2 Maccabees 11
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), second edition
1A short time after this Lysias the king’s lieutenant, and cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with what had happened,
1Ως δὲ καὶ οὗτος ταῖς βασάνοις καταικισθεὶς ἐναπέθανεν, ὁ πέμπτος παρεπήδησε λέγων·
2Gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a habitation of the Gentiles:
2οὐ μέλλω, τύραννε, πρὸς τὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀρετῆς βασανισμὸν παραιτεῖσθαι,
3And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:
3αὐτὸς δ' ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ παρῆλθον, ὅπως κἀμὲ κατακτείνας περὶ πλειόνων ἀδικημάτων ὀφειλήσῃς τῇ οὐρανίῳ δίκῃ τιμωρίαν.
4Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
4ᾦ μισάρετε καὶ μισάνθρωπε, τί δράσαντας ἡμᾶς τοῦτον πορθεῖς τὸν τρόπον;
5So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid siege to that fortress.
5ἢ κακόν σοι δοκεῖ ὅτι τὸν πάντων κτίστην εὐσεβοῦμεν καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἐνάρετον αὐτοῦ ζῶμεν νόμον;
6But when Machabeus and they that were with him, understood that the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to save Israel.
6ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τιμῶν, οὐ βασάνων ἐστὶν ἄξια.
7Then Machabeus himself, first taking his arms, exhorted the rest to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour their brethren.
7εἴπερ ᾐσθάνου ἀνθρώπου πόθον καὶ ἐλπίδα εἶχες παρὰ Θεῷ σωτηρίου·
8And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, there appeared at Jerusatem a horseman going before them in white clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear.
8νυνὶ δὲ ἀλλότριος ὢν Θεοῦ πολεμεῖς τοὺς εὐσεβοῦντας εἰς τὸν Θεόν.
9Then they all together blessed merciful Lord, and took great courage, being ready to break through not only men, but also the fiercest beasts, walls of iron.
9τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγοντα οἱ δορυφόροι δήσαντες αὐτὸν εἷλκον ἐπὶ τὸν καταπέλτην,
10So they went on courageously, having a helper from Peaven, and the who shewed mercy to them.
10ἐφ' ὃν δήσαντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα καὶ ταῦτα ποδάγραις σιδηραῖς ἐφαρμόσαντες τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ περὶ τροχιαῖον σφῆνα κατέκαμψαν, περὶ ὃν ὅλος περὶ τὸν τροχὸν σκορπίου τρόπον ἀνακλώμενος ἐξεμελίζετο.
11And rushing violently upon the my, like lions, they slew of them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand hundred horsemen:
11κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα στενοχωρούμενος καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἀγχόμενος,
12And put all the rest to flight: many of them being wounded, escaped naked: yea and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and escaped.
12καλάς, ἔλεγεν, ἄκων, ᾦ τύραννε, χάριτας ἡμῖν χαρίζῃ διὰ γενναιοτέρων πόνων ἐπιδείξασθαι παρέχων τὴν εἰς τὸν νόμον ἡμῶν καρτερίαν.
13And as he was a man of understanding considering with himself, the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he sent to them:
13Τελευτήσαντος δὲ καὶ τούτου, ὁ ἕκτος ἤγετο μειρακίσκος, ὃς πυνθανομένου τοῦ τυράννου εἰ βούλοιτο φαγὼν ἀπολύεσθαι, ὁ δὲ ἔφη·
14And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend.
14ἐγὼ τῇ μὲν ἡλικίᾳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μού εἰμι νεώτερος, τῇ δὲ διανοίᾳ ἡλικιώτης·
15Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for the common Food in all things, and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias concerning the Jews, the king allowed of.
15εἰς τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ καὶ γεννηθέντες καὶ τραφέντες, ὑπὲρ τῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀποθνήσκειν ὀφείλομεν ὁμοίως·
16For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this effect: Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting.
16ὥστε εἰ σοὶ δοκεῖ βασανίζειν μὴ μιαροφαγοῦντα, βασάνιζε.
17John and Abesalom who were sent from you, delivering your writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were signified by them.
17ταῦτα αὐτὸν εἰπόντα παρῆγον ἐπὶ τὸν τροχόν,
18Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king I have represented to him: and he hath granted as much as the matter permitted.
18ἐφ' οὗ κατατεινόμενος ἐκμελῶς καὶ ἐκσπονδυλιζόμενος ὑπεκαίετο.
19If therefore you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good.
19καὶ ὀβελίσκους δὲ ὀξεῖς πυρώσαντες, τοῖς νώτοις προσέφερον καὶ τὰ πλευρὰ διαπείραντες αὐτοῦ τὰ σπλάγχνα διέκαιον.
20But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you.
20ὁ δὲ βασανιζόμενος, ὦ ἱεροπρεποῦς ἀγῶνος, ἔλεγεν, ἐφ' ὃν διὰ τὴν εὐσέβειαν εἰς γυμνασίαν πόνων ἀδελφοὶ τοσοῦτοι κληθέντες οὐκ ἐνικήθημεν.
21Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus.
21ἀνίκητος γάρ ἐστιν, ὦ τύραννε, ἡ εὐσεβὴς ἐπιστήμη.
22But the king’s letter contained these words: King Antiochus to Lysias his brother, greeting.
22καλοκἀγαθίᾳ καθωπλισμένος τεθνήξομαι μὲν κἀγὼ μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου,
23Our father being translated amongst the gods, we are desirous that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their own concerns,
23σὺ δέ, ὦ τύραννε, μέγαν σοὶ προσλαβὼν καὶ αὐτὸς τιμωρόν, καινουργὲ τῶν βασάνων καὶ πολέμιε τῶν ἀληθῶς εὐσεβούντων
24And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of the Greeks, but that they would keep to their own manner of living, and therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws.
24ἓξ μειράκια καταλελύκαμέν σου τὴν τυραννίδα·
25Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their ancestors.
25τὸ γὰρ μὴ δυνηθῆναί σε μεταπεῖσαι τὸν λογισμὸν ἡμῶν μήτε βιάσασθαι πρὸς τὴν μιαροφαγίαν οὐ κατάλυσίς ἐστί σου;
26Thou shalt do well therefore to send to them, and grant them peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look to their own affairs.
26τὸ πῦρ σου ψυχρὸν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἄπονοι οἱ καταπέλται, καὶ ἀδύνατος ἡ βία σου.
27But the king’s letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting.
27οὐ γὰρ τυράννου, ἀλλὰ θείου νόμου προεστήκασιν ἡμῶν οἱ δορυφόροι· διὰ τοῦτο ἀνίκητον ἔχομεν τὸν λογισμόν.
28If you are well, you are as we desire, we ourselves also are well.
no verse 28 in this text
29Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are with us.
no verse 29 in this text
30We grant therefore a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus,
no verse 30 in this text
31That the Jews may use their own Bind of meats, and their own laws as before, and that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been done by ignorance.
no verse 31 in this text
32And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
no verse 32 in this text
33Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
no verse 33 in this text
34The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect. Quintus Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting.
no verse 34 in this text
35Whatsoever Lysias the king’s cousin hath granted you, we also have granted.
no verse 35 in this text
36But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch.
no verse 36 in this text
37And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are.
no verse 37 in this text
38Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
no verse 38 in this text
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