1 και εν ετει δευτερω και εβδομηκοστω και εκατοστω συνηγαγεν δημητριος ο βασιλευς τας δυναμεις αυτου και επορευθη εις μηδιαν του επισπασασθαι βοηθειαν εαυτω οπως πολεμηση τον τρυφωνα | 1 In the year one hundred and seventy-two, King Demetrius assembled his army and marched into Media to obtain help so that he could fight Trypho. |
2 και ηκουσεν αρσακης ο βασιλευς της περσιδος και μηδιας οτι εισηλθεν δημητριος εις τα ορια αυτου και απεστειλεν ενα των αρχοντων αυτου συλλαβειν αυτον ζωντα | 2 When Arsaces, king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius had invaded his territory, he sent one of his generals to take him alive. |
3 και επορευθη και επαταξεν την παρεμβολην δημητριου και συνελαβεν αυτον και ηγαγεν αυτον προς αρσακην και εθετο αυτον εν φυλακη | 3 The general went forth and defeated the army of Demetrius; he captured him and brought him to Arsaces, who put him in prison. |
4 και ησυχασεν η γη ιουδα πασας τας ημερας σιμωνος και εζητησεν αγαθα τω εθνει αυτου και ηρεσεν αυτοις η εξουσια αυτου και η δοξα αυτου πασας τας ημερας | 4 The land was at rest all the days of Simon, who sought the good of his nation. His people were delighted with his power and his magnificence throughout his reign. |
5 και μετα πασης της δοξης αυτου ελαβεν την ιοππην εις λιμενα και εποιησεν εισοδον ταις νησοις της θαλασσης | 5 As his crowning glory he captured the port of Joppa and made it a gateway to the isles of the sea. |
6 και επλατυνεν τα ορια τω εθνει αυτου και εκρατησεν της χωρας | 6 He enlarged the borders of his nation and gained control of the country. |
7 και συνηγαγεν αιχμαλωσιαν πολλην και εκυριευσεν γαζαρων και βαιθσουρων και της ακρας και εξηρεν τας ακαθαρσιας εξ αυτης και ουκ ην ο αντικειμενος αυτω | 7 He took many enemies prisoners of war and made himself master of Gazara, Beth-zur, and the citadel. He cleansed the citadel of its impurities; there was no one to withstand him. |
8 και ησαν γεωργουντες την γην αυτων μετ' ειρηνης και η γη εδιδου τα γενηματα αυτης και τα ξυλα των πεδιων τον καρπον αυτων | 8 The people cultivated their land in peace; the land yielded its produce and the trees of the field their fruit. |
9 πρεσβυτεροι εν ταις πλατειαις εκαθηντο παντες περι αγαθων εκοινολογουντο και οι νεανισκοι ενεδυσαντο δοξας και στολας πολεμου | 9 Old men sat in the squares, all talking about the good times, while the young men wore the glorious apparel of war. |
10 ταις πολεσιν εχορηγησεν βρωματα και εταξεν αυτας εν σκευεσιν οχυρωσεως εως οτου ωνομασθη το ονομα της δοξης αυτου εως ακρου γης | 10 He supplied the cities with food and equipped them with means of defense, till his glorious name reached the ends of the earth. |
11 εποιησεν ειρηνην επι της γης και ευφρανθη ισραηλ ευφροσυνην μεγαλην | 11 He brought peace to the land, and Israel was filled with happiness. |
12 και εκαθισεν εκαστος υπο την αμπελον αυτου και την συκην αυτου και ουκ ην ο εκφοβων αυτους | 12 Every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, with no one to disturb him. |
13 και εξελιπεν πολεμων αυτους επι της γης και οι βασιλεις συνετριβησαν εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις | 13 No one was left to attack them in their land; the kings in those days were crushed. |
14 και εστηρισεν παντας τους ταπεινους του λαου αυτου τον νομον εξεζητησεν και εξηρεν παντα ανομον και πονηρον | 14 He strengthened all the lowly among his people and was zealous for the law; he suppressed all the lawless and the wicked. |
15 τα αγια εδοξασεν και επληθυνεν τα σκευη των αγιων | 15 He made the temple splendid and enriched its equipment. |
