1 Maccabees 7

1 Maccabees 7, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. In the one hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, departed from the city of Rome, and he went up with a few men to a maritime city, and he reigned there.

   Anno centesimo quinquagesimo primo, exiit Demetrius Seleuci filius ab urbe Roma, et ascendit cum paucis viris in civitatem maritimam, et regnavit illic.

2. 2

   And it happened that, as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, the army captured Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them to him.

   Et factum est, ut ingressus est domum regni patrum suorum, comprehendit exercitus Antiochum et Lysiam, ut adducerent eos ad eum.

3. 3

   And the matter became known to him, and he said, “Do not show me their face.”

   Et res ei innotuit, et ait: Nolite mihi ostendere faciem eorum.

4. 4

   And so the army killed them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom.

   Et occidit eos exercitus. Et sedit Demetrius super sedem regni sui.

5. 5

   And there came to him iniquitous and impious men from Israel. And Alcimus was their leader, who wanted to be made a priest.

   Et venerunt ad eum viri iniqui et impii ex Israël: et Alcimus dux eorum, qui volebat fieri sacerdos.

6. 6

   And they accused the people to the king, saying: “Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends, and he has scattered us from our land.

   Et accusaverunt populum apud regem, dicentes: Perdidit Judas et fratres ejus omnes amicos tuos, et nos dispersit de terra nostra.

7. 7

   Now, therefore, send a man, whom you trust, and let him go and see all the destruction he has done to us and to the regions of the king. And let him punish all his friends and their helpers.”

   Nunc ergo mitte virum, cui credis, ut eat, et videat exterminium omne quod fecit nobis, et regionibus regis: et puniat omnes amicos ejus, et adjutores eorum.

8. 8

   And so the king chose, from among his friends, Bacchides, who ruled across the great river in the kingdom, and who was faithful to the king. And he sent him

   Et elegit rex ex amicis suis Bacchidem, qui dominabatur trans flumen magnum in regno, et fidelem regi: et misit eum,

9. 9

   to see the destruction that Judas had done. Moreover, he appointed the wicked Alcimus to the priesthood, and he commanded him to take revenge on the sons of Israel.

   ut videret exterminium quod fecit Judas: sed et Alcimum impium constituit in sacerdotium, et mandavit ei facere ultionem in filios Israël.

10. 10

    And they rose up and came forth with a great army into the land of Judah. And they sent messengers, who spoke to Judas and his brothers with words of peace, in deceitfulness.

    Et surrexerunt, et venerunt cum exercitu magno in terram Juda: et miserunt nuntios, et locuti sunt ad Judam et ad fratres ejus verbis pacificis in dolo.

11. 11

    But they did not heed their words, for they saw that they arrived with a great army.

    Et non intenderunt sermonibus eorum: viderunt enim quia venerunt cum exercitu magno.

12. 12

    Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides, a congregation of scribes, to seek just terms.

    Et convenerunt ad Alcimum et Bacchidem congregatio scribarum requirere quæ justa sunt:

13. 13

    And first, the Hasideans, who were among the sons of Israel, also sought peace from them.

    et primi, Assidæi qui erant in filiis Israël: et exquirebant ab eis pacem.

14. 14

    For they said, “A man who is a priest from the offspring of Aaron has arrived; he will not deceive us.”

    Dixerunt enim: Homo sacerdos de semine Aaron venit; non decipiet nos:

15. 15

    And he spoke to them peaceful words, and he swore to them, saying, “We will not carry out any evil against you or your friends.”

    et locutus est cum eis verba pacifica, et juravit illis, dicens: Non inferemus vobis malum, neque amicis vestris.

16. 16

    And they believed him. And he captured sixty of their men and killed them in one day, according to the word that is written:

    Et crediderunt ei: et comprehendit ex eis sexaginta viros, et occidit eos in una die, secundum verbum quod scriptum est:

17. 17

    The flesh of your saints, and their blood, they have poured out all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them.

    Carnes sanctorum tuorum, et sanguinem ipsorum effuderunt in circuitu Jerusalem, et non erat qui sepeliret.

18. 18

    Then fear and trembling hovered over all the people. For they said: “There is no truth or judgment among them. For they have transgressed the agreement and the oath that they swore.”

