1 Ora, aconteceu que, já senhor da Grécia, Alexandre, filho de Filipe da Ma­cedônia, oriundo da terra de Cetim, derrotou Dario, rei dos persas e dos medos, e reinou em seu lugar.

2 Empreendeu inúmeras guerras, apoderou-se de muitas cidades e matou vários reis da região.

3 Avançou até os confins da terra e apoderou-se dos despojos de uma multidão de nações. A terra calou-se diante dele. Tornando-se altivo, seu coração ensoberbeceu-se.

4 Reuniu um imenso exército,

5 impôs seu poderio aos países, às nações e reis, e todos se tornaram seus tributários.

6 Mas, em seguida, adoeceu e viu que a morte se aproximava.

7 Convocou então os mais consi­derados dentre os seus cortesãos, companheiros desde sua juventude, e, ainda em vida, repartiu entre eles o império.

8 Alexandre reinou durante doze anos, e morreu.

9 Seus oficiais exerceram o poder, cada qual em seu próprio reino.

10 Puseram todos o dia­de­ma depois de sua morte e, após eles, seus filhos durante muitos anos. E males em quantidade multiplicaram-se sobre a terra.

11 Desses reis originou-se uma raiz de pecado: Antíoco Epífanes, filho do rei Antíoco, que havia estado em Roma como refém e que reinou no ano cento e trinta e sete do reino dos gregos.

12 Nessa época, saíram também de Israel uns filhos perversos que seduziram a muitos outros, dizendo: "Vamos e façamos uma aliança com os povos que nos cercam, porque, desde que nos separamos deles, caímos em infortúnios sem conta".

13 Semelhante linguagem pareceu-lhes boa

14 e houve entre o povo quem se apressasse a ir ter com o rei, o qual concedeu a licença de adotarem os costumes pagãos.

15 Edificaram em Jerusalém um ginásio, como os gentios. Dissimularam os sinais da circuncisão e afastaram-se da alian­ça com Deus para se unirem aos gentios. E se venderam para praticar o mal.

16 Quando seu reino lhe pareceu bem consolidado, concebeu Antíoco o desejo de conquistar também o Egito, a fim de reinar sobre dois reinos.

17 Invadiu, pois, o Egito com um poderoso exército, com carros, elefantes, cavaleiros e uma numerosa esquadra.

18 Investiu contra Ptolomeu, rei do Egito, o qual, tomado de pânico, fugiu. Foram muitos os que sucumbiram sob seus golpes.

19 Tornou-se ele senhor das fortalezas do Egito e apoderou-se das riquezas do país.

20 Após ter derrotado o Egito, pelo ano cento e quarenta e três, regressou Antíoco e atacou Israel, subindo a Jerusalém com um enorme exército.

21 Entrou com arrogância no santuário, tomou o altar de ouro, o candelabro da luz com todos os seus acessórios,

22 a mesa da proposição, os vasos, as alfaias, os turíbulos de ouro, o véu, as coroas, os ornamentos de ouro da fachada e arrancou todo o revestimento.

23 Tomou a prata, o ouro, os vasos preciosos e os tesouros ocultos que encontrou.

24 Arrebatando tudo consigo, regressou à sua terra, após massacrar muitos judeus e pronunciar palavras injuriosas.

25 Foi isso um motivo de desolação em extremo para todo o Israel.

26 Príncipes e anciãos gemeram, jovens e moças perderam sua alegria e murchou a beleza das mulheres.

27 O recém-casado lamentava-se e a esposa chorava no leito nupcial.

28 A própria terra tremia por todos os seus habitantes e a casa de Jacó cobriu-se de vergonha.

29 Dois anos após, Antíoco enviou um oficial a cobrar o tributo nas cidades de Judá. Chegou ele a Jerusalém com uma numerosa tropa.

30 Dirigiu-se aos habitantes com palavras pacíficas, mas astuciosas, nas quais acreditaram. Em seguida, lançou-se de improviso sobre a cidade, pilhou-a seriamente e matou muita gente de Israel.

