ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΩΝ Α´ - 1 Maccabei - Maccabees I 1

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 και εγενετο μετα το παταξαι αλεξανδρον τον φιλιππου μακεδονα ος εξηλθεν εκ γης χεττιιμ και επαταξεν τον δαρειον βασιλεα περσων και μηδων και εβασιλευσεν αντ' αυτου προτερον επι την ελλαδα	1 Alexander of Macedon son of Philip had come from the land of Kittim and defeated Darius king of thePersians and Medes, whom he succeeded as ruler, at first of Hel as.
2 και συνεστησατο πολεμους πολλους και εκρατησεν οχυρωματων και εσφαξεν βασιλεις της γης	2 He undertook many campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses, and put the local kings todeath.
3 και διηλθεν εως ακρων της γης και ελαβεν σκυλα πληθους εθνων και ησυχασεν η γη ενωπιον αυτου και υψωθη και επηρθη η καρδια αυτου	3 So he advanced to the ends of the earth, plundering nation after nation; the earth grew silent beforehim, and his ambitious heart swel ed with pride.
4 και συνηξεν δυναμιν ισχυραν σφοδρα και ηρξεν χωρων εθνων και τυραννων και εγενοντο αυτω εις φορον	4 He assembled very powerful forces and subdued provinces, nations and princes, and they became histributaries.
5 και μετα ταυτα επεσεν επι την κοιτην και εγνω οτι αποθνησκει	5 But the time came when Alexander took to his bed, in the knowledge that he was dying.
6 και εκαλεσεν τους παιδας αυτου τους ενδοξους τους συνεκτροφους αυτου εκ νεοτητος και διειλεν αυτοις την βασιλειαν αυτου ετι αυτου ζωντος	6 He summoned his officers, noblemen who had been brought up with him from his youth, and dividedhis kingdom among them while he was stil alive.
7 και εβασιλευσεν αλεξανδρος ετη δωδεκα και απεθανεν	7 Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died.
8 και επεκρατησαν οι παιδες αυτου εκαστος εν τω τοπω αυτου	8 Each of his officers established himself in his own region.
9 και επεθεντο παντες διαδηματα μετα το αποθανειν αυτον και οι υιοι αυτων οπισω αυτων ετη πολλα και επληθυναν κακα εν τη γη	9 Al assumed crowns after his death, they and their heirs after them for many years, bringing increasingevils on the world.
10 και εξηλθεν εξ αυτων ριζα αμαρτωλος αντιοχος επιφανης υιος αντιοχου του βασιλεως ος ην ομηρα εν ρωμη και εβασιλευσεν εν ετει εκατοστω και τριακοστω και εβδομω βασιλειας ελληνων	10 From these there grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once ahostage in Rome, he became king in the 107th year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 εν ταις ημεραις εκειναις εξηλθον εξ ισραηλ υιοι παρανομοι και ανεπεισαν πολλους λεγοντες πορευθωμεν και διαθωμεθα διαθηκην μετα των εθνων των κυκλω ημων οτι αφ' ης εχωρισθημεν απ' αυτων ευρεν ημας κακα πολλα	11 It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. 'Come,'they said, 'let us al y ourselves with the gentiles surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from themmany misfortunes have overtaken us.'
12 και ηγαθυνθη ο λογος εν οφθαλμοις αυτων	12 This proposal proved acceptable,
13 και προεθυμηθησαν τινες απο του λαου και επορευθησαν προς τον βασιλεα και εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν ποιησαι τα δικαιωματα των εθνων	13 and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise thegentiles' observances.
14 και ωκοδομησαν γυμνασιον εν ιεροσολυμοις κατα τα νομιμα των εθνων	14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the gentiles have,
15 και εποιησαν εαυτοις ακροβυστιας και απεστησαν απο διαθηκης αγιας και εζευγισθησαν τοις εθνεσιν και επραθησαν του ποιησαι το πονηρον	15 disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to gentile rule as willingslaves of impiety.
16 και ητοιμασθη η βασιλεια ενωπιον αντιοχου και υπελαβεν βασιλευσαι γης αιγυπτου οπως βασιλευση επι τας δυο βασιλειας	16 Once Antiochus had seen his authority established, he determined to make himself king of Egypt andthe ruler of both kingdoms.
17 και εισηλθεν εις αιγυπτον εν οχλω βαρει εν αρμασιν και ελεφασιν και εν ιππευσιν και εν στολω μεγαλω	17 He invaded Egypt in massive strength, with chariots and elephants (and cavalry) and a large fleet.
18 και συνεστησατο πολεμον προς πτολεμαιον βασιλεα αιγυπτου και ενετραπη πτολεμαιος απο προσωπου αυτου και εφυγεν και επεσον τραυματιαι πολλοι	18 He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned back and fled before his advance,leaving many casualties.
19 και κατελαβοντο τας πολεις τας οχυρας εν γη αιγυπτω και ελαβεν τα σκυλα γης αιγυπτου	19 The fortified cities of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the country.
