2 Maccabees · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
2 Maccabees 6 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
2 Maccabees is not in RV1909.
LXX Brenton's Greek Septuagint
RV1909 Reina-Valera 1909
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Μετʼ οὐ πολὺν δὲ χρόνον ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς γέροντα Ἀθηναῖον, ἀναγκάζειν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους μεταβαίνειν ἐκ τῶν πατρῴων νόμων, καὶ τοῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ νόμοις μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι,
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1 Not long after this, the king sent out an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and not to live by the laws of God,
2 μολῦναι δὲ καὶ τὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις νεὼν, καὶ προσονομάσαι Διὸς Ὀλυμπίου, καὶ τὸν ἐν Γαριζὶν, καθὼς ἐτύγχανον οἱ τὸν τόπον οἰκοῦντες, Διὸς Ξενίου.
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2 and also to pollute the sanctuary in Jerusalem and to call it by the name of Olympian Zeus, and to call the sanctuary in Gerizim by the name of Zeus the Protector of foreigners, even as the people who lived in that place did.
3 Χαλεπὴ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις ἦν καὶ δυσχερὴς ἡ ἐπίστασις τῆς κακίας.
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3 The visitation of this evil was harsh and utterly grievous.
4 Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἱερὸν ἀσωτίας καὶ κώμων ἐπεπλήρωτο ὑπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ῥαθυμούντων μεθʼ ἑταιρῶν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς περιβόλοις γυναιξὶ πλησιαζόντων, ἔτι δὲ τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα ἔνδον φερόντων.
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4 For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the heathen, who dallied with prostitutes, and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and moreover brought inside things that were not appropriate.
5 Τὸ δὲ θυσιαστήριον τοῖς ἀποδιεσταλμένοις ἀπὸ τῶν νόμων ἀθεμίτοις ἐπεπλήρωτο.
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5 The altar was filled with those abominable things which had been prohibited by the laws.
6 Ἦν δʼ οὔτε σαββατίζειν, οὔτε πατρῴους ἑορτὰς διαφυλάττειν, οὔτε ἁπλῶς Ἰουδαῖον ὁμολογεῖν εἶναι.
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6 A man could neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the feasts of their ancestors, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew.
7 Ἤγοντο δὲ μετὰ πικρᾶς ἀνάγκης εἰς τὴν κατὰ μῆνα τοῦ βασιλέως γενέθλιον ἡμέραν ἐπὶ σπλαγχνισμόν· γενομένης δὲ Διονυσίων ἑορτῆς, ἠναγκάζοντο οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι κισσοὺς ἔχοντες πομπεύειν τῷ Διονύσῳ.
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7 On the day of the king’s birth every month, they were led along with bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices. When the feast of Dionysia came, they were compelled to go in procession in honor of Dionysus, wearing wreaths of ivy.
8 Ψήφισμα δὲ ἐξέπεσεν εἰς τὰς ἀστυγείτονας πόλεις Ἑλληνίδας, Πτολεμαίων ὑποτιθεμένων τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγωγὴν κατὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἄγειν καὶ σπλαγχνίζειν·
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8 A decree went out to the neighboring Greek cities, by the suggestion of Ptolemy, that they should observe the same conduct against the Jews, and should make them eat of the sacrifices,
9 τοὺς δὲ μὴ προαιρουμένους μεταβαίνειν ἐπὶ τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ, κατασφάζειν· παρῆν οὖν ὁρᾷν τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ταλαιπωρίαν.
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9 and that they should kill those who didn’t choose to go over to the Greek rites. So the present misery was for all to see.
10 Δύο γὰρ γυναῖκες ἀνηνέγθησαν περιτετμηκυῖαι τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν· τούτων δὲ ἐκ τῶν μαστῶν κρεμάσαντες τὰ βρέφη, καὶ δημοσίᾳ περιαγαγόντες αὐτὰς τὴν πόλιν, κατὰ τοῦ τείχους ἐκρήμνισαν.
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10 For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These, when they had led them publicly around the city with the babes hung from their breasts, they threw down headlong from the wall.