16 και ηκουσθη εν ρωμη οτι απεθανεν ιωναθαν και εως σπαρτης και ελυπηθησαν σφοδρα | 16 When people heard in Rome and even in Sparta that Jonathan had died, they were deeply grieved. |
17 ως δε ηκουσαν οτι σιμων ο αδελφος αυτου γεγονεν αρχιερευς αντ' αυτου και αυτος επικρατει της χωρας και των πολεων των εν αυτη | 17 But when the Romans heard that his brother Simon had been made high priest in his place and was master of the country and the cities, |
18 εγραψαν προς αυτον δελτοις χαλκαις του ανανεωσασθαι προς αυτον φιλιαν και συμμαχιαν ην εστησαν προς ιουδαν και ιωναθαν τους αδελφους αυτου | 18 they sent him inscribed tablets of bronze to renew with him the friendship and alliance that they had established with his brothers Judas and Jonathan. |
19 και ανεγνωσθησαν ενωπιον της εκκλησιας εν ιερουσαλημ | 19 These were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. |
20 και τουτο το αντιγραφον των επιστολων ων απεστειλαν οι σπαρτιαται σπαρτιατων αρχοντες και η πολις σιμωνι ιερει μεγαλω και τοις πρεσβυτεροις και τοις ιερευσιν και τω λοιπω δημω των ιουδαιων αδελφοις χαιρειν | 20 This is a copy of the letter that the Spartans sent: "The rulers and the citizens of Sparta send greetings to Simon the high priest, the elders, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people, our brothers. |
21 οι πρεσβευται οι αποσταλεντες προς τον δημον ημων απηγγειλαν ημιν περι της δοξης υμων και τιμης και ηυφρανθημεν επι τη εφοδω αυτων | 21 The envoys you sent to our people have informed us of your glory and fame, and we were happy that they came. |
22 και ανεγραψαμεν τα υπ' αυτων ειρημενα εν ταις βουλαις του δημου ουτως νουμηνιος αντιοχου και αντιπατρος ιασονος πρεσβευται ιουδαιων ηλθον προς ημας ανανεουμενοι την προς ημας φιλιαν | 22 In accordance with what they said we have recorded the following in the public decrees: Since Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, envoys of the Jews, have come to us to renew their friendship with us, |
23 και ηρεσεν τω δημω επιδεξασθαι τους ανδρας ενδοξως και του θεσθαι το αντιγραφον των λογων αυτων εν τοις αποδεδειγμενοις τω δημω βιβλιοις του μνημοσυνον εχειν τον δημον των σπαρτιατων το δε αντιγραφον τουτων εγραψαν σιμωνι τω αρχιερει | 23 the people have voted to receive the men with honor, and to deposit a copy of their words in the public archives, so that the people of Sparta may have a record of them. A copy of this decree has been made for Simon the high priest." |
24 μετα ταυτα απεστειλεν σιμων τον νουμηνιον εις ρωμην εχοντα ασπιδα χρυσην μεγαλην ολκην μνων χιλιων εις το στησαι προς αυτους την συμμαχιαν | 24 After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great gold shield weighing a thousand minas, to confirm the alliance with the Romans. |
25 ως δε ηκουσεν ο δημος των λογων τουτων ειπαν τινα χαριν αποδωσομεν σιμωνι και τοις υιοις αυτου | 25 When the people heard of these things, they said, "How can we thank Simon and his sons? |
26 εστηρισεν γαρ αυτος και οι αδελφοι αυτου και ο οικος του πατρος αυτου και επολεμησεν τους εχθρους ισραηλ απ' αυτων και εστησαν αυτω ελευθεριαν και κατεγραψαν εν δελτοις χαλκαις και εθεντο εν στηλαις εν ορει σιων | 26 He and his brothers and his father's house have stood firm and repulsed Israel's enemies. They have thus preserved its liberty." So they made an inscription on bronze tablets, which they affixed to pillars on Mount Zion. |
27 και τουτο το αντιγραφον της γραφης οκτωκαιδεκατη ελουλ ετους δευτερου και εβδομηκοστου και εκατοστου και τουτο τριτον ετος επι σιμωνος αρχιερεως μεγαλου εν ασαραμελ | 27 The following is a copy of the inscription: "On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, that is, the third year under Simon the high priest in Asaramel, |
