ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β´ - 2 Maccabei- Maccabees II 14

GREEK BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 μετα δε τριετη χρονον προσεπεσεν τοις περι τον ιουδαν δημητριον τον του σελευκου δια του κατα τριπολιν λιμενος εισπλευσαντα μετα πληθους ισχυρου και στολου	1 Three years later, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had sailed into the port of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet,
2 κεκρατηκεναι της χωρας επανελομενον αντιοχον και τον τουτου επιτροπον λυσιαν	2 and that he had occupied the country, after doing away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.
3 αλκιμος δε τις προγεγονως αρχιερευς εκουσιως δε μεμολυσμενος εν τοις της αμειξιας χρονοις συννοησας οτι καθ' οντιναουν τροπον ουκ εστιν αυτω σωτηρια ουδε προς το αγιον θυσιαστηριον ετι προσοδος	3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, who had willfully incurred defilement at the time of the revolt, realized that there was no way for him to salvage his position and regain access to the holy altar.
4 ηκεν προς τον βασιλεα δημητριον ως πρωτω και πεντηκοστω και εκατοστω ετει προσαγων αυτω στεφανον χρυσουν και φοινικα προς δε τουτοις των νομιζομενων θαλλων του ιερου και την ημεραν εκεινην ησυχιαν εσχεν	4 So he went to King Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that occasion he kept quiet.
5 καιρον δε λαβων της ιδιας ανοιας συνεργον προσκληθεις εις συνεδριον υπο του δημητριου και επερωτηθεις εν τινι διαθεσει και βουλη καθεστηκαν οι ιουδαιοι προς ταυτα εφη	5 But he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when he was invited to the council by Demetrius and questioned about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews. He replied:
6 οι λεγομενοι των ιουδαιων ασιδαιοι ων αφηγειται ιουδας ο μακκαβαιος πολεμοτροφουσιν και στασιαζουσιν ουκ εωντες την βασιλειαν ευσταθειας τυχειν	6 "Those Jews called Hasideans, led by Judas Maccabeus, are warmongers, who stir up sedition and keep the kingdom from enjoying peace and quiet.
7 οθεν αφελομενος την προγονικην δοξαν λεγω δη την αρχιερωσυνην δευρο νυν εληλυθα	7 For this reason, now that I am deprived of my ancestral dignity, that is to say, the high priesthood, I have come here--
8 πρωτον μεν υπερ των ανηκοντων τω βασιλει γνησιως φρονων δευτερον δε και των ιδιων πολιτων στοχαζομενος τη μεν γαρ των προειρημενων αλογιστια το συμπαν ημων γενος ου μικρως ακληρει	8 first, out of my genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of consideration for my own countrymen, since our entire nation is suffering great affliction from the unreasonable conduct of the people just mentioned.
9 εκαστα δε τουτων επεγνωκως συ βασιλευ και της χωρας και του περιισταμενου γενους ημων προνοηθητι καθ' ην εχεις προς απαντας ευαπαντητον φιλανθρωπιαν	9 When you have informed yourself in detail on these matters, O king, act in the interest of our country and its hard-pressed people with the same gracious consideration that you show toward all.
10 αχρι γαρ ιουδας περιεστιν αδυνατον ειρηνης τυχειν τα πραγματα	10 As long as Judas is around, it is impossible for the state to enjoy peace."
11 τοιουτων δε ρηθεντων υπο τουτου θαττον οι λοιποι φιλοι δυσμενως εχοντες τα προς τον ιουδαν προσεπυρωσαν τον δημητριον	11 When he had said this, the other Friends who were hostile to Judas quickly added fuel to Demetrius' indignation.
12 προχειρισαμενος δε ευθεως νικανορα τον γενομενον ελεφανταρχην και στρατηγον αναδειξας της ιουδαιας εξαπεστειλεν	12 The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him governor of Judea. He sent him off
13 δους εντολας αυτον μεν τον ιουδαν επανελεσθαι τους δε συν αυτω σκορπισαι καταστησαι δε αλκιμον αρχιερεα του μεγιστου ιερου	13 with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.
14 οι δε επι της ιουδαιας πεφυγαδευκοτες τον ιουδαν εθνη συνεμισγον αγεληδον τω νικανορι τας των ιουδαιων ατυχιας και συμφορας ιδιας ευημεριας δοκουντες εσεσθαι	14 The Gentiles from Judea, who would have banished Judas, came flocking to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.
15 ακουσαντες δε την του νικανορος εφοδον και την επιθεσιν των εθνων καταπασαμενοι γην ελιτανευον τον αχρι αιωνος συστησαντα τον αυτου λαον αει δε μετ' επιφανειας αντιλαμβανομενον της εαυτου μεριδος	15 When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the Gentiles were rallying to him, they sprinkled themselves with earth and prayed to him who established his people forever, and who always comes to the aid of his heritage.