20 και επεστρεψεν αντιοχος μετα το παταξαι αιγυπτον εν τω εκατοστω και τεσσαρακοστω και τριτω ετει και ανεβη επι ισραηλ και ανεβη εις ιεροσολυμα εν οχλω βαρει	20 After his conquest of Egypt, in the year 143, Antiochus turned about and advanced on Israel andJerusalem in massive strength.
21 και εισηλθεν εις το αγιασμα εν υπερηφανια και ελαβεν το θυσιαστηριον το χρυσουν και την λυχνιαν του φωτος και παντα τα σκευη αυτης	21 Insolently breaking into the sanctuary, he removed the golden altar and the lamp-stand for the lightwith all its fittings,
22 και την τραπεζαν της προθεσεως και τα σπονδεια και τας φιαλας και τας θυισκας τας χρυσας και το καταπετασμα και τους στεφανους και τον κοσμον τον χρυσουν τον κατα προσωπον του ναου και ελεπισεν παντα	22 together with the table for the loaves of permanent offering, the libation vessels, the cups, the goldencensers, the veil, the crowns, and the golden decoration on the front of the Temple, which he stripped ofeverything.
23 και ελαβεν το αργυριον και το χρυσιον και τα σκευη τα επιθυμητα και ελαβεν τους θησαυρους τους αποκρυφους ους ευρεν	23 He made off with the silver and gold and precious vessels; he discovered the secret treasures andseized them
24 και λαβων παντα απηλθεν εις την γην αυτου και εποιησεν φονοκτονιαν και ελαλησεν υπερηφανιαν μεγαλην	24 and, removing all these, he went back to his own country, having shed much blood and uttered wordsof extreme arrogance.
25 και εγενετο πενθος μεγα επι ισραηλ εν παντι τοπω αυτων	25 There was deep mourning for Israel throughout the country:
26 και εστεναξαν αρχοντες και πρεσβυτεροι παρθενοι και νεανισκοι ησθενησαν και το καλλος των γυναικων ηλλοιωθη	26 Rulers and elders groaned; girls and young men wasted away; the women's beauty suffered achange;
27 πας νυμφιος ανελαβεν θρηνον και καθημενη εν παστω επενθει	27 every bridegroom took up a dirge, the bride sat grief-stricken on her marriage-bed.
28 και εσεισθη η γη επι τους κατοικουντας αυτην και πας ο οικος ιακωβ ενεδυσατο αισχυνην	28 The earth quaked because of its inhabitants and the whole House of Jacob was clothed with shame.
29 μετα δυο ετη ημερων απεστειλεν ο βασιλευς αρχοντα φορολογιας εις τας πολεις ιουδα και ηλθεν εις ιερουσαλημ εν οχλω βαρει	29 Two years later the king sent the Mysarch through the cities of Judah. He came to Jerusalem with animpressive force,
30 και ελαλησεν αυτοις λογους ειρηνικους εν δολω και ενεπιστευσαν αυτω και επεπεσεν επι την πολιν εξαπινα και επαταξεν αυτην πληγην μεγαλην και απωλεσεν λαον πολυν εξ ισραηλ	30 and addressing them with what appeared to be peaceful words, he gained their confidence; thensuddenly he fell on the city, dealing it a terrible blow, and destroying many of the people of Israel.
31 και ελαβεν τα σκυλα της πολεως και ενεπρησεν αυτην πυρι και καθειλεν τους οικους αυτης και τα τειχη κυκλω	31 He pil aged the city and set it on fire, tore down its houses and encircling wal ,
32 και ηχμαλωτισαν τας γυναικας και τα τεκνα και τα κτηνη εκληρονομησαν	32 took the women and children captive and commandeered the cattle.
33 και ωκοδομησαν την πολιν δαυιδ τειχει μεγαλω και οχυρω πυργοις οχυροις και εγενετο αυτοις εις ακραν	33 They then rebuilt the City of David with a great strong wal and strong towers and made this theirCitadel.
34 και εθηκαν εκει εθνος αμαρτωλον ανδρας παρανομους και ενισχυσαν εν αυτη	34 There they installed a brood of sinners, of renegades, who fortified themselves inside it,
35 και παρεθεντο οπλα και τροφην και συναγαγοντες τα σκυλα ιερουσαλημ απεθεντο εκει και εγενοντο εις μεγαλην παγιδα	35 storing arms and provisions, and depositing there the loot they had collected from Jerusalem; theywere to prove a great trouble.
36 και εγενετο εις ενεδρον τω αγιασματι και εις διαβολον πονηρον τω ισραηλ δια παντος	36 It became an ambush for the sanctuary, an evil adversary for Israel at all times.
37 και εξεχεαν αιμα αθωον κυκλω του αγιασματος και εμολυναν το αγιασμα	37 They shed innocent blood al round the sanctuary and defiled the sanctuary itself.
38 και εφυγον οι κατοικοι ιερουσαλημ δι' αυτους και εγενετο κατοικια αλλοτριων και εγενετο αλλοτρια τοις γενημασιν αυτης και τα τεκνα αυτης εγκατελιπον αυτην	38 The citizens of Jerusalem fled because of them, she became a dwelling-place of strangers; estrangedfrom her own offspring, her children forsook her.
