ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 3

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 και ανεστη ιουδας ο καλουμενος μακκαβαιος υιος αυτου αντ' αυτου	1 His son, Judas, known as Maccabaeus, then took his place.
2 και εβοηθουν αυτω παντες οι αδελφοι αυτου και παντες οσοι εκολληθησαν τω πατρι αυτου και επολεμουν τον πολεμον ισραηλ μετ' ευφροσυνης	2 Al his brothers, and al who had attached themselves to his father, supported him, and they fought forIsrael with a wil .
3 και επλατυνεν δοξαν τω λαω αυτου και ενεδυσατο θωρακα ως γιγας και συνεζωσατο τα σκευη τα πολεμικα αυτου και πολεμους συνεστησατο σκεπαζων παρεμβολην εν ρομφαια	3 He extended the fame of his people. Like a giant, he put on the breastplate and buckled on his warharness; he engaged in battle after battle, protecting the ranks with his sword.
4 και ωμοιωθη λεοντι εν τοις εργοις αυτου και ως σκυμνος ερευγομενος εις θηραν	4 He was like a lion in his exploits, like a young lion roaring over its prey.
5 και εδιωξεν ανομους εξερευνων και τους ταρασσοντας τον λαον αυτου εφλογισεν	5 He pursued and tracked down the renegades, he consigned those who troubled his people to theflames.
6 και συνεσταλησαν ανομοι απο του φοβου αυτου και παντες οι εργαται της ανομιας συνεταραχθησαν και ευοδωθη σωτηρια εν χειρι αυτου	6 The renegades quailed with the terror he inspired, all evil-doers were utterly confounded, anddeliverance went forward under his leadership.
7 και επικρανεν βασιλεις πολλους και ευφρανεν τον ιακωβ εν τοις εργοις αυτου και εως του αιωνος το μνημοσυνον αυτου εις ευλογιαν	7 He brought bitterness to many a king and rejoicing to Jacob by his deeds, his memory is blessed forever and ever.
8 και διηλθεν εν πολεσιν ιουδα και εξωλεθρευσεν ασεβεις εξ αυτης και απεστρεψεν οργην απο ισραηλ	8 He went through the towns of Judah eliminating the irreligious from them, and diverted the Retributionfrom Israel.
9 και ωνομασθη εως εσχατου γης και συνηγαγεν απολλυμενους	9 His name resounded to the ends of the earth, he rallied those who were on the point of perishing.
10 και συνηγαγεν απολλωνιος εθνη και απο σαμαρειας δυναμιν μεγαλην του πολεμησαι προς τον ισραηλ	10 Next, Apollonius mustered the gentiles and a large force from Samaria to make war on Israel.
11 και εγνω ιουδας και εξηλθεν εις συναντησιν αυτω και επαταξεν αυτον και απεκτεινεν και επεσον τραυματιαι πολλοι και οι επιλοιποι εφυγον	11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and routed and kil ed him. Many fell wounded, andthe survivors took to flight.
12 και ελαβον τα σκυλα αυτων και την μαχαιραν απολλωνιου ελαβεν ιουδας και ην πολεμων εν αυτη πασας τας ημερας	12 Their spoils were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who used it to fight withthroughout his life.
13 και ηκουσεν σηρων ο αρχων της δυναμεως συριας οτι ηθροισεν ιουδας αθροισμα και εκκλησιαν πιστων μετ' αυτου και εκπορευομενων εις πολεμον	13 On hearing that Judas had raised a mixed force of believers and seasoned fighters,
14 και ειπεν ποιησω εμαυτω ονομα και δοξασθησομαι εν τη βασιλεια και πολεμησω τον ιουδαν και τους συν αυτω τους εξουδενουντας τον λογον του βασιλεως	14 Seron, commander of the Syrian troops, said, 'I shall make a name for myself and gain honour in thekingdom if I fight Judas and those supporters of his who are so contemptuous of the king's orders.'
15 και προσεθετο και ανεβη μετ' αυτου παρεμβολη ασεβων ισχυρα βοηθησαι αυτω ποιησαι την εκδικησιν εν υιοις ισραηλ	15 He therefore launched another expedition, with a strong army of unbelievers to support him in takingrevenge on the Israelites.
16 και ηγγισεν εως αναβασεως βαιθωρων και εξηλθεν ιουδας εις συναντησιν αυτω ολιγοστος	16 He had nearly reached the descent of Beth-Horon when Judas went out to confront him with a handfulof men.
