1 Maccabees 1

1 Maccabees 1, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. And it happened afterwards that Alexander, the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece having come from the land of Kittim, struck Darius the king of the Persians and the Medes.

   Et factum est, postquam percussit Alexander Philippi Macedo, qui primus regnavit in Græcia, egressus de terra Cethim, Darium regem Persarum et Medorum:

2. 2

   He appointed many battles, and he took hold of all the fortifications, and he executed the kings of the earth.

   constituit prælia multa, et obtinuit omnium munitiones, et interfecit reges terræ,

3. 3

   And he passed through even to the ends of the earth. And he received the spoils of many nations. And the earth was silenced in his sight.

   et pertransiit usque ad fines terræ: et accepit spolia multitudinis gentium, et siluit terra in conspectu ejus.

4. 4

   And he gathered together power, and an exceedingly strong army. And he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.

   Et congregavit virtutem, et exercitum fortem nimis: et exaltatum est, et elevatum cor ejus:

5. 5

   And he captured the regions of nations and of sovereign leaders, and they became tributaries to him.

   et obtinuit regiones gentium, et tyrannos: et facti sunt illi in tributum.

6. 6

   And after these things, he fell down on his bed, and he knew that he would die.

   Et post hæc decidit in lectum, et cognovit quia moreretur.

7. 7

   And he called his servants, nobles who were raised with him from his youth. And he divided his kingdom to them, while he was still alive.†

   Et vocavit pueros suos nobiles, qui secum erant nutriti a juventute: et divisit illis regnum suum, cum adhuc viveret.

8. 8

   And Alexander reigned twelve years, and then he died.

   Et regnavit Alexander annis duodecim, et mortuus est.

9. 9

   And his servants obtained his kingdom, each one in his place.

   Et obtinuerunt pueri ejus regnum, unusquisque in loco suo:

10. 10

    And they all put diadems on themselves after his death, and their sons after them, for many years; and evils were multiplied on the earth.

    et imposuerunt omnes sibi diademata post mortem ejus, et filii eorum post eos annis multis, et multiplicata sunt mala in terra.

11. 11

    And there went forth from among them a sinful root, Antiochus the illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome. And he reigned in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.†

    Et exiit ex eis radix peccatrix, Antiochus illustris, filius Antiochi regis, qui fuerat Romæ obses: et regnavit in anno centesimo trigesimo septimo regni Græcorum.

12. 12

    In those days, there went forth from Israel sons of iniquity, and they persuaded many, saying: “Let us go and negotiate a covenant with the Gentiles that are all around us. For since we have withdrawn from them, many evils have found us.”

    In diebus illis, exierunt ex Israël filii iniqui, et suaserunt multis, dicentes: Eamus, et disponamus testamentum cum gentibus, quæ circa nos sunt: quia ex quo recessimus ab eis, invenerunt nos multa mala.

13. 13

    And the word seemed good in their eyes.

    Et bonus visus est sermo in oculis eorum.

14. 14

    And some of the people determined to do this, and they went to the king. And he gave them the power to act according to the justice of the Gentiles.

    Et destinaverunt aliqui de populo, et abierunt ad regem: et dedit illis potestatem ut facerent justitiam gentium.

15. 15

    And they built a sports arena in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the Nations.

    Et ædificaverunt gymnasium in Jerosolymis secundum leges nationum:

16. 16

    And they made themselves uncircumcised, and they withdrew from the holy covenant, and they were joined to the nations, and they were sold into evil-doing.

    et fecerunt sibi præputia, et recesserunt a testamento sancto, et juncti sunt nationibus, et venundati sunt ut facerent malum.

17. 17

    And the kingdom was ready in the sight of Antiochus, and he began to reign over the land of Egypt, so that he might reign over two kingdoms.

    Et paratum est regnum in conspectu Antiochi, et cœpit regnare in terra Ægypti ut regnaret super duo regna.

18. 18

    And he entered into Egypt with an oppressive multitude, with swift chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great abundance of ships.

    Et intravit in Ægyptum in multitudine gravi, in curribus, et elephantis, et equitibus, et copiosa navium multitudine:

19. 19

    And he appointed a war against Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, and Ptolemy was filled with dread before his face, and he fled, and many fell down wounded.

    et constituit bellum adversus Ptolemæum regem Ægypti, et veritus est Ptolemæus a facie ejus, et fugit, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi.

20. 20

    And he took hold of the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he received the spoils of the land of Egypt.

    Et comprehendit civitates munitas in terra Ægypti, et accepit spolia terræ Ægypti.

21. 21

    And Antiochus turned back, after he struck Egypt, in the one hundred and forty-third year, and he ascended against Israel.