39 το αγιασμα αυτης ηρημωθη ως ερημος αι εορται αυτης εστραφησαν εις πενθος τα σαββατα αυτης εις ονειδισμον η τιμη αυτης εις εξουδενωσιν	39 Her sanctuary became as forsaken as a desert, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbathsinto a mockery, her honour into reproach.
40 κατα την δοξαν αυτης επληθυνθη η ατιμια αυτης και το υψος αυτης εστραφη εις πενθος	40 Her dishonour now ful y matched her former glory, her greatness was turned into grief.
41 και εγραψεν ο βασιλευς παση τη βασιλεια αυτου ειναι παντας εις λαον ενα	41 The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that al were to become a single people,each nation renouncing its particular customs.
42 και εγκαταλιπειν εκαστον τα νομιμα αυτου και επεδεξαντο παντα τα εθνη κατα τον λογον του βασιλεως	42 Al the gentiles conformed to the king's decree,
43 και πολλοι απο ισραηλ ευδοκησαν τη λατρεια αυτου και εθυσαν τοις ειδωλοις και εβεβηλωσαν το σαββατον	43 and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.
44 και απεστειλεν ο βασιλευς βιβλια εν χειρι αγγελων εις ιερουσαλημ και τας πολεις ιουδα πορευθηναι οπισω νομιμων αλλοτριων της γης	44 The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adoptcustoms foreign to the country,
45 και κωλυσαι ολοκαυτωματα και θυσιαν και σπονδην εκ του αγιασματος και βεβηλωσαι σαββατα και εορτας	45 banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts,
46 και μιαναι αγιασμα και αγιους	46 defiling the sanctuary and everything holy,
47 οικοδομησαι βωμους και τεμενη και ειδωλια και θυειν υεια και κτηνη κοινα	47 building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts,
48 και αφιεναι τους υιους αυτων απεριτμητους βδελυξαι τας ψυχας αυτων εν παντι ακαθαρτω και βεβηλωσει	48 leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to al kinds of impurity and abomination,
49 ωστε επιλαθεσθαι του νομου και αλλαξαι παντα τα δικαιωματα	49 so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it.
50 και ος αν μη ποιηση κατα τον λογον του βασιλεως αποθανειται	50 Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death.
51 κατα παντας τους λογους τουτους εγραψεν παση τη βασιλεια αυτου και εποιησεν επισκοπους επι παντα τον λαον και ενετειλατο ταις πολεσιν ιουδα θυσιαζειν κατα πολιν και πολιν	51 Writing in such terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the whole peopleand directed al the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city by city.
52 και συνηθροισθησαν απο του λαου πολλοι προς αυτους πας ο εγκαταλειπων τον νομον και εποιησαν κακα εν τη γη	52 Many of the people -- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed evil inthe country,
53 και εθεντο τον ισραηλ εν κρυφοις εν παντι φυγαδευτηριω αυτων	53 forcing Israel into hiding in any possible place of refuge.
54 και τη πεντεκαιδεκατη ημερα χασελευ τω πεμπτω και τεσσαρακοστω και εκατοστω ετει ωκοδομησεν βδελυγμα ερημωσεως επι το θυσιαστηριον και εν πολεσιν ιουδα κυκλω ωκοδομησαν βωμους	54 On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of thealtar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah
55 και επι των θυρων των οικιων και εν ταις πλατειαις εθυμιων	55 and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 και τα βιβλια του νομου α ευρον ενεπυρισαν εν πυρι κατασχισαντες	56 Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned.
57 και οπου ευρισκετο παρα τινι βιβλιον διαθηκης και ει τις συνευδοκει τω νομω το συγκριμα του βασιλεως εθανατου αυτον	57 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, theking's decree sentenced him to death.
58 εν ισχυι αυτων εποιουν τω ισραηλ τοις ευρισκομενοις εν παντι μηνι και μηνι εν ταις πολεσιν	58 Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel.
59 και τη πεμπτη και εικαδι του μηνος θυσιαζοντες επι τον βωμον ος ην επι του θυσιαστηριου	59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar ofburnt offering.
60 και τας γυναικας τας περιτετμηκυιας τα τεκνα αυτων εθανατωσαν κατα το προσταγμα	60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict
61 και εκρεμασαν τα βρεφη εκ των τραχηλων αυτων και τους οικους αυτων και τους περιτετμηκοτας αυτους	61 with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who hadperformed the circumcision were executed with them.
62 και πολλοι εν ισραηλ εκραταιωθησαν και ωχυρωθησαν εν αυτοις του μη φαγειν κοινα	62 Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food.
63 και επεδεξαντο αποθανειν ινα μη μιανθωσιν τοις βρωμασιν και μη βεβηλωσωσιν διαθηκην αγιαν και απεθανον	63 They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, andthey were executed.
64 και εγενετο οργη μεγαλη επι ισραηλ σφοδρα	64 It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.