Secondus Machabaeorum 12

VULGATA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 His factis pactionibus, Lysias pergebat ad regem, Judæi autem agriculturæ operam dabant.	1 A short time after this Lysias the king's lieutenant, and cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with what had happened,
2 Sed hi qui resederant, Timotheus, et Apollonius Gennæi filius, sed et Hieronymus, et Demophon super hos, et Nicanor Cypriarches, non sinebant eos in silentio agere et quiete.	2 Gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a habitation of the Gentiles :
3 Joppitæ vero tale quoddam flagitium perpetrarunt : rogaverunt Judæos cum quibus habitabant, ascendere scaphas quas paraverant, cum uxoribus et filiis, quasi nullis inimicitiis inter eos subjacentibus.	3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:
4 Secundum commune itaque decretum civitatis, et ipsis acquiescentibus, pacisque causa nihil suspectum habentibus : cum in altum processissent, submerserunt non minus ducentos.	4 Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
5 Quam crudelitatem Judas in suæ gentis homines factam ut cognovit, præcepit viris qui erant cum ipso : et invocato justo judice Deo,	5 So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid siege to that fortress.
6 venit adversus interfectores fratrum, et portum quidem noctu succendit, scaphas exussit, eos autem qui ab igne refugerant, gladio peremit.	6 But when Machabeus and they that were with him, understood that the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to save Israel.
7 Et cum hæc ita egisset, discessit quasi iterum reversurus, et universos Joppitas eradicaturus.	7 Then Machabeus himself, first taking his arms, exhorted the rest to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour their brethren.
8 Sed cum cognovisset et eos qui erant Jamniæ, velle pari modo facere habitantibus secum Judæis,	8 And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, there appeared at Jerusatem a horseman going before them in white clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear.
9 Jamnitis quoque nocte supervenit, et portum cum navibus succendit : ita ut lumen ignis appareret Jerosolymis a stadiis ducentis quadraginta.	9 Then they all together blessed merciful Lord, and took great courage, being ready to break through not only men, but also the fiercest beasts, walls of iron.
10 Inde cum jam abiissent novem stadiis, et iter facerent ad Timotheum, commiserunt cum eo Arabes quinque millia viri, et equites quingenti.	10 So they went on courageously, having a helper from Peaven, and the who shewed mercy to them.
11 Cumque pugna valida fieret, et auxilio Dei prospere cessisset, residui Arabes victi petebant a Juda dextram sibi dari, promittentes se pascua daturos, et in ceteris profuturos.	11 And rushing violently upon the my, like lions, they slew of them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand hundred horsemen:
12 Judas autem arbitratus vere in multis eos utiles, promisit pacem : dextrisque acceptis, discessere ad tabernacula sua.	12 And put all the rest to flight: many of them being wounded, escaped naked: yea and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and escaped.
13 Aggressus est autem et civitatem quamdam firmam pontibus murisque circumseptam, quæ a turbis habitabatur gentium promiscuarum : cui nomen Casphin.	13 And as he was a man of understanding considering with himself, the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he sent to them:
14 Hi vero qui intus erant, confidentes in stabilitate murorum et apparatu alimoniarum, remissius agebant, maledictis lacessentes Judam et blasphemantes, ac loquentes quæ fas non est.	14 And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend.
15 Machabæus autem, invocato magno mundi Principe, qui sine arietibus et machinis temporibus Jesu præcipitavit Jericho, irruit ferociter muris :	15 Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for the common Food in all things, and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Jews, the king allowed of.
16 et capta civitate per Domini voluntatem, innumerabiles cædes fecit, ita ut adjacens stagnum stadiorum duorum latitudinis sanguine interfectorum fluere videretur.	16 For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this effect: Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting.
17 Inde discesserunt stadia septingenta quinquaginta, et venerunt in Characa ad eos, qui dicuntur Tubianæi, Judæos :	17 John and Abesalom who were sent from you, delivering your writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were signified by them.
18 et Timotheum quidem in illis locis non comprehenderunt, nulloque negotio perfecto regressus est, relicto in quodam loco firmissimo præsidio.	18 Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king I have represented to him: and he hath granted as much as the matter permitted.
19 Dositheus autem et Sosipater, qui erant duces cum Machabæo, peremerunt a Timotheo relictos in præsidio, decem millia viros.	19 If therefore you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good.
20 At Machabæus, ordinatis circum se sex millibus, et constitutis per cohortes, adversus Timotheum processit, habentem secum centum viginti millia peditum, equitumque duo millia quingentos.	20 But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you.