17 ως δε ειδον την παρεμβολην ερχομενην εις συναντησιν αυτων ειπον τω ιουδα τι δυνησομεθα ολιγοστοι οντες πολεμησαι προς πληθος τοσουτο ισχυρον και ημεις εκλελυμεθα ασιτουντες σημερον	17 But as soon as these saw the force advancing to meet them, they said to Judas, 'How can we, few aswe are, engage such overwhelming numbers? We are exhausted as it is, not having had anything to eat today.'
18 και ειπεν ιουδας ευκοπον εστιν συγκλεισθηναι πολλους εν χερσιν ολιγων και ουκ εστιν διαφορα εναντιον του ουρανου σωζειν εν πολλοις η εν ολιγοις	18 'It is easy', Judas answered, 'for a great number to be defeated by a few; indeed, in the sight ofHeaven, deliverance, whether by many or by few, is al one;
19 οτι ουκ εν πληθει δυναμεως νικη πολεμου εστιν αλλ' εκ του ουρανου η ισχυς	19 for victory in war does not depend on the size of the fighting force: Heaven accords the strength.
20 αυτοι ερχονται εφ' ημας εν πληθει υβρεως και ανομιας του εξαραι ημας και τας γυναικας ημων και τα τεκνα ημων του σκυλευσαι ημας	20 They are coming against us in ful -blown insolence and lawlessness to destroy us, our wives and ourchildren, and to plunder us;
21 ημεις δε πολεμουμεν περι των ψυχων ημων και των νομιμων ημων	21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws,
22 και αυτος συντριψει αυτους προ προσωπου ημων υμεις δε μη φοβεισθε απ' αυτων	22 and he will crush them before our eyes; do not be afraid of them.'
23 ως δε επαυσατο λαλων ενηλατο εις αυτους αφνω και συνετριβη σηρων και η παρεμβολη αυτου ενωπιον αυτου	23 When he had finished speaking, he made a sudden sal y against Seron and his force andoverwhelmed them.
24 και εδιωκον αυτον εν τη καταβασει βαιθωρων εως του πεδιου και επεσον απ' αυτων εις ανδρας οκτακοσιους οι δε λοιποι εφυγον εις γην φυλιστιιμ	24 Judas pursued them down from Beth-Horon as far as the plain. About eight hundred of their men fel ,and the rest took refuge in the country of the Philistines.
25 και ηρξατο ο φοβος ιουδου και των αδελφων αυτου και η πτοη επεπιπτεν επι τα εθνη τα κυκλω αυτων	25 Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and alarm seized the surrounding peoples.
26 και ηγγισεν εως του βασιλεως το ονομα αυτου και υπερ των παραταξεων ιουδου εξηγειτο τα εθνη	26 His name even reached the king's ears, and among the nations there was talk of Judas and hisbattles.
27 ως δε ηκουσεν ο βασιλευς αντιοχος τους λογους τουτους ωργισθη θυμω και απεστειλεν και συνηγαγεν τας δυναμεις πασας της βασιλειας αυτου παρεμβολην ισχυραν σφοδρα	27 The news of these events infuriated Antiochus, and he ordered mobilisation of al the forces in hiskingdom, a very powerful army.
28 και ηνοιξεν το γαζοφυλακιον αυτου και εδωκεν οψωνια ταις δυναμεσιν εις ενιαυτον και ενετειλατο αυτοις ειναι ετοιμους εις πασαν χρειαν	28 Opening his treasury, he distributed a year's pay to his troops, telling them to be prepared for anyeventuality.
29 και ειδεν οτι εξελιπεν το αργυριον εκ των θησαυρων και οι φοροι της χωρας ολιγοι χαριν της διχοστασιας και πληγης ης κατεσκευασεν εν τη γη του αραι τα νομιμα α ησαν αφ' ημερων των πρωτων	29 He then found that the money in his coffers had run short and that the tribute of the province haddecreased, as a result of the dissension and disaster brought on the country by his own abrogation of laws thathad been in force from antiquity.
30 και ευλαβηθη μη ουκ εχη ως απαξ και δις εις τας δαπανας και τα δοματα α εδιδου εμπροσθεν δαψιλη χειρι και επερισσευσεν υπερ τους βασιλεις τους εμπροσθεν	30 He began to fear that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough to cover theexpenses and the lavish bounties he had previously been accustomed to make on a larger scale than hispredecessors on the throne.
31 και ηπορειτο τη ψυχη αυτου σφοδρα και εβουλευσατο του πορευθηναι εις την περσιδα και λαβειν τους φορους των χωρων και συναγαγειν αργυριον πολυ	31 In this grave quandary he resolved to invade Persia, there to levy tribute on the provinces and soaccumulate substantial funds.
