1 Maccabees · Clementine Vulgate
1 Maccabees 6 Clementine Vulgate
1 Et rex Antiochus perambulabat superiores regiones, et audivit esse civitatem Elymaidem in Perside nobilissimam, et copiosam in argento et auro,
1 King Antiochus was traveling through the upper countries; and he heard that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold,
2 templumque in ea locuples valde, et illic velamina aurea, et loricæ, et scuta, quæ reliquit Alexander Philippi rex Macedo, qui regnavit primus in Græcia.
2 and that the temple which was in it was exceedingly rich, and that in it were golden shields, breastplates, and weapons which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, left behind there.
3 Et venit, et quærebat capere civitatem, et deprædari eam: et non potuit, quoniam innotuit sermo his qui erant in civitate:
3 So he came and tried to take the city and to pillage it; and he was not able, because his plan was known to them of the city,
4 et insurrexerunt in prælium, et fugit inde, et abiit cum tristitia magna, et reversus est in Babyloniam.
4 and they rose up against him in battle. He fled and returned to Babylon with great disappointment.
5 Et venit qui nuntiaret ei in Perside, quia fugata sunt castra quæ erant in terra Juda:
5 Then someone came into Persia bringing him news that the armies which went against the land of Judah had been put to flight,
6 et quia abiit Lysias cum virtute forti in primis, et fugatus est a facie Judæorum, et invaluerunt armis, et viribus, et spoliis multis, quæ ceperunt de castris, quæ exciderunt:
6 and that Lysias went first with a strong army and was put to shame before them, and that they had grown strong because of weapons, power, and a supply of plunder which they took from the armies that they had cut off,
7 et quia diruerunt abominationem, quam ædificaverat super altare quod erat in Jerusalem: et sanctificationem, sicut prius, circumdederunt muris excelsis, sed et Bethsuram civitatem suam.
7 and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and also Bethsura, his city.
8 Et factum est ut audivit rex sermones istos, expavit, et commotus est valde: et decidit in lectum, et incidit in languorem præ tristitia, quia non factum est ei sicut cogitabat.
8 It came to pass, when the king heard these words, he was astonished and moved exceedingly. He laid himself down on his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not turned out for him as he had planned.
9 Et erat illic per dies multos, quia renovata est in eo tristitia magna, et arbitratus est se mori.
9 He was there many days, because great grief continually gripped him, and he realized that he would die.
10 Et vocavit omnes amicos suos, et dixit illis: Recessit somnus ab oculis meis, et concidi, et corrui corde præ sollicitudine:
10 He called for all his friends, and said to them, “Sleep departs from my eyes, and my heart fails because of worry.
11 et dixi in corde meo: In quantam tribulationem deveni, et in quos fluctus tristitiæ, in qua nunc sum: qui jucundus eram, et dilectus in potestate mea !
11 I said in my heart, ‘To what suffering I have come! How great a flood it is that I’m in, now! For I was gracious and loved in my power.’
12 Nunc vero reminiscor malorum quæ feci in Jerusalem, unde et abstuli omnia spolia aurea et argentea quæ erant in ea, et misi auferre habitantes Judæam sine causa.
12 But now I remember the evils which I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and sent out to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without a cause.
13 Cognovi ergo quia propterea invenerunt me mala ista: et ecce pereo tristitia magna in terra aliena.
13 I perceive that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me. Behold, I am perishing through great grief in a strange land.”
14 Et vocavit Philippum, unum de amicis suis, et præposuit eum super universum regnum suum:
14 Then he called for Philip, one of his friends, and set him over all his kingdom.
15 et dedit ei diadema, et stolam suam, et annulum, ut adduceret Antiochum filium suum, et nutriret eum, et regnaret.
15 He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he could guide Antiochus his son, and nourish him up that he might be king.
16 Et mortuus est illic Antiochus rex anno centesimo quadragesimo nono.
16 Then King Antiochus died there in the one hundred forty-ninth year.
17 Et cognovit Lysias quoniam mortuus est rex, et constituit regnare Antiochum filium ejus, quem nutrivit adolescentem: et vocavit nomen ejus Eupator.
17 When Lysias learned that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he had nourished up being young, and he called his name Eupator.
18 Et hi qui erant in arce, concluserant Israël in circuitu sanctorum: et quærebant eis mala semper, et firmamentum gentium.
18 Those who were in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the sanctuary, and always sought to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles.
19 Et cogitavit Judas disperdere eos: et convocavit universum populum, ut obsiderent eos.
19 Judas planned to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them.
20 Et convenerunt simul, et obsederunt eos anno centesimo quinquagesimo, et fecerunt ballistas et machinas.
20 They were gathered together, and besieged them in the one hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war.
21 Et exierunt quidam ex eis qui obsidebantur: et adjunxerunt se illis aliqui impii ex Israël,
21 Some of those who were hemmed in came out, and some of the ungodly men of Israel were joined to them.
22 et abierunt ad regem, et dixerunt: Quousque non facis judicium, et vindicas fratres nostros?
