2 Maccabees 6

1 Pouco tempo depois, um ancião ateniense foi enviado pelo rei para forçar os judeus a abandonar os costumes dos antepassados, para banir as leis de Deus da cidade.

2 Mandou-o também profanar o templo de Jerusalém, dedicá-lo a Júpiter Olímpico e consagrar o do monte Garizim, segundo o caráter dos habitantes do lugar, a Júpiter Hospitaleiro.

3 Dura e penosa foi para todos essa avalanche de mal.

4 O templo encheu-se de lascívias e orgias dos gentios que se divertiam com meretrizes, unindo-se às mulheres nos átrios sagrados e introduzindo coisas proibidas.

5 O altar estava coberto de vítimas impuras, interditas pelas leis.

6 Não se permitia mais guardar os sábados, a celebração das antigas festas, nem mesmo confessar-se judeu.

7 Em cada mês, no dia natalício do rei, realizava-se um sacrifício. Os judeus eram odiosamente forçados a tomar parte no banquete ritual e, por ocasião das festas em honra de Dionísio, deviam forçosamente acompanhar o cortejo de Baco, coroados de hera.

8 Por instigação dos ptolomeus, foi publicado um decreto que obrigava as cidades helênicas dos arredores a tratar os judeus do mesmo modo e levá-los à participação nos banquetes rituais, com a ordem de matar os que se recusassem a adotar os costumes helênicos.

9 Podiam-se, pois, prever as aflições que os aguardavam.

10 Assim, duas mulheres foram acusadas de circuncidarem seus filhos. Foram arrastadas publicamente pela cidade, com seus filhos pendurados aos peitos e precipitadas do alto das muralhas.

11 Outros se haviam retirado às cavernas vizinhas para celebrar secretamente o dia de sábado. Denunciados a Filipe, foram todos queimados, pois não ousaram defender-se, pelo respeito à santidade do dia.

12 Suplico aos que lerem este livro, que não se deixem abater por esses tristes acontecimentos, mas que considerem que esses castigos tiveram em mira não a ruína, mas a correção de nossa raça.

13 É sinal de grande benevolência a seu respeito o fato de não suportar por muito tempo os maus e de, ao contrário, castigá-los imediatamente.

14 Quanto às outras nações, o Senhor espera pacientemente, antes de puni-las, que tenham enchido a medida de suas iniquidades. A nós, porém, ele prefere não nos tratar assim,

15 com receio de ter que nos punir mais tarde, quando tivermos pecado demasiadamente.

16 Assim, não nos retire ele jamais a sua misericórdia e não abandone seu povo, no momento em que o corrige pela adversidade!

17 Mas que tudo isso seja dito apenas a título de lembrança. Com estas palavras, voltemos à narração.

18 Havia um certo homem já de idade avançada e de bela aparência, Eleazar, que se sentava no primeiro lugar entre os doutores da Lei. Queriam coagi-lo a comer carne de porco, abrindo-lhe a boca à força.

19 Mas ele, cuspindo e preferindo morrer com honra a viver na infâmia,

20 caminhou voluntariamente para o instrumento de tortura, como devem caminhar os que têm a coragem de rejeitar o que não é permitido comer por amor à vida.

21 Os encarregados desse ímpio banquete ritual, já desde muito tempo possuíam relações de amizade com Eleazar. Tomaram-no à parte e rogaram-lhe que fizesse trazer as carnes permitidas, que ele mesmo tivesse preparado, para comê-las como se fossem carnes do sacrifício, conforme tinha ordenado o rei.

22 Desse modo, ele seria preservado da morte, e granjearia sua benevolência em vista da velha amizade.

23 Mas Eleazar, tomando uma nobre resolução, digna de sua idade, da autoridade que lhe conferia sua velhice, do prestígio que lhe outorgavam seus cabelos brancos, da vida íntegra conservada desde a infância e digna sobretudo das sagradas leis estabelecidas por Deus, preferiu ser conduzido à morte.

24 "Não é próprio da nossa idade – respondeu ele – usar de tal fingimento, para não acontecer que muitos jovens suspeitem de que Eleazar, aos noventa anos, tenha passado aos costumes estrangeiros.

