The zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his sons at his death.

 1 In those days arose Mathathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin.
In diebus illis surrexit Mathathias filius Joannis filii Simeonis, sacerdos ex filiis Joarib, ab Jerusalem, et consedit in monte Modin :

 2 And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis:
et habebat filios quinque, Joannem, qui cognominabatur Gaddis :

 3 And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi:
et Simonem, qui cognominabatur Thasi :

 4 And Judas, who was called Machabeus:
et Judam, qui vocabatur Machabaeus :

 5 And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron: and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus.
et Eleazarum, qui cognominabatur Abaron : et Jonathan, qui cognominabatur Apphus :

 6 These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in Jerusalem.
hi viderunt mala, quae fiebant in populo Juda, et in Jerusalem.

 7 And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it is given into the hands of the enemies?
Et dixit Mathathias : Vae mihi! ut quid natus sum videre contritionem populi mei, et contritionem civitatis sanctae, et sedere illic, cum datur in manibus inimicorum?

 8 The holy places are come into the hands of strangers: her temple is become as a man without honour.
Sancta in manu extraneorum facta sunt : templum ejus sicut homo ignobilis.

 9 The vessels of her glory are carried away captive: her old men are murdered in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of the enemies.
Vasa gloriae ejus captiva abducta sunt : trucidati sunt senes ejus in plateis, et juvenes ejus ceciderunt in gladio inimicorum.

 10 What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and gotten of her spoils?
Quae gens non haereditavit regnum ejus et non obtinuit spolia ejus?

 11 All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free is made a slave.
Omnis compositio ejus ablata est. Quae erat libera, facta est ancilla.

 12 And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our glory is laid waste, and the Gentiles have defiled them.
Et ecce sancta nostra, et pulchritudo nostra, et claritas nostra desolata est, et coinquinaverunt ea gentes.

 13 To what end then should we live any longer?
Quo ergo nobis adhuc vivere?

 14 And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and they covered themselves with haircloth, and made great lamentation.
Et scidit vestimenta sua Mathathias, et filii ejus : et operuerunt se ciliciis, et planxerunt valde.

 15 And they that were sent from king Antiochus came thither, to compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart from the law of God.
Et venerunt illuc qui missi erant a rege Antiocho, ut cogerent eos, qui confugerant in civitatem Modin, immolare, et accendere thura, et a lege Dei discedere.

 16 And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.
Et multi de populo Israel consentientes accesserunt ad eos : sed Mathathias et filii ejus constanter steterunt.

 17 And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in this city, and adorned with sons, and brethren.
Et respondentes qui missi erant ab Antiocho, dixerunt Mathathiae : Princeps, et clarissimus et magnus es in hac civitate, et ornatus filiis et fratribus :

 18 Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents.
ergo accede prior, et fac jussum regis, sicut fecerunt omnes gentes, et viri Juda, et qui remanserunt in Jerusalem : et eris tu, et filii tui, inter amicos regis, et amplificatus auro, et argento, et muneribus multis.

 19 Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments:
Et respondit Mathathias, et dixit magna voce : Etsi omnes gentes regi Antiocho obediunt, ut discedat unusquisque a servitute legis patrum suorum, et consentiat mandatis ejus :

 20 I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.
ego et filii mei, et fratres mei, obediemus legi patrum nostrorum :

 21 God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God:
propitius sit nobis Deus : non est nobis utile relinquere legem, et justitias Dei :

 22 We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way.
non audiemus verba regis Antiochi, nec sacrificabimus transgredientes legis nostrae mandata, ut eamus altera via.

 23 Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king's commandment.
Et ut cessavit loqui verba haec, accessit quidam Judaeus in omnium oculis sacrificare idolis super aram in civitate Modin, secundum jussum regis :

 24 And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar:
et vidit Mathathias, et doluit, et contremuerunt renes ejus, et accensus est furor ejus secundum judicium legis, et insiliens trucidavit eum super aram :

 25 Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar.
sed et virum, quem rex Antiochus miserat, qui cogebat immolare, occidit in ipso tempore, et aram destruxit :

 26 And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi.
et zelatus est legem, sicut fecit Phinees Zamri filio Salomi.