32 και κατελιπεν λυσιαν ανθρωπον ενδοξον και απο γενους της βασιλειας επι των πραγματων του βασιλεως απο του ποταμου ευφρατου και εως οριων αιγυπτου	32 He therefore left Lysias, a nobleman and member of the royal family, to manage the royal affairsbetween the River Euphrates and the Egyptian frontier,
33 και τρεφειν αντιοχον τον υιον αυτου εως του επιστρεψαι αυτον	33 making him responsible for the education of his son Antiochus, until he should come back.
34 και παρεδωκεν αυτω τας ημισεις των δυναμεων και τους ελεφαντας και ενετειλατο αυτω περι παντων ων ηβουλετο και περι των κατοικουντων την ιουδαιαν και ιερουσαλημ	34 To him Antiochus made over half his forces, with the elephants, giving him instructions about what hewanted done, particularly with regard to the inhabitants of Judaea and Jerusalem,
35 αποστειλαι επ' αυτους δυναμιν του εκτριψαι και εξαραι την ισχυν ισραηλ και το καταλειμμα ιερουσαλημ και αραι το μνημοσυνον αυτων απο του τοπου	35 against whom he was to send a force, to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant ofJerusalem, to wipe out their very memory from the place,
36 και κατοικισαι υιους αλλογενεις εν πασιν τοις οριοις αυτων και κατακληροδοτησαι την γην αυτων	36 to settle foreigners in al parts of their territory and to distribute their land into lots.
37 και ο βασιλευς παρελαβεν τας ημισεις των δυναμεων τας καταλειφθεισας και απηρεν απο αντιοχειας απο πολεως βασιλειας αυτου ετους εβδομου και τεσσαρακοστου και εκατοστου και διεπερασεν τον ευφρατην ποταμον και διεπορευετο τας επανω χωρας	37 The king took the remaining half of his troops with him and set out from Antioch, the capital of hiskingdom, in the year 147; he crossed the River Euphrates and made his way through the Upper Provinces.
38 και επελεξεν λυσιας πτολεμαιον τον δορυμενους και νικανορα και γοργιαν ανδρας δυνατους των φιλων του βασιλεως	38 Lysias chose Ptolemy son of Dorymenes, with Nicanor and Gorgias, influential men from among theFriends of the King,
39 και απεστειλεν μετ' αυτων τεσσαρακοντα χιλιαδας ανδρων και επτακισχιλιαν ιππον του ελθειν εις γην ιουδα και καταφθειραι αυτην κατα τον λογον του βασιλεως	39 and, under their command, despatched forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse to invade theland of Judah and devastate it, as the king had ordered.
40 και απηρεν συν παση τη δυναμει αυτων και ηλθον και παρενεβαλον πλησιον αμμαους εν τη γη τη πεδινη	40 The entire force set out and reached the neighbourhood of Emmaus in the lowlands, where theypitched camp.
41 και ηκουσαν οι εμποροι της χωρας το ονομα αυτων και ελαβον αργυριον και χρυσιον πολυ σφοδρα και πεδας και ηλθον εις την παρεμβολην του λαβειν τους υιους ισραηλ εις παιδας και προσετεθησαν προς αυτους δυναμις συριας και γης αλλοφυλων	41 The local merchants, hearing the news of this, arrived at the camp, bringing with them a large amountof gold and silver, and fetters as wel , proposing to buy the Israelites as slaves; they were accompanied by acompany from Idumaea and the Philistine country.
42 και ειδεν ιουδας και οι αδελφοι αυτου οτι επληθυνθη τα κακα και αι δυναμεις παρεμβαλλουσιν εν τοις οριοις αυτων και επεγνωσαν τους λογους του βασιλεως ους ενετειλατο ποιησαι τω λαω εις απωλειαν και συντελειαν	42 Judas and his brothers saw that the situation was going from bad to worse and that armies werecamping in their territory; they were also well aware that the king had ordered the people's total destruction.
43 και ειπαν εκαστος προς τον πλησιον αυτου αναστησωμεν την καθαιρεσιν του λαου ημων και πολεμησωμεν περι του λαου ημων και των αγιων	43 So they said to each other, 'Let us restore the ruins of our people and fight for our people and oursanctuary.'
44 και ηθροισθη η συναγωγη του ειναι ετοιμους εις πολεμον και του προσευξασθαι και αιτησαι ελεος και οικτιρμους	44 The Assembly was summoned, to prepare for war, to offer prayer and to implore compassion andmercy.
