Secondus Machabaeorum 14

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Sed post triennii tempus, cognovit Judas et qui cum eo erant Demetrium Seleuci cum multitudine valida et navibus per portam Tripolis ascendisse ad loca opportuna,	1 Three years later, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had sailed into the port of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet,
2 et tenuisse regiones adversus Antiochum, et ducem ejus Lysiam.	2 and that he had occupied the country, after doing away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.
3 Alcimus autem quidam, qui summus sacerdos fuerat, sed voluntarie coinquinatus est temporibus commistionis, considerans nullo modo sibi esse salutem neque accessum ad altare,	3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, who had willfully incurred defilement at the time of the revolt, realized that there was no way for him to salvage his position and regain access to the holy altar.
4 venit ad regem Demetrium centesimo quinquagesimo anno, offerens ei coronam auream et palmam, super hæc et thallos, qui templi esse videbantur. Et ipsa quidem die siluit.	4 So he went to King Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that occasion he kept quiet.
5 Tempus autem opportunum dementiæ suæ nactus, convocatus a Demetrio ad consilium, et interrogatus quibus rebus et consiliis Judæi niterentur,	5 But he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when he was invited to the council by Demetrius and questioned about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews. He replied:
6 respondit : Ipsi qui dicuntur Assidæi Judæorum, quibus præest Judas Machabæus, bella nutriunt, et seditiones movent, nec patiuntur regnum esse quietum :	6 "Those Jews called Hasideans, led by Judas Maccabeus, are warmongers, who stir up sedition and keep the kingdom from enjoying peace and quiet.
7 nam et ego defraudatus parentum gloria (dico autem summo sacerdotio) huc veni :	7 For this reason, now that I am deprived of my ancestral dignity, that is to say, the high priesthood, I have come here--
8 primo quidem utilitatibus regis fidem servans, secundo autem etiam civibus consulens : nam illorum pravitate universum genus nostrum non minime vexatur.	8 first, out of my genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of consideration for my own countrymen, since our entire nation is suffering great affliction from the unreasonable conduct of the people just mentioned.
9 Sed oro his singulis, o rex, cognitis, et regioni et generi, secundum humanitatem tuam pervulgatam omnibus, prospice :	9 When you have informed yourself in detail on these matters, O king, act in the interest of our country and its hard-pressed people with the same gracious consideration that you show toward all.
10 nam, quamdiu superest Judas, impossibile est pacem esse negotiis.	10 As long as Judas is around, it is impossible for the state to enjoy peace."
11 Talibus autem ab hoc dictis, et ceteri amici hostiliter se habentes adversus Judam, inflammaverunt Demetrium.	11 When he had said this, the other Friends who were hostile to Judas quickly added fuel to Demetrius' indignation.
12 Qui statim Nicanorem præpositum elephantorum ducem misit in Judæam :	12 The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him governor of Judea. He sent him off
13 datis mandatis ut ipsum quidem Judam caperet : eos vero qui cum illo erant, dispergeret, et constitueret Alcimum maximi templi summum sacerdotem.	13 with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
14 Tunc gentes quæ de Judæa fugerant Judam, gregatim se Nicanori miscebant, miserias et clades Judæorum prosperitates rerum suarum existimantes.	14 The Gentiles from Judea, who would have banished Judas, came flocking to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.
15 Audito itaque Judæi Nicanoris adventu, et conventu nationum, conspersi terra rogabant eum qui populum suum constituit, ut in æternum custodiret, quique suam portionem signis evidentibus protegit.	15 When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the Gentiles were rallying to him, they sprinkled themselves with earth and prayed to him who established his people forever, and who always comes to the aid of his heritage.
16 Imperante autem duce, statim inde moverunt, conveneruntque ad castellum Dessau.	16 At their leader's command, they set out at once and came upon the enemy at the village of Adasa.
17 Simon vero frater Judæ commiserat cum Nicanore : sed conterritus est repentino adventu adversariorum.	17 Judas' brother Simon had engaged Nicanor, but because of the sudden appearance of the enemy suffered a slight repulse.
18 Nicanor tamen, audiens virtutem comitum Judæ, et animi magnitudinem quam pro patriæ certaminibus habebant, sanguine judicium facere metuebat.	18 However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his men, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed.
19 Quam ob rem præmisit Posidonium, et Theodotium, et Matthiam, ut darent dextras atque acciperent.	19 So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement.
20 Et cum diu de his consilium ageretur, et ipse dux ad multitudinem retulisset, omnium una fuit sententia amicitiis annuere.	20 After a long discussion of the terms, each leader communicated them to his troops; and when general agreement was expressed, they assented to the treaty.
21 Itaque diem constituerunt, qua secreto inter se agerent : et singulis sellæ prolatæ sunt, et positæ.	21 A day was set on which the leaders would meet by themselves. From each side a chariot came forward and thrones were set in place.
22 Præcepit autem Judas armatos esse locis opportunis, ne forte ab hostibus repente mali aliquid oriretur : et congruum colloquium fecerunt.	22 Judas had posted armed men in readiness at suitable points for fear that the enemy might suddenly carry out some treacherous plan. But the conference was held in the proper way.
23 Morabatur autem Nicanor Jerosolymis, nihilque inique agebat : gregesque turbarum quæ congregatæ fuerant, dimisit.	23 Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem, where he did nothing out of place. He got rid of the throngs of ordinary people who gathered around him;
24 Habebat autem Judam semper carum ex animo, et erat viro inclinatus.	24 but he always kept Judas in his company, for he had a cordial affection for the man.
25 Rogavitque eum ducere uxorem, filiosque procreare. Nuptias fecit : quiete egit, communiterque vivebant.	25 He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life.
