ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β´ - 2 Maccabei- Maccabees II 4

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 ο δε προειρημενος σιμων ο των χρηματων και της πατριδος ενδεικτης γεγονως εκακολογει τον ονιαν ως αυτος τε ειη τον ηλιοδωρον επισεσεικως και των κακων δημιουργος καθεστηκως	1 The Simon mentioned above as the informer about the funds against his own country, made false accusation that it was Onias who threatened Heliodorus and instigated the whole miserable affair.
2 και τον ευεργετην της πολεως και τον κηδεμονα των ομοεθνων και ζηλωτην των νομων επιβουλον των πραγματων ετολμα λεγειν	2 He dared to brand as a plotter against the government the man who was a benefactor of the city, a protector of his compatriots, and a zealous defender of the laws.
3 της δε εχθρας επι τοσουτον προβαινουσης ωστε και δια τινος των υπο του σιμωνος δεδοκιμασμενων φονους συντελεισθαι	3 When Simon's hostility reached such a point that murders were being committed by one of his henchmen,
4 συνορων ο ονιας το χαλεπον της φιλονεικιας και απολλωνιον μενεσθεως τον κοιλης συριας και φοινικης στρατηγον συναυξοντα την κακιαν του σιμωνος	4 Onias saw that the opposition was serious and that Apollonius, son of Menestheus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, was abetting Simon's wickedness.
5 προς τον βασιλεα διεκομισθη ου γινομενος των πολιτων κατηγορος το δε συμφορον κοινη και κατ' ιδιαν παντι τω πληθει σκοπων	5 So he had recourse to the king, not as an accuser of his countrymen, but as a man looking to the general and particular good of all the people.
6 εωρα γαρ ανευ βασιλικης προνοιας αδυνατον ειναι τυχειν ειρηνης ετι τα πραγματα και τον σιμωνα παυλαν ου λημψομενον της ανοιας	6 He saw that, unless the king intervened, it would be impossible to have a peaceful government, and that Simon would not desist from his folly.
7 μεταλλαξαντος δε τον βιον σελευκου και παραλαβοντος την βασιλειαν αντιοχου του προσαγορευθεντος επιφανους υπενοθευσεν ιασων ο αδελφος ονιου την αρχιερωσυνην	7 But Seleucus died, and when Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes succeeded him on the throne, Onias' brother Jason obtained the high priesthood by corrupt means:
8 επαγγειλαμενος τω βασιλει δι' εντευξεως αργυριου ταλαντα εξηκοντα προς τοις τριακοσιοις και προσοδου τινος αλλης ταλαντα ογδοηκοντα	8 in an interview, he promised the king three hundred and sixty talents of silver, as well as eighty talents from another source of income.
9 προς δε τουτοις υπισχνειτο και ετερα διαγραφειν πεντηκοντα προς τοις εκατον εαν επιχωρηθη δια της εξουσιας αυτου γυμνασιον και εφηβειον αυτω συστησασθαι και τους εν ιεροσολυμοις αντιοχεις αναγραψαι	9 Besides this he agreed to pay a hundred and fifty more, if he were given authority to establish a gymnasium and a youth club for it and to enroll men in Jerusalem as Antiochians.
10 επινευσαντος δε του βασιλεως και της αρχης κρατησας ευθεως προς τον ελληνικον χαρακτηρα τους ομοφυλους μετεστησε	10 When Jason received the king's approval and came into office, he immediately initiated his countrymen into the Greek way of life.
11 και τα κειμενα τοις ιουδαιοις φιλανθρωπα βασιλικα δια ιωαννου του πατρος ευπολεμου του ποιησαμενου την πρεσβειαν υπερ φιλιας και συμμαχιας προς τους ρωμαιους παρωσας και τας μεν νομιμους καταλυων πολιτειας παρανομους εθισμους εκαινιζεν	11 He set aside the royal concessions granted to the Jews through the mediation of John, father of Eupolemus (that Eupolemus who would later go on an embassy to the Romans to establish a treaty of friendship with them); he abrogated the lawful institutions and introduced customs contrary to the law.
12 ασμενως γαρ υπ' αυτην την ακροπολιν γυμνασιον καθιδρυσεν και τους κρατιστους των εφηβων υποτασσων υπο πετασον ηγαγεν	12 He quickly established a gymnasium at the very foot of the acropolis, where he induced the noblest young men to wear the Greek hat.
