2 Maccabees 1 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] ⓘThe kindred, the Jews who are in Jerusalem and those who are in the country of Judea, send greetings and good peace to the kindred, the Jews who are throughout Egypt. [2] May God do good to you, and remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants, [3] and give you all a heart to worship him and do his will with a strong heart and a willing soul. [4] May God open your heart to his law and his statutes, and make peace, [5] and listen to your requests, and be reconciled with you, and not forsake you in an evil time. [6] Now we are praying for you here. [7] In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred sixty-ninth year, we the Jews have already written to you in the suffering and in the distress that has come upon us in these years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom, [8] and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood. We prayed to the Lord, and were heard. We offered sacrifices and meal offerings. We lit the lamps. We set out the show bread.§ [9] Now see that you keep the days of the feast of tabernacles in the month Chislev in the one hundred eighty-eighth year. [10] The people of Jerusalem and those who are in Judea, with the senate and Judas, to Aristobulus, King Ptolemy’s teacher, who is also of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews who are in Egypt, we send greetings and health. [11] Having been saved by God out of great perils, as men arrayed against a king, we thank him greatly. [12] For he threw out into Persia those who fought against us in the holy city. [13] For when the prince had come there, with an army that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests. [14] For Antiochus, on the pretense that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his friends who were with him, that they might take a large part of the treasures as a dowry. [15] And when the priests of Nanaea’s temple had set the treasures out, and he had come there with a small company within the wall of the sacred precinct, they locked the temple when Antiochus had come in. [16] Opening the secret door of the paneled ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the prince. They cut him and his company in pieces, and cut off their heads, and threw them to the people who were outside. [17] Blessed be our God in all things, who handed over those who had committed impiety. [18] Since we are now about to celebrate the purification of the temple in the month Chislev, on the twenty-fifth day, we thought it necessary to notify you, so that you may also keep a feast of tabernacles, and remember the fire which was given when Nehemiah offered sacrifices, after he had built both the temple and the altar. [19] For indeed when our fathers were about to be led into the land of Persia, the godly priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar, and hid it secretly in the hollow of a well that was without water, where they made sure that the place was unknown to anyone. [20] Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having received a charge from the king of Persia, sent in quest of the fire the descendants of the priests who hid it. When they declared to us that they had found no fire, but thick liquid, [21] he commanded them to draw some of it out and bring it to him. When the sacrifices had been offered, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle with that liquid both the wood and the things laid on it. [22] When that was done and some time had passed, and the sun shone out, which before was hidden with clouds, a great blaze was kindled, so that all men marveled. [23] The priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was being consumed—both the priests and all the others. Jonathan led and the rest responded, as Nehemiah did. [24] The prayer was like this: “O Lord, Lord God, the Creator of all things, you are awesome, strong, righteous, and merciful, you alone are King and gracious, [25] you alone supply every need, you alone are righteous, almighty, and eternal, you who save Israel out of all evil, who chose the ancestors and sanctified them, [26] accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and preserve your own portion, and consecrate it. [27] Gather together our scattered people, set at liberty those who are in bondage among the heathen, look upon those who are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that you are our God. [28] Punish those who oppress us and in arrogance shamefully entreat us. [29] Plant your people in your holy place, even as Moses said.” [30] Then the priests sang the hymns. [31] As soon as the sacrifice was consumed, then Nehemiah commanded that the rest of the liquid be poured on large stones. [32] When this was done, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out. [33] When the matter became known, and king of the Persians was told that in the place where the priests who were led away had hid the fire, the liquid appeared which Nehemiah and those who were with him purified the sacrifice, [34] then the king enclosed the place and made it sacred after he had investigated the matter. [35] When the king would show favor to any, he would exchange many presents and give them some of this liquid. [36] Nehemiah and those who were with him called this thing “Nephthar”, which is by interpretation, “Cleansing”; but most men call it Nephthai.

Footnotes

  1. ⓘ 1:1 The Second Book of the Maccabees is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches.
