2 Macabeos · Revised Version (con apócrifos)
2 Macabeos 15 Revised Version (con apócrifos)
1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria, resolved to set upon them with all security on the day of rest.
1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria, resolved to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest.
2 And when the Jews that were compelled to follow him said, O destroy not so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he that beholdeth all things hath honoured and hallowed above [other days; ]
2 When the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, “Don’t destroy so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days.”
3 then the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a Sovereign in heaven that had commanded to keep the sabbath day.
3 Then the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a Sovereign in heaven who had commanded to keep the Sabbath day.
4 And when they declared, There is the Lord, living himself a Sovereign in heaven, who bade [us ] observe the seventh day;
4 When they declared, “There is the Lord, living himself as Sovereign in heaven, who told us observe the seventh day.”
5 then saith the other, I also am a sovereign upon the earth, who [now ] command to take up arms and execute the king’s business. Nevertheless he prevailed not to execute his cruel purpose.
5 He replied, “I also am a sovereign on the earth, who commands you to take up weapons and execute the king’s business.” Nevertheless he didn’t prevail to execute his cruel plan.
6 And Nicanor, bearing himself haughtily in all vaingloriousness, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all them that were with him:
6 And Nicanor, in his utter boastfulness and arrogance, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all those who were with him.
7 but Maccabaeus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord.
7 But Maccabaeus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord.
8 And he exhorted his company not to be fearful at the inroad of the heathen, but, keeping in mind the help which of old they had oftentimes received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come unto them from the Almighty;
8 He exhorted his company not to be fearful at the assault of the heathen, but keeping in mind the help which in former times they had often received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come to them from the Almighty,
9 and comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the conflicts that they had maintained, he made them more eager [for the battle. ]
9 and encouraging them out of the law and the prophets, and reminding them of the conflicts that they had won, he made them more eager.
10 And when he had roused their spirit, he gave them [his ] commands, at the same time pointing out the perfidiousness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths.
10 And when he had aroused their courage, he gave them orders, at the same time pointing out the faithlessness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths.
11 And arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defence of shields and spears as with the encouragement [that lieth ] in good words, and moreover relating to them a dream worthy to be believed, he made them all exceeding glad.
11 Arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defense of shields and spears as with the encouragement of good words, and moreover relating to them a dream worthy to be believed, he made them all exceedingly glad.
12 And the vision of that [dream ] was this: [He saw ] Onias, him that was high priest, a noble and good man, reverend in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, with outstretched hands invoking [blessings ] on the whole body of the Jews:
12 The vision of that dream was this: Onias, he who had been high priest, a noble and good man, modest in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and trained from a child in all points of virtue, with outstretched hands invoking blessings on the whole body of the Jews.
13 thereupon [he saw ] a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and wonderful and most majestic was the dignity around him:
13 Then he saw a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and the dignity around him was wonderful and most majestic.
14 and Onias answered and said, This is the lover of the brethren, he who prayeth much for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah the prophet of God:
14 Onias answered and said, “This is the lover of the kindred, he who prays much for the people and the holy city: Jeremiah the prophet of God.
15 and Jeremiah stretching forth his right hand delivered to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it addressed [him ] thus,
15 Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and delivered to Judas a gold sword, and in giving it addressed him thus:
16 Take the holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt smite down the adversaries.
16 “Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you shall strike down the adversaries.”
17 And being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were of a lofty strain, and able to incite unto virtue and to stir the souls of the young unto manly courage, they determined not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon [the enemy, ] and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to an issue, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.
17 Being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were noble and effective, and able to incite to virtue and to stir the souls of the young to manly courage, they determined not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon the enemy, and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to a conclusion, because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were in danger.
18 For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for brethren and kinsfolk, was in less account with them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.
18 For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for family and relatives, was less important to them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.
19 And they also that were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open ground.
19 Also those who were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open country.
20 And when all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the elephants brought back to a convenient post, and the horsemen drawn up on the flank,
20 When all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the elephants brought back to a convenient post, and the cavalry deployed on the flanks,
21 Maccabaeus, perceiving the presence of the troops, and the various arms with which they were equipped, and the savageness of the elephants, holding up his hands unto heaven called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, recognising that [success ] cometh not by arms, but that, according as [the Lord ] shall judge, he gaineth the victory for them that are worthy.