13 ην δ' ουτως ακμη τις ελληνισμου και προσβασις αλλοφυλισμου δια την του ασεβους και ουκ αρχιερεως ιασωνος υπερβαλλουσαν αναγνειαν	13 The craze for Hellenism and foreign customs reached such a pitch, through the outrageous wickedness of the ungodly pseudo-high-priest Jason,
14 ωστε μηκετι περι τας του θυσιαστηριου λειτουργιας προθυμους ειναι τους ιερεις αλλα του μεν νεω καταφρονουντες και των θυσιων αμελουντες εσπευδον μετεχειν της εν παλαιστρη παρανομου χορηγιας μετα την του δισκου προσκλησιν	14 that the priests no longer cared about the service of the altar. Disdaining the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened, at the signal for the discus-throwing, to take part in the unlawful exercises on the athletic field.
15 και τας μεν πατρωους τιμας εν ουδενι τιθεμενοι τας δε ελληνικας δοξας καλλιστας ηγουμενοι	15 They despised what their ancestors had regarded as honors, while they highly prized what the Greeks esteemed as glory.
16 ων και χαριν περιεσχεν αυτους χαλεπη περιστασις και ων εζηλουν τας αγωγας και καθ' απαν ηθελον εξομοιουσθαι τουτους πολεμιους και τιμωρητας εσχον	16 Precisely because of this, they found themselves in serious trouble: the very people whose manner of life they emulated, and whom they desired to imitate in everything, became their enemies and oppressors.
17 ασεβειν γαρ εις τους θειους νομους ου ραδιον αλλα ταυτα ο ακολουθος καιρος δηλωσει	17 It is no light matter to flout the laws of God, as the following period will show.
18 αγομενου δε πενταετηρικου αγωνος εν τυρω και του βασιλεως παροντος	18 When the quinquennial games were held at Tyre in the presence of the king,
19 απεστειλεν ιασων ο μιαρος θεωρους ως απο ιεροσολυμων αντιοχεις οντας παρακομιζοντας αργυριου δραχμας τριακοσιας εις την του ηρακλεους θυσιαν ας και ηξιωσαν οι παρακομισαντες μη χρησθαι εις θυσιαν δια το μη καθηκειν εις ετεραν δε καταθεσθαι δαπανην	19 the vile Jason sent envoys as representatives of the Antiochians of Jerusalem, to bring there three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Hercules. But the bearers themselves decided that the money should not be spent on a sacrifice, as that was not right, but should be used for some other purpose.
20 επεσε μεν ουν ταυτα δια μεν τον αποστειλαντα εις την του ηρακλεους θυσιαν ενεκεν δε των παρακομιζοντων εις τας των τριηρεων κατασκευας	20 So the contribution destined by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules was in fact applied, by those who brought it, to the construction of triremes.
21 αποσταλεντος δε εις αιγυπτον απολλωνιου του μενεσθεως δια τα πρωτοκλισια του φιλομητορος βασιλεως μεταλαβων αντιοχος αλλοτριον αυτον των αυτου γεγονεναι πραγματων της καθ' αυτον ασφαλειας εφροντιζεν οθεν εις ιοππην παραγενομενος κατηντησεν εις ιεροσολυμα	21 When Apollonius, son of Menestheus, was sent to Egypt for the coronation of King Philometor, Antiochus learned that the king was opposed to his policies; so he took measures for his own security.
22 μεγαλομερως δε υπο του ιασωνος και της πολεως αποδεχθεις μετα δαδουχιας και βοων εισεδεχθη ειθ' ουτως εις την φοινικην κατεστρατοπεδευσεν	22 After going to Joppa, he proceeded to Jerusalem. There he was received with great pomp by Jason and the people of the city, who escorted him with torchlights and acclamations; following this, he led his army into Phoenicia.
23 μετα δε τριετη χρονον απεστειλεν ιασων μενελαον τον του προσημαινομενου σιμωνος αδελφον παρακομιζοντα τα χρηματα τω βασιλει και περι πραγματων αναγκαιων υπομνηματισμους τελεσοντα	23 Three years later Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforementioned Simon, to deliver the money to the king, and to obtain decisions on some important matters.
24 ο δε συσταθεις τω βασιλει και δοξασας αυτον τω προσωπω της εξουσιας εις εαυτον κατηντησεν την αρχιερωσυνην υπερβαλων τον ιασωνα ταλαντα αργυριου τριακοσια	24 When he had been introduced to the king, he flattered him with such an air of authority that he secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25 λαβων δε τας βασιλικας εντολας παρεγενετο της μεν αρχιερωσυνης ουδεν αξιον φερων θυμους δε ωμου τυραννου και θηρος βαρβαρου οργας εχων	25 He returned with the royal commission, but with nothing that made him worthy of the high priesthood; he had the temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a wild beast.
