2 Maccabees:Chapter 11

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2 Maccabees:Chapter 11

瑪加伯(下)	2 Maccabees
¹此後不久，王的親戚和監護人並國務總理里息雅，對所遭遇的事，異常憤恨，	¹After a while, Lysias, the king's tutor and kinsman, who was head of the government, was much displeased at the turn of events,
²便募集了八萬步兵及所有的騎兵，出發進攻猶太人，企圖將聖城作為希臘人的居所；	²and gathered together about eighty thousand men and his entire cavalry. They advanced against the Jews intending to make the city of Jerusalem a Greek colony and
³向聖殿徵稅，像對其他各國的寺廟一樣；並且每年高價出售大司祭的職位。	³to convert the Temple into a source of revenue, as they had done with other sanctuaries of the pagans, and to put the office of high priest up for sale every year.
⁴他毫不想天主的威能，而只信賴他的幾萬步兵，數千騎兵和八十匹象。	⁴He took God's power for granted, and went up with his infantry regiments, his horsemen by the thousands, and his eighty elephants.
⁵侵入猶太之後，逼近離耶路撒冷約三十二公里的一個要塞貝特族爾，傾全力圍攻。	⁵He entered Judea, came near Beth-zur, a strong city some kilometers away from Jerusalem, and besieged it.
⁶瑪加伯與部下聽說他圍攻那堡壘，便與民眾一同歎息流淚，懇求上主派一位好天使來拯救以色列。	⁶When the men of Maccabeus learned that Lysias had begun laying siege to their strong cities, they prayed to the Lord together with all the people, with tears and lamentations, that the Lord might send a good angel to save Israel.
⁷瑪加伯自己首先拿起武器，然後激勵眾人跟他去冒險拯救同胞；眾人都自告奮勇與他前去。	⁷Maccabeus himself was the first to take arms and exhort the rest to go with him to face the danger and help their brothers and sisters. They set out together, full of enthusiasm.
⁸他們離耶路撒冷不遠，有位身穿白衣，手揮金武器的騎兵出現，作他們的前鋒。	⁸While they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman dressed in white with golden armor appeared and stood at the head of them.
⁹他們一致稱揚仁慈的天主，個個勇往直前，不但準備衝鋒殺敵，而且還敢與最兇猛的野獸搏鬥，衝破銅牆鐵壁。	⁹So with one voice, everyone blessed the merciful God. They were strengthened and prepared not only to face men in battle but even the most savage beasts and walls of iron.
¹⁰他們既得上主垂憐，從天上獲得助戰者，就列陣前進，	¹⁰They advanced with the aid of this ally sent from heaven, for the Lord had compassion on them.
¹¹衝向敵人如猛獅一般，擊殺了步兵一萬一千，騎兵一千六百，迫得其餘的人都望風而逃，	¹¹They charged like lions against the enemy, brought down eleven thousand infantrymen and one thousand six hundred horsemen, and forced the rest to flee.
¹²大半負傷棄甲逃命，連里息雅自己也得抱頭鼠竄，纔得苟全性命。	¹²Most of them fled, wounded and disarmed, until Lysias himself fled in disgrace in order to save himself.
¹³但他並不是個愚昧人：當他回想自己所遭遇的失敗，便知希伯來人是不可戰勝的，因為有全能的天主與他們共同作戰；	¹³Lysias, being an intelligent man, reflected on the defeat he had suffered and understood that the Hebrews were invincible because the powerful God fought for them.
¹⁴於是派遣使者，去同猶太人說和，立平等的條件，且許下盡力勸國王與他們做朋友。	¹⁴So he sent a messenger to convince them to accept peace with every kind of just condition. And he even promised to persuade the king to make peace with them, too.
¹⁵瑪加伯為顧全公共的利益，就接受了里息雅所提出的一切，王也批准了瑪加伯為猶太人向里息雅書面所要求的各項條件。	¹⁵Maccabeus, thinking of the common good of all, accepted Lysias' offer of peace. And in fact, the king granted all the demands that Maccabeus had presented to Lysias in writing.
¹⁶里息雅給猶太人所寫的函件如下：「里息雅祝猶太人民安好！	¹⁶Lysias wrote to them as follows: "From Lysias to the Jewish people, greetings.
¹⁷你們的使者若望及阿貝沙隆呈遞下附的函件，請求批准所列的事項。	¹⁷John and Absalom, your envoys, have delivered to us your written petitions, asking us to respond.
¹⁸凡應轉呈君王的，我已稟呈；凡是可允准的，他一概允准了。	¹⁸I have set forth before the king everything that needed his attention; and I have granted everything that was within my competence.
