II Livro dos Macabeus 11

SAGRADA BIBLIA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Decorrido algum tempo, Lísias, tutor e parente do rei, regente do reino, sentindo muito pesar pelo que tinha acontecido,	1 Very soon afterward, Lysias, guardian and kinsman of the king and head of the government, being greatly displeased at what had happened,
2 reuniu aproximadamente oitenta mil homens com toda a cavalaria e se pôs a caminho contra os judeus.	2 mustered about eighty thousand infantry and all his cavalry and marched against the Jews. His plan was to make Jerusalem a Greek settlement;
3 submeter o templo a um imposto semelhante aos dos templos pagãos e oferecer em leilão, a cada ano, a dignidade de sumo sacerdote.	3 to levy tribute on the temple, as he did on the sanctuaries of the other nations; and to put the high priesthood up for sale every year.
4 Sem refletir no poder de Deus, ensoberbecia-se com a multidão de sua infantaria, seus milhares de cavaleiros e oitenta elefantes.	4 He did not take God's power into account at all, but felt exultant confidence in his myriads of foot soldiers, his thousands of horsemen, and his eighty elephants.
5 Penetrando, pois, na Judéia, aproximou-se de Betsur, que é uma praça forte, a cerca de cinco esquenos das vizinhanças de Jerusalém, e expugnou-a.	5 So he invaded Judea, and when he reached Beth-zur, a fortified place about twenty miles from Jerusalem, launched a strong attack against it.
6 Logo, porém, que Macabeu e os que estavam com ele souberam que Lísias sitiava suas fortalezas, rogaram ao Senhor, juntamente com o povo, entre gemidos e lágrimas, para que ele se dignasse enviar um bom anjo para salvar Israel.	6 When Maccabeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people begged the Lord with lamentations and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.
7 O próprio Macabeu foi o primeiro a pegar em armas, encorajando os demais a se exporem ao perigo com ele, para socorrer seus irmãos: atacaram todos com ânimo resoluto.	7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he exhorted the others to join him in risking their lives to help their kinsmen. Then they resolutely set out together.
8 Ainda não se haviam afastado de Jerusalém, quando apareceu diante deles um cavaleiro vestido de branco, empunhando armas de ouro.	8 Suddenly, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white garments and brandishing gold weapons.
9 Então bendisseram todos juntos ao Senhor, e, repletos de coragem, sentiram-se prontos a transpassar não só os homens, mas os mais ferozes animais e até muralhas de ferro.	9 Then all of them together thanked God for his mercy, and their hearts were filled with such courage that they were ready to assault not only men, but the most savage beasts, yes, even walls of iron.
10 Avançaram, pois, em ordem de batalha, com esse auxiliar enviado do céu pelo Senhor misericordioso.	10 Now that the Lord had shown his mercy toward them, they advanced in battle order with the aid of their heavenly ally.
11 Como leões, atiraram-se sobre os inimigos, trucidaram onze mil infantes e seiscentos cavaleiros, e forçaram os demais a fugir.	11 Hurling themselves upon the enemy like lions, they laid low eleven thousand foot soldiers and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the rest to flight.
12 A maior parte destes, feridos, sem armas, pôs-se a salvo. O próprio Lísias salvou-se, fugindo vergonhosamente.	12 Most of those who got away were wounded and stripped of their arms, while Lysias himself escaped only by shameful flight.
13 Mas Lísias era inteligente. Refletiu, pois, na derrota e concluiu que os hebreus eram invencíveis porque o Deus poderoso combatia com eles.	13 But Lysias was not a stupid man. He reflected on the defeat he had suffered, and came to realize that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God was their ally. He therefore sent a message
14 Enviou-lhes uma proposta em condições justas, prometendo-lhes persuadir o rei a tornar-se amigo deles.	14 persuading them to settle everything on just terms, and promising to persuade the king also, and to induce him to become their friend.
15 Macabeu aceitou todas as propostas de Lísias, vendo nisso apenas utilidade, porque tudo o que ele mesmo pedira por carta a Lísias em favor dos judeus, o rei concedera.	15 Maccabeus, solicitous for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed; and the king, on his part, granted in behalf of the Jews all the written requests of Maccabeus to Lysias.
16 Eis em que termos Lísias escreveu aos judeus:	16 These are the terms of the letter which Lysias wrote to the Jews: "Lysias sends greetings to the Jewish people.
17 Lísias ao povo judeu, saúde. João e Absalão, vossos mensageiros, entregaram-me vossas propostas e rogaram-me que as cumprisse.	17 John and Absalom, your envoys, have presented your signed communication and asked about the matters contained in it.
