Biblia Platense (Straubinger) · Catholic Public Domain Version
2 Macabeos 6
1De allí a poco tiempo envió el rey un senador de Antioquía, para que compeliese a los judíos a abandonar las leyes de su Dios y de sus padres, But not much time later, the king sent a certain elder of Antioch, who compelled the Jews to transfer themselves from the laws of God and of their fathers,2y para profanar el Templo de Jerusalén, y consagrarle a Júpiter Olímpico, como también el de Garizim a Júpiter Extranjero, por ser extranjeros los habitantes de aquel lugar. and also to contaminate the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to name it ‘Jupiter of Olympus,’ and in Garizim, ‘Jupiter of Hospitality,’ exactly like those who inhabited the place.3Así que se vio caer entonces de un golpe sobre todo el pueblo un diluvio terrible de males; Yet the worst and most grievous thing of all was the onrush of evils.4porque el Templo estaba lleno de lascivias y de glotonerías propias de los gentiles, y de hombres disolutos mezclados con rameras, y de mujeres que entraban con descaro en los lugares sagrados, llevando allí cosas que no era lícito llevar. For the temple was full of the luxuries and carousings of the Gentiles, and of consorting with promiscuous women. And the women hurried themselves unreservedly into the sacred buildings, bringing in things that were not lawful.5El mismo altar se veía lleno de cosas ilícitas y prohibidas por las leyes. And even the altar was filled with illicit things, which were prohibited by the laws.6No se guardaban ya los sábados, ni se celebraban las fiestas solemnes del país, y nadie se atrevía a confesar sencillamente que era judío. And also the Sabbaths were not kept, and the solemn days of the fathers were not observed, neither did anyone simply confess himself to be a Jew.7El día de cumpleaños del rey los hacían ir a viva fuerza a los sacrificios; y cuando se celebraba la fiesta de Baco, los precisaban a ir por las calles coronados de yerba en honor de dicho ídolo. And so, they were led by bitter necessity, on the birthday of the king, to the sacrifices. And, when the holy things of Liber were celebrated, they were forced to go around crowned with the ivy of Liber.8A sugestión de los de Tolemaida se publicó en las ciudades de los gentiles vecinas un edicto por el cual se les daba facultad para obligar en aquellos lugares a los judíos a que sacrificasen; Then a decree went out to the neighboring cities of the Gentiles, suggested by the Ptolemeans, that they too should act in a similar manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice,9y para quitar la vida a todos aquellos que no quisiesen acomodarse a las costumbres de los gentiles. Así, pues, no se veía otra cosa más que miserias. and that those who were not willing to conform to the institutions of the Gentiles should be executed. Therefore, there was misery to be seen.10En prueba de ello, habiendo sido acusadas dos mujeres de haber circuncidado a sus hijos, las pasearon públicamente por la ciudad, con los hijos colgados a sus pechos, y después las precipitaron desde lo alto de la muralla. For two women were denounced for having had their boys circumcised. These, with the infants suspended at their breasts, when they had publicly led them around the city, they cast down from the walls.11Asimismo, algunos otros que se juntaban en las cuevas vecinas para celebrar allí secretamente el día del sábado, habiendo sido denunciados a Filipo, fueron quemados vivos; porque tuvieron escrúpulo de defenderse por respeto a la religión y a la observancia. Truly, others, meeting together in nearby caves and celebrating the Sabbath day secretly, when they had been discovered by Philip, were burned with fire, because they showed reverence to the observances of religion, deciding to help themselves by their own hand.12Ruego ahora a los que lean este libro, que no se escandalicen a vista de tan desgraciados sucesos; sino que consideren que estas cosas acaecieron, no para exterminar, sino para corregir a nuestra nación. So then, I beg those who will read this Book, let them not be repelled by these adverse events, but let them consider that these things happened, not for the destruction, but for the correction, of our people.13Porque señal es de gran misericordia hacia los pecadores, el no dejarlos vivir largo tiempo a su antojo, sino aplicarles prontamente el azote. For it is also an indication of great benefits that sinners are not permitted to continue in their ways for a long time, but are promptly brought to punishment.14En efecto, el Señor no se porta con nosotros como con las demás naciones, a las cuales sufre con paciencia para castigarlas en el día del juicio, colmada que sea la medida de sus pecados. For, as it is with other nations, (whom the Lord patiently awaits, so that, when the day of Judgment will arrive, he may punish them according to the plentitude of their sins,)15No así con nosotros, sino que nos castiga sin esperar a que lleguen a su colmo nuestros pecados. not so does he also deal with us, as if to put off our sins until the end, so as to punish us for them eventually.16Y así, nunca retira de nosotros su misericordia, y cuando aflige a su pueblo con adversidades, no lo desampara. Because of this, he certainly would never take away his mercy from us. Yet truly, chastising his people in adversity, he does not abandon them.17Mas baste esto que hemos dicho, para que estén advertidos los lectores; y volvamos ya a tomar el hilo de la historia. But these few things have been