2 Maccabees 15

But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.

Ὁ δὲ Νικάνωρ μεταλαβὼν τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν ὄντας ἐν τοῖς κατὰ Σαμάρειαν τόποις, ἐβουλεύσατο τῇ τῆς καταπαύσεως ἡμέρᾳ μετὰ πάσης ἀσφαλείας αὐτοῖς ἐπιβαλεῖν.

Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above other days.

Τῶν δὲ κατʼ ἀνάγκην συνεπομένων αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίων, λεγόντων, μηδαμῶς οὕτως ἀγρίως καὶ βαρβάρως ἀπολέσῃς, δόξαν δὲ ἀπομέρισον τῇ προτετιμημένῃ ὑπὸ τοῦ πάντα ἐθορῶντος μεθʼ ἁγιότητος ἡμέρᾳ.

Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.

Ὁ δὲ τρισαλιτήριος ἐπηρώτησεν, εἰ ἔστιν ἐν οὐρανῷ δυνάστης ὁ προστεταχὼς ἄγειν τὴν τῶν σαββάτων ἡμέραν;

And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:

Τῶν δὲ ἀποφῃναμένων, ἔστιν ὁ Κύριος ζῶν αὐτὸς ἐν οὐρανῷ δυνάστης, ὁ κελεύσας ἀσκεῖν τὴν ἑβδομάδα.

then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.

Ὁ δὲ ἕτερος, κᾀγώ φησι, δυνάστης ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὁ προστάσσων αἴρειν ὅπλα, καὶ τὰς βασιλικὰς χρείας ἐπιτελεῖν· ὅμως οὐ κατέσχεν ἐπιτελέσαι τό σχέτλιον αὐτοῦ βούλημα.

So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.

Καὶ ὁ μὲν Νικάνωρ μετὰ πάσης ἀλαζονείας ὑψαυχενῶν, διεγνώκει κοινὸν τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν συστήσασθαι τρόπαιον.

But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:

Ὁ δὲ Μακκαβαῖος ἦν ἀδιαλείπτως πεποιθὼς μετὰ πάσης ἐλπίδος ἀντιλήψεως τεύξασθαι παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου.

wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.

Καὶ παρεκάλει τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ μὴ δειλιᾷν τὴν τῶν ἔθνῶν ἔφοδον, ἔχοντας δὲ κατὰ νοῦν τὰ προγεγονότα αὐτοῖς ἁπʼ οὐρανοῦ βοηθήματα, καὶ τανῦν προσδοκᾷν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ παντοκράτορος ἐσομένην αὐτοῖς νίκην καὶ βοήθειαν.

And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.

Καὶ παραμυθούμενος αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, προσυπομνήσας δὲ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀγῶνας οὓς ἦσαν ἐκτετελεκότες, προθυμοτέρους αὐτοὺς κατέστησε.

And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithal the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.

Καὶ τοῖς θυμοῖς διεγείρας αὐτοὺς, παρήγγειλεν, ἅμα παρεπιδεικνὺς τὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν ἀθεσίαν καὶ τὴν τῶν ὅρκων παράβασιν.

Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.

Ἕκαστον δὲ αὐτῶν καθοπλίσας, οὐ τὴν ἀσπίδων καὶ λογχῶν ἀσφάλειαν, ὡς τὴν ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς λόγοις παράκλησιν, καὶ προσεξηγησάμενος ὄνειρον ἀξιόπιστον ὕπαρ τι πάντας εὔφρανεν.

And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.

Ἦν δὲ ἡ τούτου θεωρία τοιάδε· Ὀνίαν τὸν γενόμενον ἀρχιερέα, ἄνδρα καλὸν καὶ ἀγαθὸν, αἰδήμονα μὲν τὴν ἀπάντησιν, πρᾷον δὲ τὸν τρόπον, καὶ λαλιὰν προϊέμενον πρεπόντως, καὶ ἐκ παιδὸς ἐκμεμελετηκότα πάντα τὰ τῆς ἀρετῆς οἰκεῖα, τοῦτον τὰς χεῖρας προτείναντα κατεύχεσθαι τῷ παντὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων συστήματι.

This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.