21 Cognito autem Judæ adventu, Timotheus præmisit mulieres et filios, et reliquum apparatum, in præsidium quod Carnion dicitur : erat enim inexpugnabile, et accessu difficile propter locorum angustias.	21 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus.
22 Cumque cohors Judæ prima apparuisset, timor hostibus incussus est ex præsentia Dei, qui universa conspicit : et in fugam versi sunt alius ab alio, ita ut magis a suis dejicerentur, et gladiorum suorum ictibus debilitarentur.	22 But the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus to Lysias his brother, greeting.
23 Judas autem vehementer instabat puniens profanos, et prostravit ex eis triginta millia virorum.	23 Our father being translated amongst the gods, we are desirous that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their own concerns,
24 Ipse vero Timotheus incidit in partes Dosithei et Sosipatris : et multis precibus postulabat ut vivus dimitteretur, eo quod multorum ex Judæis parentes haberet ac fratres, quos morte ejus decipi eveniret.	24 And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of the Greeks, but that they would keep to their own manner of living, and therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws.
25 Et cum fidem dedisset restituturum se eos secundum constitutum, illæsum eum dimiserunt propter fratrum salutem.	25 Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their ancestors.
26 Judas autem egressus est ad Carnion, interfectis viginti quinque millibus.	26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send to them, and grant them peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look to their own affairs.
27 Post horum fugam et necem, movit exercitum ad Ephron civitatem munitam, in qua multitudo diversarum gentium habitabat : et robusti juvenes pro muris consistentes fortiter repugnabant : in hac autem machinæ multæ et telorum erat apparatus.	27 But the king's letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting.
28 Sed cum Omnipotentem invocassent, qui potestate sua vires hostium confringit, ceperunt civitatem : et ex eis qui intus erant, viginti quinque millia prostraverunt.	28 If you are well, you are as we desire, we ourselves also are well.
29 Inde ad civitatem Scytharum abierunt, quæ ab Jerosolymis sexcentis stadiis aberat.	29 Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are with us.
30 Contestantibus autem his, qui apud Scythopolitas erant, Judæis, quod benigne ab eis haberentur, etiam temporibus infelicitatis quod modeste secum egerint :	30 We grant therefore a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus,
31 gratias agentes eis, et exhortati etiam de cetero erga genus suum benignos esse, venerunt Jerosolymam die solemni septimanarum instante.	31 That the Jews may use their own Bind of meats, and their own laws as before, and that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been done by ignorance.
32 Et post Pentecosten abierunt contra Gorgiam præpositum Idumææ.	32 And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
33 Exivit autem cum peditibus tribus millibus, et equitibus quadringentis.	33 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
34 Quibus congressis, contigit paucos ruere Judæorum.	34 The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect. Quintus Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting.
35 Dositheus vero quidam de Bacenoris eques, vir fortis, Gorgiam tenebat : et, cum vellet illum capere vivum, eques quidam de Thracibus irruit in eum, humerumque ejus amputavit : atque ita Gorgias effugit in Maresa.	35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted you, we also have granted.
36 At illis qui cum Esdrim erant diutius pugnantibus et fatigatis, invocavit Judas Dominum adjutorem et ducem belli fieri :	36 But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch.
37 incipiens voce patria, et cum hymnis clamorem extollens, fugam Gorgiæ militibus incussit.	37 And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are.
38 Judas autem collecto exercitu venit in civitatem Odollam : et cum septima dies superveniret, secundum consuetudinem purificati, in eodem loco sabbatum egerunt.	38 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
39 Et sequenti die venit cum suis Judas, ut corpora prostratorum tolleret, et cum parentibus poneret in sepulchris paternis.
40 Invenerunt autem sub tunicis interfectorum de donariis idolorum quæ apud Jamniam fuerunt, a quibus lex prohibet Judæos : omnibus ergo manifestum factum est, ob hanc causam eos corruisse.
41 Omnes itaque benedixerunt justum judicium Domini, qui occulta fecerat manifesta :
42 atque ita ad preces conversi, rogaverunt ut id quod factum erat delictum oblivioni traderetur. At vero fortissimus Judas hortabatur populum conservare se sine peccato, sub oculis videntes quæ facta sunt pro peccatis eorum qui prostrati sunt.
43 Et facta collatione, duodecim millia drachmas argenti misit Jerosolymam offerri pro peccatis mortuorum sacrificium, bene et religiose de resurrectione cogitans
44 (nisi enim eos qui ceciderant resurrecturos speraret, superfluum videretur et vanum orare pro mortuis),
45 et quia considerabat quod hi qui cum pietate dormitionem acceperant, optimam haberent repositam gratiam.
46 Sancta ergo et salubris est cogitatio pro defunctis exorare, ut a peccatis solvantur.