2 Maccabees 7

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

2 Maccabees 7

1It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.Συνέβη δὲ καὶ ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοὺς μετὰ τῆς μητρὸν συλληφθέντας ἀναγκάζεσθαι ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπὸ τῶν ἀθεμίτων ὑείων κρεῶν ἐφάπτεσθαι, μάστιξι καὶ νευραῖς αἰκιζομένους.

2But one of them that spoke first said thus, What would you ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.Εἷς δὲ αὐτῶν γενόμενος προήγορος, οὕτως ἔφη, τί μέλλεις ἐρωτᾷν, καὶ μανθάνειν παρʼ ἡμῶν; ἕτοιμοι γὰρ ἀποθνήσκειν ἐσμὲν ἢ παραβαίνειν τοὺς πατρίους νόμους.

3Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot:Ἔκθυμος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς, προσέταξε τήγανα, καὶ λέβητας ἐκπυροῦν.

4Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spoke first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.Τῶν δὲ ἐκπυρωθέντων, παραχρῆμα τὸν γενόμενον αὐτῶν προήγορον προσέταξε γλωσσοτομεῖν, καὶ περισκυθίσαντας ἀκρωτηριάζειν, τῶν λοιπῶν ἀδελφῶν, καὶ τῆς μετρὸς, συνορώντων.

5Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapor of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,Ἄχρηστον δὲ αὐτὸν τοῖς ὅλοις γενόμενον, ἐκέλευσε τῇ πυρᾷ προσάγειν ἔμπνουν, καὶ τηγανίζειν· τῆς δὲ ἀτμίδος ἐφʼ ἱκανὸν διαδιδούσης τοῦ τηγάνου, ἀλλήλους παρεκάλουν σὺν τῇ μητρὶ γενναίως τελευτᾷν, λέγοντες οὕτως.

6The Lord God looks upon us, and in truth has comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants.Ὁ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐφορᾷ, καὶ ταῖς ἀληθείαις ἐφʼ ἡμῖν παρακαλεῖται, καθάπερ διὰ τῆς κατὰ πρόσωπον ἀντιμαρτυρούσης ᾠδῆς διεσάφησε Μωυσῆς, λέγων, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ παρακληθήσεται.

7So when the first was dead after this number, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Will you eat, before you be punished throughout every member of your body?Μεταλλάξαντος δὲ τοῦ πρώτου τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον, τὸν δεύτερον ἦγον ἐπὶ τὸν ἐμπαιγμόν· καὶ τὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς δέρμα σὺν ταῖς θριξὶ περισύραντες, ἐπηρώτων, εἰ φάγεσαι πρὸ τοῦ τιμωρηθῆναι τὸ σῶμα κατὰ μέλος;

8But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Therefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ εἶπεν, οὐχί· διόπερ καὶ

9And when he was at the last gasp, he said, You like a fury take us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, to everlasting life.οὗτος τὴν ἑξῆς ἔλαβε βάσανον, ὡς ὁ πρῶτος. Ἐν ἐσχάτῇ δὲ πνοῇ γενόμενος, εἶπε, σὺ μὲν ἀλάστωρ ἐκ τοῦ παρόντος ἡμᾶς ζῇν ἀπολύεις, ὁ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου βασιλεὺς ἀποθανόντας ἡμᾶς ὑπὲρ τῶν αὐτοῦ νόμων εἰς αἰώνιον ἀναβίωσιν ζωῆς ἡμᾶς ἀναστήσει.

10After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully.Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον ὁ τρίτος ἐνεπαίζετο, καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν αἰτηθεὶς ταχέως προέβαλε, καὶ τὰς χεῖρας εὐθαρσῶς προέτεινε,

11And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.καὶ γενναίως εἶπεν, ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ταῦτα κέκτημαι, καὶ διὰ τοὺς αὐτοῦ νόμους ὑπερορῶ ταῦτα, καὶ παρʼ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα πάλιν ἐλπίζω κομίσασθαι.

12Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marveled at the young man's courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains.Ὥστε αὐτὸν τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκπλήσσεσθαι τὴν τοῦ νεανίσκου ψυχὴν, ὡς ἐν οὐδενὶ τὰς ἀλγηδόνας ἐτίθετο.

13Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.Καὶ τούτου δὲ μεταλλάξαντος, τὸν τέταρτον ὡσαύτως ἐβασάνιζον αἰκιζόμενοι.