31 Saqueou-a, incendiou-a, destruiu as casas e os muros em derredor.

32 Seus soldados conduziram ao cativeiro as mulheres e as crianças e apoderaram-se do gado.

33 Cercaram a Cidade de Davi com uma extensa e sólida muralha, com possantes torres, tornando-a sua fortaleza.

34 Instalaram ali uma guarnição brutal de gente sem leis, e se fortificaram.

35 Ajuntaram armas e provisões. Reunindo todos os espólios do saque de Jerusalém, ali os acumularam. Constituíram-se desse modo em grande ameaça.

36 Serviram de cilada para o templo, um inimigo constantemente incitado contra o povo de Israel,

37 derramando sangue inocente ao redor do templo e profanando o santuário.

38 Por causa deles, os habitantes de Jerusalém fugiram, e só ficaram lá os estrangeiros. Jerusalém tornou-se estranha a seus próprios filhos e estes a abandonaram.

39 Seu templo ficou desolado como um deserto, seus dias de festa se transformaram em dias de luto, seus sábados, em dias de vergonha e sua glória em desonra.

40 Quanto fora ela honrada, agora foi desprezada e sua exaltação converteu-se em tormento.

41 Então, o rei Antíoco publicou para todo o reino um edito, prescrevendo que todos os povos formassem um único povo.

42 Cada um devia renunciar a seus costumes particulares. Todos os gentios se conformaram a essa ordem do rei, e

43 muitos de Israel adotaram a sua religião, sacrificando aos ídolos e violando o sábado.

44 Por intermédio de mensageiros, o rei enviou, a Jerusalém e às cidades de Judá, cartas prescrevendo que aceitassem os costumes dos outros povos da terra.

45 Deviam suprimir holocaustos, sacrifícios e libações no templo; violar os sábados e as festas;

46 profanar o santuário e os santos;

47 eri­gir altares, templos e ídolos; sacrificar porcos e outros animais impuros.

48 Deviam também deixar seus filhos incir­cun­cidados e macular suas almas com toda sorte de impurezas e abominações, de maneira

49 a obrigarem-nos a esquecer a Lei e a transgredir as prescrições.

50 Todo aquele que não obedecesse à ordem do rei seria morto.

51 Foi nesse teor que o rei escreveu a todo o seu reino e nomeou comissários para vigiar o cumprimento de sua vontade pelo povo. Ordenou às cidades de Judá que oferecessem sacrifícios, cada uma por sua vez.

52 Houve muitos dentre o povo que colaboraram com eles e abandonaram a Lei. Fizeram muito mal no país e

53 constrangeram os israelitas a se refugiarem em asilos e refúgios ocultos.

54 No dia quinze do mês de Casleu, no ano cento e quarenta e cinco, Antíoco fez erigir a Abominação da desolação sobre o altar. Também construíram altares em todas as cidades vizinhas de Judá.

55 Ofereciam sacrifícios diante das portas das casas e nas praças públicas.

56 Rasgavam e queimavam todos os livros da Lei que achavam.

57 Em toda parte, todo aquele em poder do qual fosse encontrado um livro do testamento, ou todo aquele que mostrasse gosto pela Lei, morreria por ordem do rei.

58 Com esse poder que tinham, tratavam assim, cada mês, os judeus que eles encontravam nas cidades.

59 No dia vinte e cinco de cada mês, sacrificavam no altar, que sobressaía ao altar do templo.

60 As mulheres, que levavam seus filhos a circuncidar eram mortas conforme a ordem do rei,

61 com os filhos suspensos ao pescoço. Massacravam-se também seus próximos e os que tinham feito a circuncisão.

62 Numerosos foram os israelitas que tomaram a firme resolução de não comer nada que fosse impuro. Preferiram a morte antes que se manchar com alimentos impuros;

63 não quiseram violar a santa lei e foram trucidados.

64 Caiu assim sobre Israel uma imensa cólera.

1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.

5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.

8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.

9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.

10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

12 So this device pleased them well.

13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:

14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.

17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,

18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.

19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.

20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,

21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,

22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.

24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.

25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;

26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.

27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,

28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.

31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.

34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.

35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:

36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.

37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:

38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.

40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,

45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:

46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:

47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts:

48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:

49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;

53 And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

55 And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.

56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.

58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

60 At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.

61 And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.

62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.

63 Wherefore they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.