    Et incubuit timor et tremor in omnem populum: quia dixerunt: Non est veritas, et judicium in eis: transgressi sunt enim constitutum, et jusjurandum quod juraverunt.

19. 19

    And Bacchides moved the camp from Jerusalem, and he took up a position at Bethzaith. And he sent and captured many of those who had fled from him, and some of the people he killed in sacrifice, and he threw them into a great pit.

    Et movit Bacchides castra ab Jerusalem, et applicuit in Bethzecha: et misit, et comprehendit multos ex eis qui a se effugerant: et quosdam de populo mactavit, et in puteum magnum projecit.

20. 20

    Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and he left behind troops with him to assist him. And so Bacchides went away to the king.

    Et commisit regionem Alcimo, et reliquit cum eo auxilium in adjutorium ipsi. Et abiit Bacchides ad regem:

21. 21

    And Alcimus did what he pleased by means of his leadership of the priesthood.

    et satis agebat Alcimus pro principatu sacerdotii sui:

22. 22

    And all those who disturbed the people assembled before him, and they obtained the land of Judah, and they caused a great scourging in Israel.

    et convenerunt ad eum omnes, qui perturbabant populum suum, et obtinuerunt terram Juda, et fecerunt plagam magnam in Israël.

23. 23

    And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and those who were with him, did to the sons of Israel, even more than the Gentiles did.

    Et vidit Judas omnia mala quæ fecit Alcimus et qui cum eo erant filiis Israël, multo plus quam gentes:

24. 24

    And he went out into all the parts surrounding Judea, and he took vengeance on the men who had rebelled, and they ceased to go forth into the region any longer.

    et exiit in omnes fines Judææ in circuitu, et fecit vindictam in viros desertores, et cessaverunt ultra exire in regionem.

25. 25

    But Alcimus saw that Judas, and those who were with him, prevailed. And he knew that he was not able to withstand them. And so he returned to the king, and he accused them of many crimes.

    Vidit autem Alcimus quod prævaluit Judas et qui cum eo erant, et cognovit quia non potest sustinere eos: et regressus est ad regem, et accusavit eos multis criminibus.

26. 26

    And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal noblemen, who was a cultivator of hostility against Israel. And he commanded him to overthrow the people.

    Et misit rex Nicanorem, unum ex principibus suis nobilioribus, qui erat inimicitias exercens contra Israël: et mandavit ei evertere populum.

27. 27

    And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to Judas and his brothers words of peace, with deceitfulness,

    Et venit Nicanor in Jerusalem cum exercitu magno, et misit ad Judam et ad fratres ejus verbis pacificis cum dolo,

28. 28

    saying: “Let there be no fighting between me and you. I will come with a few men, to see your faces with peace.”

    dicens: Non sit pugna inter me et vos: veniam cum viris paucis, ut videam facies vestras cum pace.

29. 29

    And he came to Judas, and they greeted one another in turns, peaceably. And the enemies were prepared to abduct Judas.

    Et venit ad Judam, et salutaverunt se invicem pacifice: et hostes parati erant rapere Judam.

30. 30

    And the plan became known to Judas, that he came to him with deceit. And so he became very afraid of him, and he was no longer willing to see his face.

    Et innotuit sermo Judæ quoniam cum dolo venerat ad eum: et conterritus est ab eo, et amplius noluit videre faciem ejus.

31. 31

    And Nicanor knew that his plan had been exposed, and he went out to meet Judas in battle near Capharsalama.

    Et cognovit Nicanor quoniam denudatum est consilium ejus: et exivit obviam Judæ in pugnam juxta Capharsalama.

32. 32

    And there fell of the army of Nicanor nearly five thousand men, and they fled into the city of David.

    Et ceciderunt de Nicanoris exercitu fere quinque millia viri, et fugerunt in civitatem David.

33. 33

    And after these events, Nicanor ascended to mount Zion. And some of the priests of the people went out to greet him in peace, and to show him the holocausts that were offered for the king.

    Et post hæc verba ascendit Nicanor in montem Sion: et exierunt de sacerdotibus populi salutare eum in pace, et demonstrare ei holocautomata, quæ offerebantur pro rege.