16 προσταξαντος δε του ηγουμενου εκειθεν ευθεως αναζευξας συμμισγει αυτοις επι κωμην δεσσαου	16 At their leader's command, they set out at once and came upon the enemy at the village of Adasa.
17 σιμων δε ο αδελφος ιουδου συμβεβληκως ην τω νικανορι βραδεως δε δια την αιφνιδιον των αντιπαλων αφασιαν επταικως	17 Judas' brother Simon had engaged Nicanor, but because of the sudden appearance of the enemy suffered a slight repulse.
18 ομως δε ακουων ο νικανωρ ην ειχον οι περι τον ιουδαν ανδραγαθιαν και εν τοις περι της πατριδος αγωσιν ευψυχιαν υπευλαβειτο την κρισιν δι' αιματων ποιησασθαι	18 However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his men, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed.
19 διοπερ επεμψεν ποσιδωνιον και θεοδοτον και ματταθιαν δουναι και λαβειν δεξιας	19 So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement.
20 πλειονος δε γενομενης περι τουτων επισκεψεως και του ηγουμενου τοις πληθεσιν ανακοινωσαμενου και φανεισης ομοψηφου γνωμης επενευσαν ταις συνθηκαις	20 After a long discussion of the terms, each leader communicated them to his troops; and when general agreement was expressed, they assented to the treaty.
21 εταξαντο δε ημεραν εν η κατ' ιδιαν ηξουσιν εις το αυτο και προηλθεν παρ' εκαστου διφραξ εθεσαν διφρους	21 A day was set on which the leaders would meet by themselves. From each side a chariot came forward and thrones were set in place.
22 διεταξεν ιουδας ενοπλους ετοιμους εν τοις επικαιροις τοποις μηποτε εκ των πολεμιων αιφνιδιως κακουργια γενηται την αρμοζουσαν εποιησαντο κοινολογιαν	22 Judas had posted armed men in readiness at suitable points for fear that the enemy might suddenly carry out some treacherous plan. But the conference was held in the proper way.
23 διετριβεν ο νικανωρ εν ιεροσολυμοις και επραττεν ουθεν ατοπον τους δε συναχθεντας αγελαιους οχλους απελυσεν	23 Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem, where he did nothing out of place. He got rid of the throngs of ordinary people who gathered around him;
24 και ειχεν τον ιουδαν δια παντος εν προσωπω ψυχικως τω ανδρι προσεκεκλιτο	24 but he always kept Judas in his company, for he had a cordial affection for the man.
25 παρεκαλεσεν αυτον γημαι και παιδοποιησασθαι εγαμησεν ευσταθησεν εκοινωνησεν βιου	25 He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life.
26 ο δε αλκιμος συνιδων την προς αλληλους ευνοιαν και τας γενομενας συνθηκας λαβων ηκεν προς τον δημητριον και ελεγεν τον νικανορα αλλοτρια φρονειν των πραγματων τον γαρ επιβουλον της βασιλειας ιουδαν αυτου διαδοχον αναδειξαι	26 When Alcimus saw their friendship for each other, he took the treaty that had been made, went to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor was plotting against the state, and that he had appointed Judas, the conspirator against the kingdom, to be his successor.
27 ο δε βασιλευς εκθυμος γενομενος και ταις του παμπονηρου διαβολαις ερεθισθεις εγραψεν νικανορι φασκων υπερ μεν των συνθηκων βαρεως φερειν κελευων δε τον μακκαβαιον δεσμιον εξαποστελλειν εις αντιοχειαν ταχεως	27 Stirred up by the villain's calumnies, the king became enraged. He wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the treaty, and ordering him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch without delay.
28 προσπεσοντων δε τουτων τω νικανορι συνεκεχυτο και δυσφορως εφερεν ει τα διεσταλμενα αθετησει μηδεν τανδρος ηδικηκοτος	28 When this message reached Nicanor he was dismayed, for he hated to break his agreement with a man who had done no wrong.
29 επει δε τω βασιλει αντιπραττειν ουκ ην ευκαιρον ετηρει στρατηγηματι τουτ' επιτελεσαι	29 However, there was no way of opposing the king, so he watched for an opportunity to carry out this order by a stratagem.
30 ο δε μακκαβαιος αυστηροτερον διεξαγαγοντα συνιδων τον νικανορα τα προς αυτον και την ειθισμενην απαντησιν αγροικοτερον εσχηκοτα νοησας ουκ απο του βελτιστου την αυστηριαν ειναι συστρεψας ουκ ολιγους των περι αυτον συνεκρυπτετο τον νικανορα	30 But Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor was becoming cool in his dealings with him, and acting with unaccustomed rudeness when they met; he concluded that this coldness betokened no good. So he gathered together a large number of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor.
31 συγγνους δε ο ετερος οτι γενναιως υπο του ανδρος εστρατηγηται παραγενομενος επι το μεγιστον και αγιον ιερον των ιερεων τας καθηκουσας θυσιας προσαγοντων εκελευσεν παραδιδοναι τον ανδρα	31 When Nicanor realized that he had been disgracefully outwitted by the man, he went to the great and holy temple, at a time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrender Judas.
