Liber II Maccabaeorum, 7

1. Contigit autem et septem fra tres una cum matre apprehen sos compelli a rege attingere contra fas carnes porcinas, flagris et nervis cruciatos.

1. It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and cords, to partake of unlawful swine's flesh.

2. Unus autem ex illis exstans prior locutor sic ait: “Quid es quaesiturus, et quid vis discere a nobis? Parati sumus mori magis quam patrias leges praevaricari”.

2. One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, "What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers."

3. Iratus itaque rex iussit sartagines et ollas succendi.

3. The king fell into a rage, and gave orders that pans and caldrons be heated.

4. Quibus statim succensis, iussit ei, qui prior illorum fuerat locutus, amputari linguam et, cute capitis abstracta, summas quoque manus et pedes ei praescindi, ceteris eius fratribus et matre inspicientibus.

4. These were heated immediately, and he commanded that the tongue of their spokesman be cut out and that they scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of the brothers and the mother looked on.

5. Et cum iam per omnia inutilis factus esset, iussit eum igne admoveri adhuc spirantem et torreri in sartagine. Cum autem vapor sartaginis diu diffunderetur, ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter ita dicentes:

5. When he was utterly helpless, the king ordered them to take him to the fire, still breathing, and to fry him in a pan. The smoke from the pan spread widely, but the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die nobly, saying,

6. “Dominus Deus aspicit et veritate in nobis consolatur, quemadmodum per personam contestantis cantici declaravit Moyses: “Et in servis suis consolabitur””.

6. "The Lord God is watching over us and in truth has compassion on us, as Moses declared in his song which bore witness against the people to their faces, when he said, `And he will have compassion on his servants.'"

7. Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo, sequentem deducebant ad illudendum; et cute capitis eius cum capillis abstracta, interrogabant, si manducaret prius quam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.

7. After the first brother had died in this way, they brought forward the second for their sport. They tore off the skin of his head with the hair, and asked him, "Will you eat rather than have your body punished limb by limb?"

8. At ille respondens patria voce dixit: “Non faciam”. Propter quod et iste, sequenti loco, tormenta suscepit sicut primus.

8. He replied in the language of his fathers, and said to them, "No." Therefore he in turn underwent tortures as the first brother had done.

9. Et in ultimo spiritu constitutus, sic ait: “Tu quidem, scelestissime, de praesenti vita nos perdis; sed rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in aeternam vitae resurrectionem suscitabit”.

9. And when he was at his last breath, he said, "You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws."

10. Post hunc tertius illudebatur; et linguam postulatus cito protulit et manus constanter extendit

10. After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands,

11. et fortiter ait: “E caelo ista possideo et propter illius leges haec ipsa despicio et ab ipso rursus me ea recepturum spero”,

11. and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again."

12. ita ut rex et, qui cum ipso erant, mirarentur adulescentis animum, quomodo pro nihilo duceret cruciatus.

12. As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

13. Et hoc ita defuncto, quartum vexabant similiter torquentes;

13. When he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same way.

14. et, cum iam esset ad mortem, sic ait: “Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo, iterum ab ipso resuscitandos; tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit”.

14. And when he was near death, he said, "One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men and to cherish the hope that God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!"

15. Et deinceps quintum, cum admovissent, vexabant;

15. Next they brought forward the fifth and maltreated him.

16. at ille respiciens in eum dixit: “Potestatem inter homines habens, cum sis corruptibilis, facis, quod vis; noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum;

16. But he looked at the king, and said, "Because you have authority among men, mortal though you are, you do what you please. But do not think that God has forsaken our people.

17. tu autem patienter sustine et videbis maiestatem virtutis ipsius, qualiter te et semen tuum torquebit”.

17. Keep on, and see how his mighty power will torture you and your descendants!"

18. Post hunc ducebant sextum, et is mori incipiens ait: “Noli frustra errare; nos enim propter nosmetipsos haec patimur peccantes in Deum nostrum, et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis:

18. After him they brought forward the sixth. And when he was about to die, he said, "Do not deceive yourself in vain. For we are suffering these things on our own account, because of our sins against our own God. Therefore astounding things have happened.

19. tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum, quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris”.

19. But do not think that you will go unpunished for having tried to fight against God!"

20. Supra modum autem mater mirabilis et bona memoria digna, quae pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens bono animo ferebat propter spem, quam in Dominum habebat.

20. The mother was especially admirable and worthy of honorable memory. Though she saw her seven sons perish within a single day, she bore it with good courage because of her hope in the Lord.

21. Singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria, forti repleta sensu et femineam cogitationem masculino excitans animo, dicens ad eos:

21. She encouraged each of them in the language of their fathers. Filled with a noble spirit, she fired her woman's reasoning with a man's courage, and said to them,

22. “Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis neque ego spiritum et vitam donavi vobis et singulorum vestrorum compagem non sum ego modulata;

22. "I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you.

23. sed enim mundi creator, qui formavit hominis nativitatem quique omnium invenit originem, et spiritum et vitam vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet, sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges eius”.

23. Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws."

24. Antiochus autem contemni se arbitratus, simul et exprobrantem dedignans vocem, cum adhuc adulescentior superesset, non solum verbis hortabatur, sed et cum iuramento affirmabat se divitem simul et beatum facturum, translatum a patriis legibus, et amicum habiturum et officia ei crediturum.

24. Antiochus felt that he was being treated with contempt, and he was suspicious of her reproachful tone. The youngest brother being still alive, Antiochus not only appealed to him in words, but promised with oaths that he would make him rich and enviable if he would turn from the ways of his fathers, and that he would take him for his friend and entrust him with public affairs.

25. Sed ad haec cum adulescens nequaquam intenderet, vocavit rex matrem et suadebat ei, ut adulescenti fieret suasor in salutem.

25. Since the young man would not listen to him at all, the king called the mother to him and urged her to advise the youth to save himself.

26. Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus, promisit suasuram se filio.

26. After much urging on his part, she undertook to persuade her son.

27. Itaque inclinata ad illum, irridens crudelem tyrannum sic ait patria voce: “Fili, miserere mei, quae te in utero novem mensibus portavi et lac triennio dedi et alui et in aetatem istam perduxi et nutricem me tibi exhibui.

27. But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native tongue as follows, deriding the cruel tyrant: "My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you.

28. Peto, nate, ut aspicias ad caelum et terram et quae in ipsis sunt, universa videns intellegas quia non ex his, quae erant, fecit illa Deus; et hominum genus ita fit.

28. I beseech you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see everything that is in them, and recognize that God did not make them out of things that existed. Thus also mankind comes into being.

29. Ne timeas carnificem istum, sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus suscipe mortem, ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam”.

29. Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again with your brothers."

30. Cum haec illa adhuc diceret, ait adulescens: “Quem sustinetis? Non oboedio praecepto regis, sed obtempero praecepto legis, quae data est patribus nostris per Moysen.

30. While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses.

31. Tu vero, qui inventor omnis malitiae factus es in Hebraeos, non effugies manus Dei.

31. But you, who have contrived all sorts of evil against the Hebrews, will certainly not escape the hands of God.

32. Nos enim pro peccatis nostris haec patimur;

32. For we are suffering because of our own sins.

33. et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem ille vivens Dominus noster modicum iratus est, sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.

33. And if our living Lord is angry for a little while, to rebuke and discipline us, he will again be reconciled with his own servants.

34. Tu autem, o sceleste et omnium hominum flagitiosissime, noli frustra extolli elatus vanis spebus, in filios caeli levata manu;

34. But you, unholy wretch, you most defiled of all men, do not be elated in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes, when you raise your hand against the children of heaven.

35. nondum enim omnipotentis atque intuitoris Dei iudicium effugisti.

35. You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty, all-seeing God.

36. Nam fratres nostri, modico nunc dolore sustentato, sub Dei testamentum aeternae vitae reciderunt; tu vero iudicio Dei iustas superbiae tuae poenas exsolves.

36. For our brothers after enduring a brief suffering have drunk of everflowing life under God's covenant; but you, by the judgment of God, will receive just punishment for your arrogance.

37. Ego autem, sicut et fratres mei, et corpus et animam trado pro patriis legibus, invocans Deum maturius genti nostrae propitium fieri, teque cum tormentis et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus;

37. I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation and by afflictions and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God,

38. in me vero et in fratribus meis restitit Omnipotentis ira, quae super omne genus nostrum iuste superducta est”.

38. and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty which has justly fallen on our whole nation."

39. Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc super omnes crudelius desaevit, indigne ferens se derisum.

39. The king fell into a rage, and handled him worse than the others, being exasperated at his scorn.

40. Et hic itaque mundus obiit per omnia in Domino confidens.

40. So he died in his integrity, putting his whole trust in the Lord.

41. Novissima autem post filios et mater consumpta est.

41. Last of all, the mother died, after her sons.

42. Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis sit dictum.

42. Let this be enough, then, about the eating of sacrifices and the extreme tortures.