II Macabeos, 3

1. Mientras la ciudad santa era habitada en completa paz y las leyes guardadas a la perfección, gracias a la piedad y al aborrecimiento de mal del sumo sacerdote Onías,

1. While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were very well observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of wickedness,

2. sucedía que hasta los reyes veneraban el Lugar Santo y honraban el Templo con magníficos presentes,

2. it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the finest presents,

3. hasta el punto de que Seleuco, rey de Asia, proveía con sus propias rentas a todos los gastos necesarios para el servicio de los sacrificios.

3. so that even Seleucus, the king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices.

4. Pero un tal Simón, de la tribu de Bilgá, constituido administrador del Templo, tuvo diferencias con el sumo sacerdote sobre la reglamentación del mercado de la ciudad.

4. But a man named Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made captain of the temple, had a disagreement with the high priest about the administration of the city market;

5. No pudiendo vencer a Onías, se fue donde Apolonio, hijo de Traseo, estratega por entonces de Celesiria y Fenicia,

5. and when he could not prevail over Onias he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

6. y le comunicó que el tesoro de Jerusalén, estaba repleto de riquezas incontables, hasta el punto de ser incalculable la cantidad de dinero, sin equivalencia con los gastos de los sacrificios, y que era posible que cayeran en poder del rey.

6. He reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the amount of the funds could not be reckoned, and that they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible for them to fall under the control of the king.

7. Apolonio en conversación con el rey le habló de las riquezas de que había tenido noticia y entonces el rey designó a Heliodoro, el encargado de sus negocios, y le envió con la orden de realizar la trasferencia de las mencionadas riquezas.

7. When Apollonius met the king, he told him of the money about which he had been informed. The king chose Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the removal of the aforesaid money.

8. Enseguida Heliodoro emprendía el viaje con el pretexto de inspeccionar las ciudades de Celesiria y Fenicia, pero en realidad para ejecutar el proyecto del rey.

8. Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to carry out the king's purpose.

9. Llegado a Jerusalén y amistosamente acogido por el sumo sacerdote y por la ciudad, expuso el hecho de la denuncia e hizo saber el motivo de su presencia; preguntó si las cosas eran realmente así.

9. When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of the city, he told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had come, and he inquired whether this really was the situation.

10. Manifestó el sumo sacerdote que eran depósitos de viudas y huérfanos,

10. The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans,

11. que una parte pertenecía a Hicarno, hijo de Tobías, personaje de muy alta posición y, contra lo que había calumniado el impío Simón, que el total era de cuatrocientos talentos de plata y doscientos de oro;

11. and also some money of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man of very prominent position, and that it totaled in all four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. To such an extent the impious Simon had misrepresented the facts.

12. que de ningún modo se podía perjudicar a los que tenían puesta su confianza en la santidad del Lugar, y en la majestad inviolable de aquel Templo venerado en todo el mundo.

12. And he said that it was utterly impossible that wrong should be done to those people who had trusted in the holiness of the place and in the sanctity and inviolability of the temple which is honored throughout the whole world.

13. Pero Heliodoro, en virtud de las órdenes del rey, mantenía de forma terminante que los bienes debían pasar al tesoro real.

13. But Heliodorus, because of the king's commands which he had, said that this money must in any case be confiscated for the king's treasury.

14. En la fecha fijada hacía su entrada para realizar el inventario de los bienes. No era pequeña la angustia en toda la ciudad:

14. So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of these funds. There was no little distress throughout the whole city.

15. los sacerdotes, postrados ante el altar con sus vestiduras sacerdotales, suplicaban al Cielo, el que había dado la ley sobre los bienes en depósito, que los guardara intactos para quienes los habían depositado.

15. The priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priestly garments and called toward heaven upon him who had given the law about deposits, that he should keep them safe for those who had deposited them.

16. El ver la figura del sumo sacerdote llegaba a partir el alma, pues su aspecto y su color demudado manifestaban la angustia de su alma.

16. To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart, for his face and the change in his color disclosed the anguish of his soul.

17. Aquel hombre estaba embargado de miedo y temblor en su cuerpo, con lo que mostraba a los que le contemplaban el dolor que había en su corazón.

17. For terror and bodily trembling had come over the man, which plainly showed to those who looked at him the pain lodged in his heart.

18. De las casas salía en tropel la gente a una rogativa pública porque el lugar estaba a punto de caer en oprobio.

18. People also hurried out of their houses in crowds to make a general supplication because the holy place was about to be brought into contempt.

19. Las mujeres, ceñidas de saco bajo el pecho, llenaban las calles; de las jóvenes, que estaban recluidas, unas corrían a las puertas, otras subían a los muros, otras se asomaban por las ventanas.

19. Women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. Some of the maidens who were kept indoors ran together to the gates, and some to the walls, while others peered out of the windows.

20. Todas, con las manos tendidas al cielo, tomaban parte en la súplica.

20. And holding up their hands to heaven, they all made entreaty.

21. Daba compasión aquella multitud confusamente postrada y el sumo sacerdote angustiado en honda ansiedad.

21. There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole populace and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish.

