II Macabeus, 10

1. Sob a proteção do Senhor, Macabeu e seus com­pa­nheiros retomaram o templo e a cidade.*

1. Now Maccabeus and his followers, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city;

2. Destruíram os alta­res que os estrangeiros haviam edificado na praça pública, como também os troncos sagrados.

2. and they tore down the altars which had been built in the public square by the foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts.

3. Após terem purificado o templo, erigiram outro altar para os holocaustos. Utilizaram uma pedra para tirar faíscas das quais eles se serviram para oferecer os sacrifícios, após dois anos de interrupção. Queimaram o incenso, reacenderam as lâmpadas e recoloca­ram os pães da proposição.

3. They purified the sanctuary, and made another altar of sacrifice; then, striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of two years, and they burned incense and lighted lamps and set out the bread of the Presence.

4. Feitas essas coisas, prostraram-se por terra e suplicaram ao Senhor que não mais os entregasse a semelhantes calamidades; mas, se recaíssem nas ofensas, que corrigisse com brandura, sem entregá-los às mãos das nações ímpias e bárbaras.

4. And when they had done this, they fell prostrate and besought the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if they should ever sin, they might be disciplined by him with forbearance and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations.

5. Foi no dia do aniversário da profanação do templo pelos estrangeiros, isto é, no dia vinte e cinco do mês de Casleu, que eles o purificaram.

5. It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev.

6. Prolongaram as cerimônias e os festejos por oito dias, como na ocasião da festa dos Taberná­culos, recordando-se de que, pouco antes, na ocasião dessa festa, habitavam nas montanhas e nas cavernas como animais selvagens.

6. And they celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the feast of booths, remembering how not long before, during the feast of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals.

7. Foi assim que, levando ramalhetes, ramos verdejan­tes e palmas, cantavam hinos àquele que lhes havia concedido a dita de purificar o seu templo.

7. Therefore bearing ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place.

8. Decretaram por um edito pú­blico a toda a nação judia, que esses mesmos dias fossem solenizados em cada ano.*

8. They decreed by public ordinance and vote that the whole nation of the Jews should observe these days every year.

9. Acabamos de narrar as circunstâncias da morte de Antíoco, cognominado Epí­fanes.

9. Such then was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.

10. Vamos agora proceder à narrativa dos acontecimentos sucedidos sob Antíoco Eupátor, filho desse sacrílego, resumindo o que se refere aos males da guerra.

10. Now we will tell what took place under Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of that ungodly man, and will give a brief summary of the principal calamities of the wars.

11. Assim que subiu ao trono, esse príncipe pôs à frente dos negócios do reino um certo Lísias, ao qual nomeou também governador militar e chefe da Celessíria e da Fenícia,

11. This man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to have charge of the government and to be chief governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

12. porque Ptolo­meu, apelidado Macron, tomando a iniciativa de se mostrar justo para com os judeus, em vista da perseguição movida contra eles, procurou governá-los na paz;

12. Ptolemy, who was called Macron, took the lead in showing justice to the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, and attempted to maintain peaceful relations with them.

13. mas, pelos favoritos do rei, ele havia sido denuncia­do a Eupátor. Por outro lado, tachado muitas vezes de traidor, por ter deixado Chipre, que lhe fora confiada por Filométor e se ter posto a serviço de Antíoco Epífa­nes. Assim, não podendo exercer com honra seu alto posto, envenenou-se e morreu.

13. As a result he was accused before Eupator by the king's friends. He heard himself called a traitor at every turn, because he had abandoned Cyprus, which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had gone over to Antiochus Epiphanes. Unable to command the respect due his office, he took poison and ended his life.

14. Mas Górgias, tornado comandante do exército nessas paragens, tomava consigo tropas estrangeiras e aproveitava-se de todas as ocasiões para guerrear os judeus.*

14. When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept on warring against the Jews.

15. Os idumeus, senhores de várias for­talezas importantes, em combinação com ele, molestavam os judeus, acolhiam os exilados de Jerusalém e mantinham um estado de guerra contínuo.*

15. Besides this, the Idumeans, who had control of important strongholds, were harassing the Jews; they received those who were banished from Jerusalem, and endeavored to keep up the war.

16. Então, Maca­beu com seus companheiros atacaram as fortalezas da Idumeia, após haver rezado e invocado o auxílio de Deus.

16. But Maccabeus and his men, after making solemn supplication and beseeching God to fight on their side, rushed to the strongholds of the Idumeans.

17. Atacaram-nas vigorosamente, apoderaram-se de todas, repeliram os que combatiam sobre as muralhas e massacraram os que caíam em suas mãos. Mataram não menos de vinte mil homens.

17. Attacking them vigorously, they gained possession of the places, and beat off all who fought upon the wall, and slew those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand.

18. Nove mil fugitivos pelo menos haviam procurado abrigo em duas fortalezas, equipadas com o necessário para resistir ao cerco.