18 Expus, portanto, ao rei tudo o que devia comunicar-lhe, e ele anuiu a tudo o que era possível.	18 Whatever had to be referred to the king I called to his attention, and the things that were acceptable he has granted.
19 Se vós, pois, permanecerdes nessas boas disposições para com o Estado, continuarei doravante a obter-vos favores.	19 If you maintain your loyalty to the government, I will endeavor to further your interests in the future.
20 Eu incumbi vossos mensageiros e os meus de tratarem convosco as cláusulas da proposta e os pormenores.	20 On the details of these matters I have authorized my representatives, as well as your envoys, to confer with you.
21 Passai bem. Ano cento e quarenta e oito, aos vinte e quatro do mês de Dióscoro.	21 Farewell." The year one hundred and forty-eight, the twenty-fourth of Dioscorinthius.
22 Era este o conteúdo da carta do rei: O rei Antíoco a seu irmão Lísias, saúde!	22 The king's letter read thus: "King Antiochus sends greetings to his brother Lysias.
23 Tendo partido nosso pai para junto dos deuses, desejamos que os povos que pertencem ao nosso reino possam dedicar-se tranqüilamente aos seus negócios.	23 Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, we wish the subjects of our kingdom to be undisturbed in conducting their own affairs.
24 Soubemos, no entanto, que os judeus resistem em adotar os costumes helênicos, conforme a decisão de nosso pai; preferem conservar suas tradições e pedem que lhes deixemos seus costumes.	24 We understand that the Jews do not agree with our father's policy concerning Greek customs but prefer their own way of life. They are petitioning us to let them retain their own customs.
25 Querendo, pois, que esse povo viva igualmente em paz, decretamos que o templo lhes seja restituído e que possam viver segundo as leis de seus antepassados.	25 Since we desire that this people too should be undisturbed, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live in keeping with the customs of their ancestors.
26 Farás bem em lhes mandar mensageiros, para concluir a paz com eles, de modo que, conhecendo nossas intenções, fiquem tranqüilos e voltem sem receio a seus afazeres.	26 Accordingly, please send them messengers to give them our assurances of friendship, so that, when they learn of our decision, they may have nothing to worry about but may contentedly go about their own business."
27 Eis a carta do rei ao povo judeu: O rei Antíoco ao conselho dos anciãos e aos demais judeus, saúde!	27 The king's letter to the people was as follows: "King Antiochus sends greetings to the Jewish senate and to the rest of the Jews.
28 Fazemos votos de que estejais passando bem; nós estamos com boa saúde!	28 If you are well, it is what we desire. We too are in good health.
29 Contou-nos Menelau que desejais retornar aos vossos negócios.	29 Menelaus has told us of your wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.
30 A todos os que vierem para o meio deles até o dia trinta do mês de Xântico, eu estenderei a mão.	30 Therefore, those who return by the thirtieth of Xanthicus will have our assurance of full permission
31 Permito também aos judeus que usem dos seus alimentos e dos seus costumes, como outrora; e ninguém dentre eles será molestado por transgressões passadas.	31 to observe their dietary laws and other laws, just as before, and none of the Jews shall be molested in any way for faults committed through ignorance.
32 Incumbi Menelau de ir tranqüilizar-vos.	32 I have also sent Menelaus to reassure you.
33 Passai bem. Ano cento e quarenta e oito no dia quinze do mês de Xântico.	33 Farewell." In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.
34 Do mesmo modo, os romanos enviaram aos judeus uma carta nestes termos: Quinto Mênio, Tito Mânio, legados romanos, ao povo judeu, saúde!	34 The Romans also sent them a letter as follows: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, legates of the Romans, send greetings to the Jewish people.
35 Damos nosso assentimento a tudo o que Lísias, parente do rei, vos outorgou.	35 Whatever Lysias, kinsman of the king, has granted you, we also approve.
36 Quanto ao que ele julgou necessário submeter ao rei, enviai-nos alguém sem demora, a fim de que, após um exame, possamos falar-lhe de modo mais vantajoso para vós, porque vamos para Antioquia.	36 But the matters on which he passed judgment should be submitted to the king. As soon as you have considered them, send someone to us with your decisions so that we may present them to your advantage, for we are on our way to Antioch.
37 Apressai-vos, pois, em nos enviar mensageiros, para que saibamos bem quais são vossos desejos.	37 Make haste, then, to send us those who can inform us of your intentions.
38 Passai bem! Ano cento e quarenta e oito no dia quinze do mês de Xântico.	38 Farewell." In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth of Xanthicus.