14So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life.Καὶ γεννόμενος πρὸς τὸ τελευτᾷν, οὕτως ἔφη, αἱρετὸν μεταλλάσσοντας ὑπʼ ἀνθρώπων τὰς ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ προσδοκᾷν ἐλπίδας, πάλιν ἀναστήσεσθαι ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ· σοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἀνάστασις εἰς ζωὴν οὐκ ἔσται.

15Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.Ἐχομένως δὲ τὸν πέμπτον προσάγοντες ᾐκίζοντο.

16Then looked he to the king, and said, You have power over men, you are corruptible, you do what you will; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God;Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἰδὼν, εἶπεν, ἐξουσίαν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἔχων φθαρτὸς ὤν, ὅ θελεις ποιεῖς· μὴ δόκει δὲ τὸ γένος ἡμῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ καταλελεῖφθαι.

17But abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment you and your seed.Σὺ δὲ καρτέρει, καὶ θεώρει τὸ μεγαλεῖον αὐτοῦ κράτος, ὡς σὲ καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου βασανίσει.

18After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvelous things are done to us.Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον ἦγον τὸν ἕκτον, καὶ μέλλων ἀποθνήσκειν, ἔφη, μὴ πλανῶ μάτην, ἡμεῖς γὰρ διʼ ἑαυτοὺς ταῦτα πάσχομεν ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τὸν ἑαυτῶν Θεὸν, διὸ ἄξια θαυμασμοῦ γέγονε.

19But think not you, that take in hand to strive against God, that you shall escape unpunished.Σὺ δὲ μὴ νομίσῃς ἀθῶος ἔσεσθαι, θεομαχεῖν ἐπιχειρήσας.

20But the mother was marvelous above all, and worthy of honorable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.Ὑπεραγόντως δὲ ἡ μήτηρ θαυμαστὴ καὶ μνήμης ἀγαθῆς ἀξία, ἥτις ἀπολλυμένους υἱοὺς ἑπτὰ συνορῶσα μιᾶς ὑπὸ καιρὸν ἡμέρας, εὐψύχως ἔφερε διὰ τὰς ἐπὶ Κύριον ἐλπίδας.

21Yes, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said to them,Ἕκαστον δὲ αὐτῶν παρεκάλει τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ, γενναίῳ πεπληρωμένη φρονήματι, καὶ τὸν θῆλυν λογισμὸν ἄρσενι θυμῷ διεγείρασα, λέγουσα πρὸς αὐτοὺς,

22I can’t tell how you came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;οὐδʼ οἶδʼ ὅπως εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἐφάνητε κοιλίαν, οὐδὲ ἐγὼ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὴν ζωὴν ὑμῖν ἐχαρισάμην, καὶ τὴν ἑκάστου στοιχείωσιν οὐκ ἐγὼ διερύθμισα.

23But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as you now regard not your own selves for his laws' sake.Τοιγαροῦν ὁ τοῦ κόσμου κτίστης ὁ πλάσας ἀνθρώπου γένεσιν, καὶ πάντων ἐξευρὼν γένεσιν, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὴν ζωὴν ὑμῖν πάλιν ἀποδώσει μετʼ ἐλέους, ὡς νῦν ὑπερορᾶτε ἑαυτοὺς διὰ τοὺς αὐτοῦνόμους.

24Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, while the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.Ὁ δὲ Ἀντίοχος οἰόμενος καταφρονεῖσθαι, καὶ τὴν ὀνειδίζουσαν ὑφορώμενος φωνὴν, ἔτι τοῦ νεωτέρου περιόντος, οὐ μόνον διὰ λόγων ἐποιεῖτο τὴν παράκλησιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διʼ ὅρκων ἐπίστου, ἅμα πλουτιεῖν καὶ μακαριστὸν ποιήσειν μεταθέμενον ἀπὸ τῶν πατρίων νόμων, καὶ φίλον ἕξειν, καὶ χρείας ἐμπιστεύσειν.

25But when the young man would in no case listen to him, the king called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life.Τοῦ δὲ νεανίου μηδαμῶς προσέχοντος, προσκαλεσάμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν μητέρα, παρήνει τοῦ μειρακίου γενέσθαι σύμβουλον ἐπὶ σωτηρία.

26And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.Πολλὰ δὲ αὐτοῦ παραινέσαντος, ἐπεδέξατο πείσειν τὸν υἱόν.

