1 Maccabees · Clementine Vulgate
1 Maccabees 3 Clementine Vulgate
1 Et surrexit Judas, qui vocabatur Machabæus, filius ejus, pro eo:
1 His son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his place.
2 et adjuvabant eum omnes fratres ejus, et universi qui se conjunxerant patri ejus, et præliabantur prælium Israël cum lætitia.
2 All his kindred helped him, and so did all those who joined with his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
3 [Et dilatavit gloriam populo suo, et induit se loricam sicut gigas, et succinxit se arma bellica sua in præliis, et protegebat castra gladio suo.
3 He got his people great glory, and put on a breastplate like a giant, and bound his warlike harness around him, and set battles in array, protecting the army with his sword.
4 Similis factus est leoni in operibus suis, et sicut catulus leonis rugiens in venatione.
4 He was like a lion in his deeds, and like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.
5 Et persecutus est iniquos perscrutans eos: et qui conturbabant populum suum, eos succendit flammis:
5 He hunted and pursued the lawless, and he burned up those who troubled his people.
6 et repulsi sunt inimici ejus præ timore ejus, et omnes operarii iniquitatis conturbati sunt: et directa est salus in manu ejus.
6 The lawless shrunk back for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were very troubled, and deliverance prospered in his hand.
7 Et exacerbabat reges multos, et lætificabat Jacob in operibus suis, et in sæculum memoria ejus in benedictione.
7 He angered many kings and made Jacob glad with his acts. His memory is blessed forever.
8 Et perambulavit civitates Juda, et perdidit impios ex eis, et avertit iram ab Israël.
8 He went through the cities of Judah, destroyed the ungodly out of the land, and turned away wrath from Israel.
9 Et nominatus est usque ad novissimum terræ, et congregavit pereuntes.]
9 He was renowned to the utmost part of the earth. He gathered together those who were ready to perish.
10 Et congregavit Apollonius gentes, et a Samaria virtutem multam et magnam ad bellandum contra Israël.
10 Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together with a great army from Samaria to fight against Israel.
11 Et cognovit Judas, et exiit obviam illi: et percussit, et occidit illum: et ceciderunt vulnerati multi, et reliqui fugerunt.
11 Judas learned of it, and he went out to meet him, struck him, and killed him. Many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled.
12 Et accepit spolia eorum: et gladium Apollonii abstulit Judas, et erat pugnans in eo omnibus diebus.
12 They took their spoils, and Judas took Apollonius’ sword, and he fought with it all his days.
13 Et audivit Seron princeps exercitus Syriæ, quod congregavit Judas congregationem fidelium, et ecclesiam secum,
13 Seron, the commander of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him, went out to war.
14 et ait: Faciam mihi nomen, et glorificabor in regno, et debellabo Judam, et eos qui cum ipso sunt, qui spernebant verbum regis.
14 He said, “I will make myself a name and get myself glory in the kingdom. I will fight against Judas and those who are with him, who despise the king’s command.
15 Et præparavit se: et ascenderunt cum eo castra impiorum fortes auxiliarii ut facerent vindictam in filios Israël.
15 A mighty army of the ungodly went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the children of Israel.
16 Et appropinquaverunt usque ad Bethoron: et exivit Judas obviam illi cum paucis.
16 He came near to the ascent of Bethhoron, and Judas went out to meet him with a small company.
17 Ut autem viderunt exercitum venientem sibi obviam, dixerunt Judæ: Quomodo poterimus pauci pugnare contra multitudinem tantam, et tam fortem, et nos fatigati sumus jejunio hodie?
17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “What? Shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? We for our part are faint, having tasted no food this day.”
18 Et ait Judas: Facile est concludi multos in manus paucorum: et non est differentia in conspectu Dei cæli liberare in multis, et in paucis:
18 Judas said, “It is an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few;
19 quoniam non in multitudine exercitus victoria belli, sed de cælo fortitudo est.
19 for victory in battle stands not in the multitude of an army, but strength is from heaven.
20 Ipsi veniunt ad nos in multitudine contumaci, et superbia, ut disperdant nos, et uxores nostras, et filios nostros, et ut spolient nos:
20 They come to us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to plunder us,
21 nos vero pugnabimus pro animabus nostris, et legibus nostris:
21 but we fight for our lives and our laws.
22 et ipse Dominus conteret eos ante faciem nostram: vos autem ne timueritis eos.