18. When no less than nine thousand took refuge in two very strong towers well equipped to withstand a siege,

19. Maca­beu deixou Simão, José, e também Zaqueu e seus companheiros, para expugná-los e dirigiu-se para onde se exigia mais a sua presença.*

19. Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and his men, a force sufficient to besiege them; and he himself set off for places where he was more urgently needed.

20. Todavia, os companheiros de Simão, seduzidos pelo dinheiro, deixaram-se corromper por alguns dos que se achavam nas torres da fortaleza, e, mediante a soma de setenta mil dracmas, deixaram escapar muitos deles.

20. But the men with Simon, who were money-hungry, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and on receiving seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip away.

21. Ouvindo essas notícias, Macabeu acusou-os dian­te da assembleia dos chefes de terem vendido seus irmãos a troco de dinheiro, entregando os inimigos à liberdade.

21. When word of what had happened came to Maccabeus, he gathered the leaders of the people, and accused these men of having sold their brethren for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them.

22. Comprovada a sua traição, mandou executá-los e, em seguida, tomou conta das duas cidadelas.

22. Then he slew these men who had turned traitor, and immediately captured the two towers.

23. Coroadas de êxito as lutas de ambos os lados, ele matou mais de vinte mil homens nas duas fortalezas.

23. Having success at arms in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.

24. Anteriormente vencido pelos judeus, Timóteo coligou copiosas tropas estrangeiras e reuniu na Ásia uma numerosa cavalaria, indo em direção à Judeia com a intenção de conquistá-la pelas armas.

24. Now Timothy, who had been defeated by the Jews before, gathered a tremendous force of mercenaries and collected the cavalry from Asia in no small number. He came on, intending to take Judea by storm.

25. Com a sua chegada, Macabeu e seus companheiros cobriram a cabeça com terra e cingiram os rins com sacos, em sinal de prece.

25. As he drew near, Maccabeus and his men sprinkled dust upon their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God.

26. Em seguida, prostrados aos pés do altar, rogaram a Deus piedade para com eles, pedindo que se declarasse inimigo de seus inimigos e adversário de seus adversários, conforme a promessa formal da Lei.*

26. Falling upon the steps before the altar, they besought him to be gracious to them and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares.

27. Terminada a oração, empunharam as armas, retiraram-se para bem longe da cidade e detiveram-se ao chegar perto do inimigo.*

27. And rising from their prayer they took up their arms and advanced a considerable distance from the city; and when they came near to the enemy they halted.

28. Ao despontar a aurora, travaram combate os dois lados, contando uns com o êxito e a vitória, por causa de sua valentia e do socorro do Senhor, e os outros entregando-se ao combate, apoiados no próprio furor.

28. Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but their reliance upon the Lord, while the other made rage their leader in the fight.

29. No auge do combate, viram os inimigos aparecer no céu cinco magníficos guerreiros, montados em cavalos ajaezados com freios de ouro, que se colocaram à frente dos judeus.

29. When the battle became fierce, there appeared to the enemy from heaven five resplendent men on horses with golden bridles, and they were leading the Jews.

30. Postando Macabeu no meio deles e, protegendo-o com suas armas, tornavam-no invulne­rável. Ao mesmo tempo, lançavam dardos e raios sobre os inimigos, cegando-os, gerando entre eles a confusão, pondo-os em desordem.

30. Surrounding Maccabeus and protecting him with their own armor and weapons, they kept him from being wounded. And they showered arrows and thunderbolts upon the enemy, so that, confused and blinded, they were thrown into disorder and cut to pieces.

31. Foram, pois, mortos vinte mil e quinhentos soldados e seiscentos cavaleiros.

31. Twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, besides six hundred horsemen.

32. O próprio Timóteo fugiu para uma praça muito forte, chamada Gazara, cujo comandante era Quéreas.

32. Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well garrisoned, where Chaereas was commander.

33. Macabeu e os que se achavam com ele cercaram a fortaleza durante quatro dias,

33. Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged the fort for four days.

34. enquanto os que se encontravam nela não cessavam de blasfemar e injuriar, confiados em seus muros.

34. The men within, relying on the strength of the place, blasphemed terribly and hurled out wicked words.

35. Amanhecendo, porém, o quinto dia, um grupo de vinte jovens do exército de Maca­beu, inflamado de cólera por causa dessas blasfêmias, atirou-se corajosamente contra a muralha e massacrou todos os que apareciam à sua frente.

35. But at dawn of the fifth day, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, fired with anger because of the blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down every one they met.

36. Outros subiram do mesmo modo o muro, atearam fogo às torres, acenderam fogueiras, nas quais queimaram vivos os blasfe­ma­dores. Outros, ainda, arrombaram as portas, fizeram entrar o restante do exército e ocuparam a cidade.

36. Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders and set fire to the towers; they kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of the force, and they occupied the city.

37. Mataram Timóteo, que se escondera em uma cisterna, e também seu irmão Quéreas e Apolófanes.

37. They killed Timothy, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.

38. Após essa façanha, cantaram hinos e cânticos ao Senhor, que havia operado grandes prodígios em favor de Israel, concedendo-lhe a vitória.

38. When they had accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them the victory.