22 They went to the king, and said, “How long will you not execute judgment, and avenge our kindred?
23 Nos decrevimus servire patri tuo, et ambulare in præceptis ejus, et obsequi edictis ejus:
23 We were willing to serve your father and to live by his words, and to follow his commandments.
24 et filii populi nostri propter hoc alienabant se a nobis, et quicumque inveniebantur ex nobis, interficiebantur, et hæreditates nostræ diripiebantur.
24 Because of this, the children of our people besieged the citadel and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could catch, they killed, and plundered our inheritances.
25 Et non ad nos tantum extenderunt manum, sed et in omnes fines nostros:
25 Not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders.
26 et ecce applicuerunt hodie ad arcem Jerusalem occupare eam, et munitionem Bethsuram munierunt:
26 Behold, they are encamped this day against the citadel at Jerusalem to take it. They have fortified the sanctuary and Bethsura.
27 et nisi præveneris eos velocius, majora quam hæc facient, et non poteris obtinere eos.
27 If you don’t quickly prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and you won’t be able to control them.
28 Et iratus est rex, ut hæc audivit: et convocavit omnes amicos suos, et principes exercitus sui, et eos qui super equites erant:
28 When the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends, the rulers of his army, and those who were over the cavalry.
29 sed et de regnis aliis et de insulis maritimis venerunt ad eum exercitus conductitii.
29 Bands of hired soldiers came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the sea.
30 Et erat numerus exercitus ejus, centum millia peditum, et viginti millia equitum, et elephanti triginta duo, docti ad prælium.
30 The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war.
31 Et venerunt per Idumæam, et applicuerunt ad Bethsuram, et pugnaverunt dies multos: et fecerunt machinas, et exierunt, et succenderunt eas igni, et pugnaverunt viriliter.
31 They went through Idumaea, and encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. The Jews came out and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly.
32 Et recessit Judas ab arce, et movit castra ad Bethzacharam contra castra regis.
32 Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Bethzacharias, near the king’s camp.
33 Et surrexit rex ante lucem, et concitavit exercitus in impetum contra viam Bethzacharam: et comparaverunt se exercitus in prælium, et tubis cecinerunt:
33 The king rose early in the morning, and marched his army at full speed along the road to Bethzacharias. His forces made themselves ready to battle and sounded their trumpets.
34 et elephantis ostenderunt sanguinem uvæ et mori, ad acuendos eos in prælium:
34 They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, that they might prepare them for the battle.
35 et diviserunt bestias per legiones, et astiterunt singulis elephantis mille viri in loricis concatenatis, et galeæ æreæ in capitibus eorum: et quingenti equites ordinati unicuique bestiæ electi erant.
35 They distributed the animals among the phalanxes. They set by each elephant a thousand men armed with coats of mail and helmets of brass on their heads. Five hundred chosen cavalry were appointed for each elephant.
36 Hi ante tempus, ubicumque erat bestia, ibi erant: et quocumque ibat, ibant, et non discedebant ab ea.
36 These were ready beforehand, wherever the elephant was. Wherever the elephant went, they went with it. They didn’t leave it.
37 Sed et turres ligneæ super eos firmæ protegentes super singulas bestias: et super eas machinæ: et super singulas viri virtutis triginta duo, qui pugnabant desuper: et Indus magister bestiæ.
37 Strong, covered wooden towers were upon them, one upon each elephant, fastened upon it with secure harnesses. Upon each were four valiant men who fought upon them, beside his Indian driver.
38 Et residuum equitatum hinc et inde statuit in duas partes, tubis exercitum commovere, et perurgere constipatos in legionibus ejus.
38 The rest of the cavalry he set on this side and that side on the two flanks of the army, striking terror into the enemy, and protected by the phalanxes.
39 Et ut refulsit sol in clypeos aureos et æreos, resplenduerunt montes ab eis, et resplenduerunt sicut lampades ignis.
39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains lit up, and blazed like flaming torches.
40 Et distincta est pars exercitus regis per montes excelsos, et alia per loca humilia: et ibant caute et ordinate.
40 A part of the king’s army was spread upon the high hills and some on the low ground, and they went on firmly and in order.
41 Et commovebantur omnes inhabitantes terram a voce multitudinis, et incessu turbæ, et collisione armorum: erat enim exercitus magnus valde, et fortis.
41 All who heard the noise of their multitude, the marching of the multitude, and the rattling of the weapons trembled; for the army was exceedingly great and strong.
42 Et appropiavit Judas et exercitus ejus in prælium, et ceciderunt de exercitu regis sexcenti viri.
42 Judas and his army drew near for battle, and six hundred men of the king’s army fell.
43 Et vidit Eleazar filius Saura unam de bestiis loricatam loricis regis: et erat eminens super ceteras bestias, et visum est ei quod in ea esset rex:
43 Eleazar, who was called Avaran, saw one of the animals armed with royal breastplates, and it was taller than all the animals, and the king seemed to be on it.
