Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
2 Macabeos 12
1Concluidos estos tratados, se volvió Lisias para el rey, y los judíos se dedicaron a cultivar sus tierras. After these pacts were made, Lysias proceeded on to the king, but the Jews undertook the work of agriculture.2Pero los oficiales, que residían en el país: Timoteo, y Apolonio, hijo de Geneo, y también Jerónimo y Demofonte, y además de estos, Nicanor, gobernador de Chipre, no los dejaban vivir en paz ni sosiego. However, those who had withdrawn: Timothy, and Apollonius, the son of Gennaeus, along with Hieronymus, and Demophon, and, in addition to these, Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not permit them to live in peace and quiet.3Mas los habitantes de Jope cometieron el siguiente atentado: convidaron a los judíos que habitaban en aquella ciudad a entrar con sus mujeres e hijos en unos barcos que habían prevenido, como que no existía ninguna enemistad entre unos y otros. Truly, those of Joppa were also perpetrators of very shameful acts. They asked the Jews, who lived among them, to go up into small boats, which they had prepared, with their wives and sons, as if no underlying hostility was between them.4Y habiendo condescendido en ello, sin tener la menor sospecha, pues vivían en paz, y la ciudad tenía hecho un público acuerdo a favor de ellos; así que se hallaron en alta mar fueron arrojados al agua unos doscientos de ellos. And so, according to the common decree of the city, they acquiesced to them, having no suspicions and because there was peace. When they had proceeded out into deep water, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.5Luego que Judas tuvo noticia de esta crueldad contra los de su nación, dio órdenes a su gente, y después de invocar a Dios, justo juez, When Judas learned of the cruelty done to the men of his nation, he informed the men who were with him, and, having called upon God, the Just Judge,6marchó contra aquellos asesinos de sus hermanos, y de noche pegó fuego al puerto, quemó sus barcos, e hizo pasar a cuchillo a todos los que se habían escapado de las llamas. he went against the executors of his brothers, and he even set the port on fire in the night; he burned the boats, but those who took refuge from the fire, he destroyed with the sword.7Hecho esto, partió de allí con ánimo de volver de nuevo para exterminar enteramente todos los vecinos de Jope. And when he had done these things in this way, he departed, as if he would return again to eradicate all those of Joppa.8Pero habiendo entendido que también los de Jamnia meditaban hacer otro tanto con los judíos que moraban entre ellos, But when he also realized those who were of Jamnia wanted to act in a similar way to the Jews living among them,9los sorprendió igualmente de noche, y quemó el puerto con sus naves; de suerte que el resplandor de las llamas se veía desde Jerusalén, que dista de allí doscientos cuarenta estadios. he went against those of Jamnia also by night, and he set the port on fire, along with the ships, so much so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem, two hundred and forty stadia away.10Y cuando partido que hubo de Jamnia había ya andado nueve estadios, avanzando contra Timoteo, le atacaron los árabes en número de cinco mil infantes y con quinientos caballos; When they had now gone from there nine stadia, and were making their way toward Timothy, they met in battle with those of Arabia: five thousand men and five hundred horsemen.11y trabándose un crudo combate, que con la protección de Dios le salió felizmente, el resto del ejército de los árabes, vencido, pidió la paz a Judas, prometiendo cederle pastos, y asistirle en todo lo demás. And when a strong fight occurred, and, by the help of God, it ceased favorably, the remainder of the Arabians who were overcome petitioned Judas to give them a pledge, promising to give him pastures and to assist him in other things in the future.12Y Judas, creyendo que verdaderamente podían serle útiles en muchas cosas, les concedió la paz; y hecho el tratado se volvieron los árabes a sus tiendas. Then Judas, thinking that they truly might be useful in many ways, promised peace. And after receiving the pledge of his right hand, they withdrew to their tents.13Después de esto atacó a una ciudad fuerte, llamada Casfín, rodeada de muros y de puentes, en la cual habitaba una turba de diferentes naciones. Then he also assaulted a certain strong city, surrounded with bridges and walls, which was inhabited by a crowd from many different nations, the name of which is Casphin.14Mas confiados los de dentro en la firmeza de sus muros, y en que tenían provisión de víveres, se defendían con flojedad, y provocaban a Judas con dichos picantes, blasfemias, y expresiones detestables. In truth, those who were inside, trusting in the strength of the walls and in the preparations of rations, acted irresponsibly, and they challenged Judas with evil words and blaspheming, as well as by speaking what is not lawful.15Entonces el Macabeo, habiendo invocado al gran rey del universo, que en tiempo de Josué derribó de un golpe, sin arietes ni máquinas de guerra, a Jericó, subió con gran denuedo sobre la muralla; But Maccabeus rushed fiercely to the walls, calling upon the great Leader of the world, who, without battering