2 Maccabees 15

2 Maccabees 15, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. But when Nicanor discovered Judas to be in the places of Samaria, he decided to meet him in warfare with all violence, on the Sabbath day.

   Nicanor autem, ut comperit Judam esse in locis Samariæ, cogitavit cum omni impetu die sabbati committere bellum.

2. 2

   In truth, the Jews who followed him out of necessity were saying: “Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honor to the day of sanctification and reverence to him who beholds all things.”

   Judæis vero qui illum per necessitatem sequebantur, dicentibus: Ne ita ferociter et barbare feceris, sed honorem tribue diei sanctificationis, et honora eum qui universa conspicit:

3. 3

   That unhappy man asked, “Is there a powerful One in heaven, who commanded the day of the Sabbath to be kept.”

   ille infelix interrogavit si est potens in cælo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum.

4. 4

   And they responded to him, “There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the powerful One, who ordered the seventh day to be kept.”

   Et respondentibus illis: Est Dominus vivus ipse in cælo potens, qui jussit agi septimam diem:

5. 5

   And so he said: “I also am powerful upon the earth, so I command arms to be taken up and the king’s plans to be fulfilled.” Nevertheless, he did not succeed in accomplishing his plan.

   at ille ait: Et ego potens sum super terram qui impero sumi arma, et negotia regis impleri. Tamen non obtinuit ut consilium perficeret.

6. 6

   And Nicanor, being certainly lifted up with the greatest arrogance, had decided to establish a public monument of his victory over Judas.

   Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia erectus, cogitaverat commune trophæum statuere de Juda.

7. 7

   But Maccabeus, as always, trusted with all hope that God would be present to help them.

   Machabæus autem semper confidebat cum omni spe auxilium sibi a Deo affuturum:

8. 8

   And he exhorted his own not to fear the arrival of the nations, but to keep in mind the assistance they had received before from heaven, and now to hope for a future victory from the Almighty.

   et hortabatur suos ne formidarent ad adventum nationum, sed in mente haberent adjutoria sibi facta de cælo, et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturam victoriam.

9. 9

   And speaking to them from the law and the prophets, reminding them even of the conflicts they had fought before, he made them more willing.

   Et allocutus eos de lege et prophetis, admonens etiam certamina quæ fecerant prius, promptiores constituit eos:

10. 10

    And so, having raised up their courage, at the same time he revealed the deceitful plan of the Gentiles and their betrayal of the oaths.

    et ita animis eorum erectis simul ostendebat gentium fallaciam, et juramentorum prævaricationem.

11. 11

    Then he armed every one of them, not with the weapons of shield and spear, but with the best speeches and exhortations; and he explained to them a dream, worthy to be believed, in which he rejoiced with them all.

    Singulos autem illorum armavit, non clypei et hastæ munitione, sed sermonibus optimis et exhortationibus, exposito digno fide somnio, per quod universos lætificavit.

12. 12

    Now the vision was in this manner: Onias, who had been high priest, a good and kind man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, and noble in speech, and who from boyhood was trained in the virtues, extending his hands, prayed on behalf of all the people of the Jews.

    Erat autem hujuscemodi visus: Oniam, qui fuerat summus sacerdos, virum bonum et benignum, verecundum visu, modestum moribus, et eloquio decorum, et qui a puero in virtutibus exercitatus sit, manus protendentem orare pro omni populo Judæorum.

13. 13

    After this, there appeared also another man, admirable in age and glory, and with a bearing of great dignity about him.

    Post hoc apparuisse et alium virum ætate et gloria mirabilem, et magni decoris habitudine circa illum.

14. 14

    In truth, Onias responded by saying: “This one loves his brothers and the people of Israel. This is he who prays greatly for the people and for all the holy city: Jeremiah, the prophet of God.”

    Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: Hic est fratrum amator, et populi Israël: hic est qui multum orat pro populo et universa sancta civitate, Jeremias propheta Dei.

15. 15

    Then Jeremiah extended his right hand, and he gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:

    Extendisse autem Jeremiam dextram, et dedisse Judæ gladium aureum, dicentem:

16. 16

    “Receive this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you shall cast down the adversaries of my people Israel.”

    Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quo dejicies adversarios populi mei Israël.

17. 17

    And so, having been exhorted by the very good words of Judas, by which the readiness and courage of the young men were able to be raised and strengthened, they resolved to strive and to contend with fortitude, so that virtue would judge the matter, because the holy city and the temple were in peril.

    Exhortati itaque Judæ sermonibus bonis valde, de quibus extolli posset impetus, et animi juvenum confortari, statuerunt dimicare et confligere fortiter: ut virtus de negotiis judicaret, eo quod civitas sancta et templum periclitarentur.

18. 18

    For their concern was less for their wives and sons, and likewise less for their brothers and relatives; in truth, their greatest and first fear was for the sanctity of the temple.

    Erat enim pro uxoribus et filiis, itemque pro fratribus et cognatis, minor sollicitudo: maximus vero et primus pro sanctitate timor erat templi.

19. 19

    But those also who were in the city had no small concern for those who had gathered together.

    Sed et eos qui in civitate erant, non minima sollicitudo habebat pro his qui congressuri erant.