26 και ο μεν ιασων ο τον ιδιον αδελφον υπονοθευσας υπονοθευθεις υφ' ετερου φυγας εις την αμμανιτιν χωραν συνηλαστο	26 Then Jason, who had cheated his own brother and now saw himself cheated by another man, was driven out as a fugitive to the country of the Ammonites.
27 ο δε μενελαος της μεν αρχης εκρατει των δε επηγγελμενων τω βασιλει χρηματων ουδεν ευτακτει	27 Although Menelaus had obtained the office, he did not make any payments of the money he had promised to the king,
28 ποιουμενου δε την απαιτησιν σωστρατου του της ακροπολεως επαρχου προς τουτον γαρ ην η των διαφορων πραξις δι' ην αιτιαν οι δυο υπο του βασιλεως προσεκληθησαν	28 in spite of the demand of Sostratus, the commandant of the citadel, whose duty it was to collect the taxes. For this reason, both were summoned before the king.
29 και ο μεν μενελαος απελιπεν της αρχιερωσυνης διαδοχον λυσιμαχον τον εαυτου αδελφον σωστρατος δε κρατητα τον επι των κυπριων	29 Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus as his substitute in the high priesthood, while Sostratus left Crates, commander of the Cypriots, as his substitute.
30 τοιουτων δε συνεστηκοτων συνεβη ταρσεις και μαλλωτας στασιαζειν δια το αντιοχιδι τη παλλακη του βασιλεως εν δωρεα δεδοσθαι	30 While these things were taking place, the people of Tarsus and Mallus rose in revolt, because their cities had been given as a gift to Antiochis, the king's mistress.
31 θαττον ουν ο βασιλευς ηκεν καταστειλαι τα πραγματα καταλιπων τον διαδεχομενον ανδρονικον των εν αξιωματι κειμενων	31 The king, therefore, went off in haste to settle the affair, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, as his deputy.
32 νομισας δε ο μενελαος ειληφεναι καιρον ευφυη χρυσωματα τινα των του ιερου νοσφισαμενος εχαρισατο τω ανδρονικω και ετερα ετυγχανεν πεπρακως εις τε τυρον και τας κυκλω πολεις	32 Then Menelaus, thinking this a good opportunity, stole some gold vessels from the temple and presented them to Andronicus; he had already sold some other vessels in Tyre and in the neighboring cities.
33 α και σαφως επεγνωκως ο ονιας απηλεγχεν αποκεχωρηκως εις ασυλον τοπον επι δαφνης της προς αντιοχειαν κειμενης	33 When Onias had clear evidence of the facts, he made a public protest, after withdrawing to the inviolable sanctuary at Daphne, near Antioch.
34 οθεν ο μενελαος λαβων ιδια τον ανδρονικον παρεκαλει χειρωσασθαι τον ονιαν ο δε παραγενομενος επι τον ονιαν και πεισθεις επι δολω και δεξιασθεις μεθ' ορκων δους δεξιαν καιπερ εν υποψια κειμενος επεισεν εκ του ασυλου προελθειν ον και παραχρημα παρεκλεισεν ουκ αιδεσθεις το δικαιον	34 Thereupon Menelaus approached Andronicus privately and asked him to lay hands on Onias. So Andronicus went to Onias, and by treacherously reassuring him through sworn pledges with right hands joined, persuaded him, in spite of his suspicions, to leave the sanctuary. Then, without any regard for justice, he immediately put him to death.
35 δι' ην αιτιαν ου μονον ιουδαιοι πολλοι δε και των αλλων εθνων εδειναζον και εδυσφορουν επι τω του ανδρος αδικω φονω	35 As a result, not only the Jews, but many people of other nations as well, were indignant and angry over the unjust murder of the man.
36 του δε βασιλεως επανελθοντος απο των κατα κιλικιαν τοπων ενετυγχανον οι κατα πολιν ιουδαιοι συμμισοπονηρουντων και των ελληνων υπερ του παρα λογον τον ονιαν απεκτονησθαι	36 When the king returned from the region of Cilicia, the Jews of the city, together with the Greeks who detested the crime, went to see him about the murder of Onias.
37 ψυχικως ουν ο αντιοχος επιλυπηθεις και τραπεις επι ελεος και δακρυσας δια την του μετηλλαχοτος σωφροσυνην και πολλην ευταξιαν	37 Antiochus was deeply grieved and full of pity; he wept as he recalled the prudence and noble conduct of the deceased.
