4 Maccabees · Brenton's English Septuagint
4 Maccabees 3 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 The argument is exceedingly ridiculous: for reasoning does not appear to bear sway over its own affections, but over those of the body,
1 The argument is exceedingly ridiculous, for reasoning doesn’t appear to rule over its own affections, but over those of the body,
2 in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it.
2 in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it.
3 One may not be able to root out anger from the soul, but it is possible to withstand anger.
3 One may not be able to root out anger from the soul, but it is possible to withstand anger.
4 Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent your yielding to malice.
4 Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent you yielding to malice.
5 For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the passions.
5 For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the emotions.
6 And this may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of King David.
6 This may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of King David.
7 For after David had been attacking the Philistines the whole day, he with the soldiers of his nation slew many of them;
7 For after David had been attacking the Philistines the whole day, he with the soldiers of his nation killed many of them;
8 then when evening came, sweating and very weary, he came to the royal tent, about which the entire host of our ancestors was encamped.
8 then when evening came, sweating and very weary, he came to the royal tent, around which the entire army of our ancestors was encamped.
9 Now all the rest of them were at supper;
9 Now all the rest of them were at supper;
10 but the king, being very much athirst, although he had numerous springs, could not by their means quench his thirst;
10 but the king, being very much thirsty, although he had numerous springs, could not by their means quench his thirst;
11 but a certain irrational longing for the water in the enemy's camp grew stronger and fiercer upon him, and consumed him with languish.
11 but a certain irrational longing for the water in the enemy’s camp grew stronger and fiercer upon him, undid and consumed him.
12 Wherefore his body-guards being troubled at this longing of the king, two valiant young soldiers, reverencing the desire of the king, put on their panoplies, and taking a pitcher, got over the ramparts of the enemies:
12 Therefore his bodyguards being troubled at this longing of the king, two valiant young soldiers, respecting the desire of the king, fully armed themselves, and taking a pitcher, got over the ramparts of the enemies.
13 and unperceived by the guardians of the gate, they went throughout the whole camp of the enemy in quest.
13 Unperceived by the guardians of the gate, they went throughout the whole camp of the enemy in quest.
14 And having boldly discovered the fountain, they filled out of it the draught for the king.
14 Having boldly discovered the fountain, they filled out of it the drink for the king.
15 But he, though parched up with thirst, reasoned that a draught reputed of equal value to blood, would be terribly dangerous to his soul.
15 But he, though parched with thirst, reasoned that a drink regarded of equal value to blood would be terribly dangerous to his soul.
16 Wherefore, setting up reasoning in opposition to his desire, he poured out the draught to God.
16 Therefore, setting up reasoning in opposition to his desire, he poured out the drink to God.
17 For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the passions, and to quench the fires of excitement,
17 For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the emotions, to quench the fires of excitement,
18 and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive; and, through the excellency of reasoning, to abominate all the assaults of the passions.
18 and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive, and through the excellency of reasoning, to spurn all the assaults of the emotions.
19 But the occasion now invites us to give an illustration of temperate reasoning from history.
19 But the occasion now invites us to give an illustration of temperate reasoning from history.
20 For at a time when our fathers were in possession of undisturbed peace through obedience to the law, and were prosperous, so that Seleucus Nicanor, the king of Asia, both assigned them money for divine service, and accepted their form of government,
20 For at a time when our fathers were in possession of undisturbed peace through obedience to the law and were prosperous, so that Seleucus Nicanor, the king of Asia, both assigned them money for divine service, and accepted their form of government,
21 then certain persons, bringing in new things contrary to the general unanimity, in various ways fell into calamities.
21 then certain people, bringing in new things contrary to the public harmony, in various ways fell into calamities.