4 Maccabees · Brenton's English Septuagint
4 Maccabees 5 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 tyrant Antiochus, therefore, sitting in public state with his assessors upon a certain lofty place, with his armed troops standing in a circle round him,
1 The tyrant Antiochus, therefore, sitting in public state with his assessors upon a certain lofty place, with his armed troops standing in a circle around him,
2 commanded his spearbearers to seize every one of the Hebrews, and to compel them to taste swine's flesh, and things offered to idols.
2 commanded his spearbearers to seize every one of the Hebrews, and to compel them to taste swine’s flesh and things offered to idols.
3 And should any of them be unwilling to eat the accursed food, they were to be tortured on the wheel, and so killed.
3 Should any of them be unwilling to eat the accursed food, they were to be tortured on the wheel and so killed.
4 And when many had been seized, a foremost man of the assembly, a Hebrew, by name Eleazar, a priest by family, by profession a lawyer, and advanced in years, and for this reason known to many of the king's followers, was brought near to him.
4 When many had been seized, a foremost man of the assembly, a Hebrew, by name Eleazar, a priest by family, by profession a lawyer, and advanced in years, and for this reason known to many of the king’s followers, was brought near to him.
5 And Antiochus seeing him, said,
5 Antiochus, seeing him, said,
6 I would counsel thee, old man, before thy tortures begin, to taste the swine's flesh, and save your life; for I feel respect for your age and hoary head, which since you have had so long, you appear to me to be no philosopher in retaining the superstition of the Jews.
6 “I would counsel you, old man, before your tortures begin, to taste the swine’s flesh, and save your life; for I feel respect for your age and hoary head, which since you have had so long, you appear to me to be no philosopher in retaining the superstition of the Jews.
7 For wherefore, since nature has conferred upon you the most excellent flesh of this animal, do you loathe it?
7 For therefore, since nature has conferred upon you the most excellent flesh of this animal, do you loathe it?
8 It seems senseless not to enjoy what is pleasant, yet not disgraceful; and from notions of sinfulness, to reject the boons of nature.
8 It seems senseless not to enjoy what is pleasant, yet not disgraceful; and from notions of sinfulness, to reject the gifts of nature.
9 And you will be acting, I think, still more senselessly, if you follow vain conceits about the truth.
9 You will be acting, I think, still more senselessly, if you follow vain conceits about the truth.
10 And you will, moreover, be despising me to your own punishment.
10 You will, moreover, be despising me to your own punishment.
11 Will you not awake from your trifling philosophy? and give up the folly of your notions; and, regaining understanding worthy of your age, search into the truth of an expedient course?
11 Won’t you awake from your trifling philosophy, give up the folly of your notions, and regaining understanding worthy of your age, search into the truth of an expedient course?
12 and, reverencing my kindly admonition, have pity upon your own years?
12 Won’t you respect my kindly admonition and have pity on your own years?
13 For, bear in mind, that if there be any power which watches over this religion of yours, it will pardon you for all transgressions of the law which you commit through compulsion.
13 For bear in mind that if there is any power which watches over this religion of yours, it will pardon you for all transgressions of the law which you commit through compulsion.”
14 While the tyrant incited him in this manner to the unlawful eating of flesh, Eleazar begged permission to speak.
14 While the tyrant incited him in this manner to the unlawful eating of meat, Eleazar begged permission to speak.
15 And having received power to speak, he began thus to deliver himself:
15 Having received permission to speak, he began to address the people as follows:
16 We, O Antiochus, who are persuaded that we live under a divine law, consider no compulsion to be so forcible as obedience to that law;
16 “We, O Antiochus, who are persuaded that we live under a divine law, consider no compulsion to be so forcible as obedience to that law.
17 wherefore we consider that we ought not in any point to transgress the law.
17 Therefore we consider that we ought not to transgress the law in any way.
18 And indeed, were our law (as you suppose) not truly divine, and if we wrongly think it divine, we should have no right even in that case to destroy our sense of religion.
18 Indeed, were our law (as you suppose) not truly divine, and if we wrongly think it divine, we would have no right even in that case to destroy our sense of religion.
19 Think not eating the unclean, then, a trifling offence.
19 Don’t think that eating unclean meat is a trifling offense.
20 For transgression of the law, whether in small or great matters, is of equal moment;
20 For transgression of the law, whether in small or great matters, is of equal importance;
21 for in either case the law is equally slighted.
21 for in either case the law is equally slighted.
22 But thou deridest our philosophy, as though we lived irrationally in it.
22 But you deride our philosophy, as though we lived in it irrationally.
23 Yet it instructs us in temperance, so that we are superior to all pleasures and lusts; and it exercises us in manliness, so that we cheerfully undergo every grievance.
23 Yet it instructs us in self-control, so that we are superior to all pleasures and lusts; and it trains us in courage, so that we cheerfully undergo every grievance.
24 And it instructs us in justice, so that in all our dealings we render what is due; and it teaches us piety, so that we worship the one only God becomingly.
24 It instructs us in justice, so that in all our dealings we give what is due. It teaches us piety, so that we properly worship the one and only God.
25 Wherefore it is that we eat not the unclean; for believing that the law was established by God, we are convinced that the Creator of the world, in giving his laws, sympathises with our nature.
25 That is why we don’t eat the unclean; for believing that the law was established by God, we are convinced that the Creator of the world, in giving his laws, sympathizes with our nature.
26 Those things which are convenient to our souls, he has directed us to eat; but those which are repugnant to them, he has interdicted.
26 Those things which are suitable for our souls, he has directed us to eat; but those which are not, he has forbidden.
27 But, tyrant-like, thou not only forcest us to break the law, but also to eat, that thou mayest ridicule us as we thus profanely eat:
27 But, tyrant-like, you not only force us to break the law, but also to eat, that you may ridicule us as we thus profanely eat.
28 but thou shalt not have this cause of laughter against me;
28 But you won’t have this cause of laughter against me,
29 nor will I transgress the sacred oaths of my forefathers to keep the law.
29 nor will I transgress the sacred oaths of my forefathers to keep the law.
30 No, not if you pluck out my eyes, and consume my entrails.
30 No, not if you pluck out my eyes, and consume my entrails.
31 I am not so old, and void of manliness, but that my rational powers are youthful in defence of my religion.
31 I am not so old, and void of courage as to not be youthful in reason and in defense of my religion.
32 Now then; prepare your wheels, and kindle a fiercer flame.
32 Now then, prepare your wheels, and kindle a fiercer flame.
33 I will not so compassionate my old age, as on my account to break the law of my country.
33 I will not so pity my old age, as on my account to break the law of my country.
34 I will not belie thee, O law, my instructor! or forsake thee, O beloved self-control.
34 I will not play false to you, O law, my instructor, or forsake you, O beloved self-control!
35 I will not put thee to shame, O philosopher Reason; or deny thee, O honoured priesthood, and science of the law.
35 I will not put you to shame, O philosopher Reason, or deny you, O honored priesthood and knowledge of the law.
36 Mouth! thou shalt not pollute my old age, nor the full stature of a perfect life.
36 Mouth! You shall not pollute my old age, nor the full stature of a perfect life.
37 My fathers shall receive me pure, not having quailed before your compulsion, though unto death.
37 My ancestors will receive me as pure, not having feared your compulsion, even to death.
38 For over the ungodly thou shalt tyrannize; but thou shalt not lord it over my thoughts about religion, either by thy arguments, or through deeds.
38 For you will rule like a tyrant over the ungodly, but you will not lord it over my thoughts about religion, either by your arguments, or through deeds.”