  2. § 1:8 Gr. loaves
King James Version
Book not available in King James Version
Septuaginta
[1] Τοῖς G3588 ἀδελφοῖς G80 τοῖς G3588 κατ’ G2596 Αἴγυπτον G125 Ιουδαίοις G2453 χαίρειν G5463 οἱ G3588 ἀδελφοὶ G80 οἱ G3588 ἐν G1722 Ιεροσολύμοις G2414 Ιουδαῖοι G2453 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 χώρᾳ G5561 τῆς G3588 Ιουδαίας G2449 εἰρήνην G1515 ἀγαθήν· G18 [2] καὶ G2532 ἀγαθοποιήσαι G15 ὑμῖν G5213 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 καὶ G2532 μνησθείη G3415 τῆς G3588 διαθήκης G1242 αὐτοῦ G846 τῆς G3588 πρὸς G4314 Αβρααμ G11 καὶ G2532 Ισαακ G2464 καὶ G2532 Ιακωβ G2384 τῶν G3588 δούλων G1401 αὐτοῦ G846 τῶν G3588 πιστῶν· G4103 [3] καὶ G2532 δῴη G1325 ὑμῖν G5213 καρδίαν G2588 πᾶσιν G3956 εἰς G1519 τὸ G3588 σέβεσθαι G4576 αὐτὸν G846 καὶ G2532 ποιεῖν G4160 αὐτοῦ G846 τὰ G3588 θελήματα G2307 καρδίᾳ G2588 μεγάλῃ G3173 καὶ G2532 ψυχῇ G5590 βουλομένῃ· G1014 [4] καὶ G2532 διανοίξαι G1272 τὴν G3588 καρδίαν G2588 ὑμῶν G5216 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 νόμῳ G3551 αὐτοῦ G846 καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 προστάγμασιν καὶ G2532 εἰρήνην G1515 ποιήσαι G4160 [5] καὶ G2532 ἐπακούσαι G1873 ὑμῶν G5216 τῶν G3588 δεήσεων G1162 καὶ G2532 καταλλαγείη G2644 ὑμῖν G5213 καὶ G2532 μὴ G3361 ὑμᾶς G5209 ἐγκαταλίποι G1459 ἐν G1722 καιρῷ G2540 πονηρῷ. G4190 [6] Καὶ G2532 νῦν G3568 ὧδέ G5602 ἐσμεν G2070 προσευχόμενοι G4336 περὶ G4012 ὑμῶν. G5216 [7] Βασιλεύοντος G936 Δημητρίου G1216 ἔτους G2094 ἑκατοστοῦ ἑξηκοστοῦ ἐνάτου G1766 ἡμεῖς G2249 οἱ G3588 Ιουδαῖοι G2453 γεγράφαμεν G1125 ὑμῖν G5213 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 θλίψει G2347 καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 ἀκμῇ G188 τῇ G3588 ἐπελθούσῃ G1904 ἡμῖν G2254 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 ἔτεσιν G2094 τούτοις G5125 ἀφ’ G575 οὗ G3739 ἀπέστη G868 Ἰάσων G2394 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 μετ’ G3326 αὐτοῦ G846 ἀπὸ G575 τῆς G3588 ἁγίας G40 γῆς G1093 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 βασιλείας G932 [8] καὶ G2532 ἐνεπύρισαν τὸν G3588 πυλῶνα G4440 καὶ G2532 ἐξέχεαν G1632 αἷμα G129 ἀθῶον· G121 καὶ G2532 ἐδεήθημεν G1189 τοῦ G3588 κυρίου G2962 καὶ G2532 εἰσηκούσθημεν G1522 καὶ G2532 προσηνέγκαμεν G4374 θυσίαν G2378 καὶ G2532 σεμίδαλιν G4585 καὶ G2532 ἐξήψαμεν τοὺς G3588 λύχνους G3088 καὶ G2532 προεθήκαμεν G4388 τοὺς G3588 ἄρτους. G740 [9] Καὶ G2532 νῦν G3568 ἵνα G2443 ἄγητε G71 τὰς G3588 ἡμέρας G2250 τῆς G3588 σκηνοπηγίας G4634 τοῦ G3588 Χασελευ μηνός. G3376 Ἔτους G2094 ἑκατοστοῦ ὀγδοηκοστοῦ καὶ G2532 ὀγδόου. G3590 [10] Οἱ G3588 ἐν G1722 Ιεροσολύμοις G2414 