ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 14

LXX	NEW JERUSALEM
1 και εν ετει δευτερω και εβδομηκοστω και εκατοστω συνηγαγεν δημητριος ο βασιλευς τας δυναμεις αυτου και επορευθη εις μηδιαν του επισπασασθαι βοηθειαν εαυτω οπως πολεμηση τον τρυφωνα	1 In the year 172, King Demetrius assembled his forces and marched into Media to raise help for thefight against Trypho.
2 και ηκουσεν αρσακης ο βασιλευς της περσιδος και μηδιας οτι εισηλθεν δημητριος εις τα ορια αυτου και απεστειλεν ενα των αρχοντων αυτου συλλαβειν αυτον ζωντα	2 When Arsaces king of Persia and Media heard that Demetrius had entered his territory, he sent one ofhis generals to capture him alive.
3 και επορευθη και επαταξεν την παρεμβολην δημητριου και συνελαβεν αυτον και ηγαγεν αυτον προς αρσακην και εθετο αυτον εν φυλακη	3 The general defeated the army of Demetrius, seized him and brought him to Arsaces, who imprisonedhim.
4 και ησυχασεν η γη ιουδα πασας τας ημερας σιμωνος και εζητησεν αγαθα τω εθνει αυτου και ηρεσεν αυτοις η εξουσια αυτου και η δοξα αυτου πασας τας ημερας	4 The country was at peace throughout the days of Simon. He sought the good of his nation and theywere wel pleased with his authority, as with his magnificence, throughout his life.
5 και μετα πασης της δοξης αυτου ελαβεν την ιοππην εις λιμενα και εποιησεν εισοδον ταις νησοις της θαλασσης	5 To crown his titles to glory, he took Joppa and made it a harbour, gaining access to the MediterraneanIsles.
6 και επλατυνεν τα ορια τω εθνει αυτου και εκρατησεν της χωρας	6 He enlarged the frontiers of his nation, keeping his mastery over the homeland,
7 και συνηγαγεν αιχμαλωσιαν πολλην και εκυριευσεν γαζαρων και βαιθσουρων και της ακρας και εξηρεν τας ακαθαρσιας εξ αυτης και ουκ ην ο αντικειμενος αυτω	7 resettling a host of captives. He conquered Gezer, Beth-Zur and the Citadel, ridding them of everyimpurity, and no one could resist him.
8 και ησαν γεωργουντες την γην αυτων μετ' ειρηνης και η γη εδιδου τα γενηματα αυτης και τα ξυλα των πεδιων τον καρπον αυτων	8 The people farmed their land in peace; the land gave its produce, the trees of the plain their fruit.
9 πρεσβυτεροι εν ταις πλατειαις εκαθηντο παντες περι αγαθων εκοινολογουντο και οι νεανισκοι ενεδυσαντο δοξας και στολας πολεμου	9 The elders sat at ease in the squares, all their talk was of their prosperity; the young men woresplendid armour.
10 ταις πολεσιν εχορηγησεν βρωματα και εταξεν αυτας εν σκευεσιν οχυρωσεως εως οτου ωνομασθη το ονομα της δοξης αυτου εως ακρου γης	10 He kept the towns supplied with provisions and furnished with fortifications, until his fame resoundedto the ends of the earth.
11 εποιησεν ειρηνην επι της γης και ευφρανθη ισραηλ ευφροσυνην μεγαλην	11 He established peace in the land, and Israel knew great joy.
12 και εκαθισεν εκαστος υπο την αμπελον αυτου και την συκην αυτου και ουκ ην ο εκφοβων αυτους	12 Each man sat under his own vine and his own fig tree, and there was no one to make them afraid.
13 και εξελιπεν πολεμων αυτους επι της γης και οι βασιλεις συνετριβησαν εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις	13 No enemy was left in the land to fight them, the very kings of those times had been crushed.
14 και εστηρισεν παντας τους ταπεινους του λαου αυτου τον νομον εξεζητησεν και εξηρεν παντα ανομον και πονηρον	14 He encouraged the afflicted members of his people, suppressing every wicked man and renegade.He strove to observe the Law,
15 τα αγια εδοξασεν και επληθυνεν τα σκευη των αγιων	15 and gave new splendour to the Temple, enriching it with many sacred vessels.