spoken by us as a reminder to the reader. For now we have arrived at the narration.18Eleázaro uno de los primeros doctores de la Ley, varón de edad provecta, y de venerable presencia, fue estrechado a comer carne de cerdo, y se le quería obligar a ello abriéndole por fuerza la boca. And so, Eleazar, one of the chief scribes, a man advanced in years and of stately countenance, was compelled to open his mouth wide to consume the flesh of swine.19Mas él, prefiriendo una muerte llena de gloria a una vida aborrecible, caminaba voluntariamente por su pie al suplicio. Yet he, embracing a most glorious death as greater than a detestable life, went forward voluntarily to the torments.20Y considerando cómo debía portarse en este lance, sufriendo con paciencia, resolvió no hacer por amor a la vida ninguna cosa ilícita. And so, thinking over the manner by which he ought to approach it, enduring patiently, he was determined not to permit, due to a love for life, any unlawful things.21Pero los que se hallaban presentes, movidos de una injusta compasión, y en atención a la antigua amistad que con él tenían, tomándole aparte, le rogaban que les permitiese traer carnes de las que le era lícito comer, para poder así aparentar que había cumplido la orden del rey, de comer de las carnes del sacrificio; Yet those who stood near, being moved by an iniquitous pity because of long friendship with the man, taking him aside privately, asked that flesh be brought which was lawful for him to eat, so that he could pretend to have eaten, just as the king had commanded, from the flesh of the sacrifice.22a fin de que de esta manera se libertase de la muerte. De esta especie de humanidad usaban con él por un efecto de la antigua amistad que le profesaban. So then, by doing this, he might be freed from death. And it was because of their old friendship with the man that they performed this kindness for him.23Pero Eleázaro, dominado de otros sentimientos dignos de su edad y de sus venerables canas, como asimismo de su antigua nativa nobleza, y de la buena conducta que había observado desde niño, respondió en el acto, conforme a los preceptos de la Ley santa establecida por Dios, y dijo que más bien quería morir. But he began to consider the eminent dignity of his stage of life and old age, and the natural honor of gray hair, as well as his exemplary words and deeds from childhood. And he responded quickly, according also to the ordinances of the sacred law preserved by God, saying, that he would first be sent to the underworld.24“Porque no es decoroso a nuestra edad, les añadió, usar de esta ficción; la cual sería causa que muchos jóvenes, creyendo que Eleázaro en la edad de noventa años se había pasado a la vida de los gentiles, “For it is not worthy for those of our age,” he said, “to deceive, so that many adolescents might think that Eleazar, at ninety years, had converted to the life of the foreigners.25cayesen en error a causa de esta ficción mía, por conservar yo un pequeño resto de esta vida corruptible; además de que echaría sobre mi ancianidad la infamia y execración. And so, they, because of my pretense and for the sake of a brief time of a corruptible life, would be misled, and, through this stain and desecration, I would defile my last years.26Fuera de esto, aun cuando pudiese librarme al presente de los suplicios de los hombres, no podría yo, ni vivo ni muerto, escapar de las manos del Todopoderoso. But if, in the present time, I were rescued from the torments of men, I would then not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither in life, nor in death.27Por lo cual muriendo valerosamente, me mostraré digno de la ancianidad a que he llegado; For this reason, by departing life with fortitude, I will show myself to be clearly worthy of my long life.28y dejaré a los jóvenes un ejemplo de fortaleza si sufriere con ánimo pronto y constante una muerte honrosa por la Ley más santa y venerable.” Luego que acabó de decir esto, fue conducido al suplicio. And so, I will bequeath an example of fortitude to youths, if, with a ready soul and constancy, I carry out an honest death, for the sake of the most serious and most holy laws.” And having said this, he was immediately dragged away to execution.29Y aquellos que le llevaban, y que poco antes se le habían mostrado muy humanos, pasaron a un extremo de furor por las palabras que había dicho; las cuales creían efecto de arrogancia. But those who led him, and who were more mild a little before, were turned to anger because of the words spoken by him, which they considered to have been brought forth by way of arrogance.30Estando ya para morir a fuerza de golpes que descargaban sobre él, lanzó un suspiro, y dijo: “Señor, Tú que tienes la ciencia santa, Tú sabes bien que habiendo yo podido librarme de la muerte, sufro en mi cuerpo atroces dolores; pero mi alma los padece de buena gana por temor tuyo.” But when he was ready to perish by the scourges, he groaned, and he said: “O Lord, who holds all holy knowledge, you clearly understand that, although I could be freed from death, I suffer grievous pains in body. Truly, according to the soul, I willingly endure these things, because of your fear.”31De esta manera murió Eleázaro, dejando no solamente a los jóvenes, sino también a toda su nación, en la memoria de su muerte, un dechado de virtud y de fortaleza. And the way in which this man passed from this life, bequeathed, not only to youths, but also to the entire people, the memory of his death as an example of virtue and fortitude.