11 Ἕτεροι δὲ πλησίον συνδραμόντες εἰς τὰ σπήλαια, λεληθότως ἄγειν τὴν ἑβδομάδα, μηνυθέντες τῷ Φιλίππῳ συνεφλογίσθησαν, διὰ τὸ εὐλαβῶς ἔχειν βοηθῆσαι ἑαυτοῖς κατὰ τὴν δόξαν τῆς σεμνοτάτης ἡμέρας.
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11 Others who had run together into the caves nearby to keep the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of the honor of that most solemn day.
12 Παρακαλῶ οὖν τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας τῇδε τῇ βίβλῳ, μὴ συστέλλεσθαι διὰ τὰς συμφορὰς, λογίζεσθαι δὲ τὰς τιμωρίας μὴ πρὸς ὄλεθρον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς παιδείαν τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν εὖναι.
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12 I urge those who read this book to not be discouraged because of the calamities, but recognize that these punishments were not for the destruction, but for the chastening of our race.
13 Καὶ τὸ μὴ πολὺν χρόνον ἐᾶσθαι τοὺς δυσσεβοῦντας, ἀλλʼ εὐθέως περιπίπτειν ἐπιτιμίοις, μεγάλης εὐεργεσίας σημεῖόν ἐστιν.
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13 For indeed it is a sign of great kindness that those who act impiously are not let alone for a long time, but immediately meet with retribution.
14 Οὐ γὰρ, καθάπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν ἀναμένει μακροθυμῶν ὁ Δεσπότης, μέχρι τοῦ καταντήσαντας αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἐκπλήρωσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, κολάσαι, οὕτω καὶ ἐφʼ ἡμῶν ἔκρινεν
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14 For in the case of the other nations, the Sovereign Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not with us,
15 εἶναι, ἵνα μὴ πρὸς τέλος ἀφικομένων ἡμῶν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, ὕστερον ἡμᾶς ἐκδικᾷ.
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15 that he may not take vengeance on us afterward, when we have come to the height of our sins.
16 Διόπερ οὐδέ ποτε μὲν τὸν ἔλεον αὐτοῦ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ἀφίστησι· παιδεύων δὲ μετὰ συμφορᾶς, οὐκ ἐγκαταλείπει τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαόν.
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16 Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chastens with calamity, he doesn’t forsake his own people.
17 Πλὴν ἕως ὑπομνήσεως ταῦθʼ ἡμῖν εἰρήσθω· διʼ ὀλίγων δʼ ἐλευστέον ἐπὶ τὴν διήγησιν.
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17 However let this that we have spoken suffice to remind you; but after a few words, we must come to the narrative.
18 Ἐλεάζαρός τις τῶν πρωτευόντων γραμματέων, ἀνὴρ ἤδη προβεβηκὼς τὴν ἡλικίαν, καὶ τὴν πρόσοψιν τοῦ προσώπου κάλλιστος τυγχάνων, ἀναχανὼν ἠναγκάζετο φαγεῖν ὕειον κρέας.
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18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well advanced in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.
19 Ὁ δὲ τὸν μετʼ εὐκλείας θάνατον μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν μετὰ μύσους βίον ἀναδεξάμενος, αὐθαιρέτως ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον προσῆγε·
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19 But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with defilement, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat out the flesh,
20 προπτύσας δέ, καθʼ ὃν ἔδει τρόπον προσέρχεσθαι τοὺς ὑπομένοντας ἀμύνεσθαι, ὧν οὐ θέμις γεύσασθαι διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸ ζῇν φιλοστοργίαν.
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20 as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste.
21 Οἱ δὲ πρὸς τῷ παρανόμῳ σπλαγχνισμῷ τεταγμένοι, διὰ τὴν ἐκ τῶν παλαιῶν χρόνων πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα γνῶσιν, ἀπολαβόντες αὐτὸν κατιδίαν παρεκάλουν, ἐνέγκαντα κρέα οἷς καθῆκον αὐτῷ χρήσασθαι διʼ αὐτοῦ παρασκευασθέντα, ὑποκριθῆναι δὲ ὡς ἐσθίοντα τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως προστεταγμένα τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς θυσίας κρεῶν,
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21 But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was proper for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king;
22 ἵνα τοῦτο πράξας ἀπολυθῇ τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἀρχαίαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν τύχῃ φιλανθρωπίας.
