ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Β´ - 2 Maccabei- Maccabees II 15

LXX	DOUAI-RHEIMS
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	1 But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with him, understood that Demetrius the son of Seleucus was come up with a great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis to places proper for his purpose.
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	2 And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, and his general Lysias.
3 ο δε τρισαλιτηριος επηρωτησεν ει εστιν εν ουρανω δυναστης ο προστεταχως αγειν την των σαββατων ημεραν	3 Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar,
4 των δ' αποφηναμενων εστιν ο κυριος ζων αυτος εν ουρανω δυναστης ο κελευσας ασκειν την εβδομαδα	4 Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, some boughs which seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he held his peace.
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	5 But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, and what were their counsels,
6 και ο μεν νικανωρ μετα πασης αλαζονειας υψαυχενων διεγνωκει κοινον των περι τον ιουδαν συστησασθαι τροπαιον	6 He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace.
7 ο δε μακκαβαιος ην αδιαλειπτως πεποιθως μετα πασης ελπιδος αντιλημψεως τευξασθαι παρα του κυριου	7 For I also being deprived of my ancestors' glory (I mean of the high priesthood) am now come hither:
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	8 Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of those men.
9 και παραμυθουμενος αυτους εκ του νομου και των προφητων προσυπομνησας δε αυτους και τους αγωνας ους ησαν εκτετελεκοτες προθυμοτερους αυτους κατεστησεν	9 Wherefore, 0 king, seeing thou knoweat all these things, take care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according to thy humanity which is known to all men,
10 και τοις θυμοις διεγειρας αυτους παρηγγειλεν αμα παρεπιδεικνυς την των εθνων αθεσιαν και την των ορκων παραβασιν	10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
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	11 Now when this man had spoken to this effect, the rest also of the king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against him.
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	12 And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, governor into Judea:
13 ειθ' ουτως επιφανηναι ανδρα πολια και δοξη διαφεροντα θαυμαστην δε τινα και μεγαλοπρεπεστατην ειναι την περι αυτον υπεροχην	13 Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the great temple.
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	14 Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by docks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to be the welfare of their affairs.
15 προτειναντα δε ιερεμιαν την δεξιαν παραδουναι τω ιουδα ρομφαιαν χρυσην διδοντα δε προσφωνησαι ταδε	15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him, who chose his people to keep them for ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs.
16 λαβε την αγιαν ρομφαιαν δωρον παρα του θεου δι' ης θραυσεις τους υπεναντιους	16 Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet them.
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	17 Now Simon the brother of Judas had joined battle with Nicanor, but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries.
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	18 Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas' companions, and the greatness of courage with which they fought for their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword.
19 ην δε και τοις εν τη πολει κατειλημμενοις ου παρεργος αγωνια ταρασσομενοις της εν υπαιθρω προσβολης	19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius, and Matthias before to present and receive the right hands.
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	20 And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the captain had acquainted the multitude with it, the) were all of one mind to consent to covenants.
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	21 So they appointed a day upon which they might commune together by themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one.
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	22 But Judas ordered men to be ready in convenient places, lest some mischief might he suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made an agreeable conference.
23 και νυν δυναστα των ουρανων αποστειλον αγγελον αγαθον εμπροσθεν ημων εις δεος και τρομον	23 And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together.
24 μεγεθει βραχιονος σου καταπλαγειησαν οι μετα βλασφημιας παραγινομενοι επι τον αγιον σου λαον και ουτος μεν εν τουτοις εληξεν	24 And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well affected to the man.
25 οι δε περι τον νικανορα μετα σαλπιγγων και παιανων προσηγον	25 And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common.
26 οι δε περι τον ιουδαν μετα επικλησεως και ευχων συνεμειξαν τοις πολεμιοις	26 But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor assented to the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a traitor to the kingdom, his successor.
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	27 Then the king being in a rage and provoked with this man's wicked accusations, wrote to Nicanor, signifying, that he was greatly displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch.
28 γενομενοι δε απο της χρειας και μετα χαρας αναλυοντες επεγνωσαν προπεπτωκοτα νικανορα συν τη πανοπλια	28 When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, having received no injury from the man.
29 γενομενης δε κραυγης και ταραχης ευλογουν τον δυναστην τη πατριω φωνη	29 But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an opportunity to comply with the orders.
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	30 But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough manner: and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor.
31 παραγενομενος δε εκει και συγκαλεσας τους ομοεθνεις και τους ιερεις προ του θυσιαστηριου στησας μετεπεμψατο τους εκ της ακρας	31 But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
32 και επιδειξαμενος την του μιαρου νικανορος κεφαλην και την χειρα του δυσφημου ην εκτεινας επι τον αγιον του παντοκρατορος οικον εμεγαλαυχησεν	32 And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to 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	33 And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus.
34 οι δε παντες εις τον ουρανον ευλογησαν τον επιφανη κυριον λεγοντες ευλογητος ο διατηρησας τον εαυτου τοπον αμιαντον	34 And when he had spoken thus he departed. But the priests stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever the defender of their nation, saying in this manner:
35 εξεδησεν δε την του νικανορος προτομην εκ της ακρας επιδηλον πασιν και φανερον της του κυριου βοηθειας σημειον	35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us.
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	36 Therefore now, 0 Lord the holy of all holies, keep this house for ever undefiled which was lately cleansed.
37 των ουν κατα νικανορα χωρησαντων ουτως και απ' εκεινων των καιρων κρατηθεισης της πολεως υπο των εβραιων και αυτος αυτοθι τον λογον καταπαυσω	37 Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who for his affection was called the father of the Jews.
38 και ει μεν καλως ευθικτως τη συνταξει τουτο και αυτος ηθελον ει δε ευτελως και μετριως τουτο εφικτον ην μοι	38 This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping himself pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body and life, that he might persevere therein.
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 .	39 So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him.
	40 For he thought by insnaring him to hurt the Jews very much.
	41 Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he struck himself with his sword:
	42 Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth.
	43 But whereas through haste he missed of giving himself a sure wound, and the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and manfully threw himself down to the crowd:
	44 But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the midst of the neck.
	45 And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind he arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd:
	46 And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without blood, grasping his bowels with both hands, he cast them upon the throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to him again: and so he departed this life.