22. Mientras ellos invocaban al Señor Todopoderoso para que guardara intactos, en completa seguridad, los bienes en depósito para quienes los habían confiado,

22. While they were calling upon the Almighty Lord that he would keep what had been entrusted safe and secure for those who had entrusted it,

23. Heliodoro llevaba a cabo lo que tenía decidido.

23. Heliodorus went on with what had been decided.

24. Estaba ya allí mismo con su guardia junto al Tesoro, cuando el Soberano de los Espíritus y de toda Potestad, se manifestó en su grandeza, de modo que todos los que con él juntos se habían atrevido a acercarse, pasmados ante el poder de Dios, se volvieron débiles y cobardes.

24. But when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, then and there the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a manifestation that all who had been so bold as to accompany him were astounded by the power of God, and became faint with terror.

25. Pues se les apareció un caballo montado por un jinete terrible y guarnecido con riquísimo arnés; lanzándose con ímpetu levantó contra Heliodoro sus patas delanteras. El que lo montaba aparecía con una armadura de oro.

25. For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned horse, with a rider of frightening mien, and it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor and weapons of gold.

26. Se le aparecieron además otros dos jóvenes de notable vigor, espléndida belleza y magníficos vestidos que colocándose a ambos lados, le azotaban sin cesar, moliéndolo a golpes.

26. Two young men also appeared to him, remarkably strong, gloriously beautiful and splendidly dressed, who stood on each side of him and scourged him continuously, inflicting many blows on him.

27. Al caer de pronto a tierra, rodeado de densa oscuridad, lo recogieron y lo pusieron en una litera;

27. When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him, his men took him up and put him on a stretcher

28. al mismo que poco antes, con numeroso séquito y con toda su guardia, había entrado en el mencionado Tesoro, lo llevaban ahora incapaz de valerse por sí mismo, reconociendo todos claramente la soberanía de Dios.

28. and carried him away, this man who had just entered the aforesaid treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard but was now unable to help himself; and they recognized clearly the sovereign power of God.

29. Mientras él yacía mudo y privado de toda esperanza de salvación, a causa del poder divino,

29. While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention and deprived of any hope of recovery,

30. otros bendecían al Señor que había glorificado maravillosamente su propio Lugar; y el Templo, lleno poco antes de miedo y turbación, rebosaba de gozo y alegría después de la manifestación del Señor Todopoderoso.

30. they praised the Lord who had acted marvelously for his own place. And the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and disturbance, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the Almighty Lord had appeared.

31. Pronto algunos de los acompañantes de Heliodoro, instaban a Onías que invocara al Altísimo para que diese la gracia de vivir a aquel que yacía ya en su último suspiro.

31. Quickly some of Heliodorus' friends asked Onias to call upon the Most High and to grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath.

32. Temiendo el sumo sacerdote que acaso el rey sospechara que los judíos hubieran perpetrado alguna fechoría contra Heliodoro, ofreció un sacrificio por la salud de aquel hombre.

32. And the high priest, fearing that the king might get the notion that some foul play had been perpetrated by the Jews with regard to Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for the man's recovery.

33. Mientras el sumo sacerdote ofrecía el sacrificio de expiación, se aparecieron otra vez a Heliodoro los mismos jóvenes, vestidos con la misma indumentaria y en pie le dijeron: «Da muchas gracias al sumo sacerdote Onías, pues por él te concede el Señor la gracia de vivir;

33. While the high priest was making the offering of atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus dressed in the same clothing, and they stood and said, "Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life.

34. y tú, que has sido azotado por el Cielo, haz saber a todos la grandeza del poder de Dios.» En diciendo esto, desparacieron.

34. And see that you, who have been scourged by heaven, report to all men the majestic power of God." Having said this they vanished.

35. Heliodoro, habiendo ofrecido al Señor un sacrificio y tras haber orado largamente al que le había concedido la vida, se despidió de Onías y volvió con sus tropas donde el rey.

35. Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to the Savior of his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, he marched off with his forces to the king.

36. Ante todos daba testimonio de las obras del Dios grande que él había contemplado con sus ojos.

36. And he bore testimony to all men of the deeds of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes.

37. Al preguntar el rey a Heliodoro a quién convendría enviar otra vez a Jerusalén, él respondió:

37. When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied,

38. «Si tienes algún enemigo conspirador contra el Estado, mándalo allá y te volverá molido a azotes, si es que salva su vida, porque te aseguro que rodea a aquel Lugar una fuerza divina.

38. "If you have any enemy or plotter against your government, send him there, for you will get him back thoroughly scourged, if he escapes at all, for there certainly is about the place some power of God.

39. Pues el mismo que tiene en los cielos su morada, vela y protege aquel Lugar; y a los que se acercan con malas intenciones los hiere de muerte.»

39. For he who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself and brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it injury."

40. Así sucedieron las cosas relativas a Heliodoro y a la preservación del Tesoro.

40. This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury.