4 Maccabees · Brenton's English Septuagint
4 Maccabees 11 Brenton's English Septuagint
Notes on this text (2)
- Square brackets mark words Brenton supplied for English sense.
- Old Testament only (no New Testament). First printed 1844; the 1851 edition added the deuterocanonical books.
1 And when he had died, disfigured in his torments, the fifth leaped forward, and said,
1 When he had died, disfigured in his torments, the fifth leaped forward, and said,
2 I intend not, O tyrant, to get excused from the torment which is in behalf of virtue.
2 “I don’t intend, O tyrant, to get excused from the torment which is on behalf of virtue.
3 But I have come of my own accord, that by the death of me, you may owe heavenly vengeance a punishment for more crimes.
3 But I have come of my own accord, that by my death you may owe heavenly vengeance and punishment for more crimes.
4 O thou hater of virtue and of men, what have we done that thou thus revellest in our blood?
4 O you hater of virtue and of men, what have we done that you thus revel in our blood?
5 Does it seem evil to thee that we worship the Founder of all things, and live according to his surpassing law?
5 Does it seem evil to you that we worship the Founder of all things, and live according to his surpassing law?
6 But this is worthy of honours, not of torments;
6 But this is worthy of honors, not torments, 7 if you had been capable of the higher feelings of men, and possessed the hope of salvation from God. 8 Behold now, being alien from God, you make war against those who are religious toward God.”
6a hadst thou been capable of the higher feelings of men, and possessed the hope of salvation from God.
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6b Behold, now, being alien from God, thou makest war against those who are religious toward God.
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9 As he said this, the spearbearers bound him, and drew him to the catapelt:
9 As he said this, the spearbearers bound him and drew him to the rack,
10 to which binding him at his knees, and fastening them with iron fetters, they bent down his loins upon the wedge of the wheel; and his body was then dismembered, scorpion-fashion.
10 to which binding him at his knees, and fastening them with iron fetters, they bent down his loins upon the wedge of the wheel; and his body was then dismembered, scorpion-fashion.
11 With his breath thus confined, and his body strangled, he said,
11 With his breath thus confined, and his body strangled, he said,
12 A great favour thou bestowest upon us, O tyrant, by enabling us to manifest our adherence to the law by means of nobler sufferings.
12 “A great favor you bestow upon us, O tyrant, by enabling us to manifest our adherence to the law by means of nobler sufferings.”
13 He also being dead, the sixth, quite a youth, was brought out; and on the tyrant asking him whether he would eat and be delivered, he said,
13 He also being dead, the sixth, quite a youth, was brought out. On the tyrant asking him whether he would eat and be delivered, he said,
14 I am indeed younger than my brothers, but in understanding I am as old;
14 “I am indeed younger than my brothers, but in understanding I am as old.
15 for having been born and reared unto the same end, we are bound to die also in behalf of the same cause.
15 I was born and reared to the same end. We are bound to die also on behalf of the same cause.
16 So that if thou think proper to torment us for not eating the unclean;—torment!
16 So if you think it is proper to torment us for not eating the unclean, then torment!”
17 As he said this, they brought him to the wheel.
17 As he said this, they brought him to the wheel.
18 Extended upon which, with limbs racked and dislocated, he was gradually roasted from beneath.
18 Extended upon this, with limbs racked and dislocated, he was gradually roasted from beneath.
19 And having heated sharp spits, they approached them to his back; and having transfixed his sides, they burned away his entrails.
19 Having heated sharp spits, they stabbed them into his back; and having pierced his sides, they burned away his entrails.
20 And he, while tormented, said, O period good and holy, in which, for the sake of religion, we brothers have been called to the contest of pain, and have not been conquered.
20 He, while tormented, said, “O good and holy contest, in which for the sake of religion, we kindred have been called to the arena of pain, and have not been conquered.
21 For religious understanding, O tyrant, is unconquered.
21 For religious understanding, O tyrant, is unconquered.
22 Armed with upright virtue, I also shall depart with my brethren.
22 Armed with upright virtue, I also will depart with my kindred.
23 I, too, bearing with me a great avenger, O deviser of tortures, and enemy of the truly pious.
23 I, too, bearing with me a great avenger, O inventor of tortures, and enemy of the truly pious.
24 We six youths have destroyed thy tyranny.
24 We six youths have destroyed your tyranny.
25 For is not your inability to overrule our reasoning, and to compel us to eat the unclean, thy destruction?
25 For isn’t your inability to overrule our reasoning, and to compel us to eat the unclean, your destruction?
26 Your fire is cold to us, your catapelts are painless, and your violence harmless.
26 Your fire is cold to us. Your racks are painless, and your violence harmless.
27 For the guards not of a tyrant but of a divine law are our defenders: through this we keep our reasoning unconquered.
27 For the guards not of a tyrant but of a divine law are our defenders. Through this we keep our reasoning unconquered.”