26 Alcimus autem, videns caritatem illorum ad invicem et conventiones, venit ad Demetrium, et dicebat Nicanorem rebus alienis assentire, Judamque regni insidiatorem successorem sibi destinasse.	26 When Alcimus saw their friendship for each other, he took the treaty that had been made, went to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor was plotting against the state, and that he had appointed Judas, the conspirator against the kingdom, to be his successor.
27 Itaque rex exasperatus, et pessimis hujus criminationibus irritatus, scripsit Nicanori, dicens graviter quidem se ferre de amicitiæ conventione, jubere tamen Machabæum citius vinctum mittere Antiochiam.	27 Stirred up by the villain's calumnies, the king became enraged. He wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the treaty, and ordering him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch without delay.
28 Quibus cognitis, Nicanor consternabatur, et graviter ferebat, si ea quæ convenerant irrita faceret, nihil læsus a viro :	28 When this message reached Nicanor he was dismayed, for he hated to break his agreement with a man who had done no wrong.
29 sed quia regi resistere non poterat, opportunitatem observabat qua præceptum perficeret.	29 However, there was no way of opposing the king, so he watched for an opportunity to carry out this order by a stratagem.
30 At Machabæus, videns secum austerius agere Nicanorem, et consuetum occursum ferocius exhibentem, intelligens non ex bono esse austeritatem istam, paucis suorum congregatis, occultavit se a Nicanore.	30 But Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor was becoming cool in his dealings with him, and acting with unaccustomed rudeness when they met; he concluded that this coldness betokened no good. So he gathered together a large number of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor.
31 Quod cum ille cognovit, fortiter se a viro præventum, venit ad maximum et sanctissimum templum : et sacerdotibus solitas hostias offerentibus, jussit sibi tradi virum.	31 When Nicanor realized that he had been disgracefully outwitted by the man, he went to the great and holy temple, at a time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrender Judas.
32 Quibus cum juramento dicentibus nescire se ubi esset qui quærebatur, extendens manum ad templum,	32 As they declared under oath that they did not know where the wanted man was,
33 juravit, dicens : Nisi Judam mihi vinctum tradideritis, istud Dei fanum in planitiem deducam, et altare effodiam, et templum hoc Libero patri consecrabo.	33 he raised his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground; I will tear down the altar, and erect here a splendid temple to Dionysus."
34 Et his dictis abiit. Sacerdotes autem protendentes manus in cælum, invocabant eum qui semper propugnator esset gentis ipsorum, hæc dicentes :	34 With these words he went away. The priests stretched out their hands toward heaven, calling upon the unfailing defender of our nation in these words:
35 Tu, Domine universorum, qui nullius indiges, voluisti templum habitationis tuæ fieri in nobis.	35 "Lord of all, though you are in need of nothing, you have approved of a temple for your dwelling place among us.
36 Et nunc, Sancte sanctorum, omnium Domine, conserva in æternum impollutam domum istam, quæ nuper mundata est.	36 Therefore, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house, which has been so recently purified."
37 Razias autem quidam de senioribus ab Jerosolymis delatus est Nicanori, vir amator civitatis, et bene audiens : qui pro affectu pater Judæorum appellabatur.	37 A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a patriot. A man highly regarded, he was called a father of the Jews because of his love for them.
38 Hic multis temporibus continentiæ propositum tenuit in Judaismo, corpusque et animam tradere contentus pro perseverantia.	38 In the early days of the revolt, he had been convicted of Judaism, and had risked body and life in his ardent zeal for it.
39 Volens autem Nicanor manifestare odium quod habebat in Judæos, misit milites quingentos ut eum comprehenderent.	39 Nicanor, to show his detestation of the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him.
40 Putabat enim, si illum decepisset, se cladem Judæis maximam illaturum.	40 He thought that by arresting such a man he would deal the Jews a hard blow.
41 Turbis autem irruere in domum ejus, et januam dirumpere : atque ignem admovere cupientibus, cum jam comprehenderetur, gladio se petiit,	41 But when these troops, on the point of capturing the tower, were forcing the outer gate and calling for fire to set the door ablaze, Razis, now caught on all sides, turned his sword against himself,
42 eligens nobiliter mori potius quam subditus fieri peccatoribus, et contra natales suos indignis injuriis agi.	42 preferring to die nobly rather than fall into the hands of vile men and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth.
43 Sed cum per festinationem non certo ictu plagam dedisset, et turbæ intra ostia irrumperent, recurrens audacter ad murum præcipitavit semetipsum viriliter in turbas :	43 In the excitement of the struggle he failed to strike exactly. So while the troops rushed in through the doors, he gallantly ran up to the top of the wall and with manly courage threw himself down into the crowd.
44 quibus velociter locum dantibus casui ejus, venit per mediam cervicem.	44 But as they quickly drew back and left an opening, he fell into the middle of the empty space.
45 Et cum adhuc spiraret, accensus animo, surrexit, et cum sanguis ejus magno fluxu deflueret, et gravissimis vulneribus esset saucius, cursu turbam pertransiit :	45 Still breathing, and inflamed with anger, he got up and ran through the crowd, with blood gushing from his frightful wounds.
46 et stans supra quamdam petram præruptam, et jam exsanguis effectus, complexus intestina sua, utrisque manibus projecit super turbas, invocans dominatorem vitæ ac spiritus ut hæc illi iterum redderet : atque ita vita defunctus est.	46 Then, standing on a steep rock, as he lost the last of his blood, he tore out his entrails and flung them with both hands into the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and of spirit to give these back to him again. Such was the manner of his death.