2 Maccabees 11
King James Version with ApocryphaTranslation
King James Version with Apocrypha
Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), second edition
1Not long after this, Lysias the king’s protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.
1Ως δὲ καὶ οὗτος ταῖς βασάνοις καταικισθεὶς ἐναπέθανεν, ὁ πέμπτος παρεπήδησε λέγων·
2And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an 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 chapels of the heathen, 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.
4Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
4ᾦ μισάρετε καὶ μισάνθρωπε, τί δράσαντας ἡμᾶς τοῦτον πορθεῖς τὸν τρόπον;
5So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.
5ἢ κακόν σοι δοκεῖ ὅτι τὸν πάντων κτίστην εὐσεβοῦμεν καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἐνάρετον αὐτοῦ ζῶμεν νόμον;
6Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.
6ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τιμῶν, οὐ βασάνων ἐστὶν ἄξια.
7Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.
7εἴπερ ᾐσθάνου ἀνθρώπου πόθον καὶ ἐλπίδα εἶχες παρὰ Θεῷ σωτηρίου·
8And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.
8νυνὶ δὲ ἀλλότριος ὢν Θεοῦ πολεμεῖς τοὺς εὐσεβοῦντας εἰς τὸν Θεόν.
9Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.
9τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγοντα οἱ δορυφόροι δήσαντες αὐτὸν εἷλκον ἐπὶ τὸν καταπέλτην,
10Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto 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 giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.
11κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα στενοχωρούμενος καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἀγχόμενος,
12Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.
12καλάς, ἔλεγεν, ἄκων, ᾦ τύραννε, χάριτας ἡμῖν χαρίζῃ διὰ γενναιοτέρων πόνων ἐπιδείξασθαι παρέχων τὴν εἰς τὸν νόμον ἡμῶν καρτερίαν.
13Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,
13Τελευτήσαντος δὲ καὶ τούτου, ὁ ἕκτος ἤγετο μειρακίσκος, ὃς πυνθανομένου τοῦ τυράννου εἰ βούλοιτο φαγὼν ἀπολύεσθαι, ὁ δὲ ἔφη·
14And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.
14ἐγὼ τῇ μὲν ἡλικίᾳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μού εἰμι νεώτερος, τῇ δὲ διανοίᾳ ἡλικιώτης·
15Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
15εἰς τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ καὶ γεννηθέντες καὶ τραφέντες, ὑπὲρ τῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀποθνήσκειν ὀφείλομεν ὁμοίως·
16For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
16ὥστε εἰ σοὶ δοκεῖ βασανίζειν μὴ μιαροφαγοῦντα, βασάνιζε.
17John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.
17ταῦτα αὐτὸν εἰπόντα παρῆγον ἐπὶ τὸν τροχόν,
18Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.
18ἐφ' οὗ κατατεινόμενος ἐκμελῶς καὶ ἐκσπονδυλιζόμενος ὑπεκαίετο.
19And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I 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 of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from 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. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.
21ἀνίκητος γάρ ἐστιν, ὦ τύραννε, ἡ εὐσεβὴς ἐπιστήμη.
22Now the king’s letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:
22καλοκἀγαθίᾳ καθωπλισμένος τεθνήξομαι μὲν κἀγὼ μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου,
23Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.
23σὺ δέ, ὦ τύραννε, μέγαν σοὶ προσλαβὼν καὶ αὐτὸς τιμωρόν, καινουργὲ τῶν βασάνων καὶ πολέμιε τῶν ἀληθῶς εὐσεβούντων
24We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.
24ἓξ μειράκια καταλελύκαμέν σου τὴν τυραννίδα·
25Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers.
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 unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.
26τὸ πῦρ σου ψυχρὸν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἄπονοι οἱ καταπέλται, καὶ ἀδύνατος ἡ βία σου.
27And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:
27οὐ γὰρ τυράννου, ἀλλὰ θείου νόμου προεστήκασιν ἡμῶν οἱ δορυφόροι· διὰ τοῦτο ἀνίκητον ἔχομεν τὸν λογισμόν.
28If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.
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29Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:
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30Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.
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31And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.
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32I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.
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33Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
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34The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.
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35Whatsoever Lysias the king’s cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.
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36But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.
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37Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.
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38Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
no verse 38 in this text
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