16 και ηκουσθη εν ρωμη οτι απεθανεν ιωναθαν και εως σπαρτης και ελυπηθησαν σφοδρα	16 When it became known in Rome and as far as Sparta that Jonathan was dead, people were deeplygrieved.
17 ως δε ηκουσαν οτι σιμων ο αδελφος αυτου γεγονεν αρχιερευς αντ' αυτου και αυτος επικρατει της χωρας και των πολεων των εν αυτη	17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon had succeeded him as high priest and was masterof the country and the cities in it,
18 εγραψαν προς αυτον δελτοις χαλκαις του ανανεωσασθαι προς αυτον φιλιαν και συμμαχιαν ην εστησαν προς ιουδαν και ιωναθαν τους αδελφους αυτου	18 they wrote to him on bronze tablets to renew the treaty of friendship and al iance which they hadmade with his brothers, Judas and Jonathan,
19 και ανεγνωσθησαν ενωπιον της εκκλησιας εν ιερουσαλημ	19 and the document was read out before the assembly in Jerusalem.
20 και τουτο το αντιγραφον των επιστολων ων απεστειλαν οι σπαρτιαται σπαρτιατων αρχοντες και η πολις σιμωνι ιερει μεγαλω και τοις πρεσβυτεροις και τοις ιερευσιν και τω λοιπω δημω των ιουδαιων αδελφοις χαιρειν	20 This is the copy of the letter sent by the Spartans: 'The rulers and the city of Sparta, to Simon thehigh priest and to the elders and priests and the rest of the people of the Jews, greetings.
21 οι πρεσβευται οι αποσταλεντες προς τον δημον ημων απηγγειλαν ημιν περι της δοξης υμων και τιμης και ηυφρανθημεν επι τη εφοδω αυτων	21 'The ambassadors whom you sent to our people have informed us of your glory and prosperity, andwe are delighted with their visit.
22 και ανεγραψαμεν τα υπ' αυτων ειρημενα εν ταις βουλαις του δημου ουτως νουμηνιος αντιοχου και αντιπατρος ιασονος πρεσβευται ιουδαιων ηλθον προς ημας ανανεουμενοι την προς ημας φιλιαν	22 We have recorded their declarations in the minutes of our public assemblies, as fol ows, "Numeniusson of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew their friendshipwith us.
23 και ηρεσεν τω δημω επιδεξασθαι τους ανδρας ενδοξως και του θεσθαι το αντιγραφον των λογων αυτων εν τοις αποδεδειγμενοις τω δημω βιβλιοις του μνημοσυνον εχειν τον δημον των σπαρτιατων το δε αντιγραφον τουτων εγραψαν σιμωνι τω αρχιερει	23 And it was the people's pleasure to receive these personages with honour and to deposit a copy oftheir statements in the public archives, so that the people of Sparta might preserve a record of them. A copy wasalso made for Simon the high priest." '
24 μετα ταυτα απεστειλεν σιμων τον νουμηνιον εις ρωμην εχοντα ασπιδα χρυσην μεγαλην ολκην μνων χιλιων εις το στησαι προς αυτους την συμμαχιαν	24 After this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome as the bearer of a large golden shield weighing a thousandmina, to confirm the alliance with them.
25 ως δε ηκουσεν ο δημος των λογων τουτων ειπαν τινα χαριν αποδωσομεν σιμωνι και τοις υιοις αυτου	25 When these events were reported to our people, they said, 'What mark of appreciation shal we giveto Simon and his sons?
26 εστηρισεν γαρ αυτος και οι αδελφοι αυτου και ο οικος του πατρος αυτου και επολεμησεν τους εχθρους ισραηλ απ' αυτων και εστησαν αυτω ελευθεριαν και κατεγραψαν εν δελτοις χαλκαις και εθεντο εν στηλαις εν ορει σιων	26 He stood firm, he and his brothers and his father's house: he fought off the enemies of Israel andsecured its freedom.' So they recorded an inscription on bronze tablets and set it up on pil ars on Mount Zion.
