1 Maccabees 2

In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἀνέστη Ματταθίας Ἰωάννου τοῦ Συμεὼν, ἱερεὺς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰωαρὶβ ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν Μωδεΐν.

And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:

Καὶ αὐτῷ υἱοὶ πέντε, Ἰωαννὰν ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος Καδδὶς,

Simon, called Thassi:

Σίμων ὁ καλούμενος Θασσι,

Judas, who was called Maccabeus:

Ἰούδας ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος Μακκαβαῖος,

Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.

Ἐλεάζαρ ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος Αὐαρὰν, Ἰωνάθαν ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος Ἀπφοῦς.

And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,

Καὶ εἶδε τὰς βλασφημίας τὰς γινομένας ἐν Ἰούδα καὶ ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ,

he said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people, and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers?

καὶ εἶπεν, οἴμοι, ἱνατί τοῦτο ἐγεννήθην ἰδεῖν τὸ σύντριμμα τοῦ λαοῦ μου, καὶ τὸ σύντριμμα τῆς πόλεως τῆς ἁγίας, καὶ καθίσαι ἐκεῖ ἐν τῷ δοθῆναι αὐτὴν ἐν χειρὶ ἐχθρῶν, καὶ τὸ ἁγίασμα ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοτρίων;

Her temple is become as a man without glory.

Ἐγένετο ὁ ναὸς αὐτῆς ὡς ἀνὴρ ἄδοξος,

Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.

τὰ σκεύη τῆς δόξης αὐτῆς αἰχμάλωτα ἀπήχθη, ἀπεκτάνθη τὰ νήπια αὐτῆς ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις, οἱ νεανίσκοι αὐτῆς ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἐχθροῦ.

What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom, and gotten of her spoils?

Ποῖον ἔθνος οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησε βασιλείαν αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἐκράτησε τῶν σκύλων αὐτῆς;

All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she has become a bondslave.

Πᾶς ὁ κόσμος αὐτῆς ἀφῃρέθη, ἀντὶ ἐλευθήρας ἐγένετο εἰς δούλην.

And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.

Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ ἅγια ἡμῶν καὶ ἡ καλλονὴ ἡμῶν καὶ ἡ δόξα ἡμῶν ἠρημώθη, καὶ ἐβεβήλωσαν αὐτὰ τὰ ἔθνη.

To what end therefore shall we live any longer?

Ἱνατί ἡμῖν ἔτι ζῇν;

Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore.

Καὶ διέῤῥηξε Ματταθίας καὶ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν, καὶ περιεβάλοντο σάκκους, καὶ ἐπένθησαν σφόδρα.

In the mean while the king's officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice.

Καὶ ἦλθον οἱ παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως οἱ καταναγκάζοντες τὴν ἀποστασίαν εἰς Μωδεῒν τὴν πόλιν, ἵνα θυσιάσωσι.

And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together.

Καὶ πολλοὶ ἀπὸ Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς αὐτοὺς προσῆλθον· καὶ Ματταθίας καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ συνήχθησαν.

Then answered the king's officers, and said to Mattathias on this wise, Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren:

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ εἰπον τῷ Ματταθίᾳ, λέγοντες, ἄρχων καὶ ἔνδοξος καὶ μέγας εἶ ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ, καὶ ἐστηριγμένος ἐν υἱοῖς καὶ ἀδελφοῖς.

now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king's commandment, like as all the nations have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the king's friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.

Νῦν οὖν πρόσελθε πρῶτος, καὶ ποίησον τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως, ὡς ἐποίησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες Ἰούδα, καὶ οἱ καταλειφθέντες ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἔσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου τῶν φίλων τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου δοξασθήσεσθε ἀργυρίῳ, καὶ χρυσίῳ, καὶ ἀποστολαῖς πολλαῖς.

Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments:

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ματταθίας, καὶ εἶπε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, εἰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐν οἴκῳ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ βασιλέως ἀκούουσιν αὐτοῦ, ἀποστῆναι ἕκαστος ἀπὸ λατρείας πατέρων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾑρετίσαντο ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ,

yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.

ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ καὶ οἱ υἱοί μου καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου πορευσόμεθα ἐν διαθήκῃ πατέρων ἡμῶν.

God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.

Ἵλεως ἡμῖν καταλιπεῖν νόμον καὶ δικαιώματὰ.

We will not hearken to the king's words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.

Τῶν λόγων τοῦ βασιλέως οὐκ ἀκουσόμεθα, τοῦ παρελθεῖν τὴν λατρείαν ἡμῶν, δεξιὰν ἢ ἀριστεράν.

Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king's commandment.

Καὶ ὡς ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν τοὺς λόγους τούτους, προσῆλθεν ἀνὴρ Ἰουδαῖος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς πάντων, θυσιᾶσαι ἐπὶ τοῦ βωμοῦ τοῦ ἐν Μωδεῒν κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ βασιλέως.

Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and his reins trembled, neither could he forbear to shew his anger according to judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.

Καὶ εἶδε Ματταθίας καὶ ἐζήλωσε, καὶ ἐτρόμησαν οἱ νεφροὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνήνεγκε θυμὸν κατὰ τὸ κρίμα, καὶ δραμῶν ἔσφαξεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμόν.

Also the king's commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.

Καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦ βασιλέως τὸν ἀναγκάζοντα θύειν, ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, καὶ τὸν βωμὸν καθεῖλε.

Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God, like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.

Καὶ ἐζήλωσε τῷ νόμῳ καθὼς ἐποίησε Φινεὲς τῷ Ζαμβρὶ υἱῷ Σαλώμ.

And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me.

Καὶ ἀνέκραξε Ματταθίας ἐν τῇ πόλει φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, λέγων, πᾶς ὁ ζηλῶν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ ἱστῶν διαθήκην, ἐξελθέτω ὀπίσω μου.

So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.

Καὶ ἔφυγον αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὄρη, καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον ὅσα εἶχον ἐν τῇ πόλει.

Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there:

Τότε κατέβησαν πολλοὶ ζητοῦντες δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίμα, εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, καθίσαι ἐκεῖ,

both they and their children, and their wives, and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them.

αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἐπληθύνθη ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὰ κακά.

Now when it was told the king's servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,

Καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τοῖς ἀνδράσι τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ταῖς δυνάμεσιν αἳ ἦσαν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ πόλει Δαυὶδ, ὅτι κατέβησαν ἄνδρες, οἵτινες διεσκέδασαν τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ βασιλέως, εἰς τοὺς κρύφους ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.

they pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.

Καὶ ἔδραμον ὀπίσω αὐτῶν πολλοί· καὶ καταλαβόντες αὐτοὺς παρενέβαλον ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ συνεστήσαντο πρὸς αὐτοὺς πόλεμον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων,

And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live.

καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἕως τοῦ νῦν ἱκανόν· ἐξέλθετε καὶ ποιήσατε κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ζήσεσθε.

But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king's commandment, to profane the sabbath day.

Καὶ εἶπον, οὐκ ἐξελευσόμεθα, οὐδὲ ποιήσομεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ βασιλέως, τοῦ βεβηλῶσαι τὴν ἡμέραν τῶν σαββάτων.

So then they gave them the battle with all speed.

καὶ ἐτάχυναν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς πόλεμον.

Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;

Καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτοῖς, οὐδὲ λίθον ἐνετίναξαν αὐτοῖς, οὐδὲ ἐνέφραξαν τοὺς κρύφους,

but said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth shall testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.

λέγοντες, ἀποθάνωμεν πάντες ἐν τῇ ἁπλότητι ἡμῶν· μαρτυρεῖ ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ὅτι ἀκρίτως ἀπόλλυτε ἡμᾶς.

So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.

Καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τοῖς σάββασι, καὶ ἀπέθανον αὐτοὶ καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν, ἕως χιλίων ψυχῶν ἀνθρώπων.

Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.

Καὶ ἔγνω Ματταθίας καὶ οἱ φίλοι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπένθησαν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἕως σφόδρα.

And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.

Καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ, ἐὰν πάντες ποιήσωμεν ὡς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν ἐποίησαν, καὶ μὴ πολεμήσωμεν πρὸς τὰ ἔθνη ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν δικαιωμάτων ἡμῶν, νῦν τάχιον ἡμᾶς ἐξολοθρεύσουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς.

At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.

Καὶ ἐβουλεύσαντο τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, λέγοντες, πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν ἔλθῃ πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰς πόλεμον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων, πολεμήσωμεν κατέναντι αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν πάντες καθὼς ἀπέθανον οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν ἐν τοῖς κρύφοις.

Then came there unto him a company of Assideans, who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.

Τότε συνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς συναγωγὴ Ἰουδαίων, ἰσχυροὶ δυνάμει ἀπὸ Ἰσραὴλ, πᾶς ὁ ἑκουσιαζόμενος τῷ νόμῳ.

Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.

Καὶ πάντες οἱ φυγαδεύοντες ἀπὸ τῶν κακῶν προσετέθησαν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτοῖς εἰς στήριγμα.

So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.

Καὶ συνεστήσαντο δύναμιν, καὶ ἐπάταξαν ἁμαρτωλοὺς ἐν ὀργῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἄνδρας ἀνόμους ἐν θυμῷ αὐτῶν· καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἔφυγον εἰς τὰ ἔθνη σωθῆναι.

Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:

Καὶ ἐκύκλωσε Ματταθίας καὶ οἱ φίλοι αὐτοῦ, καὶ καθεῖλον τοὺς βωμοὺς.

and what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.

Καὶ περιέτεμον τὰ παιδάρια τὰ ἀπερίτμητα ὅσα εὗρον ἐν ὁρίοις Ἰσραὴλ ἐν ἰσχύϊ.

They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.

Καὶ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ὑπεπηφανίας, καὶ κατευωδώθη τὸ ἔργον ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν.

So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.

Καὶ ἀντελάβοντο τοῦ νόμου ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν βασιλέων· καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκαν κέρας τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ.

Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now have pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:

Καὶ ἤγγισαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Ματταθίου ἀποθανεῖν, καὶ εἶπε τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, νῦν ἐστηρίχθη ὑπερηφανία καὶ ἐλεγμὸς καὶ καιρὸς καταστροφῆς καὶ ὀργὴ θυμοῦ.

now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα, ζηλώσατε τῷ νόμῳ, καὶ δότε τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν ὑπὲρ διαθήκης πατέρων ἡμῶν.

Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.

Μνήσθητε τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐποίησαν ἐν ταῖς γενεαῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ δέξασθε δόξαν μεγάλην καὶ ὄνομα αἰώνιον.

Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?

Ἁβραὰμ οὐχὶ ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστὸς, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην;

Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and was made lord of Egypt;

Ἰωσὴφ ἐν καιρῷ στενοχωρίας αὐτοῦ ἐφύλαξεν ἐντολὴν, καὶ ἐγένετο κύριος Αἰγύπτου.

Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.

Φινεὲς ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ ζηλῶσαι ζῆλον, ἔλαβε διαθήκην ἱερωσύνης αἰωνίας.

Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.

Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῷ πληρῶσαι λόγον, ἐγένετο κριτὴς ἐν Ἰσραήλ.

Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.

Χαλὲβ ἐν τῷ ἐπιμαρτύρασθαι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησία, ἔλαβε γῆς κληρονομίαν.

David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.

Δαυὶδ ἐν τῷ ἐλέῳ αὐτοῦ, ἐκληρονόμησε θρόνον βασιλείας εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος.

Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.

Ἡλίας ἐν τῷ ζηλῶσαι ζῆλον νόμου, ἀνελήφθη ἕως εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.

Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame.

Ἀνανίας, Ἀζαρίας, Μισαήλ, πιστεύσαντες ἐσώθησαν ἐκ φλογός.

Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.

Δανιὴλ ἐν τῇ ἁπλότητι αὐτοῦ ἐῤῥύσθη ἐκ στόματος λεόντων.

And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.

Καὶ οὕτως ἐννοήθητε κατὰ γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν, ὅτι πάντες οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπʼ αὐτὸν οὐκ ἀσθενήσουσι.

Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.

Καὶ ἀπὸ λόγων ἀνδρὸς ἁμαρτωλοῦ μὴ φοβηθῆτε, ὅτι ἡ δόξα αὐτοῦ εἰς κοπρίαν καὶ εἰς σκώληκας.

To day he shall be lifted up, and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.

Σήμερον ἐπαρθήσεται, καὶ αὔριον οὐ μὴ εὑρεθῇ, ὅτι ἔστρεψεν εἰς τὸν χοῦν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ διαλογισμὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο.

Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.

Καὶ ὑμεῖς, τέκνα, ἰσχύσατε καὶ ἀνδρίζεσθε ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ δοξασθήσεσθε.

And, behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.

Καὶ ἰδοὺ Συμεὼν ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν, οἶδα ὅτι ἀνὴρ βουλῆς ἐστιν, αὐτοῦ ἀκούετε πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, αὐτὸς ὑμῖν ἔσται εἰς πατέρα.

As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.

Καὶ Ἰούδας Μακκαβαῖος ἰσχυρὸς δυνάμει ἐκ νεότητος αὐτοῦ, οὗτος ὑμῖν ἔσται ἄρχων στρατιᾶς, καὶ πολεμήσει πόλεμον λαῶν.

Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people.

Καὶ ὑμεῖς προσάξατε πρὸς ὑμᾶς πάντας τοὺς ποιητὰς τοῦ νόμου, καὶ ἐκδικήσατε ἐκδίκησιν τοῦ λαοῦ ὑμῶν.

Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law.

Ἀνταπόδοτε ἀνταπόδομα τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ προσέχετε εἰς τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ νόμου.

So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.

Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς· καὶ προσετέθη πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας αὐτοῦ.

And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.

Καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῷ ἕκτῳ καὶ τεσσαρακοστῷ καὶ ἑκατοστῷ ἔτει· καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τάφοις πατέρων αὐτῶν ἐν Μωδεῒν, καὶ ἐκόψαντο αὐτὸν πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ κοπετὸν μέγαν.