2 Maccabees 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	SAGRADA BIBLIA
1 About that time Antiochus retreated in disgrace from the region of Persia.	1 Por essa mesma ocasião, voltava Antíoco da Pérsia, coberto de vergonha.
2 He had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temple and gain control of the city. Thereupon the people had swift recourse to arms, and Antiochus' men were routed, so that in the end Antiochus was put to flight by the natives and forced to beat a shameful retreat.	2 Pois, entrando na cidade que se chamava Persépolis, ele havia tentado saquear o templo e ocupar a cidade, mas o povo se revoltou e pegou em armas, para defender-se; com isso, Antíoco viu-se forçado pelos
3 On his arrival in Ecbatana, he learned what had happened to Nicanor and to Timothy's forces.	3 Achando-se perto de Ecbátana, soube da derrota de Nicanor e do exército de Timóteo.
4 Overcome with anger, he planned to make the Jews suffer for the injury done by those who had put him to flight. Therefore he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he finished the journey. Yet the condemnation of Heaven rode with him, since he said in his arrogance, "I will make Jerusalem the common graveyard of the Jews as soon as I arrive there."	4 Num arroubo de cólera, resolveu desforrar imediatamente nos judeus o mal que lhe haviam feito os que o tinham obrigado a fugir, e deu ordem ao condutor de seu carro de prosseguir sem parar, a fim de conseguir o mais depressa possível seu intento: na realidade, a sentença do céu já havia caído sobre ele. Exclamava com presunção: Assim que chegar, farei de Jerusalém o sepulcro dos judeus.
5 So the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him down with an unseen but incurable blow; for scarcely had he uttered those words when he was seized with excruciating pains in his bowels and sharp internal torment,	5 Mas o Senhor Deus de Israel, que tudo vê, feriu-o com um mal implacável e misterioso. Mal acabara de pronunciar essas palavras, aconteceu que ele foi assaltado por atrozes dores nas entranhas e agudos tormentos no interior;
6 a fit punishment for him who had tortured the bowels of others with many barbarous torments.	6 e era muito justo, pois ele mesmo havia rasgado as entranhas aos outros por inauditos tormentos!
7 Far from giving up his insolence, he was all the more filled with arrogance. Breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, he gave orders to drive even faster. As a result he hurtled from the dashing chariot, and every part of his body was racked by the violent fall.	7 Todavia, em nada desistiu da sua arrogância; pelo contrário, sempre cheio de soberba, exalava contra os judeus o fogo de sua cólera e ordenava que se apressasse a caminhada, quando repentinamente caiu da carroça, arrancado pela violência da corrida e, na queda fatal, quebrou todos os membros.
8 Thus he who previously, in his superhuman presumption, thought he could command the waves of the sea, and imagined he could weigh the mountaintops in his scales, was now thrown to the ground and had to be carried on a litter, clearly manifesting to all the power of God.	8 O homem que, pouco antes, julgando-se acima da natureza humana, pensava poder dominar as frotas do mar e pesar as montanhas nos pratos de sua balança, ei-lo agora estendido sobre a terra, em seguida levado numa liteira, provando assim aos olhos de todos a manifesta potência de Deus.
9 The body of this impious man swarmed with worms, and while he was still alive in hideous torments, his flesh rotted off, so that the entire army was sickened by the stench of his corruption.	9 Chegou a tal ponto que o corpo vivo do ímpio fervilhava de vermes e as carnes se soltavam em pedaços entre atrozes dores: o mau cheiro da podridão, que enchia o ar, empestava todo o campo.
10 Shortly before, he had thought that he could reach the stars of heaven, and now, no one could endure to transport the man because of this intolerable stench.	10 Aquele que até há pouco tempo sonhava tocar os astros do céu, agora ninguém podia suportá-lo por causa do mau cheiro que dele saía!
11 At last, broken in spirit, he began to give up his excessive arrogance, and to gain some understanding, under the scourge of God, for he was racked with pain unceasingly.	11 Foi então que, derribado, ele começou a perder o orgulho excessivo e a compreender melhor, torturado sob os castigos de Deus pelos constantes sofrimentos.
12 When he could no longer bear his own stench, he said, "It is right to be subject to God, and not to think one's mortal self divine."	12 Incapaz de suportar sua própria infecção: É justo, dizia ele, submeter-se a Deus, e, como simples mortal, não se querer igualar a ele.
13 Then this vile man vowed to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him,	13 O celerado rezava ao Senhor, de quem não haveria de receber compaixão,
14 that he would set free the holy city, toward which he had been hurrying with the intention of leveling it to the ground and making it a common graveyard;	14 e prometia dar a liberdade à cidade santa, para a qual ele se encaminhava, a fim de arrasá-la e fazer dela um sepulcro.