Εἶθʼ οὕτως ἐπιφανῆναι ἄνδρα πολιᾷ καὶ δόξῃ διαφέροντα, θαυμαστὴν δέ τινα καὶ μεγαλοπρεπεστάτην εἶναι τὴν περὶ αὐτὸν ὑπεροχήν.

Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.

Ἀποκριθέντα δὲ τὸν Ὀνιαν εἰπεῖν, ὁ φιλάδελφος οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πολλὰ προσευχόμενος περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῆς ἁγίας πόλεως, Ἱερεμίας ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ προφήτης.

Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,

Προτείναντα δὲ τὸν Ἱερεμίαν τὴν δεξιὰν παραδοῦναι τῷ Ἰούδᾳ ῥομφαίαν χρυσῆν, διδόντα δὲ προσφωνῆσαι τάδε,

Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.

λάβε τὴν ἁγίαν ῥομφαίαν δῶρον παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, διʼ ἧς θραύσεις τοὺς ὑπεναντίους.

Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.

Παρακληθέντες δὲ τοῖς Ἰούδα λόγοις πάνυ καλοῖς καὶ δυναμένοις ἐπʼ ἀρετὴν παρορμῆσαι, καὶ ψυχὰς νέων ἐπανορθῶσαι, διέγνωσαν μὴ στρατοπεδεύεσθαι, γενναίως δὲ ἐμφέρεσθαι, καὶ μετὰ πάσης εὐανδρίας ἐμπλακέντες κρῖναι τὰ πράγματα, διὰ τὸ καὶ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ τὰ ἅγια, καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν κινδυνεύειν.

For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and kinsfolks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.

Ἦν γὰρ ὁ περὶ γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων, ἔτι δὲ ἀδελφῶν καὶ συγγενῶν ἐν ἥττονι μέρει κείμενος αὐτοῖς ἀγὼν, μέγιστος δὲ καὶ πρῶτος ὁ περὶ τοῦ καθηγιασμένου ναοῦ φόβος.

Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.

Ἦν δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει κατειλημμένοις οὐ πάρεργος ἀγωνία ταρασσομένοις τῆς ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ προσβολῆς.

And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,

Καὶ πάντων ἤδη προσδοκώντων τὴν ἐσομένην κρίσιν, καὶ ἤδη συμμιξάντων τῶν πολεμίων, καὶ τῆς στρατιᾶς ἐκταγείσης, καὶ τῶν θηρίων ἐπὶ μέρος εὔκαιρον ἀποκατασταθέντων, τῆς τε ἵππου κατὰ κέρας τεταγμένης,

Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:

Συνιδὼν ὁ Μακκαβαῖος τὴν τῶν πληθῶν παρουσίαν, καὶ τῶν ὅπλων τὴν ποικίλην παρασκευὴν, τήν τε τῶν θηρίων ἀγριότητα, προτείνας τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν, ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν τερατοποιὸν Κύριον τὸν κατόπτην, γινώσκων ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι διʼ ὅπλων ἡ νίκη, καθὼς δὲ ἂν αὐτῷ κριθείη, τοῖς ἀξίοις περιποιεῖται τὴν νίκην.

therefore in his prayer he said after this manner: O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:

Ἔλεγε δὲ ἐπικαλούμενος τόνδε τὸν τρόπον, σὺ, Δέσποτα, ἀπέστειλας τὸν ἄγγελόν σου ἐπὶ Ἑζεκίου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ ἀνεῖλες ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς Σενναχηρεὶμ εἰς ἑκατὸν ὀγδοηκονταπέντε χιλιάδας.

wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them;

Καὶ νῦν, Δυνάστα τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀπόστειλον ἄγγελον ἀγαθὸν ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν εἰς δέος καὶ τρόμον.

and through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

Μεγέθει βραχίονός σου καταπλαγείησαν οἱ μετὰ βλασφημίας παραγενόμενοι ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιόν σου λαόν· καὶ οὗτος μὲν ἐν τούτοις ἔληξεν.

Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.

Οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Νικάνορα μετὰ σαλπίγγων καὶ παιάνων προσῆγον,

But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer.

οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν μετʼ ἐπικλήσεως καὶ εὐχῶν συνέμιξαν τοῖς πολεμίοις.

So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.