34. 34

    But he mocked and despised them, and he defiled them. And he spoke arrogantly,

    Et irridens sprevit eos, et polluit: et locutus est superbe,

35. 35

    and he swore with anger, saying, “Unless Judas and his army have been delivered into my hands, when I return in peace, I will burn this house.” And he went out with great anger.

    et juravit cum ira, dicens: Nisi traditus fuerit Judas et exercitus ejus in manus meas, continuo cum regressus fuero in pace, succendam domum istam. Et exiit cum ira magna.

36. 36

    And the priests went in and stood before the face of the altar and the temple. And weeping, they said:

    Et intraverunt sacerdotes, et steterunt ante faciem altaris et templi, et flentes dixerunt:

37. 37

    “You, O Lord, have chosen this house so that your name may be invoked in it, so that it may be a house of prayer and supplication for your people.

    Tu, Domine, elegisti domum istam ad invocandum nomen tuum in ea, ut esset domus orationis et obsecrationis populo tuo:

38. 38

    Accomplish vindication with this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword. Remember their blasphemies, and do not allow them to continue.”

    fac vindictam in homine isto et exercitu ejus, et cadant in gladio: memento blasphemias eorum, et ne dederis eis ut permaneant.

39. 39

    Then Nicanor departed from Jerusalem, and he positioned his camp near Bethhoron, and an army of Syria met him there.

    Et exiit Nicanor ab Jerusalem, et castra applicuit ad Bethoron: et occurrit illi exercitus Syriæ.

40. 40

    And Judas took a position in Adasa with three thousand men. And Judas prayed, and he said:

    Et Judas applicuit in Adarsa cum tribus millibus viris: et oravit Judas, et dixit:

41. 41

    “O Lord, when those who were sent by king Sennacherib blasphemed against you, an angel went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand of them.

    Qui missi erant a rege Sennacherib, Domine, quia blasphemaverunt te, exiit angelus, et percussit ex eis centum octoginta quinque millia:

42. 42

    Just so, crush this army in our sight today, and so let the others know that he has spoken evil against your sanctuary. And judge him according to his wickedness.”

    sic contere exercitum istum in conspectu nostro hodie: et sciant ceteri quia male locutus est super sancta tua: et judica illum secundum malitiam illius.

43. 43

    And the armies were sent into battle together on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And the camp of Nicanor was crushed, and he himself was among the first slain in the battle.

    Et commiserunt exercitus prælium tertiadecima die mensis Adar: et contrita sunt castra Nicanoris, et cecidit ipse primus in prælio.

44. 44

    So then, when his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw away their weapons and fled.

    Ut autem vidit exercitus ejus quia cecidisset Nicanor, projecerunt arma sua, et fugerunt:

45. 45

    And they pursued them for one day’s journey from Adasa, even until one comes into Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with signals.

    et persecuti sunt eos viam unius diei ab Adazer usquequo veniatur in Gazara, et tubis cecinerunt post eos cum significationibus:

46. 46

    And they went forth from all of the towns all around Judea. And they herded them with the horns, and they turned back again to them, and they were all felled with the sword, and there was not so much as one of them left behind.

    et exierunt de omnibus castellis Judææ in circuitu, et ventilabant eos cornibus, et convertebantur iterum ad eos, et ceciderunt omnes gladio, et non est relictus ex eis nec unus.

47. 47

    And they took their spoils like a prey, and they cut off the head of Nicanor, and his right hand, which he had extended arrogantly, and they brought it, and hung it up opposite Jerusalem.

    Et acceperunt spolia eorum in prædam: et caput Nicanoris amputaverunt, et dexteram ejus, quam extenderat superbe, et attulerunt, et suspenderunt contra Jerusalem.

48. 48

    And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day in great joy.

    Et lætatus est populus valde, et egerunt diem illam in lætitia magna.

49. 49

    And he established that this day should be kept every year, on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar.

    Et constituit agi omnibus annis diem istam tertiadecima die mensis Adar.

50. 50

    And the land of Judah was quieted for a brief time.

    Et siluit terra Juda dies paucos.

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