2 Maccabees 8

NEW JERUSALEM	LXX
1 Judas, otherwise known as Maccabaeus, and his companions made their way secretly among thevil ages, ral ying their fellow-countrymen; they recruited those who remained loyal to Judaism and assembledabout six thousand.	1 ιουδας δε ο και μακκαβαιος και οι συν αυτω παρεισπορευομενοι λεληθοτως εις τας κωμας προσεκαλουντο τους συγγενεις και τους μεμενηκοτας εν τω ιουδαισμω προσλαμβανομενοι συνηγαγον εις εξακισχιλιους
2 They cal ed on the Lord to have regard for the people oppressed on al sides, to take pity on theTemple profaned by the godless,	2 και επεκαλουντο τον κυριον επιδειν τον υπο παντων καταπατουμενον λαον οικτιραι δε και τον ναον τον υπο των ασεβων ανθρωπων βεβηλωθεντα
3 to have mercy on the city now being destroyed and level ed to the ground, to hear the blood of thevictims that cried aloud to him,	3 ελεησαι δε και την καταφθειρομενην πολιν και μελλουσαν ισοπεδον γινεσθαι και των καταβοωντων προς αυτον αιματων εισακουσαι
4 to remember too the criminal slaughter of innocent babies and to avenge the blasphemies perpetratedagainst his name.	4 μνησθηναι δε και της των αναμαρτητων νηπιων παρανομου απωλειας και περι των γενομενων εις το ονομα αυτου βλασφημιων και μισοπονηρησαι
5 As soon as Maccabaeus had an organised force, he at once proved invincible to the foreigners, theLord's anger having turned into compassion.	5 γενομενος δε ο μακκαβαιος εν συστεματι ανυποστατος ηδη τοις εθνεσιν εγινετο της οργης του κυριου εις ελεον τραπεισης
6 Making surprise attacks on towns and villages, he fired them; he captured favourable positions andinflicted very heavy losses on the enemy,	6 πολεις δε και κωμας απροσδοκητως ερχομενος ενεπιμπρα και τους επικαιρους τοπους απολαμβανων ουκ ολιγους των πολεμιων τροπουμενος
7 general y availing himself of the cover of night for such enterprises. The fame of his valour spread farand wide.	7 μαλιστα τας νυκτας προς τας τοιαυτας επιβολας συνεργους ελαμβανεν και λαλια της ευανδριας αυτου διηχειτο πανταχη
8 When Philip saw Judas was making steady progress and winning more and more frequent successes,he wrote to Ptolemy, the general officer commanding Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, asking for reinforcements inthe royal interest.	8 συνορων δε ο φιλιππος κατα μικρον εις προκοπην ερχομενον τον ανδρα πυκνοτερον δε εν ταις ευημεριαις προβαινοντα προς πτολεμαιον τον κοιλης συριας και φοινικης στρατηγον εγραψεν επιβοηθειν τοις του βασιλεως πραγμασιν
9 Ptolemy chose Nicanor son of Patroclus, one of the king's First Friends, and sent him without delay atthe head of an international force of at least twenty thousand men to exterminate the entire Jewish race. As hisassociate he appointed Gorgias, a professional general of wide military experience.	9 ο δε ταχεως προχειρισαμενος νικανορα τον του πατροκλου των πρωτων φιλων απεστειλεν υποταξας παμφυλων εθνη ουκ ελαττους των δισμυριων το συμπαν της ιουδαιας εξαραι γενος συνεστησεν δε αυτω και γοργιαν ανδρα στρατηγον και εν πολεμικαις χρειαις πειραν εχοντα
10 Nicanor for his part proposed, by the sale of Jewish prisoners of war, to raise the two thousand talentsof tribute money owed by the king to the Romans.	10 διεστησατο δε ο νικανωρ τον φορον τω βασιλει τοις ρωμαιοις οντα ταλαντων δισχιλιων εκ της των ιουδαιων αιχμαλωσιας εκπληρωσειν
11 He lost no time in sending the seaboard towns an invitation to come and buy Jewish manpower,promising delivery of ninety head for one talent; but he did not reckon on the judgement from the Almighty thatwas soon to overtake him.	11 ευθεως δε εις τας παραθαλασσιους πολεις απεστειλεν προκαλουμενος επ' αγορασμον ιουδαιων σωματων υπισχνουμενος ενενηκοντα σωματα ταλαντου παραχωρησειν ου προσδεχομενος την παρα του παντοκρατορος μελλουσαν παρακολουθησειν επ' αυτω δικην
12 When news reached Judas of Nicanor's advance, he warned his men of the enemy's approach,	12 τω δε ιουδα προσεπεσεν περι της του νικανορος εφοδου και μεταδοντος τοις συν αυτω την παρουσιαν του στρατοπεδου
13 whereupon the cowardly ones and those who lacked confidence in the justice of God took to theirheels and ran away.	13 οι δειλανδρουντες και απιστουντες την του θεου δικην διεδιδρασκον εαυτους και εξετοπιζον
