ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 7

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 ετους ενος και πεντηκοστου και εκατοστου εξηλθεν δημητριος ο του σελευκου εκ ρωμης και ανεβη συν ανδρασιν ολιγοις εις πολιν παραθαλασσιαν και εβασιλευσεν εκει	1 In the year one hundred and fifty-one, Demetrius, son of Seleucus, set out from Rome, arrived with a few men in a city on the seacoast, and began to rule there.
2 και εγενετο ως εισεπορευετο εις οικον βασιλειας πατερων αυτου και συνελαβον αι δυναμεις τον αντιοχον και τον λυσιαν αγαγειν αυτους αυτω	2 As he was preparing to enter the royal palace of his ancestors, the soldiers seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them to him.
3 και εγνωσθη αυτω το πραγμα και ειπεν μη μοι δειξητε τα προσωπα αυτων	3 When he was informed of this, he said, "Do not show me their faces."
4 και απεκτειναν αυτους αι δυναμεις και εκαθισεν δημητριος επι θρονου βασιλειας αυτου	4 So the soldiers killed them, and Demetrius sat on the royal throne.
5 και ηλθον προς αυτον παντες ανδρες ανομοι και ασεβεις εξ ισραηλ και αλκιμος ηγειτο αυτων βουλομενος ιερατευειν	5 Then all the lawless and impious men of Israel came to him. They were led by Alcimus, who desired to be high priest.
6 και κατηγορησαν του λαου προς τον βασιλεα λεγοντες απωλεσεν ιουδας και οι αδελφοι αυτου παντας τους φιλους σου και ημας εσκορπισεν απο της γης ημων	6 They made this accusation to the king against the people: "Judas and his brothers have destroyed all your friends and have driven us out of our country.
7 νυν ουν αποστειλον ανδρα ω πιστευεις και πορευθεις ιδετω την εξολεθρευσιν πασαν ην εποιησεν ημιν και τη χωρα του βασιλεως και κολασατω αυτους και παντας τους επιβοηθουντας αυτοις	7 So now, send a man whom you trust to go and see all the havoc Judas has done to us and to the king's land, and let him punish them and all their supporters."
8 και επελεξεν ο βασιλευς τον βακχιδην των φιλων του βασιλεως κυριευοντα εν τω περαν του ποταμου και μεγαν εν τη βασιλεια και πιστον τω βασιλει	8 Then the king chose Bacchides, one of the King's Friends, governor of West-of-Euphrates, a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king.
9 και απεστειλεν αυτον και αλκιμον τον ασεβη και εστησεν αυτω την ιερωσυνην και ενετειλατο αυτω ποιησαι την εκδικησιν εν τοις υιοις ισραηλ	9 He sent him and the impious Alcimus, to whom he granted the high priesthood, with orders to take revenge on the Israelites.
10 και απηρον και ηλθον μετα δυναμεως πολλης εις γην ιουδα και απεστειλεν αγγελους προς ιουδαν και τους αδελφους αυτου λογοις ειρηνικοις μετα δολου	10 They set out and, on arriving in the land of Judah with a great army, sent messengers who spoke deceitfully to Judas and his brothers in peaceful terms.
11 και ου προσεσχον τοις λογοις αυτων ειδον γαρ οτι ηλθαν μετα δυναμεως πολλης	11 But these paid no attention to their words, seeing that they had come with a great army.
12 και επισυνηχθησαν προς αλκιμον και βακχιδην συναγωγη γραμματεων εκζητησαι δικαια	12 A group of scribes, however, gathered about Alcimus and Bacchides to ask for a just agreement.
13 και πρωτοι οι ασιδαιοι ησαν εν υιοις ισραηλ και επεζητουν παρ' αυτων ειρηνην	13 The Hasideans were the first among the Israelites to seek peace with them,
14 ειπον γαρ ανθρωπος ιερευς εκ σπερματος ααρων ηλθεν εν ταις δυναμεσιν και ουκ αδικησει ημας	14 for they said, "A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, and he will not do us any wrong."
15 και ελαλησεν μετ' αυτων λογους ειρηνικους και ωμοσεν αυτοις λεγων ουκ εκζητησομεν υμιν κακον και τοις φιλοις υμων	15 He spoke with them peacefully and swore to them, "We will not try to injure you or your friends."
16 και ενεπιστευσαν αυτω και συνελαβεν εξ αυτων εξηκοντα ανδρας και απεκτεινεν αυτους εν ημερα μια κατα τον λογον ον εγραψεν αυτον	16 So they trusted him. But he arrested sixty of them and killed them in one day, according to the text of Scripture:
17 σαρκας οσιων σου και αιμα αυτων εξεχεαν κυκλω ιερουσαλημ και ουκ ην αυτοις ο θαπτων	17 "The flesh of your saints they have strewn, and their blood they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them."