Καὶ ταῖς μὲν χερσὶν ἀγωνιζόμενοι, ταῖς δὲ καρδίαις πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν εὐχόμενοι, κατέστρωσαν οὐδὲν ἧττον μυριάδων τριῶν καὶ πεντακισχιλίων, τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ μεγάλως εὐφρανθέντες ἐπιφανείᾳ.

Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.

Γενόμενοι δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς χρείας, καὶ μετὰ χαρᾶς ἀναλύοντες, ἐπέγνωσαν προπεπτωκότα Νικάνορα σὺν τῇ πανοπλίᾳ.

Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

Γενομένης δὲ κραυγῆς καὶ ταραχῆς, εὐλόγουν τὸν Δυνάστην τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ.

And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.

Καὶ προσέταξεν ὁ καθʼ ἅπαν σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ πρωταγωνιστὴς ὑπὲρ τῶν πολιτῶν, ὁ τὴν τῆς ἡλικίας εὔνοιαν εἰς ὁμοεθνεῖς διαφυλάξας, τὴν τοῦ Νικάνορος κεφαλὴν ἀποτεμόντας, καὶ τὴν χεῖρα σὺν τῷ ὤμῳ φέρειν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.

So when he was there, and had called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower,

Παραγενόμενος δὲ ἐκεῖ, καὶ συγκαλέσας τοὺς ὁμοεθνεῖς, καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς πρὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου στήσας, μετεπέμψατο τοὺς ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας.

and shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty.

Καὶ ἐπιδειξάμενος τὴν τοῦ μιαροῦ Νικάνορος κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ δυσφήμου, ἣν ἐκτείνας ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ παντοκράτορος οἶκον ἐμεγαλαύχησε.

And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple.

Καὶ τὴν γλῶσσαν τοῦ δυσσεβοῦς Νικάνορος ἐκτεμὼν, ἔφη κατὰ μέρος δώσειν τοῖς ὀρνέοις, τὰ δὲ ἐπίχειρα τῆς ἀνοίας κατέναντι τοῦ ναοῦ κρεμᾶσαι.

So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.

Οἱ δὲ πάντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησαν τὸν ἐπιφανῆ Κύριον, λέγοντες, εὐλογητὸς ὁ διατηρήσας τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον ἀμίαντον.

He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.

Ἐξέδησε δὲ τὴν τοῦ Νικάνορος κεφαλὴν ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας, ἐπίδηλον πᾶσι καὶ φανερὸν τῆς τοῦ Κυρίου βοηθείας σημεῖον.

And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day.

Καὶ ἐδογμάτισαν πάντες μετὰ κοινοῦ ψηφίσματος μηδαμῶς ἐᾶσαι ἀπαρασήμαντον τὴνδε τὴν ἡμέραν· ἔχειν δὲ ἐπίσημον τὴν τρισκαιδεκάτην τοῦ δωδεκάτου μηνὸς, Ἄδαρ λέγεται τῇ Συριακῇ φωνῇ, πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τῆς Μαρδοχαϊκῆς ἡμέρας.

Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.

Τῶν οὖν κατὰ Νικάνορα χωρησάντων οὕτω, καὶ ἀπʼ ἐκείνων τῶν καιρῶν κρατηθείσης τῆς πόλεως ὑπὸ τῶν Ἑβραίων. Καὶ αὐτὸς αὐτόθι καταπαύσω τὸν λόγον.

And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.

Καὶ εἰ μὲν καλῶς καὶ εὐθίκτως τῇ συντάξει, τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς ἤθελον· εἰ δὲ εὐτελῶς καὶ μετρίως, τοῦτο ἐφικτὸν ἦν μοι.

For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.

Καθάπερ γὰρ οἶνον καταμόνας πίνειν, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ ὕδωρ πάλιν, πολέμιον· ὃν δὲ τρόπον οἶνος ὕδατι συγκερασθεὶς ἡδὺς, καὶ ἐπιτερπῆ τὴν χάριν ἀποτελεῖ, οὕτω καὶ τὸ τῆς κατασκευῆς τοῦ λόγου τέρπει τὰς ἀκοὰς τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων τῇ συντάξει· ἐνταῦθα δὲ ἔσται ἡ τελευτή.