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Lunedi, 6 maggio 2024 - San Pietro Nolasco ( Letture di oggi)

II Livro dos Macabeus 9


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SAGRADA BIBLIAKING JAMES BIBLE
1 Por essa mesma ocasião, voltava Antíoco da Pérsia, coberto de vergonha.1 About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia
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 pelos2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame.
3 Achando-se perto de Ecbátana, soube da derrota de Nicanor e do exército de Timóteo.3 Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.
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.4 Then swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of GOd now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
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;5 But the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts;
6 e era muito justo, pois ele mesmo havia rasgado as entranhas aos outros por inauditos tormentos!6 And that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments.
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.7 Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained.
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.8 And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God.
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.9 So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.
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!10 And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink.
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.11 Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.
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.12 And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God.
13 O celerado rezava ao Senhor, de quem não haveria de receber compaixão,13 This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,
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.14 That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would set at liberty:
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.15 And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens:
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.16 And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:
17 Além disso, ele mesmo se tornaria judeu e percorreria todos os lugares habitados, proclamando o poder de Deus!17 Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.
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:18 But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:
19 Aos dedicados súditos judeus, saúde, bem-estar e felicidade, da parte de Antíoco, rei e chefe do exército.19 Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:
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;20 If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.
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.21 As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:
22 Não que me desespere de meu estado, ao contrário, tenho a firme esperança de escapar dessa doença -22 Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.
23 mas me lembro de que meu pai designava seu sucessor cada vez que partia em expedição às províncias superiores.23 But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries. appointed a successor,
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.24 To the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:
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:25 Again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event. I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:
26 Rogo-vos, portanto, e peço que, em memória de meus benefícios para convosco, tanto gerais, como26 Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son.
27 pois estou convencido de que ele seguirá minhas intenções e agirá convosco com moderação e humanidade.27 For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably and graciously yield to your desires.
28 Assim esse carrasco e blasfemador pereceu miseravelmente, distante, nas montanhas, em meio àqueles sofrimentos que ele mesmo havia infligido aos outros.28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he entreated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains.
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.29 And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus Philometor.