18 και επεπεσεν αυτων ο φοβος και ο τρομος εις παντα τον λαον οτι ειπον ουκ εστιν εν αυτοις αληθεια και κρισις παρεβησαν γαρ την στασιν και τον ορκον ον ωμοσαν	18 Then fear and dread of them came upon all the people, who said: "There is no truth or justice among them; they violated the agreement and the oath that they swore."
19 και απηρεν βακχιδης απο ιερουσαλημ και παρενεβαλεν εν βηθζαιθ και απεστειλεν και συνελαβεν πολλους απο των μετ' αυτου αυτομολησαντων ανδρων και τινας του λαου και εθυσεν αυτους εις το φρεαρ το μεγα	19 Bacchides withdrew from Jerusalem and pitched his camp in Beth-zaith. He had many of the men arrested who deserted to him, throwing them into the great pit.
20 και κατεστησεν την χωραν τω αλκιμω και αφηκεν μετ' αυτου δυναμιν του βοηθειν αυτω και απηλθεν βακχιδης προς τον βασιλεα	20 He handed the province over to Alcimus, leaving troops to help him, while he himself returned to the king.
21 και ηγωνισατο αλκιμος περι της αρχιερωσυνης	21 Alcimus spared no pains to maintain his high priesthood,
22 και συνηχθησαν προς αυτον παντες οι ταρασσοντες τον λαον αυτων και κατεκρατησαν γην ιουδα και εποιησαν πληγην μεγαλην εν ισραηλ	22 and all those who were disturbing their people gathered about him. They took possession of the land of Judah and caused great distress in Israel.
23 και ειδεν ιουδας πασαν την κακιαν ην εποιησεν αλκιμος και οι μετ' αυτου εν υιοις ισραηλ υπερ τα εθνη	23 When Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus and his men were bringing upon the Israelites, more than even the Gentiles had done,
24 και εξηλθεν εις παντα τα ορια της ιουδαιας κυκλοθεν και εποιησεν εκδικησιν εν τοις ανδρασιν τοις αυτομολησασιν και ανεσταλησαν του εκπορευεσθαι εις την χωραν	24 he went about all the borders of Judea and took revenge on the men who had deserted, preventing them from going out into the country.
25 ως δε ειδεν αλκιμος οτι ενισχυσεν ιουδας και οι μετ' αυτου και εγνω οτι ου δυναται υποστηναι αυτους και επεστρεψεν προς τον βασιλεα και κατηγορησεν αυτων πονηρα	25 But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his followers were gaining strength and realized that he could not oppose them, he returned to the king and accused them of grave crimes.
26 και απεστειλεν ο βασιλευς νικανορα ενα των αρχοντων αυτου των ενδοξων και μισουντα και εχθραινοντα τω ισραηλ και ενετειλατο αυτω εξαραι τον λαον	26 Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his famous officers, who was a bitter enemy of Israel, with orders to destroy the people.
27 και ηλθεν νικανωρ εις ιερουσαλημ δυναμει πολλη και απεστειλεν προς ιουδαν και τους αδελφους αυτου μετα δολου λογοις ειρηνικοις λεγων	27 Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force and deceitfully sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message:
28 μη εστω μαχη ανα μεσον εμου και υμων ηξω εν ανδρασιν ολιγοις ινα ιδω υμων τα προσωπα μετ' ειρηνης	28 "Let there be no fight between me and you. I will come with a few men to meet you peaceably."
29 και ηλθεν προς ιουδαν και ησπασαντο αλληλους ειρηνικως και οι πολεμιοι ετοιμοι ησαν εξαρπασαι τον ιουδαν	29 So he came to Judas, and they greeted one another peaceably. But Judas' enemies were prepared to seize him.
30 και εγνωσθη ο λογος τω ιουδα οτι μετα δολου ηλθεν επ' αυτον και επτοηθη απ' αυτου και ουκ εβουληθη ετι ιδειν το προσωπον αυτου	30 When he became aware that Nicanor had come to him with treachery in mind, Judas was afraid and would not meet him again.
31 και εγνω νικανωρ οτι απεκαλυφθη η βουλη αυτου και εξηλθεν εις συναντησιν τω ιουδα εν πολεμω κατα χαφαρσαλαμα	31 When Nicanor saw that his plan had been discovered, he went out to fight Judas near Capharsalama.
32 και επεσον των παρα νικανορος ωσει πεντακοσιοι ανδρες και εφυγον εις την πολιν δαυιδ	32 About five hundred men of Nicanor's army fell; the rest fled to the City of David.
33 και μετα τους λογους τουτους ανεβη νικανωρ εις ορος σιων και εξηλθον απο των ιερεων εκ των αγιων και απο των πρεσβυτερων του λαου ασπασασθαι αυτον ειρηνικως και δειξαι αυτω την ολοκαυτωσιν την προσφερομενην υπερ του βασιλεως	33 After this, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the people came out to greet him peaceably and to show him the holocaust that was being offered for the king.