21 Maccabaeus, perceiving the presence of the troops, and the various weapons with which they were equipped, and the savageness of the elephants, holding up his hands to heaven called upon the Lord who works wonders, knowing that success comes not by weapons, but that, according to how the Lord judges, he gains the victory for those who are worthy.
22 And calling upon [God ] he said after this manner: Thou, O Sovereign Lord, didst send thine angel in the time of Hezekiah king of Judaea, and he slew of the host of Sennacherib as many as a hundred fourscore and five thousand;
22 And calling upon God, he said this: “You, O Sovereign Lord, sent your angel in the time of King Hezekiah of Judea, and he killed of the army of Sennacherib as many as one hundred eighty-five thousand.
23 so now also, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling:
23 So now also, O Sovereign of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling.
24 through the greatness of thine arm let them be stricken with dismay that with blasphemy are come hither against thy holy people. And as he ended with these words,
24 Through the greatness of your arm let them be stricken with dismay who with blasphemy have come here against your holy people.” As he finished these words,
25 Nicanor and his company advanced with trumpets and paeans;
25 Nicanor and his company advanced with trumpets and victory songs;
26 but Judas and his company joined battle with the enemy with invocation and prayers.
26 but Judas and his company joined battle with the enemy with invocation and prayers.
27 And contending with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men, being made exceeding glad by the manifestation of God.
27 Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they killed no less than thirty-five thousand men, being made exceedingly glad by the manifestation of God.
28 And when the engagement was over, and they were returning again with joy, they recognised Nicanor lying dead in full armour;
28 When the engagement was over and they were returning again with joy, they recognized Nicanor lying dead in full armor.
29 and there arose a shout and tumult, and [then ] they blessed the Sovereign [Lord ] in the language of their fathers.
29 Then there was shouting and noise, and they blessed the Sovereign Lord in the language of their ancestors.
30 And he that in all things was in body and soul the foremost champion of his fellow-citizens, he that kept through life the good will of his youth toward his countrymen, commanded to cut off Nicanor’s head, and his hand with the shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.
30 He who in all things was in body and soul the foremost champion of his fellow citizens, he who kept through life the good will of his youth toward his countrymen, ordered that Nicanor’s head be cut off with his hand and arm, and that they be brought to Jerusalem.
31 And when he had arrived there, and had called his countrymen together and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were in the citadel;
31 When he had arrived there and had called his countrymen together and set the priests before the altar, he sent for those who were in the citadel.
32 and shewing the head of the vile Nicanor, and the hand of that profane man, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty,
32 Showing the head of the vile Nicanor and the hand of that profane man, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy house of the Almighty,
33 and cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he said that he would give it by pieces to the birds, and hang up the rewards of his madness over against the sanctuary.
33 and cutting out the tongue of the impious Nicanor, he said that he would give it in pieces to the birds, and hang up these rewards of his folly near the sanctuary.
34 And they all [looking up ] unto heaven blessed the Lord who had manifested himself, saying, Blessed be he that hath preserved his own place undefiled.
34 They all, looking up to heaven, blessed the Lord who had manifested himself, saying, “Blessed is he who has preserved his own place undefiled!”
35 And he hanged Nicanor’s head and shoulder from the citadel, a sign, evident unto all and manifest, of the help of the Lord.
35 He hung Nicanor’s head and shoulder from the citadel, a clear sign evident to all of the help of the Lord.
36 And they all ordained with a common decree in no wise to let this day pass undistinguished, but to mark with honour the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (it is called Adar in the Syrian tongue), the day before the day of Mordecai.
36 They all ordained with a common decree to in no way let this day pass undistinguished, but to mark with honor the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (it is called Adar in the Syrian language), the day before the day of Mordecai.
37 THIS then having been the issue of the attempt of Nicanor, and the city having from those times been held by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my book.
37 This then having been the account of the attempt of Nicanor, and the city having from those times been held by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my book.
38 And if [I have written ] well and to the point in my story, this is what I myself desired; but if meanly and indifferently, this is all I could attain unto.
38 If I have written well and to the point in my story, this is what I myself desired; but if its poorly done and mediocre, this is the best I could do.
39 For as it is distasteful to drink wine alone and in like manner again [to drink ] water [alone, ] while the mingling of wine with water at once giveth full pleasantness to the flavour; so also the fashioning of the language delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be the end.
39 For as it is distasteful to drink wine alone and likewise to drink water alone, while the mingling of wine with water at once gives full pleasantness to the flavor; so also the fashioning of the language delights the ears of those who read the story. Here is the end.