¹⁹若你們對政府仍保持友好，今後我必盡力為你們謀求幸福。	¹⁹Therefore, if you maintain your good will toward the State, I will also try in the future to work in your favor.
²⁰關於這些及其餘詳細事項，我已吩咐你們的使者和我的特派員與你們會商。	²⁰As for the details, I have given orders for your envoys and my own representatives to discuss these with you.
²¹祝你們健康！一四八年，『彫斯苛洛』月二十四日。」	²¹May everything go well with you. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the twenty-fourth day of the month of the Corinthian God."
²²王的諭文如下：「安提約古王祝兄弟里息雅安好！	²²The king's letter was as follows: "King Antiochus greets his brother Lysias.
²³自從先父歸於諸神以後，我們願意所屬人民，自管其國，不受騷擾；	²³From the day we succeeded to the throne of our father, who has gone to the dwelling place of the gods, it has been our desire that all our subjects live undisturbed so that everyone may dedicate himself to his own work.
²⁴我們也聽說猶太人不滿先父令他們隨從希臘風俗，而願保守自己固有的生活方式，並且要求遵守自己法律的許可。	²⁴Learning that the Jews do not wish to adopt Greek customs, as it was the will of my father, but prefer their own way of life and ask that they be allowed to live according to their laws,
²⁵其實，我們很願意這民族不受騷擾，決意將聖殿交還他們，准許他們按照祖先的習例度日。	²⁵and since it is our desire that this nation live in peace, we have decreed that the Temple be restored to them and that they be allowed to live according to the laws and customs of their ancestors.
²⁶所以，你更好派使者到他們那裏去，與他們和好，好使他們認清我們的意思，安心樂意處理自己的事務。」	²⁶You will do well, therefore, to send envoys to conclude a treaty of peace with them. May they come to know our constant aim, so they may be reassured and dedicate themselves with joy to their own occupations."
²⁷王給猶太民族所頒的詔書如下：「安提約古王祝猶太參議院與其他的人民安好！	²⁷This was the king's letter to the Jewish people: "King Antiochus to the Council of Elders and to the Jewish people: greetings!
²⁸如果你們安康，那正是我們的希望，我們也很平安，	²⁸If you enjoy good health, we are happy for you; we ourselves are also well.
²⁹默乃勞向我們呈報，說你們願意回鄉，從事己業。	²⁹Menelaus has told us that you wish to return to your homes and occupations.
³⁰因此，凡在『散提苛』月三十日以前回家的，一概得享平安。	³⁰Therefore, I have issued a decree of amnesty for all who would go home before the thirtieth of the month of Xanthicus.
³¹並允許猶太人像昔日一樣，享用自己規定的食物，遵守自己的法律；如果有人無意做了什麼錯事，誰也不可干涉。	³¹The Jews from now on may live according to their own customs concerning their food, and be governed by their own laws as before. None of them is to be molested in any way for anything done involuntarily.
³²此外，我又派默乃勞前去慰問你們。	³²I have ordered Menelaus to reassure you of all this.
³³謹此祝你們健康！一四八年『散提苛』月十五日。」	³³I wish you good health. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus."
³⁴羅馬人也寄給猶太人一封公函，其原文如下：「羅馬人的使者昆突默米，提突瑪尼祝猶太人民安好！	³⁴The Romans also sent them a letter which read as follows: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, ambassadors of the Romans, send their greetings to the Jewish people.
³⁵王的親人里息雅與你們商定的事，我們也表示贊同。	³⁵Everything that Lysias, the king's kinsman, has granted you, we also approve.
³⁶對於那些他認為應請示國王的事，在你們仔細考慮以後，即刻派一人來，使我們能依照你們的利益去建議，因為我們快要起身到安提約基雅去。	³⁶As for the matters about which Lysias considered it necessary to inform the king and take up with him, we ask that you study them carefully and send someone to us at once, so we can explain everything to the king to your advantage, for we are now leaving for Antioch.
³⁷請急速派幾個人來，叫我們知道究竟你們有什麼意見。	³⁷Lose no time, therefore, in sending someone to us, that we may know your plans.
³⁸謹此祝你們健康！一四八年『散提苛』月十五日。」	³⁸We wish you good health. In the fifteenth of the month of Xanthicus in the year one hundred and forty-eight."

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