20. 20

    And, when all now hoped that judgment would soon occur, and when the enemies were near, and the army was set in order, with the beasts and the horsemen positioned in strategic places,

    Et cum jam omnes sperarent judicium futurum, hostesque adessent atque exercitus esset ordinatus, bestiæ equitesque opportuno in loco compositi,

21. 21

    Maccabeus, considering the arrival of the multitude, and the various preparations of weapons, and the fierceness of the beasts, extending his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, who works miracles, who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of the weapons, but just as it pleases him.

    considerans Machabæus adventum multitudinis, et apparatum varium armorum, et ferocitatem bestiarum, extendens manus in cælum, prodigia facientem Dominum invocavit, qui non secundum armorum potentiam, sed prout ipsi placet, dat dignis victoriam.

22. 22

    Then, calling out in this way, he said: “You, O Lord, who sent your Angel under Hezekiah, king of Judah, and who killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib,

    Dixit autem invocans hoc modo: Tu Domine, qui misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Juda, et interfecisti de castris Sennacherib centum octoginta quinque millia:

23. 23

    now also, O Ruler of the heavens, send your good Angel before us, who are in fear and trembling at the greatness of your arm,

    et nunc, dominator cælorum, mitte angelum tuum bonum ante nos in timore et tremore magnitudinis brachii tui,

24. 24

    so that those who approach against your holy people with blasphemy may be afraid.” And in this way, indeed, he concluded his prayer.

    ut metuant qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversus sanctum populum tuum. Et hic quidem ita peroravit.

25. 25

    But Nicanor, and those who were with him, advanced with trumpets and songs.

    Nicanor autem et qui cum ipso erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant.

26. 26

    In truth, Judas, and those who were with him, calling upon God through prayers, came together against them.

    Judas vero et qui cum eo erant, invocato Deo, per orationes congressi sunt:

27. 27

    Indeed, fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, being delighted by the presence of God.

    manu quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt non minus triginta quinque millia, præsentia Dei magnifice delectati.

28. 28

    And when they had ceased and were returning with gladness, they realized, by his armor, that Nicanor had been slain.

    Cumque cessassent, et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem ruisse cum armis suis.

29. 29

    And so, making a loud noise and inciting a disturbance, they blessed the Almighty Lord in the language of the fathers.

    Facto itaque clamore, et perturbatione excitata, patria voce omnipotentem Dominum benedicebant.

30. 30

    But Judas, who was prepared throughout all his body and soul to die for his citizens, instructed that Nicanor’s head, and his hand with the arm, should be cut off and carried through to Jerusalem.

    Præcepit autem Judas, qui per omnia corpore et animo mori pro civibus paratus erat, caput Nicanoris, et manum cum humero abscissam, Jerosolymam perferri.

31. 31

    When it arrived, having called together his fellow tribesmen, and the priests to the altar, he summoned those also who were in the stronghold.

    Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus ad altare, accersiit et eos qui in arce erant.

32. 32

    And he displayed the head of Nicanor, and his nefarious hand, which he had extended against the holy house of Almighty God with magnificent boasting.

    Et ostenso capite Nicanoris, et manu nefaria quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Dei magnifice gloriatus est.

33. 33

    He even ordered now that the tongue of the impious Nicanor should be cut up and given in pieces to the birds, but that the hand of this demented man should be suspended opposite the temple.

    Linguam etiam impii Nicanoris præcisam jussit particulatim avibus dari: manum autem dementis contra templum suspendi.

34. 34

    Therefore, they all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying, “Blessed is he who has kept his own place uncontaminated.”

    Omnes igitur cæli benedixerunt Dominum, dicentes: Benedictus qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit.

35. 35

    Then he suspended Nicanor’s head at the top of the stronghold, so that it would be an evident and manifest sign of the assistance of God.

    Suspendit autem Nicanoris caput in summa arce, ut evidens esset, et manifestum signum auxilii Dei.

36. 36

    And so, they all decreed by common counsel in no way to let this day pass without celebration,

    Itaque omnes communi consilio decreverunt nullo modo diem istum absque celebritate præterire:

37. 37

    but to hold a celebration on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, which was called in the Syrian language: the day before Mardochias’ day.

    habere autem celebritatem tertiadecima die mensis Adar, quod dicitur voce syriaca, pridie Mardochæi diei.

38. 38

    Therefore, these things were accomplished concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city was possessed by the Hebrews. And so, I will bring an end to my narration here.

    Igitur his erga Nicanorem gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebræis civitate possessa, ego quoque in his faciam finem sermonis.

39. 39

    And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.†

    Et si quidem bene, et ut historiæ competit, hoc et ipse velim: sin autem minus digne, concedendum est mihi.

40. 40

    For, just as it is adverse to drink always wine, or always water, so also it is pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. So, if the words were always exact, it would not be pleasing to the readers. Therefore, here it shall be completed.

    Sicut enim vinum semper bibere, aut semper aquam, contrarium est; alternis autem uti, delectabile: ita legentibus si semper exactus sit sermo, non erit gratus. Hic ergo erit consummatus.

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