45 και ιερουσαλημ ην αοικητος ως ερημος ουκ ην ο εισπορευομενος και εκπορευομενος εκ των γενηματων αυτης και το αγιασμα καταπατουμενον και υιοι αλλογενων εν τη ακρα καταλυμα τοις εθνεσιν και εξηρθη τερψις εξ ιακωβ και εξελιπεν αυλος και κινυρα	45 Jerusalem was as empty as a desert, none of her children to go in and out. The sanctuary wastrodden underfoot, men of an alien race held the Citadel, which had become a lodging for gentiles. There was nomore rejoicing for Jacob, the flute and lyre were mute.
46 και συνηχθησαν και ηλθοσαν εις μασσηφα κατεναντι ιερουσαλημ οτι τοπος προσευχης ην εν μασσηφα το προτερον τω ισραηλ	46 After mustering, they made their way to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, since Mizpah was traditional y aplace of prayer for Israel.
47 και ενηστευσαν τη ημερα εκεινη και περιεβαλοντο σακκους και σποδον επι την κεφαλην αυτων και διερρηξαν τα ιματια αυτων	47 That day they fasted and put on sackcloth, covering their heads with ashes and tearing theirgarments.
48 και εξεπετασαν το βιβλιον του νομου περι ων εξηρευνων τα εθνη τα ομοιωματα των ειδωλων αυτων	48 For the guidance that the gentiles would have sought from the images of their false gods, they openedthe Book of the Law.
49 και ηνεγκαν τα ιματια της ιερωσυνης και τα πρωτογενηματα και τας δεκατας και ηγειραν τους ναζιραιους οι επληρωσαν τας ημερας	49 They also brought out the priestly vestments, with first-fruits and tithes, and marshal ed the Naziriteswho had completed the period of their vow.
50 και εβοησαν φωνη εις τον ουρανον λεγοντες τι ποιησωμεν τουτοις και που αυτους απαγαγωμεν	50 Then, raising their voices to Heaven, they cried, 'What shal we do with these people, and where arewe to take them?
51 και τα αγια σου καταπεπατηνται και βεβηλωνται και οι ιερεις σου εν πενθει και ταπεινωσει	51 Your holy place has been trampled underfoot and defiled, your priests mourn in their humiliation,
52 και ιδου τα εθνη συνηκται εφ' ημας του εξαραι ημας συ οιδας α λογιζονται εφ' ημας	52 and now the gentiles are in al iance to destroy us: you know what they have in mind for us.
53 πως δυνησομεθα υποστηναι κατα προσωπον αυτων εαν μη συ βοηθησης ημιν	53 How can we stand up and face them if you do not come to our aid?'
54 και εσαλπισαν ταις σαλπιγξιν και εβοησαν φωνη μεγαλη	54 Then they sounded the trumpets and raised a great shout.
55 και μετα τουτο κατεστησεν ιουδας ηγουμενους του λαου χιλιαρχους και εκατονταρχους και πεντηκονταρχους και δεκαδαρχους	55 Next, Judas appointed leaders for the people, to command a thousand, a hundred, fifty or ten men.
56 και ειπεν τοις οικοδομουσιν οικιας και μνηστευομενοις γυναικας και φυτευουσιν αμπελωνας και δειλοις αποστρεφειν εκαστον εις τον οικον αυτου κατα τον νομον	56 Those who were in the middle of building a house, or were about to be married, or were planting avineyard, or were afraid, he told to go home again, as the Law al owed.
57 και απηρεν η παρεμβολη και παρενεβαλον κατα νοτον αμμαους	57 The column then marched off and took up a position south of Emmaus.
58 και ειπεν ιουδας περιζωσασθε και γινεσθε εις υιους δυνατους και γινεσθε ετοιμοι εις πρωι του πολεμησαι εν τοις εθνεσιν τουτοις τοις επισυνηγμενοις εφ' ημας εξαραι ημας και τα αγια ημων	58 'Stand to your arms,' Judas told them, 'acquit yourselves bravely, in the morning be ready to fightthese gentiles massed against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.
59 οτι κρεισσον ημας αποθανειν εν τω πολεμω η επιδειν επι τα κακα του εθνους ημων και των αγιων	59 Better for us to die in battle than to watch the ruin of our nation and our Holy Place.
60 ως δ' αν η θελημα εν ουρανω ουτως ποιησει	60 Whatever be the wil of Heaven, he wil perform it.'