II Macabeus, 14

1. Três anos mais tarde, Judas e seus companheiros souberam que Demétrio, filho de Seleuco, tinha chegado pelo porto de Trípolis com um poderoso exército e uma grande esquadra.

1. But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius the son of Seleucus was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis to places proper for his purpose.

2. Soube também que o país caíra em suas mãos e que havia causado a perda de Antíoco e de seu tutor Lísias.

2. And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general Lysias.

3. Ora, certo Alcimo, outrora sumo sacerdote, mas voluntariamente comprometido por ocasião da introdução dos costumes pagãos, vendo que de nenhum lado lhe restava esperança de salvação, nem possibilidade de achegar-se ainda ao altar,

3. Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,

4. veio ter com o rei Demétrio. Isso foi pelo ano cento e cinquenta e um. Ofereceu-lhe uma coroa de ouro, uma palma e, além disso, alguns ramos de oliveira, dos que se oferecem no templo. Naquele dia, contudo, não disse nada.*

4. Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.

5. Encontrou, porém, ocasião oportuna para executar sua maldade, quando foi chamado ao conselho por Demétrio e interrogado sobre as disposições e os intentos dos judeus.

5. But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,

6. Respondeu ele: “Aqueles judeus, que se chamam assideus, em cuja frente se encontra Judas Macabeu, fomentam a guerra e as sedições e impedem que o reino goze de paz.

6. He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.

7. Eis por que, despojado de minha dignidade hereditária, quero dizer do sumo sacerdócio: vim aqui

7. For I also being deprived of my ancestors' glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:

8. primeiramente porque tenho realmente cuidado dos interesses do rei; depois, em consideração aos meus compatriotas, porque a irreflexão dos que citei mergulha toda a nossa raça num grande mal.

8. Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of those men.

9. Reconhecido isso, ó rei, pela benevolência que testemunhas a todos, toma as medidas necessárias para a salvação de nosso país e de nossa raça ameaçada,

9. Wherefore, 0 king, seeing thou know- eat all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,

10. porque, enquanto Judas estiver vivo, é impossível que haja paz”.

10. For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.

11. Mal acabara ele de falar, os demais amigos do rei, hostis à causa de Judas, puseram-se a incitar Demétrio.

11. Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.

12. Este designou imediatamente Nicanor, ex-comandante do corpo de elefantes, e promoveu-o a general da Judeia, ordenando-lhe

12. And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:

13. que partisse a fim de matar Judas, dispersar suas tropas e restabelecer Alcimo como sacerdote do grande templo.

13. Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.

14. Aqueles que na Judeia tinham fugido de Judas colocaram-se ao lado dos gentios sob a chefia de Nicanor, como se os infortúnios e males dos judeus lhes devessem redundar em outros tantos êxitos.

14. Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by docks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.

15. Os judeus, ao ouvirem falar da expedição de Nicanor e do ataque dos gentios, cobriram a cabeça de pó e imploraram àquele que estabelecera seu povo para sempre e que continuamente, de modo visível, defendia sua herança.

15. Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him, who chose his people to keep them for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.

16. Por ordem do chefe, partiu logo o exército e encontrou o inimigo perto da aldeia de Dessau.

16. Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.

17. Embora Simão, irmão de Judas, estivesse em presença de Nicanor, adiou o ataque em vista do súbito terror produzido aos seus pelo inimigo.

17. Now Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor, but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.

18. De seu lado, Nicanor, conhecendo a coragem dos homens de Judas e a grandeza de ânimo com que eles se atiravam ao combate pela pátria, temeu expor-se a uma decisão pelo sangue.

18. Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas' companions, and the greatness of courage with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.

19. Enviou, pois, Posidônio, Teódoto e Matatias, para oferecer a mão aos judeus e receber a deles.

19. Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to pre- sent and receive the right hands.

20. As propostas de paz foram por muito tempo examinadas. Cada chefe as comunicou às suas tropas e foram aceitas unanimemente.

20. And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, the) were all of one mind to consent to covenants.

21. Foi fixado um dia para uma conferência dos chefes sobre esse assunto. De um lado e de outro avançou um carro e colocaram cadeiras de honra.

21. So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by them- selves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.

22. Judas postou homens armados em lugares estratégicos, prontos para qualquer eventua­lidade, se os adversários os viessem trair. A conferência dos chefes foi satisfatória.

22. But Judas ordered men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might he suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.

23. Nicanor passou a residir em Jerusalém, sem fazer ali mal algum. Despediu até mesmo a multidão das tropas que ele havia trazido consigo.

