2 Maccabees 3
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Septuagint (Brenton Greek text, with Apocrypha)
1Therefore when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws as yet were very well kept, because of the godliness of Onias the high priest, and the hatred his soul had of evil,
1Τῆς ἁγίας τοίνυν πόλεως κατοικουμένης μετὰ πάσης εἰρήνης, καὶ τῶν νόμων ἕτι κάλλιστα συντηρουμένων διὰ τὴν Ὀνίου τοῦ ἀρχιερέως εὐσέβειάν τε καὶ μισοπονηρίαν,
2It came to pass that even the kings themselves, and the princes esteemed the place worthy of the highest honour, and glorified the temple with very great gifts:
2συνέβαινε καὶ αὐτοὺς τοὺς βασιλεῖς τιμᾷν τὸν τόπον, καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἀποστολαῖς ταῖς κρατίσταις δοξάζειν,
3So that Seleucus king of Asia allowed out of his revenues all the charges belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices.
3ὥστε καὶ Σέλευκον τὸν τῆς Ἀσίας βασιλέα χορηγεῖν ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων προσόδων πάντα τὰ πρὸς τὰς λειτουργίας τῶν θυσιῶν ἐπιβάλλοντα δαπανήματα.
4But one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who was appointed overseer of the temple, strove in opposition to the high priest, to bring about some unjust thing in the city.
4Σίμων δέ τις ἐκ τῆς Βενιαμὶν φυλῆς προστάτης τοῦ ἱεροῦ καθεσταμένος, διηνέχθη τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ περὶ τῆς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν παρανομίας·
5And when he could not overcome Onias he went to Apollonius the son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria and Phenicia:
5καὶ νικῆσαι τὸν Ὀνίαν μὴ δυνάμενος, ἦλθε πρὸς Ἀπολλώνιον Θρασαίου, τὸν κατʼ ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν κοιλῆς Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης στρατηγόν.
6And told him, that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of immense sums of money, and the common store was infinite, which did not belong to the account of the sacrifices: and that it was possible to bring all into the king’s hands.
6Καὶ προσήγγειλε περὶ τοῦ χρημάτων ἀμυθήτων γέμειν τὸ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις γαζοφυλάκιον, ὥστε τὸ πλῆθος τῶν διαφόρων ἐναρίθμητον εἶναι, καὶ μὴ προσήκειν αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν τῶν θυσιῶν λόγον, εἶναι δὲ δυνατὸν ὑπὸ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἐξουσίαν πεσεῖν ἅπαντα ταῦτα.
7Now when Apollonius had given the king notice concerning the money that he was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who had the charge over his affairs, and sent him with commission to bring him the foresaid money.
7Συμμίξας δὲ ὁ Ἀπολλώνιος τῷ βασιλεῖ, περὶ τῶν μηνυθέντων αὐτῷ χρημάτων ἐνεφάνισεν· ὁ δὲ προχειρισάμενος Ἡλιόδωρον τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων, ἀπέστειλε δοὺς ἐντολὰς, τὴν τῶν προειρημένων χρημάτων ἐκκομιδὴν ποιήσασθαι.
8So Heliodorus forthwith began his journey, under a colour of visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfill the king’s purpose.
8Εὐθέως δὲ ὁ Ἡλιόδωρος ἐποιεῖτο τὴν παρείαν, τῇ μὲν ἐμφάσει ὡς τὰς κατὰ κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην πόλεις ἐφοδεύσων, τῷ πράγματι δὲ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως πρόθεσιν ἐπιτελέσων.
9And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously received in the city by the high priest, he told him what information had been given concerning the money: and declared the cause for which he was come: and asked if these things were so indeed.
9Παραγενηθεὶς δὲ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ φιλοφρόνως ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τῆς πόλεως ἀποδεχθείς, ἀνέθετο περὶ τοῦ γεγονότος ἐμφανισμοῦ, καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν πάρεστι διεσάφήσεν· ἐπυνθάνετο δὲ εἰ ταῖς ἀληθείαις ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχοντα τυγχάνει.
10Then the high priest told him that these were sums deposited, and provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the fatherless.