34 και εμυκτηρισεν αυτους και κατεγελασεν αυτων και εμιανεν αυτους και ελαλησεν υπερηφανως	34 But he mocked and ridiculed them, defiled them, and spoke disdainfully.
35 και ωμοσεν μετα θυμου λεγων εαν μη παραδοθη ιουδας και η παρεμβολη αυτου εις χειρας μου το νυν και εσται εαν επιστρεψω εν ειρηνη εμπυριω τον οικον τουτον και εξηλθεν μετα θυμου μεγαλου	35 In a rage he swore: "If Judas and his army are not delivered to me at once, when I return victorious I will burn this temple down." He went away in great anger.
36 και εισηλθον οι ιερεις και εστησαν κατα προσωπον του θυσιαστηριου και του ναου και εκλαυσαν και ειπον	36 The priests, however, went in and stood before the altar and the sanctuary. They wept and said:
37 συ εξελεξω τον οικον τουτον επικληθηναι το ονομα σου επ' αυτου ειναι οικον προσευχης και δεησεως τω λαω σου	37 "You have chosen this house to bear your name, to be a house of prayer and petition for your people.
38 ποιησον εκδικησιν εν τω ανθρωπω τουτω και εν τη παρεμβολη αυτου και πεσετωσαν εν ρομφαια μνησθητι των δυσφημιων αυτων και μη δως αυτοις μονην	38 Take revenge on this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword. Remember their blasphemies, and do not let them continue."
39 και εξηλθεν νικανωρ εξ ιερουσαλημ και παρενεβαλεν εν βαιθωρων και συνηντησεν αυτω δυναμις συριας	39 Nicanor left Jerusalem and pitched his camp at Beth-horon, where the Syrian army joined him.
40 και ιουδας παρενεβαλεν εν αδασα εν τρισχιλιοις ανδρασιν και προσηυξατο ιουδας και ειπεν	40 But Judas camped in Adasa with three thousand men. Here Judas uttered this prayer:
41 οι παρα του βασιλεως οτε εδυσφημησαν εξηλθεν ο αγγελος σου και επαταξεν εν αυτοις εκατον ογδοηκοντα πεντε χιλιαδας	41 "When they who were sent by the king blasphemed, your angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of them.
42 ουτως συντριψον την παρεμβολην ταυτην ενωπιον ημων σημερον και γνωτωσαν οι επιλοιποι οτι κακως ελαλησεν επι τα αγια σου και κρινον αυτον κατα την κακιαν αυτου	42 In the same way, crush this army before us today, and let the rest know that Nicanor spoke wickedly against your sanctuary; judge him according to his wickedness."
43 και συνηψαν αι παρεμβολαι εις πολεμον τη τρισκαιδεκατη του μηνος αδαρ και συνετριβη η παρεμβολη νικανορος και επεσεν αυτος πρωτος εν τω πολεμω	43 The armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. Nicanor's army was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle.
44 ως δε ειδεν η παρεμβολη αυτου οτι επεσεν νικανωρ ριψαντες τα οπλα εφυγον	44 When his army saw that Nicanor was dead, they threw down their arms and fled.
45 και κατεδιωκον αυτους οδον ημερας μιας απο αδασα εως του ελθειν εις γαζηρα και εσαλπιζον οπισω αυτων ταις σαλπιγξιν των σημασιων	45 The Jews pursued them a day's journey, from Adasa to near Gazara, blowing the trumpets behind them as signals.
46 και εξηλθον εκ πασων των κωμων της ιουδαιας κυκλοθεν και υπερεκερων αυτους και απεστρεφον ουτοι προς τουτους και επεσον παντες ρομφαια και ου κατελειφθη εξ αυτων ουδε εις	46 From all the surrounding villages of Judea people came out and closed in on them. They hemmed them in, and all the enemies fell by the sword; not a single one escaped.
47 και ελαβον τα σκυλα και την προνομην και την κεφαλην νικανορος αφειλον και την δεξιαν αυτου ην εξετεινεν υπερηφανως και ηνεγκαν και εξετειναν παρα τη ιερουσαλημ	47 Then the Jews collected the spoils and the booty; they cut off Nicanor's head and his right arm, which he had lifted up so arrogantly. These they brought to Jerusalem and displayed there.
48 και ηυφρανθη ο λαος σφοδρα και ηγαγον την ημεραν εκεινην ημεραν ευφροσυνης μεγαλην	48 The people rejoiced greatly, and observed that day as a great festival.
49 και εστησαν του αγειν κατ' ενιαυτον την ημεραν ταυτην τη τρισκαιδεκατη του αδαρ	49 They decreed that it should be observed every year on the thirteenth of Adar.
50 και ησυχασεν η γη ιουδα ημερας ολιγας	50 And for a short time the land of Judah was quiet.