15 he would put on perfect equality with the Athenians all the Jews, whom he had judged not even worthy of burial, but fit only to be thrown out with their children to be eaten by vultures and wild animals;	15 Dizia ele que tornaria iguais aos atenienses todos os judeus que havia julgado indignos de sepultura e bons para serem atirados com seus filhos às aves do céu e aos animais selvagens como pasto.
16 he would adorn with the finest offerings the holy temple which he had previously despoiled; he would restore all the sacred vessels many times over; and would provide from his own revenues the expenses required for the sacrifices.	16 Ornaria com ricas prendas aquele templo que havia despojado antes, devolver-lhe-ia multiplicados os vasos sagrados, proveria com suas próprias rendas todas as despesas necessárias para os sacrifícios.
17 Besides all this, he would become a Jew himself and visit every inhabited place to proclaim there the power of God.	17 Além disso, ele mesmo se tornaria judeu e percorreria todos os lugares habitados, proclamando o poder de Deus!
18 But since God's punishment had justly come upon him, his sufferings were not lessened, so he lost hope for himself and wrote the following letter to the Jews in the form of a supplication. It read thus: Death of Antiochus	18 Mas suas dores não se atenuavam porque o justo castigo de Deus pesava sobre ele. Então, desesperado em vista de seu estado, escreveu aos judeus a seguinte carta, verdadeira súplica, assim exarada:
19 "To my esteemed Jewish citizens, Antiochus, their king and general, sends hearty greetings and best wishes for their health and happiness.	19 Aos dedicados súditos judeus, saúde, bem-estar e felicidade, da parte de Antíoco, rei e chefe do exército.
20 If you and your children are well and your affairs are going as you wish, I thank God very much, for my hopes are in heaven.	20 Se vós e vossos filhos passais bem e se vos sucedem todas as coisas como desejais, agradeço a Deus, em quem ponho minha esperança;
21 Now that I am ill, I recall with affection the esteem and good will you bear me. On returning from the regions of Persia, I fell victim to a troublesome illness; so I thought it necessary to form plans for the general welfare of all.	21 pois quanto a mim, estou prostrado pela doença, mas me lembro com prazer dos vossos sentimentos de respeito e da benevolência para comigo. Ao voltar da Pérsia, surpreendido por um mal cruel, julguei necessário providenciar a segurança de todos.
22 Actually, I do not despair about my health, since I have great hopes of recovering from my illness.	22 Não que me desespere de meu estado, ao contrário, tenho a firme esperança de escapar dessa doença -
23 Nevertheless, I know that my father, whenever he went on campaigns in the hinterland, would name his successor,	23 mas me lembro de que meu pai designava seu sucessor cada vez que partia em expedição às províncias superiores.
24 so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm would know to whom the government had been entrusted, and so not be disturbed.	24 Ele queria que no caso de uma desgraça ou má notícia os habitantes do país não se perturbassem, uma vez que soubessem a quem confiar os negócios.
25 I am also bearing in mind that the neighboring rulers, especially those on the borders of our kingdom, are on the watch for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. I have therefore appointed as king my son Antiochus, whom I have often before entrusted and commended to most of you, when I made hurried visits to the outlying provinces. I have written to him the letter copied below.	25 Eu sei, ademais, que os príncipes que me rodeiam e os vizinhos do meu reino estão de atalaia e espreitam os acontecimentos; por isso, já designei meu filho Antíoco para rei, a quem, em outras ocasiões, confiei e recomendei a maior parte de vós, quando partia para outras terras. A ele escrevi a carta abaixo:
26 Therefore I beg and entreat each of you to remember the general and individual benefits you have received, and to continue to show good will toward me and my son.	26 Rogo-vos, portanto, e peço que, em memória de meus benefícios para convosco, tanto gerais, como
27 I am confident that, following my policy, he will treat you with mildness and kindness in his relations with you."	27 pois estou convencido de que ele seguirá minhas intenções e agirá convosco com moderação e humanidade.
28 So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land.	28 Assim esse carrasco e blasfemador pereceu miseravelmente, distante, nas montanhas, em meio àqueles sofrimentos que ele mesmo havia infligido aos outros.
29 His foster brother Philip brought the body home; but fearing Antiochus' son, he later withdrew into Egypt, to Ptolemy Philometor.	29 Filipe, seu amigo de infância, levou seu corpo, e em seguida partiu para o Egito, para junto de Ptolomeu Filometor, para escapar ao filho de Antíoco.