14 The rest sold al their remaining possessions, at the same time praying the Lord to deliver them fromthe godless Nicanor, who had sold them even in advance of any encounter-	14 οι δε τα περιλελειμμενα παντα επωλουν ομου δε τον κυριον ηξιουν ρυσασθαι τους υπο του δυσσεβους νικανορος πριν συντυχειν πεπραμενους
15 if not for their own sakes, then at least out of consideration for the covenants made with theirancestors, and because they themselves bore his sacred and majestic name.	15 και ει μη δι' αυτους αλλα δια τας προς τους πατερας αυτων διαθηκας και ενεκα της επ' αυτους επικλησεως του σεμνου και μεγαλοπρεπους ονοματος αυτου
16 Maccabaeus marshal ed his men, who numbered about six thousand, and exhorted them not to bedismayed at the enemy or discouraged at the vast horde of gentiles wickedly advancing against them, but tofight bravely,	16 συναγαγων δε ο μακκαβαιος τους περι αυτον οντας αριθμον εξακισχιλιους παρεκαλει μη καταπλαγηναι τοις πολεμιοις μηδε ευλαβεισθαι την των αδικως παραγινομενων επ' αυτους εθνων πολυπληθειαν αγωνισασθαι δε γενναιως
17 keeping before their eyes the outrage committed by them against the holy place and the infamous andscornful treatment inflicted on the city, not to mention the destruction of their traditional way of life.	17 προ οφθαλμων λαβοντας την ανομως εις τον αγιον τοπον συντετελεσμενην υπ' αυτων υβριν και τον της εμπεπαιγμενης πολεως αικισμον ετι δε την της προγονικης πολιτειας καταλυσιν
18 'They may put their trust in their weapons and their exploits,' he said, 'but our confidence is in almightyGod, who is able with a single nod to overthrow both those marching on us and the whole world with them.'	18 οι μεν γαρ οπλοις πεποιθασιν αμα και τολμαις εφησεν ημεις δε επι τω παντοκρατορι θεω δυναμενω και τους ερχομενους εφ' ημας και τον ολον κοσμον ενι νευματι καταβαλειν πεποιθαμεν
19 He reminded them of the occasions on which their ancestors had received help: that time when, underSennacherib, a hundred and eighty-five thousand men had perished;	19 προσαναλεξαμενος δε αυτοις και τας επι των προγονων γενομενας αντιλημψεις και την επι σενναχηριμ εκατον ογδοηκοντα πεντε χιλιαδες ως απωλοντο
20 that time in Babylonia when in the battle with the Galatians the Jewish combatants numbered onlyeight thousand, with four thousand Macedonians, yet when the Macedonians were hard pressed, the eightthousand had destroyed a hundred and twenty thousand, thanks to the help they had received from Heaven, andhad taken great booty as a result.	20 και την εν τη βαβυλωνια την προς τους γαλατας παραταξιν γενομενην ως οι παντες επι την χρειαν ηλθον οκτακισχιλιοι συν μακεδοσιν τετρακισχιλιοις των μακεδονων απορουμενων οι οκτακισχιλιοι τας δωδεκα μυριαδας απωλεσαν δια την γινομενην αυτοις απ' ουρανου βοηθειαν και ωφελειαν πολλην ελαβον
21 Having so roused their courage by these words that they were ready to die for the laws and theircountry, he then divided his army into four,	21 εφ' οις ευθαρσεις αυτους παραστησας και ετοιμους υπερ των νομων και της πατριδος αποθνησκειν τετραμερες τι το στρατευμα εποιησεν
22 putting his brothers, Simon, Joseph and Jonathan in command of one division each, and assigningthem fifteen hundred men apiece.	22 ταξας και τους αδελφους αυτου προηγουμενους εκατερας ταξεως σιμωνα και ιωσηπον και ιωναθην υποταξας εκαστω χιλιους προς τοις πεντακοσιοις
23 Next, he ordered Esdrias to read the Holy Book aloud and gave them their watchword 'Help fromGod'. Then, putting himself at the head of the first division, he attacked Nicanor.	23 ετι δε και ελεαζαρον παραναγνους την ιεραν βιβλον και δους συνθημα θεου βοηθειας της πρωτης σπειρας αυτος προηγουμενος συνεβαλε τω νικανορι
24 With the Almighty for their ally they slaughtered over nine thousand of the enemy, wounded andcrippled the greater part of Nicanor's army and put them al to flight.	24 γενομενου δε αυτοις του παντοκρατορος συμμαχου κατεσφαξαν των πολεμιων υπερ τους ενακισχιλιους τραυματιας δε και τοις μελεσιν αναπειρους το πλειον μερος της του νικανορος στρατιας εποιησαν παντας δε φυγειν ηναγκασαν