38 και πυρωθεις τοις θυμοις παραχρημα την του ανδρονικου πορφυραν περιελομενος και τους χιτωνας περιρρηξας περιαγαγων καθ' ολην την πολιν επ' αυτον τον τοπον ουπερ τον ονιαν ησεβησεν εκει τον μιαιφονον απεκοσμησεν του κυριου την αξιαν αυτω κολασιν αποδοντος	38 Inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped Andronicus of his purple robe, tore off his other garments, and had him led through the whole city to the very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias; and there he put the murderer to death. Thus the Lord rendered him the punishment he deserved.
39 γενομενων δε πολλων ιεροσυληματων κατα την πολιν υπο του λυσιμαχου μετα της του μενελαου γνωμης και διαδοθεισης εξω της φημης επισυνηχθη το πληθος επι τον λυσιμαχον χρυσωματων ηδη πολλων διενηνεγμενων	39 Many sacrilegious thefts had been committed by Lysimachus in the city with the connivance of Menelaus. When word was spread that a large number of gold vessels had been stolen, the people assembled in protest against Lysimachus.
40 επεγειρομενων δε των οχλων και ταις οργαις διεμπιπλαμενων καθοπλισας ο λυσιμαχος προς τρισχιλιους κατηρξατο χειρων αδικων προηγησαμενου τινος αυρανου προβεβηκοτος την ηλικιαν ουδεν δε ηττον και την ανοιαν	40 As the crowds, now thoroughly enraged, began to riot, Lysimachus launched an unjustified attack against them with about three thousand armed men under the leadership of Auranus, a man as advanced in folly as he was in years.
41 συνιδοντες δε και την επιθεσιν του λυσιμαχου συναρπασαντες οι μεν πετρους οι δε ξυλων παχη τινες δε εκ της παρακειμενης σποδου δρασσομενοι φυρδην ενετινασσον εις τους περι τον λυσιμαχον	41 Reacting against Lysimachus' attack, the people picked up stones or pieces of wood or handfuls of the ashes lying there and threw them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and his men.
42 δι' ην αιτιαν πολλους μεν αυτων τραυματιας εποιησαν τινας δε και κατεβαλον παντας δε εις φυγην συνηλασαν αυτον δε τον ιεροσυλον παρα το γαζοφυλακιον εχειρωσαντο	42 As a result, they wounded many of them and even killed a few, while they put all the rest to flight. The sacrilegious thief himself they slew near the treasury.
43 περι δε τουτων ενεστη κρισις προς τον μενελαον	43 Charges about this affair were brought against Menelaus.
44 καταντησαντος δε του βασιλεως εις τυρον επ' αυτου την δικαιολογιαν εποιησαντο οι πεμφθεντες τρεις ανδρες υπο της γερουσιας	44 When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented to him the justice of their cause.
45 ηδη δε λελειμμενος ο μενελαος επηγγειλατο χρηματα ικανα τω πτολεμαιω δορυμενους προς το πεισαι τον βασιλεα	45 But Menelaus, seeing himself on the losing side, promised Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, a substantial sum of money if he would win the king over.
46 οθεν απολαβων ο πτολεμαιος εις τι περιστυλον ως αναψυξοντα τον βασιλεα μετεθηκεν	46 So Ptolemy retired with the king under a colonnade, as if to get some fresh air, and persuaded him to change his mind.
47 και τον μεν της ολης κακιας αιτιον μενελαον απελυσεν των κατηγορημενων τοις δε ταλαιπωροις οιτινες ει και επι σκυθων ελεγον απελυθησαν ακαταγνωστοι τουτοις θανατον επεκρινεν	47 Menelaus, who was the cause of all the trouble, the king acquitted of the charges, while he condemned to death those poor men who would have been declared innocent even if they had pleaded their case before Scythians.
48 ταχεως ουν την αδικον ζημιαν υπεσχον οι περι πολεως και δημων και των ιερων σκευων προηγορησαντες	48 Thus, those who had prosecuted the case for the city, for the people, and for the sacred vessels, quickly suffered unjust punishment.
49 δι' ην αιτιαν και τυριοι μισοπονηρησαντες τα προς την κηδειαν αυτων μεγαλοπρεπως εχορηγησαν	49 For this reason, even some Tyrians were indignant over the crime and provided sumptuously for their burial.
50 ο δε μενελαος δια τας των κρατουντων πλεονεξιας εμενεν επι τη αρχη επιφυομενος τη κακια μεγας των πολιτων επιβουλος καθεστως	50 But Menelaus, thanks to the covetousness of the men in power, remained in office, where he grew in wickedness and became the chief plotter against his fellow citizens.