ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β´ - 2 Maccabei- Maccabees II 3

LXX	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 της αγιας πολεως κατοικουμενης μετα πασης ειρηνης και των νομων οτι καλλιστα συντηρουμενων δια την ονιου του αρχιερεως ευσεβειαν τε και μισοπονηριαν	1 While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of evil,
2 συνεβαινεν και αυτους τους βασιλεις τιμαν τον τοπον και το ιερον αποστολαις ταις κρατισταις δοξαζειν	2 the kings themselves honored the Place and glorified the temple with the most magnificent gifts.
3 ωστε και σελευκον τον της ασιας βασιλεα χορηγειν εκ των ιδιων προσοδων παντα τα προς τας λειτουργιας των θυσιων επιβαλλοντα δαπανηματα	3 Thus Seleucus, king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary for the sacrificial services.
4 σιμων δε τις εκ της βενιαμιν φυλης προστατης του ιερου καθεσταμενος διηνεχθη τω αρχιερει περι της κατα την πολιν αγορανομιας	4 But a certain Simon, of the priestly course of Bilgah, who had been appointed superintendent of the temple, had a quarrel with the high priest about the supervision of the city market.
5 και νικησαι τον ονιαν μη δυναμενος ηλθεν προς απολλωνιον θαρσεου τον κατ' εκεινον τον καιρον κοιλης συριας και φοινικης στρατηγον	5 Since he could not prevail against Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,
6 και προσηγγειλεν περι του χρηματων αμυθητων γεμειν το εν ιεροσολυμοις γαζοφυλακιον ωστε το πληθος των διαφορων αναριθμητον ειναι και μη προσηκειν αυτα προς τον των θυσιων λογον ειναι δε δυνατον υπο την του βασιλεως εξουσιαν πεσειν ταυτα	6 and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was so full of untold riches that the total sum of money was incalculable and out of all proportion to the cost of the sacrifices, and that it would be possible to bring it all under the control of the king.
7 συμμειξας δε ο απολλωνιος τω βασιλει περι των μηνυθεντων αυτω χρηματων ενεφανισεν ο δε προχειρισαμενος ηλιοδωρον τον επι των πραγματων απεστειλεν δους εντολας την των προειρημενων χρηματων εκκομιδην ποιησασθαι	7 When Apollonius had an audience with the king, he informed him about the riches that had been reported to him. The king chose his minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to expropriate the aforesaid wealth.
8 ευθεως δε ο ηλιοδωρος εποιειτο την πορειαν τη μεν εμφασει ως τας κατα κοιλην συριαν και φοινικην πολεις εφοδευσαι τω πραγματι δε την του βασιλεως προθεσιν επιτελειν	8 So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king's purpose.
9 παραγενηθεις δε εις ιεροσολυμα και φιλοφρονως υπο του αρχιερεως της πολεως αποδεχθεις ανεθετο περι του γεγονοτος εμφανισμου και τινος ενεκεν παρεστιν διεσαφησεν επυνθανετο δε ει ταις αληθειαις ταυτα ουτως εχοντα τυγχανει	9 When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he asked if these things were really true.
10 του δε αρχιερεως υποδειξαντος παρακαταθηκας ειναι χηρων τε και ορφανων	10 The high priest explained that part of the money was a care fund for widows and orphans,
11 τινα δε και υρκανου του τωβιου σφοδρα ανδρος εν υπεροχη κειμενου ουτως ην διαβαλλων ο δυσσεβης σιμων τα δε παντα αργυριου τετρακοσια ταλαντα χρυσιου δε διακοσια	11 and a part was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the calumnies of the impious Simon, the total amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.
12 αδικηθηναι δε τους πεπιστευκοτας τη του τοπου αγιωσυνη και τη του τετιμημενου κατα τον συμπαντα κοσμον ιερου σεμνοτητι και ασυλια παντελως αμηχανον ειναι	12 He added that it was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the Place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world.
13 ο δε ηλιοδωρος δι' ας ειχεν βασιλικας εντολας παντως ελεγεν εις το βασιλικον αναλημπτεα ταυτα ειναι	13 But because of the orders he had from the king, Heliodorus said that in any case the money must be confiscated for the royal treasury.