 27 And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.
Et exclamavit Mathathias voce magna in civitate, dicens : Omnis qui zelum habet legis, statuens testamentum, exeat post me.

 28 So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city.
Et fugit ipse, et filii ejus in montes, et reliquerunt quaecumque habebant in civitate.

 29 Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the desert:
Tunc descenderunt multi quaerentes judicium, et justitiam, in desertum :

 30 And they abode there, they and their children, and their wives, and their cattle: because afflictions increased upon them.
et sederunt ibi ipsi, et filii eorum, et mulieres eorum, et pecora eorum : quoniam inundaverunt super eos mala.

 31 And it was told to the king's men, and to the army that was in Jerusalem in the city of David, that certain men who had broken the king's commandment, were gone away into the secret places in the wilderness, and that many were gone after them.
Et renuntiatum est viris regis, et exercitui qui erat in Jerusalem civitate David, quoniam discessissent viri quidam, qui dissipaverunt mandatum regis, in loca occulta in deserto, et abiissent post illos multi.

 32 And forthwith they went out towards them, and made war against them on the sabbath day,
Et statim perrexerunt ad eos, et constituerunt adversus eos praelium in die sabbatorum,

 33 And they said to them: Do you still resist? come forth, and do according to the edict of king Antiochus, and you shall live.
et dixerunt ad eos : Resistitis et nunc adhuc? exite, et facite secundum verbum regis Antiochi, et vivetis.

 34 And they said: We will not come forth, neither will we obey the king's edict, to profane the sabbath day.
Et dixerunt : Non exibimus, neque faciemus verbum regis, ut polluamus diem sabbatorum.

 35 And they made haste to give them battle.
Et concitaverunt adversus eos praelium.

 36 But they answered them not, neither did they cast a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,
Et non responderunt eis, nec lapidem miserunt in eos, nec oppilaverunt loca occulta,

 37 Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and heaven and earth shall be witnesses for us, that you put us to death wrongfully.
dicentes : Moriamur omnes in simplicitate nostra : et testes erunt super nos caelum et terra, quod injuste perditis nos.

 38 So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they were slain with their wives, and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
Et intulerunt illis bellum sabbatis : et mortui sunt ipsi, et uxores eorum, et filii eorum, et pecora eorum usque ad mille animas hominum.

 39 And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they mourned for them exceedingly.
Et cognovit Mathathias et amici ejus, et luctum habuerunt super eos valde.

 40 And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all do as our brethren have done, and not fight against the heathens for our lives, and our justifications: they will now quickly root us out of the earth.
Et dixit vir proximo suo : Si omnes fecerimus sicut fratres nostri fecerunt, et non pugnaverimus adversus gentes pro animabus nostris et justificationibus nostris, nunc citius disperdent nos a terra.

 41 And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever shall come up against us to fight on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: and we will not all die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret places.
Et cogitaverunt in die illa, dicentes : Omnis homo, quicumque venerit ad nos in bello die sabbatorum, pugnemus adversus eum : et non moriemur omnes, sicut mortui sunt fratres nostri in occultis.

 42 Then was assembled to them the congregation of the Assideans, the stoutest of Israel, every one that had a good will for the law.
Tunc congregata est ad eos synagoga Assidaeorum fortis viribus ex Israel, omnis voluntarius in lege :

 43 And all they that fled from the evils, joined themselves to them, and were a support to them.
et omnes, qui fugiebant a malis, additi sunt ad eos, et facti sunt illis ad firmamentum.

 44 And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in their wrath, and the wicked men in their indignation: and the rest fled to the nations for safety.
Et collegerunt exercitum, et percusserunt peccatores in ira sua, et viros iniquos in indignatione sua : et ceteri fugerunt ad nationes, ut evaderent.