44 et dedit se ut liberaret populum suum, et acquireret sibi nomen æternum.
44 He gave his life to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting name.
45 Et cucurrit ad eam audacter in medio legionis, interficiens a dextris et a sinistris, et cadebant ab eo huc atque illuc.
45 He ran upon him courageously into the midst of the phalanx, and killed on the right hand and on the left, and they parted away from him on this side and on that.
46 Et ivit sub pedes elephantis, et supposuit se ei, et occidit eum: et cecidit in terram super ipsum, et mortuus est illic.
46 He crept under the elephant, and stabbed it from beneath, and killed it. The elephant fell to the earth upon him, and he died there.
47 Et videntes virtutem regis, et impetum exercitus ejus, diverterunt se ab eis.
47 They saw the strength of the kingdom and the fierce attack of the army, and turned away from them.
48 Castra autem regis ascenderunt contra eos in Jerusalem, et applicuerunt castra regis ad Judæam, et montem Sion.
48 But the soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king encamped toward Judea and toward mount Zion.
49 Et fecit pacem cum his qui erant in Bethsura: et exierunt de civitate, quia non erant eis ibi alimenta conclusis, quia sabbata erant terræ.
49 He made peace with the people of Bethsura. He came out of the city because they had no food there to endure the siege, because it was a Sabbath to the land.
50 Et comprehendit rex Bethsuram: et constituit illic custodiam servare eam.
50 The king took Bethsura, and appointed a garrison there to keep it.
51 Et convertit castra ad locum sanctificationis dies multos: et statuit illic ballistas, et machinas, et ignis jacula, et tormenta ad lapides jactandos, et spicula, et scorpios ad mittendas sagittas, et fundibula.
51 He encamped against the sanctuary many days; and set there mounds to shoot from, and engines of war, and machines for throwing fire and stones, and weapons to throw darts, and slings.
52 Fecerunt autem et ipsi machinas adversus machinas eorum, et pugnaverunt dies multos.
52 The Jews also made engines of war against their engines, and fought for many days.
53 Escæ autem non erant in civitate, eo quod septimus annus esset: et qui remanserant in Judæa de gentibus, consumpserant reliquias eorum, quæ repositæ fuerant.
53 But there was no food in the sanctuary, because it was the seventh year, and those who fled for safety into Judea from among the Gentiles had eaten up the rest of the stores.
54 Et remanserunt in sanctis viri pauci, quoniam obtinuerat eos fames: et dispersi sunt unusquisque in locum suum.
54 There were only a few people left in the sanctuary, because the famine prevailed against them, and they were scattered, each man to his own place.
55 Et audivit Lysias quod Philippus, quem constituerat rex Antiochus cum adhuc viveret, ut nutriret Antiochum filium suum, et regnaret,
55 Lysias heard that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, while he was yet alive, appointed to raise his son Antiochus to be king,
56 reversus esset a Perside et Media, et exercitus qui abierat cum ipso, et quia quærebat suscipere regni negotia:
56 had returned from Persia and Media, and with him the forces that went with the king, and that he was seeking to take control of the government.
57 festinavit ire, et dicere ad regem, et duces exercitus: Deficimus quotidie, et esca nobis modica est; et locus, quem obsidemus, est munitus, et incumbit nobis ordinare de regno.
57 He made haste, and gave orders to depart. He said to the king and the leaders of the army and to the men, “We get weaker daily, our food is scant, the place where we encamp is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us.
58 Nunc itaque demus dextras hominibus istis, et faciamus cum illis pacem, et cum omni gente eorum:
58 Now therefore let’s negotiate with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation,
59 et constituamus illis ut ambulent in legitimis suis sicut prius: propter legitima enim ipsorum, quæ despeximus, irati sunt, et fecerunt omnia hæc.
59 and covenant with them, that they may walk after their own laws, as before; for because of their laws which we abolished they were angered, and did all these things.”
60 Et placuit sermo in conspectu regis et principum: et misit ad eos pacem facere, et receperunt illam.
60 The speech pleased the king and the princes, and he sent to them to make peace; and they accepted it.
61 Et juravit illis rex et principes, et exierunt de munitione.
61 The king and the princes swore to them. On these conditions, they came out from the stronghold.
62 Et intravit rex montem Sion, et vidit munitionem loci: et rupit citius juramentum quod juravit, et mandavit destruere murum in gyro.
62 Then the king entered into mount Zion. He saw the strength of the place, and broke the oath which he had sworn, and gave orders to pull down the wall all around.
63 Et discessit festinanter, et reversus est Antiochiam, et invenit Philippum dominantem civitati: et pugnavit adversus eum, et occupavit civitatem.
63 Then he left in haste and returned to Antioch, and found Philip master of the city. He fought against him, and took the city by force.