Secondus Machabaeorum 3

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Igitur cum sancta civitas habitaretur in omni pace, leges etiam adhuc optime custodirentur, propter Oniæ pontificis pietatem, et animos odio habentes mala,	1 While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of evil,
2 fiebat ut et ipsi reges et principes locum summo honore dignum ducerent, et templum maximis muneribus illustrarent :	2 the kings themselves honored the Place and glorified the temple with the most magnificent gifts.
3 ita ut Seleucus Asiæ rex de redditibus suis præstaret omnes sumptus ad ministerium sacrificiorum pertinentes.	3 Thus Seleucus, king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary for the sacrificial services.
4 Simon autem de tribu Benjamin, præpositus templi constitutus, contendebat, obsistente sibi principe sacerdotum, iniquum aliquid in civitate moliri.	4 But a certain Simon, of the priestly course of Bilgah, who had been appointed superintendent of the temple, had a quarrel with the high priest about the supervision of the city market.
5 Sed cum vincere Oniam non posset, venit ad Apollonium Tharsææ filium, qui eo tempore erat dux Cœlesyriæ et Phœnicis :	5 Since he could not prevail against Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,
6 et nuntiavit ei pecuniis innumerabilibus plenum esse ærarium Jerosolymis, et communes copias immensas esse, quæ non pertinent ad rationem sacrificiorum : esse autem possibile sub potestate regis cadere universa.	6 and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was so full of untold riches that the total sum of money was incalculable and out of all proportion to the cost of the sacrifices, and that it would be possible to bring it all under the control of the king.
7 Cumque retulisset ad regem Apollonius de pecuniis quæ delatæ erant, illæ accitum Heliodorum, qui erat super negotia ejus, misit, cum mandatis ut prædictam pecuniam transportaret.	7 When Apollonius had an audience with the king, he informed him about the riches that had been reported to him. The king chose his minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to expropriate the aforesaid wealth.
8 Statimque Heliodorus iter est agressus, specie quidem quasi per Cœlesyriam et Phœnicen civitates esset peragraturus, re vera autem regis propositum perfecturus.	8 So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king's purpose.
9 Sed cum venisset Jerosolymam, et benigne a summo sacerdote in civitate esset exceptus, narravit de dato indicio pecuniarum, et cujus rei gratia adesset, aperuit : interrogabat autem si vere hæc ita essent.	9 When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he asked if these things were really true.
10 Tunc summus sacerdos ostendit deposita esse hæc, et victualia viduarum et pupillorum :	10 The high priest explained that part of the money was a care fund for widows and orphans,
11 quædam vero esse Hircani Tobiæ viri valde eminentis, in his quæ detulerat impius Simon : universa autem argenti talenta esse quadringenta, et auri ducenta :	11 and a part was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the calumnies of the impious Simon, the total amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.
12 decipi vero eos qui credidissent loco et templo quod per universum mundum honoratur pro sui veneratione et sanctitate, omnino impossibile esse.	12 He added that it was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the Place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world.
13 At ille pro his quæ habebat in mandatis a rege, dicebat omni genere regi ea esse deferenda.	13 But because of the orders he had from the king, Heliodorus said that in any case the money must be confiscated for the royal treasury.
14 Constituta autem die, intrabat de his Heliodorus ordinaturus. Non modica vero per universam civitatem erat trepidatio.	14 So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was great distress throughout the city.
15 Sacerdotes autem ante altare cum stolis sacerdotalibus jactaverunt se, et invocabant de cælo eum qui de depositis legem posuit, ut his qui deposuerant ea salva custodiret.	15 Priests prostrated themselves in their priestly robes before the altar, and loudly begged him in heaven who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them.
16 Jam vero qui videbat summi sacerdotis vultum, mente vulnerabatur : facies enim et color immutatus declarabat internum animi dolorem :	16 Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed color of his face manifested the anguish of his soul.
17 circumfusa enim erat mœstitia quædam viro, et horror corporis, per quem manifestus aspicientibus dolor cordis ejus efficiebatur.	17 The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart.
18 Alii etiam gregatim de domibus confluebant, publica supplicatione obsecrantes, pro eo quod in contemptum locus esset venturus.	18 People rushed out of their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the Place was in danger of being profaned.
19 Accinctæque mulieres ciliciis pectus, per plateas confluebant : sed et virgines quæ conclusæ erant, procurrebant ad Oniam, aliæ autem ad muros, quædam vero per fenestras aspiciebant :	19 Women, girded with sackcloth below their breasts, filled the streets; maidens secluded indoors ran together, some to the gates, some to the walls, others peered through the windows,
20 universæ autem protendentes manus in cælum, deprecabantur :	20 all of them with hands raised toward heaven, making supplication.
21 erat enim misera commistæ multitudinis, et magni sacerdotis in agone constituti exspectatio.	21 It was pitiful to see the populace variously prostrated in prayer and the high priest full of dread and anguish.
