1 Macabeus 7

1No ano cento e cinquenta e um, De­métrio, filho de Seleuco, escapou de Roma e, com alguns companheiros, alcançou uma cidade marítima onde se proclamou rei.*

1In the hundred and one and fiftieth year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from Rome, and came up with a few men unto a city of the sea coast, and reigned there.

2Quando ele entrou no palácio real de seus pais, o exército se apoderou de Antíoco e de Lísias para conduzi-los a ele.

2And as he entered into the palace of his ancestors, so it was, that his forces had taken Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them unto him.

3Soube-o o rei e disse: “Não me mostreis a sua face”.

3Wherefore, when he knew it, he said, Let me not see their faces.

4E o exército os matou, e Demétrio sentou-se no trono que lhe cabia.

4So his host slew them. Now when Demetrius was set upon the throne of his kingdom,

5Todos os traidores e os ímpios de Israel achegaram-se dele sob a chefia de Alcimo, que aspirava tornar-se sumo sacerdote.*

5There came unto him all the wicked and ungodly men of Israel, having Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest, for their captain:

6Acusaram o povo nestes termos: “Judas e seus irmãos mataram todos os teus amigos e nos expulsaram de nosso país.

6And they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his brethren have slain all thy friends, and driven us out of our own land.

7Envia, portanto, agora, um homem que possua tua confiança e que venha ver em que triste situação nos puseram, a nós e ao país que pertence ao rei, para castigar a eles e a todos os seus partidários”.

7Now therefore send some man whom thou trustest, and let him go and see what havock he hath made among us, and in the king’s land, and let him punish them with all them that aid them.

8O rei escolheu Báquides, um de seus amigos, então governador Além-do-Rio, um dos grandes do reino e fiel ao rei. Enviou-o

8Then the king chose Bacchides, a friend of the king, who ruled beyond the flood, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king,

9com o ímpio Alcimo, a quem destinou o cargo de sumo sacerdote, e deu-lhe ordem de tomar vingança dos filhos de Israel.

9And him he sent with that wicked Alcimus, whom he made high priest, and commanded that he should take vengeance of the children of Israel.

10Partiram, pois, e tomaram o caminho do país de Judá com um forte exército, envian­do a Judas e seus irmãos palavras de paz capciosas.

10So they departed, and came with a great power into the land of Judea, where they sent messengers to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words deceitfully.

11Vendo-os chegar com numerosas tropas, estes não lhes deram ouvido.

11But they gave no heed to their words; for they saw that they were come with a great power.

12Houve todavia um grupo de escribas que foi ter com Alcimo e Báquides, com palavras de justas reivindicações.

12Then did there assemble unto Alcimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, to require justice.

13Estes assideus, que eram os mais benquistos em Israel, pediam-lhes a paz.

13Now the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that sought peace of them:

14Diziam entre si: “É um sacerdote da raça de Aarão que vem a nós com o exército, ele não nos fará mal algum”.

14For said they, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come with this army, and he will do us no wrong.

15Alcimo trocou com eles palavras de paz e lhes jurou: “Não faremos mal nem a vós, nem a vossos amigos”.

15So he spake unto them, peaceably, and sware unto them, saying, we will procure the harm neither of you nor your friends.

16Acreditaram neles, mas ele apoderou-se de sessenta deles e mandou-os matar no mesmo dia, conforme estava escrito:

16Whereupon they believed him: howbeit he took of them threescore men, and slew them in one day, according to the words which he wrote,

17“Rios de sangue fizeram correr em torno de Jerusalém, e nem sequer havia quem os sepultasse”. (Sl 78,3).

17The flesh of thy saints have they cast out, and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

18O assombro e o terror apoderaram-se do povo, porque se dizia: “Não há entre eles nem verdade nem justiça, depois que violaram o pacto e o juramento que haviam confirmado”.

18Wherefore the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, who said, There is neither truth nor righteousness in them; for they have broken the covenant and oath that they made.

19Báquides partiu de Jerusalém e instalou seu acampamento em Bet-Zet, onde prendeu e lançou numa grande cisterna muitos desertores de seu exército e algumas pessoas do país.

19After this, removed Bacchides from Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bezeth, where he sent and took many of the men that had forsaken him, and certain of the people also, and when he had slain them, he cast them into the great pit.

20Confiou a terra nas mãos de Alcimo e, deixando-lhe um exército para socorrê-lo, regressou para junto do rei.

20Then committed he the country to Alcimus, and left with him a power to aid him: so Bacchides went to the king.

21Entretanto, Alcimo teve que lutar para se impor como sumo sacerdote.

21But Alcimus contended for the high priesthood.

22Agrupavam-se ao redor dele todos os perturbadores do povo com os quais ele se tornara senhor da terra de Judá e foi um tempo doloroso para Israel.

22And unto him resorted all such as troubled the people, who, after they had gotten the land of Juda into their power, did much hurt in Israel.

23Judas viu que o mal que Alcimo e seus cúmplices faziam aos filhos de Israel era pior ainda que o mal praticado pelos gentios.

23Now when Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had done among the Israelites, even above the heathen,

24Por isso, percorreu ele toda a terra da Judeia, até as fronteiras, vingando-se dos traidores e impedindo-lhes a volta ao país.