27 και τουτο το αντιγραφον της γραφης οκτωκαιδεκατη ελουλ ετους δευτερου και εβδομηκοστου και εκατοστου και τουτο τριτον ετος επι σιμωνος αρχιερεως μεγαλου εν ασαραμελ	27 This is a copy of the text: 'The eighteenth of Elul, in the year 172, being the third year of Simon,eminent high priest:
28 επι συναγωγης μεγαλης ιερεων και λαου και αρχοντων εθνους και των πρεσβυτερων της χωρας εγνωρισεν ημιν	28 'In Asaramel, in the Grand Assembly of priests and people, of princes of the nation and of elders ofthe country: 'We are acquainted with the matters fol owing:
29 επει πολλακις εγενηθησαν πολεμοι εν τη χωρα σιμων δε υιος ματταθιου ιερευς των υιων ιωαριβ και οι αδελφοι αυτου εδωκαν αυτους τω κινδυνω και αντεστησαν τοις υπεναντιοις του εθνους αυτων οπως σταθη τα αγια αυτων και ο νομος και δοξη μεγαλη εδοξασαν το εθνος αυτων	29 'When there was almost incessant fighting in the country Simon, son of Mattathias, a priest of theline of Joarib, and his brothers courted danger and withstood their nation's enemies to safeguard the integrity oftheir sanctuary and of the Law, and so brought their nation great glory;
30 και ηθροισεν ιωναθαν το εθνος αυτων και εγενηθη αυτοις αρχιερευς και προσετεθη προς τον λαον αυτου	30 'For when, Jonathan having ral ied his nation and become its high priest and having then beengathered to his ancestors,
31 και εβουληθησαν οι εχθροι αυτων εμβατευσαι εις την χωραν αυτων και εκτειναι χειρας επι τα αγια αυτων	31 the enemy planned to invade the country, intending to devastate their territory and to lay hands ontheir sanctuary,
32 τοτε αντεστη σιμων και επολεμησε περι του εθνους αυτου και εδαπανησεν χρηματα πολλα των εαυτου και οπλοδοτησεν τους ανδρας της δυναμεως του εθνους αυτου και εδωκεν αυτοις οψωνια	32 Simon next came forward to fight for his nation: spending much of his personal wealth on arming hisnation's fighting men and on providing their pay;
33 και ωχυρωσεν τας πολεις της ιουδαιας και την βαιθσουραν την επι των οριων της ιουδαιας ου ην τα οπλα των πολεμιων το προτερον και εθετο εκει φρουραν ανδρας ιουδαιους	33 fortifying the towns of Judaea, as wel as Beth-Zur on the Judaean frontier where the enemy arsenalhad formerly been, and stationing in it a garrison of Jewish soldiers;
34 και ιοππην ωχυρωσεν την επι της θαλασσης και την γαζαραν την επι των οριων αζωτου εν η ωκουν οι πολεμιοι το προτερον και κατωκισεν εκει ιουδαιους και οσα επιτηδεια ην προς τη τουτων επανορθωσει εθετο εν αυτοις	34 fortifying Joppa on the coast, and Gezer on the borders of Azotus, a place formerly inhabited by theenemy, founding a Jewish colony there, and providing the settlers with everything they needed to set them ontheir feet;
35 και ειδεν ο λαος την πιστιν του σιμωνος και την δοξαν ην εβουλευσατο ποιησαι τω εθνει αυτου και εθεντο αυτον ηγουμενον αυτων και αρχιερεα δια το αυτον πεποιηκεναι παντα ταυτα και την δικαιοσυνην και την πιστιν ην συνετηρησεν τω εθνει αυτου και εξεζητησεν παντι τροπω υψωσαι τον λαον αυτου	35 'In consequence of which, the people, aware of Simon's loyalty and of the glory which he wasdetermined to win for his nation, have made him their ethnarch and high priest, for all his services and for theintegrity and loyalty which he has shown towards his nation, and for having by every means sought to enhancehis people's power;
36 και εν ταις ημεραις αυτου ευοδωθη εν ταις χερσιν αυτου του εξαρθηναι τα εθνη εκ της χωρας αυτων και τους εν τη πολει δαυιδ τους εν ιερουσαλημ οι εποιησαν αυτοις ακραν εξ ης εξεπορευοντο και εμιαινον κυκλω των αγιων και εποιουν πληγην μεγαλην εν τη αγνεια	36 'It has fal en to him in his time to expel the foreigners from his country, including those in the City ofDavid in Jerusalem, who had converted it into a citadel for their own use, from which they would sal y out todefile the surroundings of the sanctuary and to violate its sacred character;