28 επι συναγωγης μεγαλης ιερεων και λαου και αρχοντων εθνους και των πρεσβυτερων της χωρας εγνωρισεν ημιν | 28 in a great assembly of priests, people, rulers of the nation, and elders of the country, the following proclamation was made: |
29 επει πολλακις εγενηθησαν πολεμοι εν τη χωρα σιμων δε υιος ματταθιου ιερευς των υιων ιωαριβ και οι αδελφοι αυτου εδωκαν αυτους τω κινδυνω και αντεστησαν τοις υπεναντιοις του εθνους αυτων οπως σταθη τα αγια αυτων και ο νομος και δοξη μεγαλη εδοξασαν το εθνος αυτων | 29 "'Since there have often been wars in our country, Simon, son of the priest Mattathias, descendant of Joarib, and his brothers have put themselves in danger and resisted the enemies of their nation, so that their sanctuary and law might be maintained, and they have thus brought great glory to their nation. |
30 και ηθροισεν ιωναθαν το εθνος αυτων και εγενηθη αυτοις αρχιερευς και προσετεθη προς τον λαον αυτου | 30 After Jonathan had rallied his nation and become their high priest, he was gathered to his kinsmen. |
31 και εβουληθησαν οι εχθροι αυτων εμβατευσαι εις την χωραν αυτων και εκτειναι χειρας επι τα αγια αυτων | 31 When the enemies of the Jews sought to invade and devastate their country and to lay hands on their temple, |
32 τοτε αντεστη σιμων και επολεμησε περι του εθνους αυτου και εδαπανησεν χρηματα πολλα των εαυτου και οπλοδοτησεν τους ανδρας της δυναμεως του εθνους αυτου και εδωκεν αυτοις οψωνια | 32 Simon rose up and fought for his nation, spending large sums of his own money to equip the men of his nation's armed forces and giving them their pay. |
33 και ωχυρωσεν τας πολεις της ιουδαιας και την βαιθσουραν την επι των οριων της ιουδαιας ου ην τα οπλα των πολεμιων το προτερον και εθετο εκει φρουραν ανδρας ιουδαιους | 33 He fortified the cities of Judea, especially the frontier city of Beth-zur, where he stationed a garrison of Jewish soldiers, and where previously the enemy's arms had been stored. |
34 και ιοππην ωχυρωσεν την επι της θαλασσης και την γαζαραν την επι των οριων αζωτου εν η ωκουν οι πολεμιοι το προτερον και κατωκισεν εκει ιουδαιους και οσα επιτηδεια ην προς τη τουτων επανορθωσει εθετο εν αυτοις | 34 He also fortified Joppa by the sea and Gazara on the border of Azotus, a place previously occupied by the enemy; these cities he resettled with Jews, and furnished them with all that was necessary for their restoration. |
35 και ειδεν ο λαος την πιστιν του σιμωνος και την δοξαν ην εβουλευσατο ποιησαι τω εθνει αυτου και εθεντο αυτον ηγουμενον αυτων και αρχιερεα δια το αυτον πεποιηκεναι παντα ταυτα και την δικαιοσυνην και την πιστιν ην συνετηρησεν τω εθνει αυτου και εξεζητησεν παντι τροπω υψωσαι τον λαον αυτου | 35 When the Jewish people saw Simon's loyalty and the glory he planned to bring to his nation, they made him their leader and high priest because of all he had accomplished and the loyalty and justice he had shown his nation. In every way he sought to exalt his people. |
36 και εν ταις ημεραις αυτου ευοδωθη εν ταις χερσιν αυτου του εξαρθηναι τα εθνη εκ της χωρας αυτων και τους εν τη πολει δαυιδ τους εν ιερουσαλημ οι εποιησαν αυτοις ακραν εξ ης εξεπορευοντο και εμιαινον κυκλω των αγιων και εποιουν πληγην μεγαλην εν τη αγνεια | 36 "'In his time and under his guidance they succeeded in driving the Gentiles out of their country, especially those in the City of David in Jerusalem, who had built for themselves a citadel from which they used to sally forth to defile the environs of the temple and inflict grave injury on its purity. |