24He went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance of them that had revolted from him, so that they durst no more go forth into the country.

25Vendo Alcimo que Judas com os seus eram mais fortes e reconhecendo sua impotência em lhes resistir, refugiou-se junto do rei e acusou-os dos pio­res crimes.

25On the other side, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had gotten the upper hand, and knew that he was not able to abide their force, he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could.

26O rei enviou Nicanor, general eminente, que detestava e odiava Israel, com ordem de exterminar o povo.

26Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the people.

27Nicanor partiu para Jerusalém com um numeroso exército e mandou levar a Judas e a seus irmãos falsas palavras de paz:

27So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great force; and sent unto Judas and his brethren deceitfully with friendly words, saying,

28“Que não haja guerra entre vós e mim. Chegarei somente com um punhado de homens para te ver, como amigo”.

28Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I may see you in peace.

29Com efeito, ele chegou e saudaram-se pacificamente, mas seus soldados se achavam prontos para se lançarem sobre Judas.

29He came therefore to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. Howbeit the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by violence.

30Todavia, Judas estava a par dos desígnios pérfidos de Nicanor e afastou-se dele, recusando vê-lo de novo.

30Which thing after it was known to Judas, to wit, that he came unto him with deceit, he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no more.

31Reconheceu Nicanor que seu projeto fora descoberto e propôs a Judas uma batalha perto de Cafarsalama.

31Nicanor also, when he saw that his counsel was discovered, went out to fight against Judas beside Capharsalama:

32Foram mortos do seu exército quinhentos homens e o resto fugiu para a Cidade de Davi.

32Where there were slain of Nicanor’s side about five thousand men, and the rest fled into the city of David.

33Após o combate, subiu Nicanor ao monte Sião, e sacerdotes saíram do templo com anciãos do povo, para saudá-lo em espírito de paz e mostrar-lhe o holocausto que se oferecia pelo rei.

33After this went Nicanor up to mount Sion, and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.

34Ele, porém, escarnecia deles, dirigia-lhes mofas, desprezava-os e falava-lhes com desdém,

34But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them shamefully, and spake proudly,

35jurando em sua ira: “Se Judas não me for entregue imediatamente com seu exército, afirmo, logo que estabelecer a paz, retornarei e lançarei fogo a esta casa”. Partiu depois todo enfurecido.

35And sware in his wrath, saying, Unless Judas and his host be now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again in safety, I will burn up this house: and with that he went out in a great rage.

36Então, os sacerdotes entraram, e, em pé diante do altar e do templo, choraram dizendo:

36Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple, weeping, and saying,

37“Fostes vós que escolhestes este templo, para que se invoque nela vosso nome e para que ela seja uma casa de súplicas, de orações pelo vosso povo.

37Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for thy people:

38Tomai vingança desse homem e de seu exército, e que eles caiam sob o golpe da espada. Lembrai-vos de suas blasfêmias e não permitais que eles vivam”.

38Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

39Saiu Nicanor de Jerusalém e acampou em Bet-Horon, onde um exército sírio se lhe ajuntou.

39So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bethhoron, where an host out of Syria met him.

40Judas acampou em Adasa com três mil homens e começou a rezar nestes termos:

40But Judas pitched in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,

41“Quando os soldados enviados pelo rei da Síria vos blasfemaram, apareceu vosso anjo e matou cento e oitenta e cinco mil homens dentre eles.

41O Lord, when they that were sent from the king of the Assyrians blasphemed, thine angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.

42Do mesmo modo, exterminai hoje este exército aos nossos olhos, para que os outros saibam que Nicanor insultou vosso templo e julgai-o segundo sua perfídia”.

42Even so destroy thou this host before us this day, that the rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously against thy sanctuary, and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

43Chocaram-se os exércitos no dia treze do mês de Adar; o de Nicanor foi vencido e ele foi o primeiro a tombar na luta.

43So the thirteenth day of the month Adar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor’s host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle.

44Assim que as tropas de Nicanor viram que ele fora morto, largaram as armas e fugiram.

44Now when Nicanor’s host saw that he was slain, they cast away their weapons, and fled.

45Os judeus os perseguiram durante o dia todo, desde Adasa até Gazara, e fizeram soar as trombetas dos sinais.

45Then they pursued after them a day’s journey, from Adasa unto Gazera, sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets.

46E saíram então os habitantes de todas as aldeias da Judeia e dos arredores, para cercar os fugitivos. Estes voltaram de encontro a eles e caíram todos sob a espada. E não sobrou nem mesmo um dentre eles.

46Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and closed them in; so that they, turning back upon them that pursued them, were all slain with the sword, and not one of them was left.

47Os judeus apoderaram-se dos seus despojos e provisões. Cortaram a cabeça de Nicanor e a mão direita que ele orgulhosamente estendera, e suspenderam-nas à vista de Jerusalém.

47Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off Nicanors head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly, and brought them away, and hanged them up toward Jerusalem.

48Alegrou-se muito o povo que passou aquele dia em grande regozijo.

48For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day a day of great gladness.

49Decidiu-se que esse dia seria celebrado a cada ano, no dia treze do mês de Adar.

49Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day, being the thirteenth of Adar.

50Após isso, a terra de Judá esteve tranquila durante algum tempo.*

50Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while.