| 1 μετ' ολιγον δε παντελως χρονισκον λυσιας επιτροπος του βασιλεως και συγγενης και επι των πραγματων λιαν βαρεως φερων επι τοις γεγονοσι | 1 Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of the government, being vexed at what had happened, |
| 2 συναθροισας περι τας οκτω μυριαδας και την ιππον απασαν παρεγινετο επι τους ιουδαιους λογιζομενος την μεν πολιν ελλησιν οικητηριον ποιησειν | 2 gathered about eighty thousand men and all his cavalry and came against the Jews. He intended to make the city a home for Greeks, |
| 3 το δε ιερον αργυρολογητον καθως τα λοιπα των εθνων τεμενη πρατην δε κατα ετος την αρχιερωσυνην ποιησειν | 3 and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the other nations, and to put up the high priesthood for sale every year. |
| 4 ουδαμως επιλογιζομενος το του θεου κρατος πεφρενωμενος δε ταις μυριασιν των πεζων και ταις χιλιασιν των ιππεων και τοις ελεφασιν τοις ογδοηκοντα | 4 He took no account whatever of the power of God, but was elated with his ten thousands of infantry, and his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants. |
| 5 εισελθων δε εις την ιουδαιαν και συνεγγισας βαιθσουρα οντι μεν ερυμνω χωριω ιεροσολυμων δε απεχοντι ωσει σταδιους πεντε τουτο εθλιβεν | 5 Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five leagues from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard. |
| 6 ως δε μετελαβον οι περι τον μακκαβαιον πολιορκουντα αυτον τα οχυρωματα μετα οδυρμων και δακρυων ικετευον συν τοις οχλοις τον κυριον αγαθον αγγελον αποστειλαι προς σωτηριαν τω ισραηλ | 6 When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, besought the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. |
| 7 αυτος δε πρωτος ο μακκαβαιος αναλαβων τα οπλα προετρεψατο τους αλλους αμα αυτω διακινδυνευοντας επιβοηθειν τοις αδελφοις αυτων ομου δε και προθυμως εξωρμησαν | 7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they eagerly rushed off together. |
| 8 αυτοθι δε προς τοις ιεροσολυμοις οντων εφανη προηγουμενος αυτων εφιππος εν λευκη εσθητι πανοπλιαν χρυσην κραδαινων | 8 And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold. |
| 9 ομου δε παντες ευλογησαν τον ελεημονα θεον και επερρωσθησαν ταις ψυχαις ου μονον ανθρωπους θηρας δε τους αγριωτατους και σιδηρα τειχη τιτρωσκειν οντες ετοιμοι | 9 And they all together praised the merciful God, and were strengthened in heart, ready to assail not only men but the wildest beasts or walls of iron. |
| 10 προηγον εν διασκευη τον απ' ουρανου συμμαχον εχοντες ελεησαντος αυτους του κυριου | 10 They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord had mercy on them. |
| 11 λεοντηδον δε εντιναξαντες εις τους πολεμιους κατεστρωσαν αυτων χιλιους προς τοις μυριοις ιππεις δε εξακοσιους προς τοις χιλιοις τους δε παντας ηναγκασαν φευγειν | 11 They hurled themselves like lions against the enemy, and slew eleven thousand of them and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee. |
| 12 οι πλειονες δε αυτων τραυματιαι γυμνοι διεσωθησαν και αυτος δε ο λυσιας αισχρως φευγων διεσωθη | 12 Most of them got away stripped and wounded, and Lysias himself escaped by disgraceful flight. |
| 13 ουκ ανους δε υπαρχων προς εαυτον αντιβαλλων το γεγονος περι αυτον ελαττωμα και συννοησας ανικητους ειναι τους εβραιους του δυναμενου θεου συμμαχουντος αυτοις | 13 And as he was not without intelligence, he pondered over the defeat which had befallen him, and realized that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought on their side. So he sent to them |
| 14 προσαποστειλας επεισεν συλλυεσθαι επι πασι τοις δικαιοις και διοτι και τον βασιλεα πεισει φιλον αυτοις αναγκαζων γενεσθαι | 14 and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms, promising that he would persuade the king, constraining him to be their friend. |
| 15 επενευσεν δε ο μακκαβαιος επι πασιν οις ο λυσιας παρεκαλει του συμφεροντος φροντιζων οσα γαρ ο μακκαβαιος επεδωκεν τω λυσια δια γραπτων περι των ιουδαιων συνεχωρησεν ο βασιλευς | 15 Maccabeus, having regard for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias urged. For the king granted every request in behalf of the Jews which Maccabeus delivered to Lysias in writing. |
| 16 ησαν γαρ αι γεγραμμεναι τοις ιουδαιοις επιστολαι παρα μεν λυσιου περιεχουσαι τον τροπον τουτον λυσιας τω πληθει των ιουδαιων χαιρειν | 16 The letter written to the Jews by Lysias was to this effect: "Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. |
| 17 ιωαννης και αβεσσαλωμ οι πεμφθεντες παρ' υμων επιδοντες τον υπογεγραμμενον χρηματισμον ηξιουν περι των δι' αυτου σημαινομενων | 17 John and Absalom, who were sent by you, have delivered your signed communication and have asked about the matters indicated therein. |
