2 Maccabees 15

NEW JERUSALEM	GREEK BIBLE
1 Nicanor heard that Judas and his men were in the neighbourhood of Samaria, so he decided to attackthem, at no risk to himself, on the day of rest.	1 ο δε νικανωρ μεταλαβων τους περι τον ιουδαν οντας εν τοις κατα σαμαρειαν τοποις εβουλευσατο τη της καταπαυσεως ημερα μετα πασης ασφαλειας αυτοις επιβαλειν
2 Those Jews who had been compel ed to follow him, said, 'Do not massacre them in such a savage,barbarous way. Respect the day on which the All-seeing has conferred a special holiness.'	2 των δε κατα αναγκην συνεπομενων αυτω ιουδαιων λεγοντων μηδαμως ουτως αγριως και βαρβαρως απολεσης δοξαν δε απομερισον τη προτετιμημενη υπο του παντα εφορωντος μεθ' αγιοτητος ημερα
3 At this the triple-dyed scoundrel asked if there were in heaven a sovereign who had ordered thekeeping of the Sabbath day.	3 ο δε τρισαλιτηριος επηρωτησεν ει εστιν εν ουρανω δυναστης ο προστεταχως αγειν την των σαββατων ημεραν
4 When they answered, 'The living Lord himself, the Heavenly Sovereign, has ordered the observanceof the seventh day,'	4 των δ' αποφηναμενων εστιν ο κυριος ζων αυτος εν ουρανω δυναστης ο κελευσας ασκειν την εβδομαδα
5 he retorted, 'And I, as sovereign on earth, order you to take up arms and do the king's business.' Foral that, he did not manage to carry out his wicked plan.	5 ο δε ετερος καγω φησιν δυναστης επι της γης ο προστασσων αιρειν οπλα και τας βασιλικας χρειας επιτελειν ομως ου κατεσχεν επιτελεσαι το σχετλιον αυτου βουλημα
6 While Nicanor, in his unlimited boastfulness and pride, was planning to erect a general trophy with thespoils taken from Judas and his men,	6 και ο μεν νικανωρ μετα πασης αλαζονειας υψαυχενων διεγνωκει κοινον των περι τον ιουδαν συστησασθαι τροπαιον
7 Maccabaeus remained firm in his confident conviction that the Lord would stand by him.	7 ο δε μακκαβαιος ην αδιαλειπτως πεποιθως μετα πασης ελπιδος αντιλημψεως τευξασθαι παρα του κυριου
8 He urged his men not to be dismayed by the foreigners' attacks but, keeping in mind the help that hadcome to them from Heaven in the past, to be confident that this time too victory would be theirs with the help ofthe Almighty.	8 και παρεκαλει τους συν αυτω μη δειλιαν την των εθνων εφοδον εχοντας δε κατα νουν τα προγεγονοτα αυτοις απ' ουρανου βοηθηματα και τα νυν προσδοκαν την παρα του παντοκρατορος εσομενην αυτοις νικην
9 He put fresh heart into them by citing the Law and the Prophets and, by stirring up memories of thebattles they had already won, he fil ed them with new enthusiasm.	9 και παραμυθουμενος αυτους εκ του νομου και των προφητων προσυπομνησας δε αυτους και τους αγωνας ους ησαν εκτετελεκοτες προθυμοτερους αυτους κατεστησεν
10 Having thus aroused their courage, he ended his exhortation by demonstrating the treachery of theforeigners and how they had violated their oaths.	10 και τοις θυμοις διεγειρας αυτους παρηγγειλεν αμα παρεπιδεικνυς την των εθνων αθεσιαν και την των ορκων παραβασιν
11 Having armed each one of them not so much with the safety given by shield and lance as with thatconfidence which springs from noble language, he encouraged them al by describing to them a convincingdream -- a vision, as it were.	11 εκαστον δε αυτων καθοπλισας ου την ασπιδων και λογχων ασφαλειαν ως την εν τοις αγαθοις λογοις παρακλησιν και προσεξηγησαμενος ονειρον αξιοπιστον υπαρ τι παντας ηυφρανεν
12 What he had seen was this: Onias, the former high priest, that paragon of men, modest of bearingand gentle of manners, suitably eloquent and trained from boyhood in the practice of every virtue -- Onias wasstretching out his hands and praying for the whole Jewish community.	12 ην δε η τουτου θεωρια τοιαδε ονιαν τον γενομενον αρχιερεα ανδρα καλον και αγαθον αιδημονα μεν την απαντησιν πραον δε τον τροπον και λαλιαν προιεμενον πρεποντως και εκ παιδος εκμεμελετηκοτα παντα τα της αρετης οικεια τουτον τας χειρας προτειναντα κατευχεσθαι τω παντι των ιουδαιων συστηματι
13 Next, there appeared a man equal y remarkable for his great age and dignity and invested with amarvel ous and impressive air of majesty.	13 ειθ' ουτως επιφανηναι ανδρα πολια και δοξη διαφεροντα θαυμαστην δε τινα και μεγαλοπρεπεστατην ειναι την περι αυτον υπεροχην