    Et convertit Antiochus, postquam percussit Ægyptum in centesimo et quadragesimo tertio anno: et ascendit ad Israël,

22. 22

    And he ascended to Jerusalem, with an oppressive multitude.

    et ascendit Jerosolymam in multitudine gravi.

23. 23

    And he entered into the sanctuary with arrogance, and he took the golden altar, and the lampstand of light, and all the vessels, and the table for the bread of the Presence, and the vessels of libation, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament, which was at the face of the temple. And he crushed them all.

    Et intravit in sanctificationem cum superbia, et accepit altare aureum, et candelabrum luminis, et universa vasa ejus, et mensam propositionis, et libatoria, et phialas, et mortariola aurea, et velum, et coronas, et ornamentum aureum, quod in facie templi erat: et comminuit omnia.

24. 24

    And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels, and he took the hidden treasures, which he found. And having taken all these things away, he departed into his own land.

    Et accepit argentum, et aurum, et vasa concupiscibilia: et accepit thesauros occultos, quos invenit: et sublatis omnibus, abiit in terram suam.

25. 25

    And he caused a massacre of men, and he was speaking with great arrogance.

    Et fecit cædem hominum, et locutus est in superbia magna.

26. 26

    And there was great wailing in Israel and in all of their places.

    Et factus est planctus magnus in Israël, et in omni loco eorum:

27. 27

    And the leaders and elders mourned, and the virgins and young men became weak, and the splendor of the women was changed.

    et ingemuerunt principes et seniores; virgines et juvenes infirmati sunt: et speciositas mulierum immutata est.

28. 28

    Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and those who sat in the marriage bed mourned.

    Omnis maritus sumpsit lamentum, et quæ sedebant in thoro maritali, lugebant:

29. 29

    And the land shook on behalf of the inhabitants in it, and the entire house of Jacob was clothed with confusion.

    et commota est terra super habitantes in ea, et universa domus Jacob induit confusionem.

30. 30

    And after two years of days, the king sent the prince of his tributes to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a great crowd.†

    Et post duos annos dierum, misit rex principem tributorum in civitates Juda, et venit Jerusalem cum turba magna.

31. 31

    And he spoke peaceful words to them, in deceitfulness; and they believed him.

    Et locutus est ad eos verba pacifica in dolo: et crediderunt ei.

32. 32

    And he rushed upon the city suddenly, and he struck it with a great scourging, and he destroyed many of the people of Israel.

    Et irruit super civitatem repente, et percussit eam plaga magna, et perdidit populum multum ex Israël.

33. 33

    And he took the spoils of the city, and he burned it with fire, and he destroyed its houses and the walls around it.

    Et accepit spolia civitatis: et succendit eam igni, et destruxit domos ejus, et muros ejus in circuitu:

34. 34

    And they led away the women as captives, and they possessed the children and the cattle.

    et captivas duxerunt mulieres, et natos et pecora possederunt.

35. 35

    And they built up the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and it became a stronghold for them.†

    Et ædificaverunt civitatem David muro magno et firmo, et turribus firmis, et facta est illis in arcem:

36. 36

    And they set up in that place a sinful people, wicked men, and together they grew strong in it. And they stored up weapons and provisions. And they gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem,

    et posuerunt illic gentem peccatricem viros iniquos, et convaluerunt in ea: et posuerunt arma, et escas, et congregaverunt spolia Jerusalem:

37. 37

    and deposited them in that place. And they became a great snare.

    et reposuerunt illic: et facti sunt in laqueum magnum.

38. 38

    And this became a place of ambush against the sanctuary and a diabolical evil in Israel.†

    Et factum est hoc ad insidias sanctificationi, et in diabolum malum in Israël:

39. 39

    And they poured out innocent blood around the sanctuary, and they contaminated the sanctuary.

    et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem per circuitum sanctificationis, et contaminaverunt sanctificationem.

40. 40

    And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them, and the city became the dwelling place of outsiders, and she became a stranger to her own offspring, and her own children abandoned her.

    Et fugerunt habitatores Jerusalem propter eos, et facta est habitatio exterorum, et facta est extera semini suo, et nati ejus reliquerunt eam.

41. 41

    Her sanctuary was desolate, like a place of solitude, her feast days were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into disgrace, her honors into nothing.

    Sanctificatio ejus desolata est sicut solitudo; dies festi ejus conversi sunt in luctum, sabbata ejus in opprobrium, honores ejus in nihilum.

42. 42

    Her shame was multiplied according to her glory, and her loftiness was turned into lamentation.

    Secundum gloriam ejus multiplicata est ignominia ejus, et sublimitas ejus conversa est in luctum.

43. 43

    And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people must be one, and that each one should relinquish his own law.

    Et scripsit rex Antiochus omni regno suo ut esset omnis populus unus: et relinqueret unusquisque legem suam.