37 και κατωκισεν εν αυτη ανδρας ιουδαιους και ωχυρωσεν αυτην προς ασφαλειαν της χωρας και της πολεως και υψωσεν τα τειχη της ιερουσαλημ	37 to station Jewish soldiers there instead for the security of the country and the city; and to heightenthe wal s of Jerusalem;
38 και ο βασιλευς δημητριος εστησεν αυτω την αρχιερωσυνην κατα ταυτα	38 'And since King Demetrius has heard that the Romans call the Jews their friends, al ies and brothers,
39 και εποιησεν αυτον των φιλων αυτου και εδοξασεν αυτον δοξη μεγαλη	39 and that they have given an honourable reception to Simon's ambassadors, and, furthermore,
40 ηκουσεν γαρ οτι προσηγορευνται οι ιουδαιοι υπο ρωμαιων φιλοι και συμμαχοι και αδελφοι και οτι απηντησαν τοις πρεσβευταις σιμωνος ενδοξως	40 that the Jews and priests are happy that Simon should, pending the advent of a genuine prophet, betheir ethnarch and high priest for life
41 και οτι οι ιουδαιοι και οι ιερεις ευδοκησαν του ειναι αυτων σιμωνα ηγουμενον και αρχιερεα εις τον αιωνα εως του αναστηναι προφητην πιστον	41 therefore he has confirmed him in the high-priestly office, has raised him to the rank of Friend andhas showered great honours on him, also confirming him as their commander-in-chief,
42 και του ειναι επ' αυτων στρατηγον και οπως μελη αυτω περι των αγιων καθισταναι δι' αυτου επι των εργων αυτων και επι της χωρας και επι των οπλων και επι των οχυρωματων	42 with the right to appoint officials to oversee the fabric of the sanctuary and to administer the country,munitions and fortresses;
43 και οπως μελη αυτω περι των αγιων και οπως ακουηται υπο παντων και οπως γραφωνται επι τω ονοματι αυτου πασαι συγγραφαι εν τη χωρα και οπως περιβαλληται πορφυραν και χρυσοφορη	43 he is to have personal charge of the sanctuary, and to be obeyed by al ; al official documents in thecountry must be drawn up in his name; and he may assume the purple and may wear golden ornaments;
44 και ουκ εξεσται ουθενι του λαου και των ιερεων αθετησαι τι τουτων και αντειπειν τοις υπ' αυτου ρηθησομενοις και επισυστρεψαι συστροφην εν τη χωρα ανευ αυτου και περιβαλλεσθαι πορφυραν και εμπορπουσθαι πορπην χρυσην	44 'Furthermore, it is against the law for any member of the public or of the priesthood to contraveneany of these enactments or to contest his decisions, or to convene a meeting anywhere in the country without hispermission, or to assume the purple or wear the golden brooch;
45 ος δ' αν παρα ταυτα ποιηση η αθετηση τι τουτων ενοχος εσται	45 and anyone acting contrary to, or rejecting any article of, these enactments is liable to punishment;
46 και ευδοκησεν πας ο λαος θεσθαι σιμωνι ποιησαι κατα τους λογους τουτους	46 'And since the people have unanimously agreed to grant Simon the right to act as aforesaid, and
47 και επεδεξατο σιμων και ευδοκησεν αρχιερατευειν και ειναι στρατηγος και εθναρχης των ιουδαιων και ιερεων και του προστατησαι παντων	47 since Simon, for his part, has given his assent, and has consented to assume the high-priestly officeand to be commander-in-chief and ethnarch of the Jews and their priests, and to preside over al :
48 και την γραφην ταυτην ειπον θεσθαι εν δελτοις χαλκαις και στησαι αυτας εν περιβολω των αγιων εν τοπω επισημω	48 'So, be it now enacted: that this record be inscribed on bronze tablets and be erected at someconspicuous place within the precincts of the Temple,
49 τα δε αντιγραφα αυτων θεσθαι εν τω γαζοφυλακιω οπως εχη σιμων και οι υιοι αυτου	49 and that copies be deposited in the Treasury for Simon and his descendants.'