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1 Maccabees 1

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

1 Maccabees chapter 1 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.

Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.

1 Maccabees 1

1And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had struck Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὸ πατάξαι Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν Φιλίππου τὸν Μακεδόνα, ὃς ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς γῆς Χεττειεὶμ, καὶ ἐπάταξε τὸν Δαρεῖον βασιλέα Περσῶν καὶ Μήδων, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ πρότερος ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα.

2And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and killed the kings of the earth,Καὶ συνεστήσατο πολέμους πολλοὺς, καὶ ἐκράτησεν ὀχυρωμάτων πολλῶν, καὶ ἔσφαξε βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς.

3And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.Καὶ διῆλθεν ἕως ἄκρων τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἔλαβε σκῦλα πλήθους ἐθνῶν· καὶ ἠσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὑψώθη, καὶ ἐπῄρθη ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ.

4And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries to him.Καὶ συνήγαγε δύναμιν ἰσχυρὰν σφόδρα, καὶ ἦρξε χωρῶν, καὶ ἐθνῶν, καὶ τυράννων, καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ εἰς φόρον.

5And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην, καὶ ἔγνω ὅτι ἀποθνήσκει.

6Therefore he called his servants, such as were honorable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.Καὶ ἐκάλεσε τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ τοὺς ἐνδόξους τοὺς συντρόφους αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ νεότητος, καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ ἔτι ζῶντος αὐτοῦ.

7So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.Καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἀλέξανδρος ἔτη δώδεκα, καὶ ἀπέθανε.

8And his servants bare rule every one in his place.Καὶ ἐπεκράτησαν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ.

9And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.Καὶ ἐπέθεντο πάντες διαδήματα μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτὸν, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἔτη πολλὰ, καὶ ἐπλήθυναν κακὰ ἐν τῇ γῇ.

10And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτῶν ῥίζα ἁμαρτωλὸς Ἀντίοχος Ἐπιφανὴς, υἱὸς Ἀντιόχου βασιλέως, ὃς ἦν ὅμηρα ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ· καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ἔτει ἑκατοστῷ καὶ τριακοστῷ καὶ ἑβδόμῳ βασιλείας Ἑλλήνων.

11In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθον ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ υἱοὶ παράνομοι, καὶ ἀνέπεισαν πολλοὺς, λέγοντες, πορευθῶμεν, καὶ διαθώμεθα διαθήκην μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἀφʼ ἧς ἐχωρίσθημεν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, εὗρεν ἡμᾶς κακὰ πολλά.

12So this device pleased them well.Καὶ ἠγαθύνθη ὁ λόγος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτῶν.

13Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:Καὶ προεθυμήθησάν τινες ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα· καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν ποιῆσαι τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἐθνῶν.

14Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν γυμνάσιον ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις κατὰ τὰ νόμιμα τῶν ἐθνῶν.

15And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.Καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς ἀκροβυστίας, καὶ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ διαθήκης ἁγίας· καὶ ἐζεύχθησαν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐπράθησαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν.

16Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.Καὶ ἡτοιμάσθη ἡ βασιλεία ἐναντίον Ἀντιόχου· καὶ ὑπέλαβε βασιλεῦσαι τῆς Αἰγύπτου, ὅπως βασιλεύσῃ ἐπὶ τὰς δύο βασιλείας.

17Therefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ, ἐν ἅρμασι, καὶ ἐν ἐλέφασι, καὶ ἐν ἱππεῦσι, καὶ ἐν στόλῳ μεγάλῳ.

18And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.Καὶ συνεστήσατο πόλεμον πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου· καὶ ἐνετράπη Πτολεμαῖος ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔφυγε· καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοί.

19Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.Καὶ κατελάβοντο τὰς πόλεις τὰς ὀχυρὰς ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ· καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

20And after that Antiochus had struck Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,Καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἀντιόχος μετὰ τὸ πατάξαι Αἴγυπτον ἐν τῷ ἑκατοστῷ καὶ τεσσαρακοστῷ καὶ τρίτῳ ἔτει· καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ.