14 Onias began to speak: 'This is a man', he said, 'who loves his brothers and prays much for thepeople and the holy city-Jeremiah, the prophet of God.'	14 αποκριθεντα δε τον ονιαν ειπειν ο φιλαδελφος ουτος εστιν ο πολλα προσευχομενος περι του λαου και της αγιας πολεως ιερεμιας ο του θεου προφητης
15 Jeremiah then stretched out his right hand and presented Judas with a golden sword, saying as hegave it,	15 προτειναντα δε ιερεμιαν την δεξιαν παραδουναι τω ιουδα ρομφαιαν χρυσην διδοντα δε προσφωνησαι ταδε
16 'Take this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you wil shatter the enemy.'	16 λαβε την αγιαν ρομφαιαν δωρον παρα του θεου δι' ης θραυσεις τους υπεναντιους
17 Encouraged by the noble words of Judas, which had the power to inspire valour and give the youngthe spirit of mature men, they decided not to entrench themselves in a camp, but bravely to take the offensiveand, in hand-to-hand fighting, to commit the result to the fortune of war, since the city, their holy religion and theTemple were in danger.	17 παρακληθεντες δε τοις ιουδου λογοις πανυ καλοις και δυναμενοις επ' αρετην παρορμησαι και ψυχας νεων επανδρωσαι διεγνωσαν μη στρατευεσθαι γενναιως δε εμφερεσθαι και μετα πασης ευανδριας εμπλακεντες κριναι τα πραγματα δια το και την πολιν και τα αγια και το ιερον κινδυνευειν
18 Their concern for their wives and children, their brothers and relatives, had shrunk to minuteimportance; their chief and greatest fear was for the consecrated Temple.	18 ην γαρ ο περι γυναικων και τεκνων ετι δε αδελφων και συγγενων εν ηττονι μερει κειμενος αυτοις μεγιστος δε και πρωτος ο περι του καθηγιασμενου ναου φοβος
19 Those left behind in the city felt a similar anxiety, alarmed as they were about the forthcomingencounter in the open country.	19 ην δε και τοις εν τη πολει κατειλημμενοις ου παρεργος αγωνια ταρασσομενοις της εν υπαιθρω προσβολης
20 Everyone now awaited the coming issue. The enemy had already concentrated their forces andstood formed up in order of battle, with the elephants drawn up in a strategic position and the cavalry disposedon the wings.	20 και παντων ηδη προσδοκωντων την εσομενην κρισιν και ηδη προσμειξαντων των πολεμιων και της στρατιας εκταγεισης και των θηριων επι μερος ευκαιρον αποκατασταθεντων της τε ιππου κατα κερας τεταγμενης
21 Maccabaeus took note of these masses confronting him, the glittering array of armour and the fierceaspect of the elephants; then, raising his hands to heaven, he called on the Lord who works miracles, in theknowledge that it is not by force of arms but as he sees fit to decide, that victory is granted by him to such asdeserve it.	21 συνιδων ο μακκαβαιος την των πληθων παρουσιαν και των οπλων την ποικιλην παρασκευην την τε των θηριων αγριοτητα ανατεινας τας χειρας εις τον ουρανον επεκαλεσατο τον τερατοποιον κυριον γινωσκων οτι ουκ εστιν δι' οπλων καθως δε εαν αυτω κριθη τοις αξιοις περιποιειται την νικην
22 His prayer was worded thus: 'You, Master, sent your angel in the days of Hezekiah king of Judaea,and he destroyed no less than one hundred and eighty-five thousand of Sennacherib's army;	22 ελεγεν δε επικαλουμενος τονδε τον τροπον συ δεσποτα απεστειλας τον αγγελον σου επι εζεκιου του βασιλεως της ιουδαιας και ανειλεν εκ της παρεμβολης σενναχηριμ εις εκατον ογδοηκοντα πεντε χιλιαδας
23 now, once again, Sovereign of heaven, send a good angel before us to spread terror and dismay.	23 και νυν δυναστα των ουρανων αποστειλον αγγελον αγαθον εμπροσθεν ημων εις δεος και τρομον
24 May these men be struck down by the might of your arm, since they have come with blasphemy ontheir lips to attack your holy people.' And on these words he finished.	24 μεγεθει βραχιονος σου καταπλαγειησαν οι μετα βλασφημιας παραγινομενοι επι τον αγιον σου λαον και ουτος μεν εν τουτοις εληξεν
25 Nicanor and his men advanced to the sound of trumpets and war songs,	25 οι δε περι τον νικανορα μετα σαλπιγγων και παιανων προσηγον
26 but the men of Judas closed with the enemy uttering invocations and prayers.	26 οι δε περι τον ιουδαν μετα επικλησεως και ευχων συνεμειξαν τοις πολεμιοις