22 Et hi quidem invocabant omnipotentem Deum, ut credita sibi his qui crediderant, cum omni integritate conservarentur.	22 While they were imploring the almighty Lord to keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in trust,
23 Heliodorus autem, quod decreverat, perficiebat eodem loco ipse cum satellitibus circa ærarium præsens.	23 Heliodorus went on with his plan.
24 Sed spiritus omnipotentis Dei magnam fecit suæ ostensionis evidentiam, ita ut omnes qui ausi fuerant parere ei, ruentes Dei virtute, in dissolutionem et formidinem converterentur.	24 But just as he was approaching the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits who holds all power manifested himself in so striking a way that those who had been bold enough to follow Heliodorus were panic-stricken at God's power and fainted away in terror.
25 Apparuit enim illis quidam equus terribilem habens sessorem, optimis operimentis adornatus : isque cum impetu Heliodoro priores calces elisit : qui autem ei sedebat, videbatur arma habere aurea.	25 There appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a dreadful rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hoofs. The rider was seen to be wearing golden armor.
26 Alii etiam apparuerunt duo juvenes virtute decori, optimi gloria, speciosique amictu : qui circumsteterunt eum, et ex utraque parte flagellabant, sine intermissione multis plagis verberantes.	26 Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him innumerable blows.
27 Subito autem Heliodorus concidit in terram, eumque multa caligine circumfusum rapuerunt, atque in sella gestatoria positum ejecerunt.	27 Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness. Men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher.
28 Et is, qui cum multis cursoribus et satellitibus prædictum ingressus est ærarium, portabatur nullo sibi auxilium ferente, manifesta Dei cognita virtute :	28 The man who a moment before had entered that treasury with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard was carried away helpless, having clearly experienced the sovereign power of God.
29 et ille quidem per divinam virtutem jacebat mutus, atque omni spe et salute privatus.	29 While he lay speechless and deprived of all hope of aid, due to an act of God's power,
30 Hi autem Dominum benedicebant, quia magnificabat locum suum : et templum, quod paulo ante timore ac tumultu erat plenum, apparente omnipotente Domino, gaudio et lætitia impletum est.	30 the Jews praised the Lord who had marvelously glorified his holy Place; and the temple, charged so shortly before with fear and commotion, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the almighty Lord had manifested himself.
31 Tunc vero ex amicis Heliodori quidam rogabant confestim Oniam, ut invocaret Altissimum ut vitam donaret ei qui in supremo spiritu erat constitutus.	31 Soon some of the companions of Heliodorus begged Onias to invoke the Most High, praying that the life of the man who was about to expire might be spared.
32 Considerans autem summus sacerdos ne forte rex suspicaretur malitiam aliquam ex Judæis circa Heliodorum consummatum, obtulit pro salute viri hostiam salutarem.	32 Fearing that the king might think that Heliodorus had suffered some foul play at the hands of the Jews, the high priest offered a sacrifice for the man's recovery.
33 Cumque summus sacerdos exoraret, iidem juvenes eisdem vestibus amicti astantes Heliodoro, dixerunt : Oniæ sacerdoti gratias age : nam propter eum Dominus tibi vitam donavit.	33 While the high priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men in the same clothing again appeared and stood before Heliodorus. "Be very grateful to the high priest Onias," they told him. "It is for his sake that the Lord has spared your life.
34 Tu autem a Deo flagellatus, nuntia omnibus magnalia Dei, et potestatem. Et his dictis, non comparuerunt.	34 Since you have been scourged by Heaven, proclaim to all men the majesty of God's power." When they had said this, they disappeared.
35 Heliodorus autem, hostia Deo oblata, et votis magnis promissis ei qui vivere illi concessit, et Oniæ gratias agens, recepto exercitu, repedabat ad regem.	35 After Heliodorus had offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to him who had spared his life, he bade Onias farewell, and returned with his soldiers to the king.
36 Testabatur autem omnibus ea quæ sub oculis suis viderat opera magni Dei.	36 Before all men he gave witness to the deeds of the most high God that he had seen with his own eyes.
37 Cum autem rex interrogasset Heliodorum, quis esset aptus adhuc semel Jerosolymam mitti, ait :	37 When the king asked Heliodorus who would be a suitable man to be sent to Jerusalem next, he answered:
38 Si quem habes hostem, aut regni tui insidiatorem, mitte illuc, et flagellatum eum recipies, si tamen evaserit : eo quod in loco sit vere Dei quædam virtus.	38 "If you have an enemy or a plotter against the government, send him there, and you will receive him back well-flogged, if indeed he survives at all; for there is certainly some special divine power about the Place.
39 Nam ipse, qui habet in cælis habitationem, visitator et adjutor est loci illius, et venientes ad malefaciendum percutit ac perdit.	39 He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that Place and protects it, and he strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it."
40 Igitur de Heliodoro et ærarii custodia ita res se habet.	40 This was how the matter concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the treasury turned out.