Natividade de Maria 2

1E aconteceu que a festa da dedicação se aproximava; por isso Joaquim também subiu a Jerusalém com alguns homens de sua própria tribo.

1And it came to pass that the festival of the dedication was at hand; wherefore also Joachim went up to Jerusalem with some men of his own tribe.

2Naquele tempo, Issacar era ali o sumo sacerdote.

2Now at that time Issachar was high priest there.

3E, ao ver Joaquim com sua oferta no meio dos demais concidadãos, desprezou-o e rejeitou as suas dádivas, perguntando por que ele, que não tinha descendência, ousava apresentar-se entre os que a tinham; dizendo que as suas ofertas de modo algum poderiam ser aceitas por Deus, visto que Ele o julgara indigno de prole, pois a Escritura dizia: Maldito é todo aquele que não gerou varão ou fêmea em Israel.

3And when he saw Joachim with his offering among his other fellow-citizens, he despised him, and spurned his gifts, asking why he, who had no offspring, presumed to stand among those who had; saying that his gifts could not by any means be acceptable to God, since He had deemed him unworthy of off-spring: for the Scripture said, Cursed is every one who has not begot a male or a female in Israel.

4Declarou, portanto, que ele deveria primeiro libertar-se dessa maldição gerando filhos, e só depois comparecer diante da presença do Senhor com as suas ofertas.

4He said, therefore, that he ought first to be freed from this curse by the begetting of children; and then, and then only, that he should come into the presence of the Lord with his offerings.

5E Joaquim, coberto de vergonha pela afronta que lhe fora lançada em rosto, retirou-se para junto dos pastores que estavam nos pastos com os seus rebanhos; e não quis voltar para casa, para não ser afrontado com a mesma repreensão por aqueles de sua própria tribo que ali se achavam na ocasião e tinham ouvido isso do sacerdote.

5And Joachim, covered with shame from this reproach that was thrown in his teeth, retired to the shepherds, who were in their pastures with their flocks; nor would he return home, lest perchance he might be branded with the same reproach by those of his own tribe, who were there at the time, and had heard this from the priest.