27 Fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they cut down at least thirty-fivethousand men and were greatly cheered by this manifestation of God.	27 και ταις μεν χερσιν αγωνιζομενοι ταις δε καρδιαις προς τον θεον ευχομενοι κατεστρωσαν ουδεν ηττον μυριαδων τριων και πεντακισχιλιων τη του θεου μεγαλως ευφρανθεντες επιφανεια
28 When the engagement was over and they were withdrawing in triumph, they recognised Nicanor,lying dead in ful armour.	28 γενομενοι δε απο της χρειας και μετα χαρας αναλυοντες επεγνωσαν προπεπτωκοτα νικανορα συν τη πανοπλια
29 With shouting and confusion all around, they blessed the sovereign Master in their ancestral tongue.	29 γενομενης δε κραυγης και ταραχης ευλογουν τον δυναστην τη πατριω φωνη
30 He who, as protagonist, had devoted himself, body and soul, to his fel ow-citizens, and hadpreserved the love he felt even in youth for those of his own race, gave orders for Nicanor's head to be cut off,with his arm up to the shoulder, and taken to Jerusalem.	30 και προσεταξεν ο καθ' απαν σωματι και ψυχη πρωταγωνιστης υπερ των πολιτων ο την της ηλικιας ευνοιαν εις ομοεθνεις διαφυλαξας την του νικανορος κεφαλην αποτεμοντας και την χειρα συν τω ωμω φερειν εις ιεροσολυμα
31 When he arrived there himself, he cal ed his countrymen together, stationed the priests in front of thealtar and then sent for the people from the Citadel.	31 παραγενομενος δε εκει και συγκαλεσας τους ομοεθνεις και τους ιερεις προ του θυσιαστηριου στησας μετεπεμψατο τους εκ της ακρας
32 He showed them the head of the abominable Nicanor, and the hand which this infamous man hadstretched out so insolently against the holy House of the Almighty.	32 και επιδειξαμενος την του μιαρου νικανορος κεφαλην και την χειρα του δυσφημου ην εκτεινας επι τον αγιον του παντοκρατορος οικον εμεγαλαυχησεν
33 Then, cutting out godless Nicanor's tongue, he gave orders for it to be fed piecemeal to the birds,and for the salary of his folly to be hung up in front of the Temple.	33 και την γλωσσαν του δυσσεβους νικανορος εκτεμων εφη κατα μερος δωσειν τοις ορνεοις τα δ' επιχειρα της ανοιας κατεναντι του ναου κρεμασαι
34 At this, everyone sent blessings heavenwards to the glorious Lord, saying, 'Blessed be he who haspreserved his holy place from pol ution!'	34 οι δε παντες εις τον ουρανον ευλογησαν τον επιφανη κυριον λεγοντες ευλογητος ο διατηρησας τον εαυτου τοπον αμιαντον
35 He hung Nicanor's head from the Citadel, a clear and evident sign to al of the help of the Lord.	35 εξεδησεν δε την του νικανορος προτομην εκ της ακρας επιδηλον πασιν και φανερον της του κυριου βοηθειας σημειον
36 They al decreed by public vote never to let that day go by unobserved, but to celebrate thethirteenth day of the twelfth month, cal ed Adar in Aramaic, the eve of what is called the Day of Mordecai.	36 εδογματισαν δε παντες μετα κοινου ψηφισματος μηδαμως εασαι απαρασημαντον τηνδε την ημεραν εχειν δε επισημον την τρισκαιδεκατην του δωδεκατου μηνος αδαρ λεγεται τη συριακη φωνη προ μιας ημερας της μαρδοχαικης ημερας
37 So ends the episode of Nicanor, and as, since then, the city has remained in the possession of theHebrews, I shal bring my own work to an end here too.	37 των ουν κατα νικανορα χωρησαντων ουτως και απ' εκεινων των καιρων κρατηθεισης της πολεως υπο των εβραιων και αυτος αυτοθι τον λογον καταπαυσω
38 If it is wel composed and to the point, that is just what I wanted. If it is worthless and mediocre, thatis al I could manage.	38 και ει μεν καλως ευθικτως τη συνταξει τουτο και αυτος ηθελον ει δε ευτελως και μετριως τουτο εφικτον ην μοι
39 Just as it is injurious to drink wine by itself, or again water alone, whereas wine mixed with water ispleasant and produces a delightful sense of wel -being, so skil in presenting the incidents is what delights theunderstanding of those who read the book. And here I close.	39 καθαπερ γαρ οινον κατα μονας πινειν ωσαυτως δε και υδωρ παλιν πολεμιον ον δε τροπον οινος υδατι συγκερασθεις ηδυς και επιτερπη την χαριν αποτελει ουτως και το της κατασκευης του λογου τερπει τας ακοας των εντυγχανοντων τη συνταξει ενταυθα δε εσται η τελευτη .