Scrutatio

Domenica, 28 aprile 2024 - San Luigi Maria Grignion da Montfort ( Letture di oggi)

II Livro dos Macabeus 12


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SAGRADA BIBLIAKING JAMES BIBLE
1 Concluídos esses tratados, voltou Lísias para junto do rei, e os judeus voltaram aos trabalhos dos campos.1 When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.
2 No entanto, chefes militares locais, como Timóteo, Apolônio, filho de Jeneu, Jerônimo e Demofonte, e além destes, o cipriarca Nicanor, não lhes davam trégua, nem os deixavam viver em repouso.2 But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.
3 Por outro lado, os habitantes de Jope praticaram a seguinte infâmia: convidaram os judeus que habitavam entre eles a subir com suas mulheres e filhos para barcas que eles haviam preparado. Não davam a entender intenção malvada alguma a seu respeito,3 The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.
4 mas pareciam proceder, seguindo uma decisão votada pela cidade. Os judeus, pacíficos e sem suspeitarem, anuíram, mas quando chegaram ao alto-mar foram afogados em número de duzentos pelo menos.4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.
5 Mal soube Judas do crime praticado contra a gente de sua nação, convocou seus homens.5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.
6 Depois de ter invocado a Deus, justo juiz, foi contra os carrascos de seus irmãos e, de noite, ateou fogo ao porto, incendiou as embarcações e passou a fio de espada os que ali se haviam refugiado.6 And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.
7 Como a cidade mesma estivesse fechada, afastou-se, mas com a intenção de voltar e exterminar todos os habitantes de Jope.7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.
8 Por outro lado, advertido de que os habitantes de Jânia queriam tratar do mesmo modo os judeus que viviam com eles,8 But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,
9 atacou-os naquela mesma noite e incendiou o porto com a esquadra. De Jerusalém, que dista duzentos e quarenta estádios, podia-se observar o clarão do fogo.9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.
10 Percorridos já nove estádios, no seu avanço contra Timóteo, lançaram-se sobre eles os árabes em número de pelo menos cinco mil a pé e quinhentos a cavalo.10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.
11 Travou-se um combate violento, mas, com a ajuda de Deus, os soldados de Judas venceram-nos, e,11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by the help of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.
12 Crendo que, na verdade, eles lhe poderiam ser úteis, Judas aceitou a paz com eles, e, concluída esta, regressaram às suas tendas.12 Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.
13 Em seguida, atacou Judas uma cidade forte, chamada Caspim, cercada de muralhas, habitada por uma mistura de povos.13 He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.
14 Confiados na firmeza de seus muros e na abundância de suas provisões, os sitiados mostraram-se excessivamente grosseiros contra as tropas de Judas, lançando-lhes injúrias, blasfêmias e palavras ímpias.14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
15 Judas juntamente com os seus invocaram o grande Senhor do mundo, que, no tempo de Josué, derribou os muros de Jericó sem aríetes nem máquinas de guerra; depois, investiram furiosamente contra a muralha.15 Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,
16 Uma vez senhores da cidade pela vontade de Deus, praticaram uma horrorosa carnificina, a ponto de um tanque vizinho, com a largura de dois estádios, parecer cheio de sangue que ali se derramou.16 And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.
17 Dali, após uma marcha de setecentos e cinqüenta estádios, alcançaram o acampamento fortificado onde habitavam os judeus, chamados tubianeus.17 Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.
18 Não acharam ali, todavia, Timóteo: ele havia deixado os lugares sem ter conseguido nada, mas deixara num posto uma guarnição muito forte.18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.
19 Dositeu e Sosípatro, que comandavam tropas de Macabeu, foram atacar esse posto fortificado e mataram todos os homens que Timóteo ali havia colocado, isto é, mais de dez mil.19 Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus' captains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
20 Macabeu dividiu então seu exército e confiou a cada um deles uma parte; em seguida foi contra Timóteo, acompanhado de cento e vinte mil infantes e dois mil e quinhentos cavaleiros.20 And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.
21 Logo que teve conhecimento da chegada de Judas, Timóteo conduziu as mulheres, as cr ianças e as bagagens para um lugar chamado Carnion, porque era um lugar tornado inexpugnável pelos desfiladeiros e de acesso muito difícil.21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas' coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.
22 Quando apareceu o primeiro exército de Judas, o terror apoderou-se logo dos inimigos, porque aquele que vê todas as coisas manifestou-se a seus olhos; e fugiram em todas as direções, ferindo-se constantemente uns aos outros e transpassando-se com as suas próprias espadas.22 But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.
