Feast of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs

2 Maccabees 7

The glorious martyrdom of the seven brethren and their mother.

1 It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges.

Contigit autem et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas, flagris, et taureis cruciatos.

2 But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers.

Unus autem ex illis, qui erat primus, sic ait : Quid quaeris, et quid vis discere a nobis? parati sumus mori, magis quam patrias Dei leges praevaricari.

3 Then the king being angry commanded fryingpans, and brazen caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated,

Iratus itaque rex, jussit sartagines et ollas aeneas succendi : quibus statim succensis,

4 He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had spoken first: and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren, and his mother, looking on.

jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam, et cute capitis abstracta, summas quoque manus et pedes ei praescindi, ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.

5 And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the fryingpan: and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully,

Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri, et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine : in qua cum diu cruciaretur, ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,

6 Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle: And In his servants he will take pleasure.

dicentes : Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem, et consolabitur in nobis, quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses : Et in servis suis consolabitur.

7 So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the next to make him a, mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he were punished throughout the whole body in every limb.

Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo, sequentem deducebant ad illudendum : et, cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta, interrogabant si manducaret, priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.

8 But he answered in his own language, and said: I will not do it. Wherefore he also in the next place, received the torments of the first:

At ille respondens patria voce, dixit : Non faciam. Propter quod et iste, sequenti loco, primi tormenta suscepit :

9 And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou indeed, O most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the resurrection of eternal life.

et in ultimo spiritu constitutus, sic ait : Tu quidem scelestissime in praesenti vita nos perdis : sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in aeternae vitae resurrectione suscitabit.

10 After him the third was made a mocking stock, and when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched out his hands:

Post hunc tertius illuditur, et linguam postulatus cito protulit, et manus constanter extendit :

11 And said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now despise them: because I hope to receive them again from him.

et cum fiducia ait : E caelo ista possideo, sed propter Dei leges nunc haec ipsa despicio, quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero :

12 So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing.

ita ut rex, et qui cum ipso erant, mirarentur adolescentis animum, quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.

13 And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like manner.

Et hoc ita defuncto, quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.

14 And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up again by him: for, as to thee thou shalt have no resurrection unto life.

Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait : Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo, iterum ab ipso resuscitandos : tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.

15 And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he looking upon the king,

Et cum admovissent quintum, vexabant eum. At ille, respiciens in eum,

16 Said: Whereas thou hast power among men, though thou art corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt: but think not that our nation is forsaken by God.

dixit : Potestatem inter homines habens, cum sis corruptibilis, facis quod vis : noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum :

17 But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his great power, in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed.

tu autem patienter sustine, et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius, qualiter te et semen tuum torquebit.

18 After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of admiration are done to us:

Post hunc ducebant sextum, et is, mori incipiens, sic ait : Noli frustra errare : nos enim propter nosmetipsos haec patimur, peccantes in Deum nostrum, et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis :

19 But do not think that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou attempted to fight against God.

tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum, quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.

20 Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be remembered by good men, who beheld seven sons slain in the space of one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in God:

Supra modum autem mater mirabilis, et bonorum memoria digna, quae pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens, bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat :

21 And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, being filled with wisdom: and joining a man's heart to a woman's thought,

singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter, repleta sapientia : et, femineae cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,

22 She said to them: I know not how you were formed in my womb: for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the limbs of every one of you.

dixit ad eos : Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis : neque enim ego spiritum et animam donavi vobis et vitam, et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi,

23 But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, and that found out the origin of all, he will restore to you again in his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.

sed enim mundi Creator, qui formavit hominis nativitatem, quique omnium invenit originem, et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam, sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.

24 Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with things necessary.

Antiochus autem, contemni se arbitratus, simul et exprobrantis voce despecta, cum adhuc adolescentior superesset, non solum verbis hortabatur, sed et cum juramento affirmabat se divitem et beatum facturum, et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum, et res necessarias ei praebiturum.

25 But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young man to save his life.

Sed ad haec cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur, vocavit rex matrem, et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.

26 And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son.

Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus, promisit suasurum se filio suo.

27 So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in her own language: My son, have pity upon me, that bore thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age.

Itaque inclinata ad illum, irridens crudelem tyrannum, ait patria voce : Fili mi, miserere mei, quae te in utero novem mensibus portavi, et lac triennio dedi et alui, et in aetatem istam perduxi.

28 I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them: and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also:

Peto, nate, ut aspicias ad caelum et terram, et ad omnia quae in eis sunt : et intelligas, quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus, et hominum genus :

29 So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may receive thee again with thy brethren.

ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum, sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps, suscipe mortem, ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.

30 While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: For whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the commandment of the law, which was given us by Moses.

Cum haec illa adhuc diceret, ait adolescens : Quem sustinetis? non obedio praecepto regis, sed praecepto legis, quae data est nobis per Moysen.

31 But thou that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God.

Tu vero, qui inventor omnis malitiae factus es in Hebraeos, non effugies manum Dei.

32 For we suffer thus for our sins.

Nos enim pro peccatis nostris haec patimur.

33 And though the Lord our God is angry with us a little while for our chastisement and correction: yet he will be reconciled again to his servants.

Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est : sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.

34 But thou, O wicked and of all men most flagitious, be not lifted up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against his servants.

Tu autem, o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime, noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus :

35 For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty God, who beholdeth all things.

nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis, judicium effugisti.

36 For my brethren, having now undergone a short pain, are under the covenant of eternal life: but thou by the judgment of God shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.

Nam fratres mei, modico nunc dolore sustentato, sub testamento aeternae vitae effecti sunt : tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiae tuae poenas exsolves.

37 But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he alone is God.

Ego autem, sicut fratres mei, animam et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus : invocans Deum maturius genti nostrae propitium fieri, teque cum tormentis et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.

38 But in me and in my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease.

In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira, quae super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.

39 Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked.

Tunc rex, accensus ira in hunc, super omnes crudelius desaevit, indigne ferens se derisum.

40 So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord.

Et hic itaque mundus obiit, per omnia in Domino confidens.

41 And last of all after the sons the mother also was consumed.

Novissime autem post filios et mater consumpta est.

42 But now there is enough said of the sacrifices, and of the excessive cruelties.

Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.