27But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spoke in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare you nine months in my womb, and gave you such three years, and nourished you, and brought you up to this age, and endured the troubles of education.Προσκύψασα δὲ αὐτῷ, χλευάσασα τὸν ὠμὸν τύραννον, οὕτως ἔφησε τῇ πατρῴᾳ φωνῇ, υἱὲ, ἐλέησόν με τὴν ἐν γαστρὶ περιενέγκασάν σε μῆνας ἐννέα, καὶ θηλάσασάν σε ἔτη τρία, καὶ ἐκθρέψασάν σε καὶ ἀγαγοῦσαν εἰς τὴν ἡλικίαν ταύτην, καὶ τροφοφορήσασαν.

28I beseech you, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.Ἀξιῶ σε, τέκνον, ἀναβλέψαντα εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς πάντα ἰδόντα, γνῶναι ὅτι ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων ἐποίησεν αὐτὰ ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος οὕτως γεγένηται,

29Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of your brethren, take your death that I may receive you again in mercy with your brethren.μὴ φοβηθῇς τὸν δήμιον τοῦτον, ἀλλὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἄξιος γενόμενος, ἐπίδεξαι τὸν θάνατον, ἵνα ἐν τῷ ἐλέει σὺν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς σου κομίσωμαί σε.

30While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait you for? I will not obey the king's commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given to our fathers by Moses.Ἔτι δὲ ταύτης καταλεγούσης ὁ νεανίας εἶπε, τίνα μένετε; οὐχ ὑπακούω τοῦ προστάγματος τοῦ βασιλέως· τοῦ δὲ προστάγματος ἀκούω τοῦ νόμου τοῦ δοθέντος τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν διὰ Μωυσέως.

31And you, that have been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shall not escape the hands of God.Σὺ δὲ πάσης κακίας εὑρετὴς γενόμενος εἰς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, οὐ μὴ διαφύγῃς τὰς χεῖρας τοῦ Θεοῦ.

32For we suffer because of our sins.Ἡμεῖς γὰρ διὰ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἁμαρτίας πάσχομεν.

33And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants.Εἰ δὲ χάριν ἐπιπλήξεως καὶ παιδείας ὁ ζῶν Κύριος ἡμῶν βραχέως ἐπώργισται, καὶ πάλιν καταλλαγήσεται τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ δούλοις.

34But you, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up your hand against the servants of God:Σὺ δὲ ὦ ἀνόσιε, καὶ πάντων ἀνθρώπων μιαρώτατε, μὴ μάτην μετεωρίζου φρυαττόμενος ἀδήλοις ἐλπίσιν, ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ἐπαιρόμενος χεῖρα.

35For you have not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who sees all things.Οὔπω γὰρ τὴν τοῦ παντοκράτορος ἐπόπτου Θεοῦ κρίσιν ἐκπέφευγας.

36For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but you, through the judgment of God, shall receive just punishment for your pride.Οἱ μὲν γὰρ νῦν ἡμέτεροι ἀδελφοὶ βραχὺν ὑπενέγκαντες πόνον, ἀεννάου ζωῆς ὑπὸ διαθήκην Θεοῦ πεπτώκασι· σὺ δὲ τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ κρίσει δίκαια τὰ πρόστιμα τῆς ὑπετηφανίας ἀποίσῃ.

37But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful to our nation; and that you by torments and plagues may confess, that he alone is God;Ἐγὼ δὲ καθάπερ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ σῶμα καὶ ψυχὴν προδίδωμι περὶ τῶν πατρίων νόμων, ἐπικαλούμενος τὸν Θεὸν ἵλεων ταχὺ τῷ ἔθνει γενέσθαι, καὶ σὲ μετὰ ἐτασμῶν καὶ μαστίγων ἐξομολογήσασθαι, διότι μόνος αὐτὸς Θεός ἐστιν,

38And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.ἐν ἐμοὶ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου στῆναι τὴν τοῦ παντοκράτορος ὀργὴν τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ σύμπαν ἡμῶν γένος δικαίως ἐπηγμένην.

39Then the king, being in a rage, handed him worse than all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.Ἔκθυμος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ βασιλεὺς, τούτῳ παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους χειρίστως ἀπήντησε, πικρῶς φέρων ἐπὶ τῷ μυκτηρισμῷ.

40So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.Καὶ οὗτος οὖν καθαρὸς τὸν βίον μετήλλαξε, παντελῶς ἐπὶ τῷ Κυρίῳ πεποιθώς.

41Last of all after the sons the mother died.Ἐσχάτη δὲ τῶν υἱῶν ἡ μήτηρ ἐτελεύτησε.

42Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures.Τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ σπλαγχνισμοὺς, καὶ τὰς ὑπερβαλλούσας αἰκίας ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον δεδηλώσθω.