23. And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.

24. Estava constantemente em companhia de Judas, sentindo amizade para com ele.

24. And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.

25. Instou para que ele se casasse e que tivesse filhos. Judas casou-se, gozou de tranquilidade e desfrutou a vida.

25. And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.

26. Verificando Alcimo os sentimentos recíprocos de ambos os chefes, investigou as cláusulas do tratado e dirigiu-se a Demétrio, acusando Nicanor de conjurar contra o Estado, porque havia designado para seu lugar-tenente Judas, o próprio inimigo do reino.

26. But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.

27. Exasperado e excitado pelas calúnias desse bandido, escreveu o rei a Nicanor, dizendo-lhe que estava descontente com os tratados realizados e ordenava-lhe que lhe enviasse preso Macabeu o mais depressa possível, para Antioquia.

27. Then the king being in a rage and provoked with this man's wicked accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying, that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.

28. Ao receber a carta, Nicanor ficou consternado e triste por ter de romper seus contratos, sem que Judas tivesse agido mal.

28. When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.

29. Mas, como ele não podia contrariar as ordens do rei, procurava uma ocasião para executar essa ordem por algum ardil.

29. But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders.

30. Reparando Macabeu que Nicanor se mostrava mais rude para com sua pessoa e com uma atitude mais indiferente, achou que esse procedimento nada indicava de bom. Reunindo, pois, um grupo dos seus partidários, ocultou-se de Nicanor.

30. But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner: and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.

31. Quando o outro reconheceu que havia sido logrado, dirigiu-se ao grande e sublime templo, no momento em que os sacerdotes ofereciam o sacrifício e deu-lhes ordem de entregarem esse homem.

31. But he finding himself notably pre- vented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.

32. Os sacerdotes, porém, juraram-lhe que não sabiam onde se achava o que ele procurava.

32. And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple,

33. Então, estendendo a mão para o templo, jurou: “Se não me entregardes Judas preso, arrasarei até o solo este santuário de Deus, derribarei o altar e no mesmo lugar edificarei um magnífico templo a Dioniso”.

33. And swore, saying: Unless you de- liver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.

34. Ditas essas palavras, ele se retirou. Os sacerdotes, então, ergueram as mãos para o céu e invocaram aquele que sempre pelejou pelo nosso povo:

34. And when he had spoken thus he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:

35. “Senhor do universo – exclamaram eles –, vós, que bastais a vós mesmo, quisestes possuir entre nós um templo por habitação.

35. Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.

36. Ó fonte santa de toda santidade, conservai, pois, sempre livre de toda profanação esta casa que há pouco foi purificada”.

36. Therefore now, 0 Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled which was lately cleansed.

37. Aconteceu também que Razias, um dos anciãos de Jerusalém, foi denunciado a Nicanor. Era um homem dedicado aos seus concidadãos, de grande reputação e cognominado “pai dos judeus”, por causa de sua benevolência.

37. Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his affection was called the father of the Jews.

38. Anteriormente, por ocasião da resistência ao paganismo, havia sido acusado de judaísmo e pelo judaísmo ele se havia exposto de corpo e alma com extremo zelo.

38. This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.

39. Nicanor, que pretendia dar uma prova de sua hostilidade para com os judeus, enviou mais de quinhentos homens para apoderar-se dele,

39. So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.

40. supondo que, prendendo-o, causaria aos judeus um golpe penoso.

40. For he thought by insnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.

41. Como essa tropa foi apoderar-se da torre e forçar a entrada, uma vez que havia sido dada a ordem de atear fogo e incendiar as portas, Razias, quando ia ser preso, transpassou-se com a própria espada,

41. Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:

42. preferindo morrer honradamente antes que cair nas mãos dos ímpios e padecer ultrajes indignos de seu nobre nascimento.

42. Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.

43. Na precipitação, porém, dirigiu mal o golpe e, enquanto os soldados forçavam do lado de fora contra as portas, ele correu animosamente para cima do muro e, com coragem, atirou-se sobre a multidão.

43. But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:

44. As pessoas afastaram-se com rapidez e Razias tombou no espaço deixado vazio.

44. But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.

45. Todavia, ainda respirando, cheio de ardor, ergueu-se e, embora o sangue lhe jorrasse como uma fonte de suas horríveis feridas, atravessou a multidão numa carreira. Em seguida, de pé sobre uma rocha escarpada

45. And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:

46. e já inteiramente exangue, arrancou com as próprias mãos as entranhas que saíam, e lançou-as sobre os inimigos. Foi assim seu fim, pedindo ao Senhor da vida e do espírito que lhos restituísse um dia.

46. And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels with both hands, he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.