 45 And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and they threw down the altars:
Et circuivit Mathathias et amici ejus, et destruxerunt aras :

 46 And they circumcised all the children whom they found in the confines of Israel that were uncircumcised: and they did valiantly.
et circumciderunt pueros incircumcisos quotquot invenerunt in finibus Israel : et in fortitudine.

 47 And they pursued after the children of pride, and the work prospered in their hands:
Et persecuti sunt filios superbiae, et prosperatum est opus in manibus eorum :

 48 And they recovered the law out of the hands of the nations, and out of the hands of the kings: and they yielded not the horn to the sinner.
et obtinuerunt legem de manibus gentium, et de manibus regum, et non dederant cornu peccatori.

 49 Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
Et appropinquaverunt dies Mathathiae moriendi, et dixit filiis suis : Nunc confortata est superbia, et castigatio, et tempus eversionis, et ira indignationis.

 50 Now therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
Nunc ergo, o filii, aemulatores estote legis, et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum vestrorum,

 51 And call to remembrance the works of the fathers, which they have done in their generations: and you shall receive great glory, and an everlasting name.
et mementote operum patrum, quae fecerunt in generationibus suis : et accipietis gloriam magnam, et nomen aeternum.

 52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed to him unto justice?
Abraham nonne in tentatione inventus est fidelis, et reputatum est ei ad justitiam?

 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and he was made lord of Egypt.
Joseph in tempore angustiae suae custodivit mandatum, et factus est dominus Aegypti.

 54 Phinees our father, by being fervent in the zeal of God, received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
Phinees pater noster, zelando zelum Dei, accepit testamentum sacerdotii aeterni.

 55 Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler in Israel.
Jesus dum implevit verbum, factus est dux in Israel.

 56 Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation, received an inheritance.
Caleb dum testificatur in ecclesia, accepit haereditatem.

 57 David by his mercy obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
David in sua misericordia consecutus est sedem regni in saecula.

 58 Elias, while he was full of zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven.
Elias, dum zelat zelum legis, receptus est in caelum.

 59 Ananias and Azarias and Misael by believing, were delivered out of the flame.
Ananias et Azarias et Misael credentes, liberati sunt de flamma.

 60 Daniel in his innocency was delivered out of the mouth of the lions.
Daniel in sua simplicitate liberatus est de ore leonum.

 61 And thus consider through all generations: that none that trust in him fail in strength.
Et ita cogitate per generationem et generationem : quia omnes qui sperant in eum, non infirmantur.

 62 And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung, and worms:
Et a verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis, quia gloria ejus stercus et vermis est :

 63 Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his earth; and his thought is come to nothing.
hodie extollitur, et cras non invenietur : quia conversus est in terram suam, et cogitatio ejus periit.

 64 You therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave manfully in the law: for by it you shall be glorious.
Vos ergo filii, confortamini, et viriliter agite in lege : quia in ipsa gloriosi eritis.

 65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: give ear to him always, and he shall be a father to you.
Et ecce Simon frater vester, scio quod vir consilii est : ipsum audite semper, et ipse erit vobis pater.

 66 And Judas Machabeus who is valiant and strong from his youth up, let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the people.
Et Judas Machabaeus, fortis viribus a juventute sua, sit vobis princeps militiae, et ipse aget bellum populi.

 67 And you shall take to you all that observe the law: and revenge ye the wrong of your people.
Et adducetis ad vos omnes factores legis : et vindicate vindictam populi vestri.

 68 Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to the precepts of the law.
Retribuite retributionem gentibus, et intendite in praeceptum legis.

 69 And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers.
Et benedixit eos, et appositus est ad patres suos.

 70 And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and he was buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers in Modin, and all Israel mourned for him with great mourning.
Et defunctus est anno centesimo et quadragesimo sexto : et sepultus est a filiis suis in sepulchris patrum suorum in Modin, et planxerunt eum omnis Israel planctu magno.