37 και κατωκισεν εν αυτη ανδρας ιουδαιους και ωχυρωσεν αυτην προς ασφαλειαν της χωρας και της πολεως και υψωσεν τα τειχη της ιερουσαλημ | 37 In this citadel he stationed Jewish soldiers, and he strengthened its fortifications for the defense of the land and the city, while he also raised the wall of Jerusalem to a greater height. |
38 και ο βασιλευς δημητριος εστησεν αυτω την αρχιερωσυνην κατα ταυτα | 38 Consequently, King Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood, |
39 και εποιησεν αυτον των φιλων αυτου και εδοξασεν αυτον δοξη μεγαλη | 39 made him one of his Friends, and conferred the highest honors on him. |
40 ηκουσεν γαρ οτι προσηγορευνται οι ιουδαιοι υπο ρωμαιων φιλοι και συμμαχοι και αδελφοι και οτι απηντησαν τοις πρεσβευταις σιμωνος ενδοξως | 40 He had indeed heard that the Romans had addressed the Jews as friends, allies, and brothers and that they had received Simon's envoys with honor. |
41 και οτι οι ιουδαιοι και οι ιερεις ευδοκησαν του ειναι αυτων σιμωνα ηγουμενον και αρχιερεα εις τον αιωνα εως του αναστηναι προφητην πιστον | 41 "'The Jewish people and their priest have, therefore, made the following decisions. Simon shall be their permanent leader and high priest until a true prophet arises. |
42 και του ειναι επ' αυτων στρατηγον και οπως μελη αυτω περι των αγιων καθισταναι δι' αυτου επι των εργων αυτων και επι της χωρας και επι των οπλων και επι των οχυρωματων | 42 He shall act as governor general over them, and shall have charge of the temple, to make regulations concerning its functions and concerning the country, its weapons and strongholds, |
43 και οπως μελη αυτω περι των αγιων και οπως ακουηται υπο παντων και οπως γραφωνται επι τω ονοματι αυτου πασαι συγγραφαι εν τη χωρα και οπως περιβαλληται πορφυραν και χρυσοφορη | 43 he shall be obeyed by all. All contracts made in the country shall be dated by his name. He shall have the right to wear royal purple and gold ornaments. |
44 και ουκ εξεσται ουθενι του λαου και των ιερεων αθετησαι τι τουτων και αντειπειν τοις υπ' αυτου ρηθησομενοις και επισυστρεψαι συστροφην εν τη χωρα ανευ αυτου και περιβαλλεσθαι πορφυραν και εμπορπουσθαι πορπην χρυσην | 44 It shall not be lawful for any of the people or priests to nullify any of these decisions, or to contradict the orders given by him, or to convene an assembly in the country without his consent, to be clothed in royal purple or wear an official gold brooch. |
45 ος δ' αν παρα ταυτα ποιηση η αθετηση τι τουτων ενοχος εσται | 45 Whoever acts otherwise or violates any of these prescriptions shall be liable to punishment. |
46 και ευδοκησεν πας ο λαος θεσθαι σιμωνι ποιησαι κατα τους λογους τουτους | 46 "'All the people approved of granting Simon the right to act in accord with these decisions, |
47 και επεδεξατο σιμων και ευδοκησεν αρχιερατευειν και ειναι στρατηγος και εθναρχης των ιουδαιων και ιερεων και του προστατησαι παντων | 47 and Simon accepted and agreed to act as high priest, governor general, and ethnarch of the Jewish people and priests and to exercise supreme authority over all.'" |
48 και την γραφην ταυτην ειπον θεσθαι εν δελτοις χαλκαις και στησαι αυτας εν περιβολω των αγιων εν τοπω επισημω | 48 It was decreed that this inscription should be engraved on bronze tablets, to be set up in a conspicuous place in the precincts of the temple, |
49 τα δε αντιγραφα αυτων θεσθαι εν τω γαζοφυλακιω οπως εχη σιμων και οι υιοι αυτου | 49 and that copies of it should be deposited in the treasury, where they would be available to Simon and his sons. |