribueret terram eorum.	36 He was to settle foreigners in all their territory and distribute their land by lot.
37 Et rex assumpsit partem exercitus residui, et exivit ab Antiochia civitate regni sui anno centesimo et quadragesimo septimo : et transfretavit Euphraten flumen, et perambulabat superiores regiones.	37 The king took the remaining half of the army and set out from Antioch, his capital, in the year one hundred and forty-seven; he crossed the Euphrates River and advanced inland.
38 Et elegit Lysias Ptolemæum filium Dorymini, et Nicanorem, et Gorgiam, viros potentes ex amicis regis :	38 Lysias chose Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, capable men among the King's Friends,
39 et misit cum eis quadraginta millia virorum, et septem millia equitum, ut venirent in terram Juda, et disperderent eam secundum verbum regis.	39 and with them he sent forty thousand men and seven thousand cavalry to invade the land of Judah and ravage it according to the king's orders.
40 Et processerunt cum universa virtute sua, et venerunt, et applicuerunt Emmaum in terra campestri.	40 Setting out with all their forces, they came and pitched their camp near Emmaus in the plain.
41 Et audierunt mercatores regionum nomen eorum : et acceperunt argentum, et aurum multum valde, et pueros, et venerunt in castra ut acciperent filios Israël in servos, et additi sunt ad eos exercitus Syriæ, et terræ alienigenarum.	41 When the merchants of the country heard of their fame, they came to the camp, bringing fetters and a large sum of silver and gold, to buy the Israelites as slaves. A force from Idumea and from Philistia joined with them.
42 Et vidit Judas et fratres ejus, quia multiplicata sunt mala, et exercitus applicabant ad fines eorum : et cognoverunt verba regis, quæ mandavit populo facere in interitum et consummationem :	42 Judas and his brothers saw that the situation had become critical now that armies were encamped within their territory; they knew of the orders which the king had given to destroy and utterly wipe out the people.
43 et dixerunt unusquisque ad proximum suum : Erigamus dejectionem populi nostri, et pugnemus pro populo nostro, et sanctis nostris.	43 So they said to one another, "Let us restore our people from their ruined estate, and fight for our people and our sanctuary!"
44 Et congregatus est conventus ut essent parati in prælium, et ut orarent et peterent misericordiam et miserationes.	44 The assembly gathered together to prepare for battle and to pray and implore mercy and compassion.
45 Et Jerusalem non habitabatur, sed erat sicut desertum : non erat qui ingrederetur et egrederetur de natis ejus. Et sanctum conculcabatur : et filii alienigenarum erant in arce ; ibi erat habitatio gentium : et ablata est voluptas a Jacob, et defecit ibi tibia et cithara.	45 Jerusalem was uninhabited, like a desert; not one of her children entered or came out. The sanctuary was trampled on, and foreigners were in the citadel; it was a habitation of Gentiles. Joy had disappeared from Jacob, and the flute and the harp were silent.
46 Et congregati sunt, et venerunt in Maspha contra Jerusalem, quia locus orationis erat in Maspha ante in Israël.	46 Thus they assembled and went to Mizpah near Jerusalem, because there was formerly at Mizpah a place of prayer for Israel.
47 Et jejunaverunt illa die, et induerunt se ciliciis, et cinerem imposuerunt capiti suo, et disciderunt vestimenta sua :	47 That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes.
48 et expanderunt libros legis, de quibus scrutabantur gentes similitudinem simulacrorum suorum :	48 They unrolled the scroll of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.
49 et attulerunt ornamenta sacerdotalia, et primitias, et decimas : et suscitaverunt Nazaræos, qui impleverant dies,	49 They brought with them the priestly vestments, the first fruits, and the tithes; and they brought forward the nazirites who had completed the time of their vows.
50 et clamaverunt voce magna in cælum, dicentes : Quid faciemus istis, et quo eos ducemus ?	50 And they cried aloud to Heaven: "What shall we do with these men, and where shall we take them?
51 et sancta tua conculcata sunt, et contaminata sunt, et sacerdotes tui facti sunt in luctum, et in humilitatem :	51 For your sanctuary has been trampled on and profaned, and your priests are in mourning and humiliation.
52 et ecce nationes convenerunt adversum nos ut nos disperdant : tu scis quæ cogitant in nos.	52 Now the Gentiles are gathered together against us to destroy us. You know what they plot against us.
53 Quomodo poterimus subsistere ante faciem eorum, nisi tu, Deus, adjuves nos ?	53 How shall we be able to resist them unless you help us?"
54 Et tubis exclamaverunt voce magna.	54 Then they blew the trumpets and cried out loudly.
55 Et post hæc constituit Judas duces populi, tribunos, et centuriones, et pentacontarchos, et decuriones.	55 After this Judas appointed officers among the people, over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens.
56 Et dixit his, qui ædificabant domos, et sponsabant uxores, et plantabant vineas, et formidolosis, ut redirent unusquisque in domum suam secundum legem.	56 He proclaimed that those who were building houses, or were just married, or were planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, could each return to his home, according to the law.
57 Et moverunt castra, et collocaverunt ad austrum Emmaum.	57 Then the army moved off, and they camped to the south of Emmaus.
58 Et ait Judas : Accingimini, et estote filii potentes, et estote parati in mane, ut pugnetis adversus nationes has quæ convenerunt adversus nos disperdere nos, et sancta nostra :	58 Judas said: "Arm yourselves and be brave; in the morning be ready to fight these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.
59 quoniam melius est nos mori in bello, quam videre mala gentis nostræ, et sanctorum.	59 It is better for us to die in battle than to witness the ruin of our nation and our sanctuary. Whatever Heaven wills, he will do."
60 Sicut autem fuerit voluntas in cælo, sic fiat.