| 18 οσα μεν ουν εδει και τω βασιλει προσενεχθηναι διεσαφησα α δε ην ενδεχομενα συνεχωρησεν | 18 I have informed the king of everything that needed to be brought before him, and he has agreed to what was possible. |
| 19 εαν μεν ουν συντηρησητε την εις τα πραγματα ευνοιαν και εις το λοιπον πειρασομαι παραιτιος αγαθων γενεσθαι | 19 If you will maintain your good will toward the government, I will endeavor for the future to help promote your welfare. |
| 20 υπερ δε τουτων και των κατα μερος εντεταλμαι τουτοις τε και τοις παρ' εμου διαλεχθηναι υμιν | 20 And concerning these matters and their details, I have ordered these men and my representatives to confer with you. |
| 21 ερρωσθε ετους εκατοστου τεσσαρακοστου ογδοου διος κορινθιου τετραδι και εικαδι | 21 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Dioscorinthius twenty-fourth." |
| 22 η δε του βασιλεως επιστολη περιειχεν ουτως βασιλευς αντιοχος τω αδελφω λυσια χαιρειν | 22 The king's letter ran thus: "King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. |
| 23 του πατρος ημων εις θεους μετασταντος βουλομενοι τους εκ της βασιλειας αταραχους οντας γενεσθαι προς την των ιδιων επιμελειαν | 23 Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their own affairs. |
| 24 ακηκοοτες τους ιουδαιους μη συνευδοκουντας τη του πατρος επι τα ελληνικα μεταθεσει αλλα την εαυτων αγωγην αιρετιζοντας αξιουντας συγχωρηθηναι αυτοις τα νομιμα | 24 We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to Greek customs but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own customs be allowed them. |
| 25 αιρουμενοι ουν και τουτο το εθνος εκτος ταραχης ειναι κρινομεν το τε ιερον αποκατασταθηναι αυτοις και πολιτευεσθαι κατα τα επι των προγονων αυτων εθη | 25 Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also be free from disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live according to the customs of their ancestors. |
| 26 ευ ουν ποιησεις διαπεμψαμενος προς αυτους και δους δεξιας οπως ειδοτες την ημετεραν προαιρεσιν ευθυμοι τε ωσιν και ηδεως διαγινωνται προς τη των ιδιων αντιλημψει | 26 You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of good cheer and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs." |
| 27 προς δε το εθνος η του βασιλεως επιστολη τοιαδε ην βασιλευς αντιοχος τη γερουσια των ιουδαιων και τοις αλλοις ιουδαιοις χαιρειν | 27 To the nation the king's letter was as follows: "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting. |
| 28 ει ερρωσθε ειη αν ως βουλομεθα και αυτοι δε υγιαινομεν | 28 If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health. |
| 29 ενεφανισεν ημιν μενελαος βουλεσθαι κατελθοντας υμας γινεσθαι προς τοις ιδιοις | 29 Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after your own affairs. |
| 30 τοις ουν καταπορευομενοις μεχρι τριακαδος ξανθικου υπαρξει δεξια μετα της αδειας | 30 Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission |
| 31 χρησθαι τους ιουδαιους τοις εαυτων δαπανημασιν και νομοις καθα και το προτερον και ουδεις αυτων κατ' ουδενα τροπον παρενοχληθησεται περι των ηγνοημενων | 31 for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and none of them shall be molested in any way for what he may have done in ignorance. |
| 32 πεπομφα δε και τον μενελαον παρακαλεσοντα υμας | 32 And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you. |
| 33 ερρωσθε ετους εκατοστου τεσσαρακοστου ογδοου ξανθικου πεντεκαιδεκατη | 33 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." |
| 34 επεμψαν δε και οι ρωμαιοι προς αυτους επιστολην εχουσαν ουτως κοιντος μεμμιος τιτος μανιος πρεσβυται ρωμαιων τω δημω των ιουδαιων χαιρειν | 34 The Romans also sent them a letter, which read thus: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting. |
| 35 υπερ ων λυσιας ο συγγενης του βασιλεως συνεχωρησεν υμιν και ημεις συνευδοκουμεν | 35 With regard to what Lysias the kinsman of the king has granted you, we also give consent. |
| 36 α δε εκρινεν προσανενεχθηναι τω βασιλει πεμψατε τινα παραχρημα επισκεψαμενοι περι τουτων ινα εκθωμεν ως καθηκει υμιν ημεις γαρ προσαγομεν προς αντιοχειαν | 36 But as to the matters which he decided are to be referred to the king, as soon as you have considered them, send some one promptly, so that we may make proposals appropriate for you. For we are on our way to Antioch. |
| 37 διο σπευσατε και πεμψατε τινας οπως και ημεις επιγνωμεν οποιας εστε γνωμης | 37 Therefore make haste and send some men, so that we may have your judgment. |
| 38 υγιαινετε ετους εκατοστου τεσσαρακοστου ογδοου ξανθικου πεντεκαιδεκατη | 38 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." |