10Τοῦ δὲ ἀρχιερέως ὑποδείξαντος παραθήκας εἶναι χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν,
11And that some part of that which wicked Simon had given intelligence of, belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of great dignity: and that the whole was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of gold:
11τινὰ δὲ καὶ Ὑρκανοῦ τοῦ Τωβίου σφόδρα ἀνδρὸς ἐν ὑπεροχῇ κειμένου, οὐχ ὥσπερ ἦν διαβάλλων ὁ δυσσεβὴς Σίμων, τὰ δὲ πάντα ἀργυρίου τετρακόσια τάλαντα, χρυσίου δὲ διακόσια·
12But that to deceive them who had trusted to the place and temple which is honoured throughout the whole world, for the reverence and holiness of it, was a thing which could not by any means be done.
12ἀδικηθῆναι δὲ τοὺς πεπιστευκότας τῇ τοῦ τόπου ἁγιωσύνῃ, καὶ τῇ τοῦ τετιμημένου κατὰ τὸν σύμπαντα κόσμον ἱεροῦ σεμνότητι καὶ ἀσυλίᾳ, παντελῶς ἀμήχανον εἶναι.
13But he, by reason of the orders he had received from the king, said that by: all means the money must be carried to the king.
13Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος διʼ ἃς εἶχε βασιλικὰς ἐντολὰς, πάντως ἔλεγεν εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν ἀναληπτέα ταῦτα εἶναι.
14So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order this matter. But there was no small terror throughout the whole city.
14Ταξάμενος δὲ ἡμέραν εἰσῄει τὴν περὶ τούτων ἐπίσκεψιν οἰκονομήσων· ἦν δὲ οὐ μικρὰ καθʼ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ἀγωνία.
15And the priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priests’ vestments, and called upon him from heaven, who made the law concerning things given to be kept, that he would preserve them safe, for them that had deposited them.
15Οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς πρὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἐν ταῖς ἱερατικαῖς στολαῖς ῥίψαντες ἑαυτοὺς, ἐπεκαλοῦντο εἰς οὐρανὸν τὸν περὶ παραθήκης νομοθετήσαντα τοῖς παρακαταθεμένοις ταῦτα σῶα διαφυλάξαι.
16Now whosoever saw the countenance of the high priest, was wounded in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour declared the inward sorrow of his mind.
16Ἦν δὲ ὁρῶντα τὴν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ἰδέαν, τιτρώσκεσθαι τὴν διάνοιαν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις καὶ τὸ τῆς χρόας παρηλλαγμένον ἐνέφαινε τὴν κατὰ ψυχὴν ἀγωνίαν.
17For the man was so compassed with sadness and horror of the body, that it was manifest to them that beheld him, what sorrow he had in his heart.
17Περιεκέχυτο γὰρ περὶ τὸν ἄνδρα δέος τι καὶ φρικασμὸς σώματος, διʼ ὧν πρόδηλον ἐγένετο τοῖς θεωροῦσι τὸ κατὰ καρδίαν ἐνεστὸς ἄλγος.
18Others also came hocking together out of their houses, praying and making public supplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.
18Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῶν οἰκιῶν ἀγεληδὸν ἐξεπήδων ἐπὶ πάνδημον ἱκετείαν, διὰ τὸ μέλλειν εἰς καταφρόνησιν ἔρχεσθαι τὸν τόπον.
19And the women, girded with haircloth about their breasts, came together in the streets. And the virgins also that were shut up, came forth, some to Onias, and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.
19Ὑπεζωσμέναι δὲ ὑπὸ τοὺς μαστοὺς αἱ γυναῖκες σάκκους κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐπλήθυον· αἱ δὲ κατάκλειστοι τῶν παρθένων, αἱ μὲν συνέτρεχον ἐπὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας, αἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ τείχη, τινὲς δὲ διὰ τῶν θυρίδων διεξέκυπτον.
20And all holding up their hands towards heaven, made supplication.
20Πᾶσαι δὲ προτείνουσαι τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανον, ἐποιοῦντο τὴν λιτανείαν·
21For the expectation of the mixed multitude, and of the high priest who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity.