44. 44

    And all Gentiles consented, according to the word of king Antiochus.

    Et consenserunt omnes gentes secundum verbum regis Antiochi:

45. 45

    And many out of Israel consented to his servitude, and they sacrificed to idols, and they polluted the Sabbath.

    et multi ex Israël consenserunt servituti ejus, et sacrificaverunt idolis, et coinquinaverunt sabbatum.

46. 46

    And the king sent letters, by the hand of messengers, to Jerusalem and to all the cities of Judah: that they should follow the law of the Nations of the earth,

    Et misit rex libros per manus nuntiorum in Jerusalem, et in omnes civitates Juda, ut sequerentur leges gentium terræ,

47. 47

    and that they should prohibit holocausts and sacrifices and atonements to be made in the temple of God,

    et prohiberent holocausta et sacrificia, et placationes fieri in templo Dei,

48. 48

    and that they should prohibit the celebration of the Sabbath and the solemn days.

    et prohiberent celebrari sabbatum, et dies solemnes:

49. 49

    And he ordered the holy places to be defiled, along with the holy people of Israel.

    et jussit coinquinari sancta, et sanctum populum Israël.

50. 50

    And he ordered altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and he ordered the immolation of the flesh of swine and of unclean cattle,

    Et jussit ædificari aras, et templa, et idola, et immolari carnes suillas, et pecora communia,

51. 51

    and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, and defile their souls with all that is unclean, and with abominations, so that they would forget the law and would alter all the justifications of God,

    et relinquere filios suos incircumcisos, et coinquinari animas eorum in omnibus immundis, et abominationibus, ita ut obliviscerentur legem, et immutarent omnes justificationes Dei:

52. 52

    and that whoever would not act according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.

    et quicumque non fecissent secundum verbum regis Antiochi, morerentur.

53. 53

    According to all these words, he wrote to all his kingdom. And he appointed leaders over the people, who would compel them to do these things.

    Secundum omnia verba hæc scripsit omni regno suo: et præposuit principes populo, qui hæc fieri cogerent.

54. 54

    And these ordered the cities of Judah to sacrifice.

    Et jusserunt civitatibus Juda sacrificare.

55. 55

    And many from the people, who had abandoned the law of the Lord, were gathered together by them. And they committed evils upon the land.

    Et congregati sunt multi de populo ad eos qui dereliquerant legem Domini, et fecerunt mala super terram:

56. 56

    And they drove the people of Israel into hiding and into the secret places of fugitives.

    et effugaverunt populum Israël in abditis, et in absconditis fugitivorum locis.

57. 57

    On the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation on the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the surrounding cities of Judah.†

    Die quintadecima mensis Casleu, quinto et quadragesimo et centesimo anno, ædificavit rex Antiochus abominandum idolum desolationis super altare Dei, et per universas civitates Juda in circuitu ædificaverunt aras:

58. 58

    And they burned frankincense, and they sacrificed before the doors of houses and in the streets.

    et ante januas domorum et in plateis incendebant thura, et sacrificabant:

59. 59

    And they cut up the books of the law of God and destroyed them with fire.

    et libros legis Dei combusserunt igni, scindentes eos:

60. 60

    And all those who were found with the books of the testament of the Lord, and whoever observed the law of the Lord, they butchered, according to the edict of the king.

    et apud quemcumque inveniebantur libri testamenti Domini, et quicumque observabat legem Domini, secundum edictum regis trucidabant eum.

61. 61

    By their power, they did these things to the people of Israel, as they were discovered in the cities, month after month.

    In virtute sua faciebant hæc populo Israël, qui inveniebatur in omni mense et mense in civitatibus.

62. 62

    And on the twenty-fifth day of the month, they sacrificed on that altar which was opposite the high altar.

    Et quinta et vigesima die mensis sacrificabant super aram, quæ erat contra altare.

63. 63

    And the women who circumcised their sons were butchered, according to the order of king Antiochus.

    Et mulieres, quæ circumcidebant filios suos, trucidabantur secundum jussum regis Antiochi,

64. 64

    And they suspended the children by their necks in all their houses, and those who had circumcised them, they butchered.

    et suspendebant pueros a cervicibus per universas domos eorum: et eos, qui circumciderant illos, trucidabant.

65. 65

    And many of the people of Israel decided within themselves that they would not eat unclean things. And they chose to die, rather than to be defiled with unclean foods.

    Et multi de populo Israël definierunt apud se, ut non manducarent immunda: et elegerunt magis mori, quam cibis coinquinari immundis:

66. 66

    And they were not willing to infringe upon the holy law of God, and they were butchered.

    et noluerunt infringere legem Dei sanctam, et trucidati sunt:

67. 67

    And there was a very great wrath upon the people.

    et facta est ira magna super populum valde.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)