22 He himself will crush them before our face; but as for you, don’t be afraid of them.
23 Ut cessavit autem loqui, insiluit in eos subito: et contritus est Seron et exercitus ejus in conspectu ipsius:
23 Now when he had finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were defeated before him.
24 et persecutus est eum in descensu Bethoron usque in campum, et ceciderunt ex eis octingenti viri, reliqui autem fugerunt in terram Philisthiim.
24 They pursued them down the descent of Bethhoron to the plain, and about eight hundred men of them fell; but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
25 Et cecidit timor Judæ ac fratrum ejus, et formido super omnes gentes in circuitu eorum:
25 The fear of Judas and his kindred, and the dread of them, began to fall on the nations around them.
26 et pervenit ad regem nomen ejus, et de præliis Judæ narrabant omnes gentes.
26 His fame reached the king, and every nation told of the battles of Judas.
27 Ut audivit autem rex Antiochus sermones istos, iratus est animo: et misit, et congregavit exercitum universi regni sui, castra fortia valde:
27 But when King Antiochus heard these words, he was full of indignation; and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, an exceedingly strong army.
28 et aperuit ærarium suum, et dedit stipendia exercitui in annum: et mandavit illis ut essent parati ad omnia.
28 He opened his treasury and gave his forces pay for a year, and commanded them to be ready for every need.
29 Et vidit quod defecit pecunia de thesauris suis, et tributa regionis modica propter dissensionem et plagam quam fecit in terra, ut tolleret legitima, quæ erant a primis diebus:
29 He saw that the money was gone from his treasures, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and disaster which he had brought upon the land, to the end that he might take away the laws which had been from the first days.
30 et timuit ne non haberet ut semel et bis, in sumptus et donaria, quæ dederat ante larga manu: et abundaverat super reges qui ante eum fuerant.
30 He was afraid that he wouldn’t have enough as at other times for the charges and the gifts which he used to give with a liberal hand, more abundantly than the kings who were before him.
31 Et consternatus erat animo valde, et cogitavit ire in Persidem, et accipere tributa regionum, et congregare argentum multum.
31 And he was exceedingly perplexed in his mind, and he determined to go into Persia, and to take the tributes of those countries, and to gather much money.
32 Et reliquit Lysiam hominem nobilem de genere regali, super negotia regia, a flumine Euphrate usque ad flumen Ægypti,
32 He left Lysias, an honorable man, and one of royal lineage, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt,
33 et ut nutriret Antiochum filium suum, donec rediret.
33 and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.
34 Et tradidit ei medium exercitum, et elephantos: et mandavit ei de omnibus quæ volebat, et de inhabitantibus Judæam, et Jerusalem:
34 He delivered to Lysias half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him charge of all the things that he would have done, and concerning those who lived in Judea and in Jerusalem,
35 et ut mitteret ad eos exercitum ad conterendam et extirpandam virtutem Israël, et reliquias Jerusalem, et auferendam memoriam eorum de loco:
35 that he should send an army against them to root out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memory from the place,
36 et ut constitueret habitatores filios alienigenas in omnibus finibus eorum, et sorte distribueret terram eorum.
36 and that he should make foreigners live in all their territory, and should divide their land to them by lot.
37 Et rex assumpsit partem exercitus residui, et exivit ab Antiochia civitate regni sui anno centesimo et quadragesimo septimo: et transfretavit Euphraten flumen, et perambulabat superiores regiones.
37 The king took the half that remained of the forces, and left Antioch, his royal city, in the one hundred forty seventh year; and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through the upper countries.
38 Et elegit Lysias Ptolemæum filium Dorymini, et Nicanorem, et Gorgiam, viros potentes ex amicis regis:
38 Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends;
39 et misit cum eis quadraginta millia virorum, et septem millia equitum, ut venirent in terram Juda, et disperderent eam secundum verbum regis.
39 and with them, he sent forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into the land of Judah and to destroy it, according to the word of the king.
40 Et processerunt cum universa virtute sua, et venerunt, et applicuerunt Emmaum in terra campestri.
40 They set out with all their army, and came and encamped near Emmaus in the plain country.
41 Et audierunt mercatores regionum nomen eorum: et acceperunt argentum, et aurum multum valde, et pueros, et venerunt in castra ut acciperent filios Israël in servos, et additi sunt ad eos exercitus Syriæ, et terræ alienigenarum.