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22 that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and so his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly.
23 Ὁ δὲ λογισμὸν ἀστεῖον ἀναλαβὼν καὶ ἄξιον τῆς ἡλικίας, καὶ τῆς τοῦ γήρως ὑπεροχῆς, καὶ τῆς ἐπικτήτου καὶ ἐπιφανοῦς πολιᾶς, καὶ τῆς ἐκ παιδὸς καλλίστης ἀνατροφῆς, μᾶλλον δὲ τῆς ἁγίας καὶ θεοκτίστου νομοθεσίας, ἀκολούθως ἀπεφῄνατο, ταχέως λέγων προπέμπειν εἰς τὸν ᾅδην.
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23 But he, having formed a high resolve, and one that became his years, the dignity of old age, and the gray hairs which he had reached with honor, and his excellent education from a child, or rather the holy laws of God’s ordaining, declared his mind accordingly, bidding them to quickly send him to Hades.
24 Οὐ γὰρ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡλικίας ἄξιόν ἐστιν ὑποκριθῆναι, ἵνα πολλοὶ τῶν νέων ὑπολαβόντες Ἐλεάζαρον τὸν ἐννενηκονταετῆ μεταβεβηκέναι εἰς ἀλλοφυλισμόν,
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24 “For it doesn’t become our years to dissemble,” he said, “that many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of ninety years, had gone over to an alien religion;
25 καὶ αὐτοὶ διὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ὑπόκρισιν, καὶ διὰ τὸ μικρὸν καὶ ἀκαριαῖον ζῇν πλανηθῶσι διʼ ἐμέ, καὶ μῦσος καὶ κηλίδα τοῦ γήρως κατακτήσομαι.
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25 and so they, by reason of my deception, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, would be led astray because of me, and I defile and disgrace myself in my old age.
26 Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἐξελοῦμαι τὴν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τιμωρίαν, ἀλλὰ τὰς τοῦ παντοκράτορος χεῖρας οὔτε ζῶν οὔτε ἀποθανὼν ἐκφεύξομαι.
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26 For even if for the present time I would remove from me the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I wouldn’t escape the hands of the Almighty.
27 Διόπερ ἀνδρείως μὲν νῦν διαλλάξας τὸν βίον, τοῦ μὲν γήρως ἄξιος φανήσομαι,
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27 Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age,
28 τοῖς δὲ νέοις ὑπόδειγμα γενναῖον καταλελοιπὼς, εἰς τὸ προθύμως καὶ γενναίως ὑπὲρ τῶν σεμνῶν καὶ ἁγίων νόμων ἀπευθανατίζειν· τοσαῦτα δὲ εἰπὼν. ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον εὐθέως ἦλθε.
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28 and leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture.
29 Τῶν δὲ ἀγόντων τὴν μικρῷ πρότερον εὐμένειαν πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς δυσμένειαν μεταβαλόντων διὰ τὸ τοὺς προειρημένους λόγους, ὡς αὐτοὶ διελάμβανον, ἀπόνοιαν εἶναι·
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29 When they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness,
30 Μέλλων δὲ ταῖς πληγαῖς τελευτᾷν, ἀναστενάξας εἶπε, τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ τὴν ἁγίαν γνῶσιν ἔχοντι φανερόν ἐστιν, ὅτι δυνάμενος ἀπολυθῆναι τοῦ θανάτου, σκληρὰς ὑποφέρω κατὰ τὸ σῶμα ἀλγηδόνας μαστιγούμενος, κατὰ ψυχὴν δὲ ἡδέως διὰ τὸν αὐτοῦ φόβον ταῦτα πάσχω.
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30 and when he was at the point to die with the blows, he groaned aloud and said, “To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, while I might have been delivered from death, I endure severe pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things because of my fear of him.”
31 Καὶ οὗτος οὖν τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον μετήλλαξεν, οὐ μόνον τοῖς νέοις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς πλείστοις τοῦ ἔθνους τὸν ἑαυτοῦ θάνατον ὑπόδειγμα γενναιότητος καὶ μνημόσυνον ἀρετῆς καταλιπών.
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31 So this man also died like this, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.