Secondus Machabaeorum 7

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Contigit autem et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas, flagris et taureis cruciatos.	1 It also happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
2 Unus autem ex illis, qui erat primus, sic ait : Quid quæris, et quid vis discere a nobis ? parati sumus mori, magis quam patrias Dei leges prævaricari.	2 One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
3 Iratus itaque rex, jussit sartagines et ollas æneas succendi : quibus statim succensis,	3 At that the king, in a fury, gave orders to have pans and caldrons heated.
4 jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam, et cute capitis abstracta, summas quoque manus et pedes ei præscindi, ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.	4 While they were being quickly heated, he commanded his executioners to cut out the tongue of the one who had spoken for the others, to scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of his brothers and his mother looked on.
5 Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri, et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine : in qua cum diu cruciaretur, ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,	5 When he was completely maimed but still breathing, the king ordered them to carry him to the fire and fry him. As a cloud of smoke spread from the pan, the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die bravely, saying such words as these:
6 dicentes : Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem, et consolabitur in nobis, quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses : Et in servis suis consolabitur.	6 "The Lord God is looking on, and he truly has compassion on us, as Moses declared in his canticle, when he protested openly with the words, 'And he will have pity on his servants.'"
7 Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo, sequentem deducebant ad illudendum : et cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta, interrogabant si manducaret, priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.	7 When the first brother had died in this manner, they brought the second to be made sport of. After tearing off the skin and hair of his head, they asked him, "Will you eat the pork rather than have your body tortured limb by limb?"
8 At ille respondens patria voce, dixit : Non faciam. Propter quod et iste, sequenti loco, primi tormenta suscepit :	8 Answering in the language of his forefathers, he said, "Never!" So he too in turn suffered the same tortures as the first.
9 et in ultimo spiritu constitutus, sic ait : Tu quidem scelestissime in præsenti vita nos perdis : sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in æternæ vitæ resurrectione suscitabit.	9 At the point of death he said: "You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying."
10 Post hunc tertius illuditur, et linguam postulatus cito protulit, et manus constanter extendit :	10 After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands,
11 et cum fiducia ait : E cælo ista possideo, sed propter Dei leges nunc hæc ipsa despicio, quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero :	11 as he spoke these noble words: "It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again."
12 ita ut rex, et qui cum ipso erant, mirarentur adolescentis animum, quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.	12 Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
13 Et hoc ita defuncto, quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.	13 After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
14 Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait : Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo, iterum ab ipso resuscitandos : tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.	14 When he was near death, he said, "It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."
15 Et cum admovissent quintum, vexabant eum. At ille respiciens in eum,	15 They next brought forward the fifth brother and maltreated him. Looking at the king,
16 dixit : Potestatem inter homines habens, cum sis corruptibilis, facis quod vis : noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum :	16 he said: "Since you have power among men, mortal though you are, do what you please. But do not think that our nation is forsaken by God.
17 tu autem patienter sustine, et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius, qualiter te et semen tuum torquebit.	17 Only wait, and you will see how his great power will torment you and your descendants."
18 Post hunc ducebant sextum, et is, mori incipiens, sic ait : Noli frustra errare : nos enim propter nosmetipsos hæc patimur, peccantes in Deum nostrum, et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis :	18 After him they brought the sixth brother. When he was about to die, he said: "Have no vain illusions. We suffer these things on our own account, because we have sinned against our God; that is why such astonishing things have happened to us.
19 tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum, quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.	19 Do not think, then, that you will go unpunished for having dared to fight against God."
20 Supra modum autem mater mirabilis, et bonorum memoria digna, quæ pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens, bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat :	20 Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
21 singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter, repleta sapientia : et, femineæ cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,	21 Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their forefathers with these words:
22 dixit ad eos : Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis, neque enim ego spiritum et animam donavi vobis et vitam, et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi :	22 "I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed.
23 sed enim mundi Creator, qui formavit hominis nativitatem, quique omnium invenit originem, et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam, sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.	23 Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man's beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law." Martyrdom of Mother and Sons
24 Antiochus autem, contemni se arbitratus, simul et exprobrantis voce despecta, cum adhuc adolescentior superesset, non solum verbis hortabatur, sed et cum juramento affirmabat se divitem et beatum facturum, et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum, et res necessarias ei præbiturum.	24 Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words, thought he was being ridiculed. As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him, not with mere words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him his Friend and entrust him with high office.
25 Sed ad hæc cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur, vocavit rex matrem, et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.	25 When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
26 Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus, promisit suasurum se filio suo.	26 After he had urged her for a long time, she went through the motions of persuading her son.
27 Itaque inclinata ad illum, irridens crudelem tyrannum, ait patria voce : Fili mi, miserere mei, quæ te in utero novem mensibus portavi, et lac triennio dedi et alui, et in ætatem istam perduxi.	27 In derision of the cruel tyrant, she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language: "Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age.
28 Peto, nate, ut aspicias ad cælum et terram, et ad omnia quæ in eis sunt, et intelligas quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus, et hominum genus :	28 I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence.
29 ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum, sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps, suscipe mortem, ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.	29 Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."
30 Cum hæc illa adhuc diceret, ait adolescens : Quem sustinetis ? non obedio præcepto regis, sed præcepto legis, quæ data est nobis per Moysen.	30 She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command. I obey the command of the law given to our forefathers through Moses.
31 Tu vero, qui inventor omnis malitiæ factus es in Hebræos, non effugies manum Dei.	31 But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews, will not escape the hands of God.
32 Nos enim pro peccatis nostris hæc patimur.	32 We, indeed, are suffering because of our sins.
33 Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est : sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.	33 Though our living Lord treats us harshly for a little while to correct us with chastisements, he will again be reconciled with his servants.
34 Tu autem, o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime, noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus :	34 But you, wretch, vilest of all men! do not, in your insolence, concern yourself with unfounded hopes, as you raise your hand against the children of Heaven.
35 nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis, judicium effugisti.	35 You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty and all-seeing God.
36 Nam fratres mei, modico nunc dolore sustentato, sub testamento æternæ vitæ effecti sunt : tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiæ tuæ pœnas exsolves.	36 My brothers, after enduring brief pain, have drunk of never-failing life, under God's covenant, but you, by the judgment of God, shall receive just punishments for your arrogance.
37 Ego autem, sicut fratres mei, animam et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus, invocans Deum maturius genti nostræ propitium fieri, teque cum tormentis et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.	37 Like my brothers, I offer up my body and my life for our ancestral laws, imploring God to show mercy soon to our nation, and by afflictions and blows to make you confess that he alone is God.
38 In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira, quæ super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.	38 Through me and my brothers, may there be an end to the wrath of the Almighty that has justly fallen on our whole nation."
39 Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc, super omnes crudelius desævit, indigne ferens se derisum.	39 At that, the king became enraged and treated him even worse than the others, since he bitterly resented the boy's contempt.
40 Et hic itaque mundus obiit, per omnia in Domino confidens.	40 Thus he too died undefiled, putting all his trust in the Lord.
41 Novissime autem post filios, et mater consumpta est.	41 The mother was last to die, after her sons.
42 Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.	42 Enough has been said about the sacrificial meals and the excessive cruelties.