41 The merchants of the country heard of their fame, and took silver and gold in large quantities, and fetters, and came into the camp to take the children of Israel for slaves. Forces of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined with them.
42 Et vidit Judas et fratres ejus, quia multiplicata sunt mala, et exercitus applicabant ad fines eorum: et cognoverunt verba regis, quæ mandavit populo facere in interitum et consummationem:
42 Judas and his kindred saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces were encamping in their borders. They learned about the king’s words which he had commanded, to destroy the people and make an end of them.
43 et dixerunt unusquisque ad proximum suum: Erigamus dejectionem populi nostri, et pugnemus pro populo nostro, et sanctis nostris.
43 Then they each said to his neighbor, “Let’s repair the ruins of our people. Let’s fight for our people and the holy place.”
44 Et congregatus est conventus ut essent parati in prælium, et ut orarent et peterent misericordiam et miserationes.
44 The congregation was gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45 Et Jerusalem non habitabatur, sed erat sicut desertum: non erat qui ingrederetur et egrederetur de natis ejus. Et sanctum conculcabatur: et filii alienigenarum erant in arce; ibi erat habitatio gentium: et ablata est voluptas a Jacob, et defecit ibi tibia et cithara.
45 Jerusalem was without inhabitant like a wilderness. There was none of her offspring who went in or went out. The sanctuary was trampled down. Children of foreigners were in the citadel. The Gentiles lived there. Joy was taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and the harp ceased.
46 Et congregati sunt, et venerunt in Maspha contra Jerusalem, quia locus orationis erat in Maspha ante in Israël.
46 They gathered themselves together, and came to Mizpeh, near Jerusalem; for in Mizpeh there used to be a place of prayer for Israel.
47 Et jejunaverunt illa die, et induerunt se ciliciis, et cinerem imposuerunt capiti suo, et disciderunt vestimenta sua:
47 They fasted that day, put on sackcloth, put ashes on their heads, tore their clothes,
48 et expanderunt libros legis, de quibus scrutabantur gentes similitudinem simulacrorum suorum:
48 and opened the book of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.
49 et attulerunt ornamenta sacerdotalia, et primitias, et decimas: et suscitaverunt Nazaræos, qui impleverant dies,
49 They brought the priests’ garments, the first fruits, and the tithes. They stirred up the Nazarites, who had accomplished their days.
50 et clamaverunt voce magna in cælum, dicentes: Quid faciemus istis, et quo eos ducemus?
50 They cried aloud toward heaven, saying, “What should we do with these men? Where should we carry them away?
51 et sancta tua conculcata sunt, et contaminata sunt, et sacerdotes tui facti sunt in luctum, et in humilitatem:
51 Your holy place is trampled down and profaned. Your priests mourn in humiliation.
52 et ecce nationes convenerunt adversum nos ut nos disperdant: tu scis quæ cogitant in nos.
52 Behold, the Gentiles are assembled together against us to destroy us. You know what things they imagine against us.
53 Quomodo poterimus subsistere ante faciem eorum, nisi tu, Deus, adjuves nos?
53 How will we be able to stand against them, unless you help us?”
54 Et tubis exclamaverunt voce magna.
54 They sounded with the trumpets, and gave a loud shout.
55 Et post hæc constituit Judas duces populi, tribunos, et centuriones, et pentacontarchos, et decuriones.
55 And after this Judas appointed leaders of the people: captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens.
56 Et dixit his, qui ædificabant domos, et sponsabant uxores, et plantabant vineas, et formidolosis, ut redirent unusquisque in domum suam secundum legem.
56 He said to those who were building houses, were betrothing wives, were planting vineyards, and were fearful, that they should return, each man to his own house, according to the law.
57 Et moverunt castra, et collocaverunt ad austrum Emmaum.
57 The army marched out and encamped upon the south side of Emmaus.
58 Et ait Judas: Accingimini, et estote filii potentes, et estote parati in mane, ut pugnetis adversus nationes has quæ convenerunt adversus nos disperdere nos, et sancta nostra:
58 Judas said, “Arm yourselves and be valiant men! Be ready in the morning to fight with these Gentiles who are assembled together against us to destroy us and our holy place.
59 quoniam melius est nos mori in bello, quam videre mala gentis nostræ, et sanctorum.
59 For it is better for us to die in battle than to see the calamities of our nation and the holy place.
60 Sicut autem fuerit voluntas in cælo, sic fiat.
60 Nevertheless, as may be the will in heaven, so shall he do.