23 Judas perseguiu encarniçadamente esses malfeitores, matando e massacrando até trinta mil homens.23 Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.
24 O próprio Timóteo caiu nas mãos dos homens de Dositeu e de Sosípatro, aos quais pediu com grandes instâncias deixá-lo partir são e salvo, porque tinha em seu poder os pais e mesmo os irmãos da maior parte deles, que poderiam ser maltratados.24 Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews' parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.
25 Dava-lhes numerosas garantias e prometia libertar seus prisioneiros sem fazer-lhes mal; e com isso soltaram-no, para salvar seus irmãos.25 So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.
26 Em seguida, Judas atacou Carnion e o templo de Atargatis e massacrou vinte e cinco mil homens.26 Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
27 Depois dessa perseguição e matança, conduziu suas tropas diante de Efron, cidade forte, onde habitava Lísias e gente de todas as nações. Jovens robustos, colocados em frente à muralha, defendiam-na valentemente: dentro havia grande provisão de máquinas e projéteis.27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.
28 Os judeus invocaram o Soberano que tem o poder de aniquilar as forças dos inimigos, tornaram-se senhores da cidade e mataram ali vinte e cinco mil homens.28 But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,
29 Dali partiram eles para alcançar a cidade de Citópolis, a seiscentos estádios de Jerusalém.29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,
30 Todavia, os judeus que habitavam ali atestaram que os citopolitanos haviam usado de benevolência para com eles e os haviam tratado com deferência no tempo da perseguição.30 But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;
31 Judas e os seus agradeceram, pois, a estes e os exortaram a perseverar nessas disposições para com os de sua raça; em seguida entraram em Jerusalém, porque a festa das Semanas se aproximava.31 They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.
32 Passada a festa de Pentecostes, foram contra Górgias, chefe militar da Iduméia;32 And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,
33 esse saiu-lhes ao encontro com três mil infantes e quatrocentos cavaleiros;33 Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.
34 e travou-se uma batalha na qual pereceram alguns judeus.34 And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.
35 Dositeu, um dos cavaleiros de Baquenor, muito corajoso, apoderou-se de Górgias; retendo-o pela clâmide, arrastava-o à força, a fim de capturar vivo o maldito, quando se precipitou sobre ele um cavaleiro da Trácia, que lhe decepou um ombro, e Górgias fugiu para Marisa.35 At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor's company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.
36 No entanto, as tropas de Esdrin, que combatiam há muito tempo, achavam-se fatigadas; então Judas suplicou ao Senhor que se mostrasse seu aliado e os guiasse no combate.36 Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.
37 E, começando a entoar cantos na língua pátria e lançando o grito de guerra, atirou-se inopinadamente sobre os soldados de Górgias e os pôs em fuga.37 And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias' men, he put them to flight.
38 Quando havia reunido seu exército, Judas alcançou a cidade de Odolão e, chegando o sétimo dia da semana, purificaram-se segundo o costume e celebraram ali o sábado.38 So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.
39 No dia seguinte, Judas e seus companheiros foram tirar os corpos dos mortos, como era necessário, para depô-los na sepultura ao lado de seus pais.39 And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers' graves.
40 Ora, sob a túnica de cada um encontraram objetos consagrados aos ídolos de Jânia, proibidos aos judeus pela lei: todos, pois, reconheceram que fora esta a causa de sua morte.40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.
41 Bendisseram, pois, a mão do justo juiz, o Senhor, que faz aparecer as coisas ocultas,41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,
42 e puseram-se em oração, para implorar-lhe o perdão completo do pecado cometido. O nobre Judas falou à multidão, exortando-a a evitar qualquer transgressão, ao ver diante dos olhos o mal que havia sucedido aos que foram mortos por causa dos pecados.42 Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
43 Em seguida, fez uma coleta, enviando a Jerusalém cerca de dez mil dracmas, para que se oferecesse um sacrifício pelos pecados: belo e santo modo de agir, decorrente de sua crença na ressurreição,43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
44 porque, se ele não julgasse que os mortos ressuscitariam, teria sido vão e supérfluo rezar por eles.44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
45 Mas, se ele acreditava que uma bela recompensa aguarda os que morrem piedosamente,45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
46 era esse um bom e religioso pensamento; eis por que ele pediu um sacrifício expiatório para que os mortos fossem livres de suas faltas.