21And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ ἁγίασμα ἐν ὑπερηφανείᾳ, καὶ ἔλαβε τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ χρυσοῦν, καὶ τὴν λυχνίαν τοῦ φωτὸς, καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτῆς,

22And the table of the show bread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.καὶ τὴν τράπεζαν τῆς προθέσεως, καὶ τὰ σπονδεῖα, καὶ τὰς φιάλας, καὶ τὰς θυΐσκας τὰς χρυσᾶς, καὶ τὸ καταπέτασμα, καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους, καὶ τὸν κόσμον τὸν χρυσοῦν τὸν κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ ναοῦ, καὶ ἐλέπισε πάντα.

23He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.Καὶ ἔλαβε τὸ ἀργύριον, καὶ τὸ χρυσίον, καὶ τὰ σκεύη τὰ ἐπιθυμητά· καὶ ἔλαβε τοὺς θησαυροὺς τοὺς ἀποκρύφους οὓς εὗρε.

24And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.Καὶ λαβὼν πάντα ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐποίησε φονοκτονίαν, καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὑπερηφανείαν μεγάλην.

25Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;Καὶ ἐγένετο πένθος μέγα ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ αὐτῶν.

26So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.Καὶ ἐστέναξαν ἄρχοντες καὶ πρεσβύτεροι, παρθένοι καὶ νεανίσκοι ἠσθένησαν, καὶ τὸ κάλλος τῶν γυναικῶν ἠλλοιώθη.

27Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,Πᾶς νυμφίος ἀνέλαβε θρῆνον, καὶ καθημένη ἐν παστῷ ἐγένετο ἐν πένθει.

28The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.Καὶ ἐσείσθη ἡ γῆ ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτήν· καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος Ἰακὼβ ἐνεδύσατο αἰσχύνην.

29And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute to the cities of Juda, who came to Jerusalem with a great multitude,Καὶ μετὰ δύο ἔτη ἡμερῶν ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἄρχοντα φορολογίας εἰς τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα· καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν ὄχλῳ βαρεῖ.

30And spoke peaceful words to them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and struck it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.Καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λόγους εἰρηνικοὺς ἐν δόλῳ· καὶ ἐνεπίστευσαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐξάπινα, καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὴν πληγὴν μεγάλην, καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαὸν πολὺν ἐξ Ἰσραήλ.

31And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.Καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ σκῦλα τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐνεπύρισεν αὐτὴν πυρὶ, καὶ καθεῖλε τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ τείχη αὐτῆς κύκλῳ.

32But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.Καὶ ᾐχμαλώτευσαν τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ τέκνα, καὶ τὰ κτήνη ἐκληρονόμησαν.

33Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὴν πόλιν Δαυὶδ τείχει μεγάλῳ καὶ ἰσχυρῷ, πύργοις ὀχυροῖς, καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς εἰς ἄκραν.

34And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.καὶ ἔθηκαν ἐκεῖ ἔθνος ἁμαρτωλὸν, ἄνδρας παρανόμους, καὶ ἐνίσχυσαν ἐν αὐτῇ.

35They stored it also with armor and food, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:Καὶ παρέθεντο ὅπλα καὶ τροφὰς, καὶ συναγαγόντες τὰ σκῦλα Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀπέθεντο ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἐγένοντο εἰς μεγάλην παγίδα.

36For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.Καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς ἔνεδρον τῷ ἁγιάσματι, καὶ εἰς διάβολον πονηρὸν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ διαπαντός.

37Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:Καὶ ἐξέχεαν αἷμα ἀθῷον κύκλῳ τοῦ ἁγιάσματος, καὶ ἐμόλυναν τὸ ἁγίασμα.

38Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.Καὶ ἔφυγον οἱ κάτοικοι Ἱερουσαλὴμ διʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐγένετο κατοικία ἀλλοτρίων· καὶ ἐγένετο ἀλλοτρία τοῖς γεννήμασιν αὐτῆς, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς ἐγκατέλιπον αὐτήν.

39Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honor into contempt.Τὸ ἁγίασμα αὐτῆς ἠρημώθη ὡς ἔρημος, αἱ ἑορταὶ αὐτῆς ἐστράφησαν εἰς πένθος, τὰ σάββατα αὐτῆς εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν, ἡ τιμὴ αὐτῆς εἱς ἐξουδένωσιν.

40As had been her glory, so was her dishonor increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.Κατὰ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῆς ἐπληθύνθη ἡ ἀτιμία αὐτῆς, καὶ τὸ ὕψος αὐτῆς ἐστράφη εἰς πένθος.

41Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,Καὶ ἔγραψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος πάσῃ τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ εἶναι πάντας λαὸν ἕνα,

42And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.καὶ ἐγκαταλιπεῖν ἕκαστον τὰ νόμιμα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπεδέξατο πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ βασιλέως.

43Yes, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.Καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπὸ Ἰσραὴλ εὐδόκησαν τῇ λατρείᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔθυσαν τοῖς εἰδώλοις, καὶ ἐβεβήλωσαν τὸ σάββατον.

44For the king had sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,Καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς βιβλία ἐν χειρὶ ἀγγέλων εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα, πορευθῆναι ὀπίσω νομίμων ἀλλοτρίων τῆς γῆς,

45And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:καὶ κωλῦσαι ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίαν καὶ σπονδὴν ἐκ τοῦ ἁγιάσματος, καὶ βεβηλῶσαι σάββατα καὶ ἑορτὰς,

46And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:καὶ μιᾶναι ἁγίασμα καὶ ἁγίους·

47Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:οἰκοδομῆσαι βωμοὺς, καὶ τεμένη, καὶ εἰδωλεῖα, καὶ θύειν ὕεια, καὶ κτήνη κοινὰ,

48That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:καὶ ἀφιέναι τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν ἀπεριτμήτους, βδελύξαι τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν ἐν παντὶ ἀκαθάρτῳ καὶ βεβηλώσει,

49To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.ὥστε ἐπιλαθέσθαι τοῦ νόμου, καὶ ἀλλάξαι πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα.

50And whoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.Καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ ποιήσῃ κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦ βασιλέως, ἀποθανεῖται.

51In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.Κατὰ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἔγραψε πάσῃ τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐπισκόπους ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν λαόν· καὶ ἐνετείλατο ταῖς πόλεσιν Ἰούδα θυσιάζειν κατὰ πόλιν καὶ πόλιν.

52Then many of the people were gathered to them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;Καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ πρὸς αὐτοὺς πολλοὶ, πᾶς ὁ ἐγκαταλιπὼν τὸν νόμον· καὶ ἐποιησαν κακὰ ἐν τῇ γῇ.

53And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wherever they could flee for succour.Καὶ ἔθεντο τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν κρύφοις ἐν παντὶ φυγαδευτηρίῳ αὐτῶν.

54Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;Καὶ τῇ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ Χασελεῦ, τῷ πέμπτῳ καὶ τεσσαρακοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ ἔτει, ᾠκοδόμησαν βδέλυγμα ἐρημώσεως ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα κύκλῳ ᾠκοδόμησαν βωμούς.

55And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.Καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν θυρῶν τῶν οἰκιῶν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις ἐθυμίων.

56And when they had torn in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.Καὶ τὰ βιβλία τοῦ νόμου ἃ εὗρον, ἐνεπύρισαν πυρὶ κατασχίσαντες.

57And whoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death.Καὶ ὅπου εὑρίσκετο παρά τινι βιβλίον διαθήκης, καὶ εἴ τις συνευδόκει τῷ νόμῳ, τὸ σύγκριμα τοῦ βασιλέως ἐθανάτου αὐτόν.

58Thus did they by their authority to the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.Ἐν ἰσχύϊ αὐτῶν ἐποίουν οὕτως τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τοῖς εὑρισκομένοις ἐν παντὶ μηνὶ καὶ μηνὶ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι.

59Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.Καὶ τῇ πέμπτῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ μηνὸς θυσιάζοντες ἐπὶ τὸν βωμὸν ὃς ἦν ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου.

60At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.Καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας τὰς περιτετμηκυίας τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἐθανάτωσαν, κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα.

61And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and killed them that had circumcised them.Καὶ ἐκρέμασαν τὰ βρέφη ἐκ τῶν τραχήλων αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν προενόμευσαν, καὶ τοὺς περιτετμηκότας αὐτοὺς ἐθανάτωσαν.

62Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.Καὶ πολλοὶ ἐν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκραταιώθησαν, καὶ ὠχυρώθησαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς τοῦ μὴ φαγεῖν κοινά.

63Therefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.Καὶ ἐπελέξαντο ἀποθανεῖν, ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσι τοῖς βρώμασι, καὶ μὴ βεβηλώσωσι διαθήκην ἁγίαν· καὶ ἀπέθανον.

64And there was very great wrath upon Israel.Καὶ ἐγένετο ὀργὴ μεγάλη ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ σφόδρα.

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