I Macabeus, 8

1. Pela voz da fama, soube Judas que os romanos eram extremamente poderosos, que se mostravam benevolentes para com seus aliados e que a todos os que recorriam a eles ofereciam sua amizade, porque eram verdadeiramente potentes.

1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to those who came to them,

2. Contaram-lhe também seus combates, suas façanhas junto aos gauleses, aos quais haviam vencido e subjugado;

2. and that they were very strong. Men told him of their wars and of the brave deeds which they were doing among the Gauls, how they had defeated them and forced them to pay tribute,

3. como haviam chegado à Espanha para se apoderar das minas de prata e de ouro que ali existem e, como, por sua sabedoria e longanimidade, eles haviam conciliado todo o país,

3. and what they had done in the land of Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there,

4. por mais que ele fosse afastado deles; como haviam derrotado reis que haviam surgido contra eles das extremidades da terra, e os haviam aniquilado devidamente, enquanto outros lhes pagavam o tributo anual.

4. and how they had gained control of the whole region by their planning and patience, even though the place was far distant from them. They also subdued the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and inflicted great disaster upon them; the rest paid them tribute every year.

5. Filipe e Perseu, reis dos ceteus, e outros se haviam insurgido contra eles, mas tinham sido derrotados e subjugados.*

5. Philip, and Perseus king of the Macedonians, and the others who rose up against them, they crushed in battle and conquered.

6. Antíoco, o Grande, rei da Ásia, marchou para combatê-los com cento e vinte elefantes, cavalaria, carros e um poderoso exército, mas havia sido por eles aniquilado.

6. They also defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them;

7. Eles o haviam tomado vivo e haviam imposto a ele e aos seus sucessores um grande tributo, a entrega de reféns e a cessão de um território,

7. they took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign after him should pay a heavy tribute and give hostages and surrender some of their best provinces,

8. arrebatando-lhe a Índia, a Média, a Lídia e suas melhores regiões que eles deram ao rei Eumenes.

8. the country of India and Media and Lydia. These they took from him and gave to Eumenes the king.

9. Os gregos haviam decidido atacá-los para exterminá-los, mas eles o souberam

9. The Greeks planned to come and destroy them,

10. e enviaram um general que os atacou, levando a perecer um grande número, arrastou ao cativeiro suas mulheres e seus filhos, saqueou e tornou-se senhor do país, destruiu suas praças fortes e os reduziu à servidão, que ainda durava.

10. but this became known to them, and they sent a general against the Greeks and attacked them. Many of them were wounded and fell, and the Romans took captive their wives and children; they plundered them, conquered the land, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them to this day.

11. Haviam eles igualmente arruinado e subjugado ao seu domínio os outros reinos e as ilhas, que lhes haviam resistido.

11. The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as ever opposed them, they destroyed and enslaved;

12. Por outro lado, conservavam sua proteção a seus amigos e aliados, estendiam seu poder sobre os reinos vizinhos ou distantes e todos os que ouviam pronunciar seu nome, temiam-nos.

12. but with their friends and those who rely on them they have kept friendship. They have subdued kings far and near, and as many as have heard of their fame have feared them.

13. Aqueles que eles queriam auxiliar e ver reinar, reinavam com efeito, mas os que eles não queriam, eram exilados. Engrandeciam-nos muito.

13. Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings, and those whom they wish they depose; and they have been greatly exalted.

14. Apesar de tudo isso, ninguém deles trazia diadema, nem se envolvia com púrpura, para se engrandecer.

14. Yet for all this not one of them has put on a crown or worn purple as a mark of pride,

15. Eles tinham estabelecido entre si um conselho supremo em que, cada dia, trezentos e vinte conselheiros discutiam assuntos do povo, para governá-lo bem.

15. but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty senators constantly deliberate concerning the people, to govern them well.

16. Cada ano confiavam a autoridade suprema a um só homem, que comandava em todo o território e todos obedeciam a um só, sem haver ali entre eles nem inveja nem ciúme.

16. They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their land; they all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.

17. Escolheu Judas a Eupólemo, filho de João, filho de Acos, e Jasão, filho de Elea­zar, e enviou-os a Roma para estabelecer amizade e aliança com eles,

17. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance,

18. pedindo-lhes que os libertasse do jugo que os gregos, como estavam vendo, faziam pesar sobre Israel, reduzindo-o à escravidão.

18. and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was completely enslaving Israel.

19. Dirigiram-se eles a Roma, apesar da duração da viagem, e entraram no Senado, onde disseram:

19. They went to Rome, a very long journey; and they entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows:

20. “Judas, também chamado Macabeu, seus irmãos e todo o povo de Israel nos enviaram até vós, para firmar aliança e paz e para que nos conteis entre vossos amigos e aliados”.

20. "Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends."

21. Essa linguagem agradou aos romanos.

21. The proposal pleased them,

22. Eis a cópia da carta que os romanos mandaram gravar sobre tabuletas de bronze e enviaram a Jerusalém, para ali ficar como memorial de paz e de amizade de sua parte:

22. and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance:

23. “Prosperidade para sempre aos romanos e ao povo judeu, por terra e por mar! Longe deles a espada e o inimigo!

23. "May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.

24. Se sobrevier uma guerra contra os romanos ou contra um de seus aliados, em todo o império,

24. If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,

25. o povo judeu tome as armas por sua vez, conforme o permitirem as circunstâncias, e isso de boa vontade.

25. the nation of the Jews shall act as their allies wholeheartedly, as the occasion may indicate to them.

26. Não fornecerão aos adversários nem trigo, nem armas, nem dinheiro, nem navios, segundo a decisão dos romanos. Os judeus observarão esses contratos sem receber nada em troca.

26. And to the enemy who makes war they shall not give or supply grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep their obligations without receiving any return.

27. Por outro lado, se for o povo judeu o atacado, os romanos tomarão armas voluntariamente por eles, conforme as circunstâncias o indicarem.

27. In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may indicate to them.

28. E não será fornecido aos combatentes nem trigo, nem armas, nem dinheiro, nem navios, de acordo com a vontade de Roma, e esses contratos serão observados sem fraude.

28. And to the enemy allies shall be given no grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep these obligations and do so without deceit.

29. Por essas palavras os romanos aliaram-se com os judeus.

29. Thus on these terms the Romans make a treaty with the Jewish people.

30. Se uns ou outros contratantes quiserem ajuntar ou subtrair essas cláusulas, farão a proposta, e o que for acrescentado ou tirado será ratificado.

30. If after these terms are in effect both parties shall determine to add or delete anything, they shall do so at their discretion, and any addition or deletion that they may make shall be valid.

31. Pelo que toca aos danos causados pelo rei Demétrio, eis o que lhe escrevemos: ‘Por que fizestes pesar vosso jugo sobre os judeus, nossos amigos e aliados?

31. "And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we have written to him as follows, `Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?

32. Se, pois, eles vierem a nós outra vez contra vós, nós lhes faremos justiça e vos combateremos, por terra e por mar!’.”

32. If now they appeal again for help against you, we will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land.'"