25 Eles mesmos, após o meu gesto hipócrita, e por um pouco de vida, se deixariam arrastar por causa de mim, e isso seria para a minha velhice a desonra e a vergonha.

26 E mesmo se eu me livrasse agora dos castigos dos homens, não poderia escapar, nem vivo nem morto, das mãos do Todo-poderoso.

27 Sendo assim, se eu morrer agora, corajosamente, vou mostrar-me digno de minha velhice e terei deixado aos jovens um nobre exemplo de zelo generoso, segundo o qual é preciso dar a vida pelas santas e veneráveis leis."

28 Ditas essas palavras, dirigiu-se diretamente ao suplício.

29 Aqueles que o levavam trans­­formaram em dureza a benevolência manifestada pouco antes, julgando insensatas suas palavras.

30 E quando ele estava prestes a morrer sob os golpes, exclamou entre suspiros: "O Senhor, que possui a ciência santa, vê perfeitamente que, podendo eu livrar-me da morte, sofro em meu corpo os tormentos cruéis dos açoites, mas os suporto com alma alegre porque é a ele que temo".

31 Dessa maneira passou à outra vida, deixando com sua morte não somente aos jovens, mas também a toda a sua gente, um exemplo de coragem e um memorial de virtude.

1 Not long after this, the king sent out *6:1 Or, Geron an Athenian an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and not to live by the laws of God, 2 and also to pollute the sanctuary in Jerusalem and to call it by the name of Olympian Zeus, and to call the sanctuary in Gerizim by the name of Zeus the Protector of foreigners, even as the people who lived in that place did.

3 The visitation of this evil was harsh and utterly grievous. 4 For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the heathen, who *6:4 Or, idled with their fellows dallied with prostitutes, and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and moreover brought inside things that were not appropriate. 5 The altar was filled with those abominable things which had been prohibited by the laws. 6 A man could neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the feasts of their ancestors, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew.

7 On the day of the king’s birth every month, they were led along with bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices. When the feast of Dionysia came, they were compelled to go in procession in honor of Dionysus, wearing wreaths of ivy. 8 A decree went out to the neighboring Greek cities, by the suggestion of Ptolemy, that they should observe the same conduct against the Jews, and should make them eat of the sacrifices, 9 and that they should kill those who didn’t choose to go over to the Greek rites. So the present misery was for all to see. 10 For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These, when they had led them publicly around the city with the babes hung from their breasts, they threw down headlong from the wall. 11 Others who had run together into the caves nearby to keep the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of the honor of that most solemn day.

12 I urge those who read this book to not be discouraged because of the calamities, but recognize that these punishments were not for the destruction, but for the chastening of our race. 13 For indeed it is a sign of great kindness that those who act impiously are not let alone for a long time, but immediately meet with retribution. 14 For in the case of the other nations, the Sovereign Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not with us, 15 that he may not take vengeance on us afterward,*6:15 Or, when our sins have come to their height when we have come to the*6:15 Gr. end. height of our sins. 16 Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chastens with calamity, he doesn’t forsake his own people. 17 However let this that we have spoken suffice to remind you; but after a few words, we must come to the narrative.

18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well advanced in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. 19 But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with defilement, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat out the flesh, 20 as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste.

21 But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was proper for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king; 22 that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and so his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly. 23 But he, having formed a high resolve, and one that became his years, the dignity of old age, and the gray hairs*6:23 The Greek text appears to be corrupt. which he had reached with honor, and his excellent*6:23 Some authorities read manner of life. education from a child, or rather the holy laws*6:23 Gr. legislation. of God’s ordaining, declared his mind accordingly, bidding them to quickly send him to Hades.

24 "For it doesn’t become our years to dissemble," he said, "that many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of ninety years, had gone over to an alien religion; 25 and so they, by reason of my deception, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, would be led astray because of me, and I defile and disgrace myself in my old age. 26 For even if for the present time I would remove from me the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I wouldn’t escape the hands of the Almighty. 27 Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, 28 and *6:28 Gr. one that has left behind. leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws."

When he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture. 29 *6:29 The Greek text of this verse is uncertain. When they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness, 30 and when he was at the point to die with the*6:30 Or, blows blows, he groaned aloud and said, "To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, while I might have been delivered from death, I endure severe pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things because of my fear of him."

31 So this man also died like this, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.