32 των δε μεθ' ορκων φασκοντων μη γινωσκειν που ποτ' εστιν ο ζητουμενος	32 As they declared under oath that they did not know where the wanted man was,
33 προτεινας την δεξιαν επι τον νεω ταυτ' ωμοσεν εαν μη δεσμιον μοι τον ιουδαν παραδωτε τονδε τον του θεου σηκον εις πεδιον ποιησω και το θυσιαστηριον κατασκαψω και ιερον ενταυθα τω διονυσω επιφανες αναστησω	33 he raised his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground; I will tear down the altar, and erect here a splendid temple to Dionysus."
34 τοσαυτα δε ειπων απηλθεν οι δε ιερεις προτειναντες τας χειρας εις τον ουρανον επεκαλουντο τον δια παντος υπερμαχον του εθνους ημων ταυτα λεγοντες	34 With these words he went away. The priests stretched out their hands toward heaven, calling upon the unfailing defender of our nation in these words:
35 συ κυριε των ολων απροσδεης υπαρχων ηυδοκησας ναον της σης σκηνωσεως εν ημιν γενεσθαι	35 "Lord of all, though you are in need of nothing, you have approved of a temple for your dwelling place among us.
36 και νυν αγιε παντος αγιασμου κυριε διατηρησον εις αιωνα αμιαντον τονδε τον προσφατως κεκαθαρισμενον οικον	36 Therefore, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house, which has been so recently purified."
37 ραζις δε τις των απο ιεροσολυμων πρεσβυτερων εμηνυθη τω νικανορι ανηρ φιλοπολιτης και σφοδρα καλως ακουων και κατα την ευνοιαν πατηρ των ιουδαιων προσαγορευομενος	37 A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a patriot. A man highly regarded, he was called a father of the Jews because of his love for them.
38 ην γαρ εν τοις εμπροσθεν χρονοις της αμειξιας κρισιν εισενηνεγμενος ιουδαισμου και σωμα και ψυχην υπερ του ιουδαισμου παραβεβλημενος μετα πασης εκτενιας	38 In the early days of the revolt, he had been convicted of Judaism, and had risked body and life in his ardent zeal for it.
39 βουλομενος δε νικανωρ προδηλον ποιησαι ην ειχεν προς τους ιουδαιους δυσμενειαν απεστειλεν στρατιωτας υπερ τους πεντακοσιους συλλαβειν αυτον	39 Nicanor, to show his detestation of the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him.
40 εδοξεν γαρ εκεινον συλλαβων τουτοις ενεργασασθαι συμφοραν	40 He thought that by arresting such a man he would deal the Jews a hard blow.
41 των δε πληθων μελλοντων τον πυργον καταλαβεσθαι και την αυλαιαν θυραν βιαζομενων και κελευοντων πυρ προσαγειν και τας θυρας υφαπτειν περικαταλημπτος γενομενος υπεθηκεν εαυτω το ξιφος	41 But when these troops, on the point of capturing the tower, were forcing the outer gate and calling for fire to set the door ablaze, Razis, now caught on all sides, turned his sword against himself,
42 ευγενως θελων αποθανειν ηπερ τοις αλιτηριοις υποχειριος γενεσθαι και της ιδιας ευγενειας αναξιως υβρισθηναι	42 preferring to die nobly rather than fall into the hands of vile men and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth.
43 τη δε πληγη μη κατευθικτησας δια την του αγωνος σπουδην και των οχλων εσω των θυρωματων εισβαλλοντων αναδραμων γενναιως επι το τειχος κατεκρημνισεν εαυτον ανδρωδως εις τους οχλους	43 In the excitement of the struggle he failed to strike exactly. So while the troops rushed in through the doors, he gallantly ran up to the top of the wall and with manly courage threw himself down into the crowd.
44 των δε ταχεως αναποδισαντων γενομενου διαστηματος ηλθεν κατα μεσον τον κενεωνα	44 But as they quickly drew back and left an opening, he fell into the middle of the empty space.
45 ετι δε εμπνους υπαρχων και πεπυρωμενος τοις θυμοις εξαναστας φερομενων κρουνηδον των αιματων και δυσχερων των τραυματων οντων δρομω τους οχλους διελθων και στας επι τινος πετρας απορρωγος	45 Still breathing, and inflamed with anger, he got up and ran through the crowd, with blood gushing from his frightful wounds.
46 παντελως εξαιμος ηδη γινομενος προβαλων τα εντερα και λαβων εκατεραις ταις χερσιν ενεσεισε τοις οχλοις και επικαλεσαμενος τον δεσποζοντα της ζωης και του πνευματος ταυτα αυτω παλιν αποδουναι τονδε τον τροπον μετηλλαξεν	46 Then, standing on a steep rock, as he lost the last of his blood, he tore out his entrails and flung them with both hands into the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and of spirit to give these back to him again. Such was the manner of his death.