14 ταξαμενος δε ημεραν εισηει την περι τουτων επισκεψιν οικονομησων ην δε ου μικρα καθ' ολην την πολιν αγωνια	14 So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was great distress throughout the city.
15 οι δε ιερεις προ του θυσιαστηριου εν ταις ιερατικαις στολαις ριψαντες εαυτους επεκαλουντο εις ουρανον τον περι παρακαταθηκης νομοθετησαντα τοις παρακαταθεμενοις ταυτα σωα διαφυλαξαι	15 Priests prostrated themselves in their priestly robes before the altar, and loudly begged him in heaven who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them.
16 ην δε ορωντα την του αρχιερεως ιδεαν τιτρωσκεσθαι την διανοιαν η γαρ οψις και το της χροας παρηλλαγμενον ενεφαινεν την κατα ψυχην αγωνιαν	16 Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed color of his face manifested the anguish of his soul.
17 περιεκεχυτο γαρ περι τον ανδρα δεος τι και φρικασμος σωματος δι' ων προδηλον εγινετο τοις θεωρουσιν το κατα καρδιαν ενεστος αλγος	17 The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart.
18 ετι δε εκ των οικιων αγεληδον εξεπηδων επι πανδημον ικετειαν δια το μελλειν εις καταφρονησιν ερχεσθαι τον τοπον	18 People rushed out of their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the Place was in danger of being profaned.
19 υπεζωσμεναι δε υπο τους μαστους αι γυναικες σακκους κατα τας οδους επληθυνον αι δε κατακλειστοι των παρθενων αι μεν συνετρεχον επι τους πυλωνας αι δε επι τα τειχη τινες δε δια των θυριδων διεξεκυπτον	19 Women, girded with sackcloth below their breasts, filled the streets; maidens secluded indoors ran together, some to the gates, some to the walls, others peered through the windows,
20 πασαι δε προτεινουσαι τας χειρας εις τον ουρανον εποιουντο την λιτανειαν	20 all of them with hands raised toward heaven, making supplication.
21 ελεειν δ' ην την του πληθους παμμιγη προπτωσιν την τε του μεγαλως αγωνιωντος αρχιερεως προσδοκιαν	21 It was pitiful to see the populace variously prostrated in prayer and the high priest full of dread and anguish.
22 οι μεν ουν επεκαλουντο τον παγκρατη κυριον τα πεπιστευμενα τοις πεπιστευκοσιν σωα διαφυλασσειν μετα πασης ασφαλειας	22 While they were imploring the almighty Lord to keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in trust,
23 ο δε ηλιοδωρος το διεγνωσμενον επετελει	23 Heliodorus went on with his plan.
24 αυτοθι δε αυτου συν τοις δορυφοροις κατα το γαζοφυλακιον ηδη παροντος ο των πνευματων και πασης εξουσιας δυναστης επιφανειαν μεγαλην εποιησεν ωστε παντας τους κατατολμησαντας συνελθειν καταπλαγεντας την του θεου δυναμιν εις εκλυσιν και δειλιαν τραπηναι	24 But just as he was approaching the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits who holds all power manifested himself in so striking a way that those who had been bold enough to follow Heliodorus were panic-stricken at God's power and fainted away in terror.
25 ωφθη γαρ τις ιππος αυτοις φοβερον εχων τον επιβατην και καλλιστη σαγη διακεκοσμημενος φερομενος δε ρυδην ενεσεισεν τω ηλιοδωρω τας εμπροσθιους οπλας ο δε επικαθημενος εφαινετο χρυσην πανοπλιαν εχων	25 There appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a dreadful rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hoofs. The rider was seen to be wearing golden armor.
26 ετεροι δε δυο προσεφανησαν αυτω νεανιαι τη ρωμη μεν εκπρεπεις καλλιστοι δε την δοξαν διαπρεπεις δε την περιβολην οι και περισταντες εξ εκατερου μερους εμαστιγουν αυτον αδιαλειπτως πολλας επιρριπτουντες αυτω πληγας	26 Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him innumerable blows.
27 αφνω δε πεσοντα προς την γην και πολλω σκοτει περιχυθεντα συναρπασαντες και εις φορειον ενθεντες	27 Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness. Men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher.