25 The money of their prospective purchasers fell into their hands. After pursuing them for a good while,they turned back, since time was pressing:	25 τα δε χρηματα των παραγεγονοτων επι τον αγορασμον αυτων ελαβον συνδιωξαντες δε αυτους εφ' ικανον ανελυσαν υπο της ωρας συγκλειομενοι
26 it was the eve of the Sabbath, and for that reason they did not prolong their pursuit.	26 ην γαρ η προ του σαββατου δι' ην αιτιαν ουκ εμακροτονησαν κατατρεχοντες αυτους
27 They col ected the enemy's weapons and stripped them of their spoils, and because of the Sabbatheven more heartily blessed and praised the Lord, who had saved them and who had chosen that day for the firstmanifestation of his compassion.	27 οπλολογησαντες δε αυτους και τα σκυλα εκδυσαντες των πολεμιων περι το σαββατον εγινοντο περισσως ευλογουντες και εξομολογουμενοι τω κυριω τω διασωσαντι εις την ημεραν ταυτην αρχην ελεους ταξαντος αυτοις
28 When the Sabbath was over, they distributed some of the booty among the victims of the persecutionand the widows and orphans; the rest they divided among themselves and their children.	28 μετα δε το σαββατον τοις ηκισμενοις και ταις χηραις και ορφανοις μερισαντες απο των σκυλων τα λοιπα αυτοι και τα παιδια διεμερισαντο
29 They then joined in public supplication, imploring the merciful Lord to be ful y reconciled with hisservants.	29 ταυτα δε διαπραξαμενοι και κοινην ικετειαν ποιησαμενοι τον ελεημονα κυριον ηξιουν εις τελος καταλλαγηναι τοις αυτου δουλοις
30 They also chal enged the forces of Timotheus and Bacchides and destroyed over twenty thousand ofthem, gaining possession of several high fortresses. They divided their enormous booty into two equal shares,one for themselves, the other for the victims of the persecution and the orphans and widows, not forgetting theaged.	30 και τοις περι τιμοθεον και βακχιδην συνερισαντες υπερ τους δισμυριους αυτων ανειλον και οχυρωματων υψηλων ευ μαλα εγκρατεις εγενοντο και λαφυρα πλειονα εμερισαντο ισομοιρους αυτοις και τοις ηκισμενοις και ορφανοις και χηραις ετι δε και πρεσβυτεροις ποιησαντες
31 They carefully col ected the enemy's weapons and stored them in suitable places. The rest of thespoils they took to Jerusalem.	31 οπλολογησαντες δε αυτους επιμελως παντα συνεθηκαν εις τους επικαιρους τοπους τα δε λοιπα των σκυλων ηνεγκαν εις ιεροσολυμα
32 They kil ed the tribal chieftain on Timotheus' staff, an extremely wicked man who had done great harmto the Jews.	32 τον δε φυλαρχην των περι τιμοθεον ανειλον ανοσιωτατον ανδρα και πολλα τους ιουδαιους επιλελυπηκοτα
33 In the course of their victory celebrations in Jerusalem, they burned the men who had fired the HolyGates; with Cal isthenes they had taken refuge in one smal house; so these received a fitting reward for theirsacrilege.	33 επινικια δε αγοντες εν τη πατριδι τους εμπρησαντας τους ιερους πυλωνας και καλλισθενην υφηψαν εις εν οικιδιον πεφευγοτα και τον αξιον της δυσσεβειας εκομισατο μισθον
34 The triple-dyed scoundrel Nicanor, who had brought the thousand merchants to buy the Jews,	34 ο δε τρισαλιτηριος νικανωρ ο τους χιλιους εμπορους επι την πρασιν των ιουδαιων αγαγων
35 finding himself with the Lord's help humbled by men he had himself reckoned as of very little account,stripped off his robes of state, and made his way across country unaccompanied, like a runaway slave, reachingAntioch by a singular stroke of fortune, since his army had been destroyed.	35 ταπεινωθεις υπο των κατ' αυτον νομιζομενων ελαχιστων ειναι τη του κυριου βοηθεια την δοξικην αποθεμενος εσθητα δια της μεσογειου δραπετου τροπον ερημον εαυτον ποιησας ηκεν εις αντιοχειαν υπερ απαν ευημερηκως επι τη του στρατου διαφθορα
36 Thus the man who had promised the Romans to make good their tribute money by sel ing theprisoners from Jerusalem, bore witness that the Jews had a defender and that they were in consequenceinvulnerable, since they fol owed the laws which that defender had ordained.	36 και ο τοις ρωμαιοις αναδεξαμενος φορον απο της των εν ιεροσολυμοις αιχμαλωσιας κατορθωσασθαι κατηγγελλεν υπερμαχον εχειν τους ιουδαιους και δια τον τροπον τουτον ατρωτους ειναι τους ιουδαιους δια το ακολουθειν τοις υπ' αυτου προτεταγμενοις νομοις