21Ἐλεεῖν δʼ ἦν τὴν τοῦ πλήθους παμμιγῆ πρόπτωσιν, τήν τε τοῦ μεγάλως διαγωνιῶντος ἀρχιερέως προσδοκίαν.
22And these indeed called upon almighty God, to preserve the things that had been committed to them, safe and sure for those that had committed them.
22Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐπεκαλοῦντο τὸν παντοκράτορα Θεὸν τὰ πεπιστευμένα τοῖς πεπιστευκόσι σῶα διαφυλάγγειν μετὰ πάσης ἀσφαλείας.
23But Heliodorus executed that which he had resolved on, himself being present in the same place with his guard about the treasury.
23Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος τὸ διεγνωσμένον ἐπετέλει.
24But the spirit of the almighty God gave a great evidence of his presence, so that all that had presumed to obey him, falling down by the power of God, were struck with fainting and dread.
24Αὐτόθι δὲ αὐτοῦ σὺν τοῖς δορυφόροις κατὰ τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον ἤδη παρόντος, ὁ τῶν πατέρων Κύριος καὶ πάσης ἐξουσίας δυνάστης ἐπιφάνειαν μεγάλην ἐποίησεν, ὥστε πάντας τοὺς κατατολμήσαντας συνελθεῖν, καταπλαγέντας τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δύναμιν, εἰς ἔκλυσιν καὶ δειλίαν τραπῆναι.
25For there appeared to them a horse with a terrible rider upon him, adorned with a very rich covering: and he ran fiercely and struck Heliodorus with his fore feet, and he that sat upon him seemed to have armour of gold.
25Ὤφθη γάρ τις ἵππος αὐτοῖς φοβερὸν ἔχων τὸν ἐπιβάτην, καὶ καλλίστῃ σαγῇ διακεκοσμημένος, φερόμενος δὲ ῥύδην ἐνέσεισε τῷ Ἡλιοδώρῳ τὰς ἐμπροσθίους ὁπλάς· ὁ δὲ ἐπικαθήμενος ἐφαίνετο χρυσῆν πανοπλίαν ἔχων.
26Moreover there appeared two other young men beautiful and strong, bright and glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood by him, on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes.
26Ἕτεροι δὲ δύο προεφάνησαν αὐτῷ νεανίαι, τῇ ῥώμῃ μὲν ἐκπρεπεῖς, κάλλιστοι δὲ τῇ δόξῃ, διαπρεπεῖς δὲ τὴν περιβολήν· οἳ καὶ παρασταντες ἐξ ἑκατέρου μέρους, ἐμαστίγουν αὐτὸν ἀδιαλείπτως, πολλὰς ἐπιῤῥιπτοῦντες αὐτῷ πληγάς.
27Arid Heliodorus suddenly fell to the ground, and they took him up covered with great darkness, and having put him into a litter they carried him out.
27Ἄφνω δὲ πεσόντα πρὸς τὴν γῆν, καὶ πολλῷ σκότει περιχυθέντα, συναρπάσαντες, καὶ εἰς φορεῖον ἐνθέντες,
28So he that came with many servants, and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, was carried out, no one being able to help him, the manifest power of God being known.
28τὸν ἄρτι μετὰ πολλῆς παραδρομῆς καὶ πάσης δορυφορίας εἰς τὸ προειρημένον εἰσελθόντα γαζοφυλάκιον, ἔφερον ἀβοήθητον ἑαυτῷ καθεστῶτα, φανερῶς τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δυναστείαν ἐπεγνωκότες.
29And he indeed by the power of God lay speechless, and without all hope of recovery.
29Καὶ ὁ μὲν διὰ τὴν θείαν ἐνέργειαν ἄφωνος καὶ πάσης ἐστερημένος ἐλπίδος καὶ σωτηρίας ἔῤῥιπτο.
30But they praised the Lord because he had glorified his place: and the temple, that a little before was full of fear and trouble, when the almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness.
30Οἱ δὲ τὸν κύριον εὐλόγουν τὸν παραδοξάζοντα τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον· καὶ τὸ μικρῷ πρότερον δέους καὶ ταραχῆς γέμον ἱερὸν, τοῦ παντοκράτορος ἐπιφανέντος Κυρίου, χαρᾶς καὶ εὐφροσύνης ἐπεπλήρωτο.
31Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of Onias, that he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who was ready to give up the ghost.
31Ταχὺ δέ τινες τῶν τοῦ Ἡλιοδώρου συνήθων ἠξίουν τὸν Ὀνίαν ἐπικαλέσασθαι τὸν ὕψιστον, καὶ τὸ ζῇν χαρίσασθι τῷ παντελῶς ἐν ἐσχάτῃ πνοῇ κειμένῳ.
32So the high priest considering that the king might perhaps suspect that some mischief had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice of health for the recovery of the man.
32Ὕποπτος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ ἀρχιερεῦς, μήποτε διάληψιν ὁ βασιλεὺς σχῇ, κακουργίαν τινὰ περὶ τὸν Ἡλιόδωρον ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων συντετελέσθαι, προσήγαγε θυσίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς σωτηρίας.
33And when the high priest was praying, the same young men in the same clothing stood by Heliodorus, and said to him: Give thanks to Onias the priest: because for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life.
33Ποιουμένου δὲ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τὸν ἱλασμὸν, οἱ αὐτοὶ νεανίαι πάλιν ἐφάνησαν τῷ Ἡλιοδώρῳ ἐν ταῖς αὐταῖς ἐσθήσεσιν ἐστολισμένοι, καὶ στάντες εἶπον, πολλὰς τῷ Ὀνία τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ χάριτας ἔχε, διὰ γὰρ αὐτὸν σοι κεχάρισται τὸ ζῇν ὁ Κύριος.
34And thou having been scourged by God, declare unto all men the great works and the power of God. And having spoken thus, they appeared no more.
34Σὺ δὲ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ μεμαστιγωμένος διάγγελε πᾶσι τὸ μεγαλεῖον τοῦ Θεοῦ κράτος· ταῦτα δὲ εἰπόντες ἀφανεῖς ἐγένοντο.
35So Heliodorus after he had offered a sacrifice to God, and made great vows to him, that had granted him life, and given thanks to Onias, taking his troops with him, returned to the king.
35Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος θυσίαν ἀνενέγκας τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ εὐχὰς μεγίστας εὐξάμενος τῷ τὸ ζῇν περιποιήσαντι, καὶ τὸν Ὀνίαν ἀποδεξάμενος, ἀνεστρατοπέδευσε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα.
36And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which he had seen with his own eyes.
36Ἐξεμαρτύρει δὲ πᾶσιν ἅπερ ἦν ὑπʼ ὄψιν τεθεαμένος ἔργα τοῦ μεγίστου Θεοῦ.
37And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said:
37Τοῦ δὲ βασιλέως ἐπερωτήσαντος τὸν Ἡλιόδωρον, ποῖός τις εἴη ἐπιτήδειος ἔτι ἅπαξ διαπεμφθῆναι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ἔφησεν,
38If thou hast any enemy or traitor to thy kingdom, send him thither, and thou shalt receive him again scourged, if so be he escape: for there is undoubtedly in that place a certain power of God.
38εἴ τινα ἔχεις πολέμιον ἢ πραγμάτων ἐπίβουλον, πέμψον αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεμαστιγωμένον αὐτὸν προσδέξῃ, ἐάνπερ καὶ διασωθείη, διὰ τὸ περὶ τὸν τόπον ἀληθῶς εἶναί τινα Θεοῦ δύναμιν.
39For he that hath his dwelling in the heavens, is the visitor, and protector of that place, and he striketh and destroyeth them that come to do evil to it.
39Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ τὴν κατοικίαν ἐπουράνιον ἔχων, ἐπόπτης ἐστὶ καὶ βοηθὸς ἐκείνου τοῦ τόπου, καὶ τοὺς παραγινομένους ἐπὶ κακώσει, τύπτων ἀπόλλυσι.
40And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury fell out in this manner.
40Καὶ τὰ μὲν κατὰ Ἡλιόδωρον, καὶ τὴν τοῦ γαζοφυλακίου τήρησιν οὕτως ἐχώρησεν.
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