rams or machines of war, had thrown down the walls of Jericho in the time of Joshua.16y tomada por voluntad del Señor la ciudad, hizo en ella una horrorosa matanza; de tal suerte que un estanque vecino, de dos estadios de anchura, apareció teñido de sangre de los muertos. And, having captured the city through the will of the Lord, he made a slaughter without number, so much so that an adjoining pool, two stadia in width, was seen to flow with the blood of the slain.17Partieron de allí, y después de andados setecientos cincuenta estadios, llegaron a Caraca, donde habitaban los judíos llamados tubianeos. From there, they withdrew seven hundred and fifty stadia, and they came to Charax, to those Jews who are called Tubianites.18Mas tampoco pudieron venir allí a las manos con Timoteo, quien se había vuelto sin poder hacer nada, dejando en cierto lugar una guarnición muy fuerte. And Timothy, indeed, they did not find in those places, for he withdrew before he completed any endeavor, having left behind a very strong garrison in a certain place.19Pero Dositeo y Sosípatro que mandaban las tropas en compañía del Macabeo, pasaron a cuchillo a diez mil hombres que Timoteo había dejado en aquella plaza. But Dositheus and Sosipater, who were commanders with Maccabeus, destroyed those who were left behind by Timothy in the stronghold: ten thousand men.20Entretanto el Macabeo, tomando consigo seis mil hombres, y distribuyéndolos en batallones, marchó contra Timoteo, que traía ciento veinte mil hombres de a pie, y dos mil quinientos de a caballo. And Maccabeus, having positioned six thousand men around him and having divided them into cohorts, went forth against Timothy, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand foot soldiers, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.21Luego que este supo la llegada de Judas, envió delante las mujeres, los niños y el resto del bagaje a una fortaleza llamada Carnión, que era inexpugnable, y de difícil entrada, a causa de los desfiladeros que era necesario pasar. But when Timothy learned of the arrival of Judas, he sent ahead the women, and the children, and the remainder of the preparations, into a fortress, which is called Carnion. For it was impregnable and difficult to access because of the narrowness of the places.22Mas al dejarse ver el primer batallón de Judas, se apoderó el terror de los enemigos, a causa de la presencia de Dios, que todo lo ve, y se pusieron en fuga uno tras de otro, de manera que el mayor daño lo recibían de su propia gente, y quedaban heridos por sus propias espadas. And when the first cohort of Judas had appeared, the enemies were struck with fear by the presence of God, who beholds all things, and they were turned to flight, one over another, to such an extent that they were being knocked over by one another and were being wounded with the strokes of their own swords.23Judas los cargaba de recio, castigando a aquellos profanos; habiendo dejado tendidos a treinta mil de ellos. But Judas pursued them vehemently, punishing the profane and striking down thirty thousand of their men.24El mismo Timoteo cayó en poder de los batallones de Dositeo y Sosípatro, a los cuales pidió con grande instancia que le salvasen la vida, porque tenía en su poder muchos padres y hermanos de los judíos; los cuales, muerto él, quedarían sin esperanza. In truth, Timothy himself fell to the group under Dositheus and Sosipater. And with much begging, he pleaded with them to release him alive, because he held the parents and brothers of many of the Jews, who, at his death, might happen to be mistreated.25Y habiéndoles dado palabra de restituirles los prisioneros, según lo estipulado, le dejaron ir sin hacerle mal, con la mira de salvar así a sus hermanos. And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they released him unharmed, for the sake of their brothers’ well-being.26Hecho esto, volvió Judas contra Carnión, en donde pasó a cuchillo a veinticinco mil hombres. Then Judas departed to Carnion, where he slew twenty-five thousand.27Después de la derrota y mortandad de los enemigos, dirigió su ejército contra Efrón, ciudad fuerte, habitada por una multitud de gentes de diversas naciones; cuyas murallas estaban coronadas de robustos jóvenes que las defendían con valor, y además había dentro de ella muchas máquinas de guerra, y acopio de dardos. After having put to flight or killed these, he moved his army to Ephron, a fortified city, in which there lived a multitude of diverse peoples. And hardy young men, standing upon the walls, put up a strong fight. Moreover, in this place, there were many machines of war, and equipment for casting darts.28Mas los judíos, invocando al Todopoderoso, que con su poder quebranta las fuerzas de los enemigos, tomaron la ciudad, y dejaron tendidos por el suelo a veinticinco mil hombres de los que en ella había. But when they had called upon the Almighty, who with his power breaks the strength of enemies, they seized the city. And they struck down twenty-five thousand of those who were inside.29Desde allí fueron a la ciudad de los escitas distante seiscientos estadios de Jerusalén; From there, they went to the city of Scythia, which was six hundred stadia away from Jerusalem.30pero asegurando los judíos que habitaban allí entre los escitopolitanos, que estas