28 τον αρτι μετα πολλης παραδρομης και πασης δορυφοριας εις το προειρημενον εισελθοντα γαζοφυλακιον εφερον αβοηθητον εαυτω καθεστωτα φανερως την του θεου δυναστειαν επεγνωκοτες	28 The man who a moment before had entered that treasury with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard was carried away helpless, having clearly experienced the sovereign power of God.
29 και ο μεν δια την θειαν ενεργειαν αφωνος και πασης εστερημενος ελπιδος και σωτηριας ερριπτο	29 While he lay speechless and deprived of all hope of aid, due to an act of God's power,
30 οι δε τον κυριον ευλογουν τον παραδοξαζοντα τον εαυτου τοπον και το μικρω προτερον δεους και ταραχης γεμον ιερον του παντοκρατορος επιφανεντος κυριου χαρας και ευφροσυνης επεπληρωτο	30 the Jews praised the Lord who had marvelously glorified his holy Place; and the temple, charged so shortly before with fear and commotion, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the almighty Lord had manifested himself.
31 ταχυ δε τινες των του ηλιοδωρου συνηθων ηξιουν τον ονιαν επικαλεσασθαι τον υψιστον και το ζην χαρισασθαι τω παντελως εν εσχατη πνοη κειμενω	31 Soon some of the companions of Heliodorus begged Onias to invoke the Most High, praying that the life of the man who was about to expire might be spared.
32 υποπτος δε γενομενος ο αρχιερευς μηποτε διαλημψιν ο βασιλευς σχη κακουργιαν τινα περι τον ηλιοδωρον υπο των ιουδαιων συντετελεσθαι προσηγαγεν θυσιαν υπερ της του ανδρος σωτηριας	32 Fearing that the king might think that Heliodorus had suffered some foul play at the hands of the Jews, the high priest offered a sacrifice for the man's recovery.
33 ποιουμενου δε του αρχιερεως τον ιλασμον οι αυτοι νεανιαι παλιν εφανησαν τω ηλιοδωρω εν ταις αυταις εσθησεσιν εστολισμενοι και σταντες ειπον πολλας ονια τω αρχιερει χαριτας εχε δια γαρ αυτον σοι κεχαρισται το ζην ο κυριος	33 While the high priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men in the same clothing again appeared and stood before Heliodorus. "Be very grateful to the high priest Onias," they told him. "It is for his sake that the Lord has spared your life.
34 συ δε εξ ουρανου μεμαστιγωμενος διαγγελλε πασι το μεγαλειον του θεου κρατος ταυτα δε ειποντες αφανεις εγενοντο	34 Since you have been scourged by Heaven, proclaim to all men the majesty of God's power." When they had said this, they disappeared.
35 ο δε ηλιοδωρος θυσιαν ανενεγκας τω κυριω και ευχας μεγιστας ευξαμενος τω το ζην περιποιησαντι και τον ονιαν αποδεξαμενος ανεστρατοπεδευσεν προς τον βασιλεα	35 After Heliodorus had offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to him who had spared his life, he bade Onias farewell, and returned with his soldiers to the king.
36 εξεμαρτυρει δε πασιν απερ ην υπ' οψιν τεθεαμενος εργα του μεγιστου θεου	36 Before all men he gave witness to the deeds of the most high God that he had seen with his own eyes.
37 του δε βασιλεως επερωτησαντος τον ηλιοδωρον ποιος τις ειη επιτηδειος ετι απαξ διαπεμφθηναι εις ιεροσολυμα εφησεν	37 When the king asked Heliodorus who would be a suitable man to be sent to Jerusalem next, he answered:
38 ει τινα εχεις πολεμιον η πραγματων επιβουλον πεμψον αυτον εκει και μεμαστιγωμενον αυτον προσδεξη εανπερ και διασωθη δια το περι τον τοπον αληθως ειναι τινα θεου δυναμιν	38 "If you have an enemy or a plotter against the government, send him there, and you will receive him back well-flogged, if indeed he survives at all; for there is certainly some special divine power about the Place.
39 αυτος γαρ ο την κατοικιαν επουρανιον εχων εποπτης εστιν και βοηθος εκεινου του τοπου και τους παραγινομενους επι κακωσει τυπτων απολλυει	39 He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that Place and protects it, and he strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it."
40 και τα μεν κατα ηλιοδωρον και την του γαζοφυλακιου τηρησιν ουτως εχωρησεν	40 This was how the matter concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the treasury turned out.