2 Maccabees 6

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

2 Maccabees 6

1Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God: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,

2And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that lived in the place.μολῦναι δὲ καὶ τὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις νεὼν, καὶ προσονομάσαι Διὸς Ὀλυμπίου, καὶ τὸν ἐν Γαριζὶν, καθὼς ἐτύγχανον οἱ τὸν τόπον οἰκοῦντες, Διὸς Ξενίου.

3The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:Χαλεπὴ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις ἦν καὶ δυσχερὴς ἡ ἐπίστασις τῆς κακίας.

4For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.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.

5The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbids.Τὸ δὲ θυσιαστήριον τοῖς ἀποδιεσταλμένοις ἀπὸ τῶν νόμων ἀθεμίτοις ἐπεπλήρωτο.

6Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.Ἦν δʼ οὔτε σαββατίζειν, οὔτε πατρῴους ἑορτὰς διαφυλάττειν, οὔτε ἁπλῶς Ἰουδαῖον ὁμολογεῖν εἶναι.

7And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.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.

8Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbor cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:Ψήφισμα δὲ ἐξέπεσεν εἰς τὰς ἀστυγείτονας πόλεις Ἑλληνίδας, Πτολεμαίων ὑποτιθεμένων τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγωγὴν κατὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἄγειν καὶ σπλαγχνίζειν·

9And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.τοὺς δὲ μὴ προαιρουμένους μεταβαίνειν ἐπὶ τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ, κατασφάζειν· παρῆν οὖν ὁρᾷν τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ταλαιπωρίαν.

10For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.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.

11And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honor of the most sacred day.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.

12Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.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.

13For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.Καὶ τὸ μὴ πολὺν χρόνον ἐᾶσθαι τοὺς δυσσεβοῦντας, ἀλλʼ εὐθέως περιπίπτειν ἐπιτιμίοις, μεγάλης εὐεργεσίας σημεῖόν ἐστιν.

14For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbears to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so deals he with us,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

15Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.εἶναι, ἵνα μὴ πρὸς τέλος ἀφικομένων ἡμῶν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, ὕστερον ἡμᾶς ἐκδικᾷ.

16And therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet does he never forsake his people.Διόπερ οὐδέ ποτε μὲν τὸν ἔλεον αὐτοῦ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ἀφίστησι· παιδεύων δὲ μετὰ συμφορᾶς, οὐκ ἐγκαταλείπει τὸν ἑαυτοῦ λαόν.

17But let this that we at spoken be for a warning to us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.Πλὴν ἕως ὑπομνήσεως ταῦθʼ ἡμῖν εἰρήσθω· διʼ ὀλίγων δʼ ἐλευστέον ἐπὶ τὴν διήγησιν.

18Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.Ἐλεάζαρός τις τῶν πρωτευόντων γραμματέων, ἀνὴρ ἤδη προβεβηκὼς τὴν ἡλικίαν, καὶ τὴν πρόσοψιν τοῦ προσώπου κάλλιστος τυγχάνων, ἀναχανὼν ἠναγκάζετο φαγεῖν ὕειον κρέας.

19But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,Ὁ δὲ τὸν μετʼ εὐκλείας θάνατον μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν μετὰ μύσους βίον ἀναδεξάμενος, αὐθαιρέτως ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον προσῆγε·

20As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.προπτύσας δέ, καθʼ ὃν ἔδει τρόπον προσέρχεσθαι τοὺς ὑπομένοντας ἀμύνεσθαι, ὧν οὐ θέμις γεύσασθαι διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸ ζῇν φιλοστοργίαν.

21But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, implored him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;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,

22That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favor.ἵνα τοῦτο πράξας ἀπολυθῇ τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἀρχαίαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς φιλίαν τύχῃ φιλανθρωπίας.

23But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honor of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.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.

24For it becomes not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;Οὐ γὰρ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡλικίας ἄξιόν ἐστιν ὑποκριθῆναι, ἵνα πολλοὶ τῶν νέων ὑπολαβόντες Ἐλεάζαρον τὸν ἐννενηκονταετῆ μεταβεβηκέναι εἰς ἀλλοφυλισμόν,

25And so they through my hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to my old age, and make it abominable.καὶ αὐτοὶ διὰ τὴν ἐμὴν ὑπόκρισιν, καὶ διὰ τὸ μικρὸν καὶ ἀκαριαῖον ζῇν πλανηθῶσι διʼ ἐμέ, καὶ μῦσος καὶ κηλίδα τοῦ γήρως κατακτήσομαι.

26For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἐξελοῦμαι τὴν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τιμωρίαν, ἀλλὰ τὰς τοῦ παντοκράτορος χεῖρας οὔτε ζῶν οὔτε ἀποθανὼν ἐκφεύξομαι.

27Therefore now, manfully changing this life, I will show myself such an one as my age requires,Διόπερ ἀνδρείως μὲν νῦν διαλλάξας τὸν βίον, τοῦ μὲν γήρως ἄξιος φανήσομαι,

28And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honorable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment: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.

29They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.Τῶν δὲ ἀγόντων τὴν μικρῷ πρότερον εὐμένειαν πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς δυσμένειαν μεταβαλόντων διὰ τὸ τοὺς προειρημένους λόγους, ὡς αὐτοὶ διελάμβανον, ἀπόνοιαν εἶναι·

30But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest to the Lord, that has the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.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.

31And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only to young men, but to all his nation.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.