gentes los trataban bien, y que aun en el tiempo de sus desgracias se habían portado con ellos con humanidad, les dio Judas las gracias; But the Jews, those who were among the Scythians, testified that they were treated kindly by them, and that, even in the times of unhappiness, they had treated them mildly.31y habiéndolos exhortado a que en lo venidero mostrasen igual benevolencia a los de su nación, se volvió con los suyos a Jerusalén, por estar muy cercano el día solemne de Pentecostés. They gave thanks to them, exhorting them to be kind to their people, now and at other times. And they went to Jerusalem, as the solemn days of the seven weeks were underway.32Y pasada esta festividad, marcharon contra Gorgias, gobernador de la Idumea. And, after Pentecost, they marched against Gorgias, the foremost leader over Idumea.33Salió Judas con tres mil infantes y cuatrocientos caballos; And he went out with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horsemen.34y habiéndose trabado el combate, quedaron tendidos algunos pocos judíos en el campo de batalla. And when they came together, it happened that a few of the Jews were overthrown.35Mas un cierto Dositeo, soldado de caballería de los de Bacenor, hombre valiente, asió a Gorgias, y quería capturarlo vivo, pero se arrojó sobre él un soldado de a caballo de los de Tracia, y le cortó un hombro, lo cual dio lugar a que Gorgias huyese a Maresa. In fact, a certain Dositheus, a horseman of Bacenor, a strong man, took hold of Gorgias. And when he would have captured him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians rushed upon him and cut off his arm, and so, in this way, Gorgias escaped to Maresa.36Fatigados ya los soldados que mandaba Esdrín con tan larga pelea, invocó Judas al Señor para que protegiese y dirigiese el combate; But when those who were with Esdris had fought all day and were fatigued, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper and leader in the battle.37y habiendo comenzado a cantar en alta voz himnos en su lengua nativa, puso en fuga a los soldados de Gorgias. Beginning in the language of the fathers, and loudly extolling hymns, he inspired the soldiers of Gorgias to take flight.38Reuniendo después Judas su ejército, pasó a la ciudad de Odollam, y llegado el día séptimo, se purificaron según el rito y celebraron allí el sábado. Then Judas, having collected his army, went into the city Adullam. And, when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and they kept the Sabbath in the same place.39Al día siguiente fue Judas con su gente para traer los cadáveres de los que habían muerto y enterrarlos, con sus parientes en las sepulturas de sus familias. And the following day, Judas came with his own, in order to take away the bodies of the fallen, and to place them in the sepulchers of their fathers with their ancestors.40Y encontraron debajo de la ropa de los que habían sido muertos algunos objetos consagrados a los ídolos que había en Jamnia, cosas prohibidas por la Ley a los judíos; con lo cual conocieron todos evidentemente que esto había sido la causa de su muerte. But they found, under the tunics of the slain, some of the treasures of the idols that were near Jamnia, which were prohibited to Jews by the law. Therefore, it became manifest that it was for this reason that they had been overthrown.41Por tanto, bendijeron a una los justos juicios del Señor, que había manifestado lo oculto. And so, they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had made hidden things manifest.42Y poniéndose en oración rogaron que echase en olvido el delito que se había cometido. Al mismo tiempo el esforzadísimo Judas exhortaba al pueblo a que se conservase sin pecado, viendo delante de sus mismos ojos lo sucedido por causa de las culpas de los que habían sido muertos. So then, turning themselves to prayers, they petitioned him that the offense which had been done would be delivered into oblivion. And truly, the very strong Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves without sin, since they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sins of those who were struck down.43Y habiendo recogido en una colecta que mandó hacer, doce mil dracmas de plata, las envió a Jerusalén, a fin de que se ofreciese un sacrificio por los pecados de estos difuntos, teniendo, como tenía, buenos y religiosos sentimientos acerca de la resurrección, And, calling an assembly, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem, to be offered for a sacrifice for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously about the resurrection,44—pues si no esperara que los que habían muerto habían de resucitar, habría tenido por cosa superflua e inútil el rogar por los difuntos—, (for if he had not hoped that those who had fallen would be resurrected, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)45y porque consideraba que a los que habían muerto después de una vida piadosa, les estaba reservada una grande misericordia. and because he considered that those who had fallen asleep with piety had great grace stored up for them.46Es un pensamiento santo y saludable el rogar por los difuntos, a fin de que sean libres de sus pecados. Therefore, it is a holy and beneficial thought to pray on behalf of those who have passed away, so that they may be released from sins.