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 Ιουδαίᾳ G2449 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 γερουσία G1087 καὶ G2532 Ιουδας G2455 Ἀριστοβούλῳ G711 διδασκάλῳ G1320 Πτολεμαίου τοῦ G3588 βασιλέως, G935 ὄντι G5607 δὲ G1161 ἀπὸ G575 τοῦ G3588 τῶν G3588 χριστῶν G5547 ἱερέων G2409 γένους, G1085 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 ἐν G1722 Αἰγύπτῳ G125 Ιουδαίοις G2453 χαίρειν G5463 καὶ G2532 ὑγιαίνειν. G5198 [11] Ἐκ G1537 μεγάλων G3173 κινδύνων G2794 ὑπὸ G5259 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ G2316 σεσῳσμένοι G4982 μεγάλως G3171 εὐχαριστοῦμεν G2168 αὐτῷ G846 ὡς G5613 ἂν G302 πρὸς G4314 βασιλέα G935 παρατασσόμενοι· [12] αὐτὸς G846 γὰρ G1063 ἐξέβρασεν τοὺς G3588 παραταξαμένους ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 ἁγίᾳ G40 πόλει. G4172 [13] Εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 Περσίδα G4069 γενόμενος G1096 γὰρ G1063 ὁ G3588 ἡγεμὼν G2232 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 περὶ G4012 αὐτὸν G846 ἀνυπόστατος δοκοῦσα G1380 εἶναι G1511 δύναμις G1411 κατεκόπησαν G2629 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 τῆς G3588 Ναναίας ἱερῷ, G2411 παραλογισμῷ χρησαμένων G5530 τῶν G3588 περὶ G4012 τὴν G3588 Ναναίαν ἱερέων. G2409 [14] Ὡς G5613 γὰρ G1063 συνοικήσων G4924 αὐτῇ G846 παρεγένετο G3854 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 ὅ G3739 τε G5037 Ἀντίοχος καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 σὺν G4862 αὐτῷ G846 φίλοι G5384 χάριν G5485 τοῦ G3588 λαβεῖν G2983 τὰ G3588 χρήματα G5536 πλείονα G4119 εἰς G1519 φερνῆς λόγον G3056 [15] καὶ G2532 προθέντων G4388 αὐτὰ G846 τῶν G3588 ἱερέων G2409 τοῦ G3588 Ναναίου κἀκείνου G2548 προσελθόντος G4334 μετ’ G3326 ὀλίγων G3641 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 περίβολον τοῦ G3588 τεμένους, συγκλείσαντες G4788 τὸ G3588 ἱερόν, G2411 ὡς G5613 εἰσῆλθεν G1525 Ἀντίοχος, [16] ἀνοίξαντες G455 τὴν G3588 τοῦ G3588 φατνώματος κρυπτὴν G2927 θύραν G2374 βάλλοντες G906 πέτρους συνεκεραύνωσαν τὸν G3588 ἡγεμόνα G2232 καὶ G2532 μέλη G3196 ποιήσαντες G4160 καὶ G2532 τὰς G3588 κεφαλὰς G2776 ἀφελόντες G851 τοῖς G3588 ἔξω G1854 παρέρριψαν. [17] Κατὰ G2596 πάντα G3956 εὐλογητὸς G2128 ἡμῶν G2257 ὁ G3588 θεός, G2316 ὃς G3739 παρέδωκεν G3860 τοὺς G3588 ἀσεβήσαντας. G764 [18] Μέλλοντες G3195 ἄγειν G71 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 Χασελευ πέμπτῃ G3991 καὶ G2532 εἰκάδι τὸν G3588 καθαρισμὸν G2512 τοῦ G3588 ἱεροῦ G2411 δέον G1163 ἡγησάμεθα G2233 διασαφῆσαι G1285 ὑμῖν, G5213 ἵνα G2443 καὶ G2532 αὐτοὶ G846 ἄγητε G71 σκηνοπηγίας G4634 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 πυρός, G4442 ὅτε G3753 Νεεμιας ὁ G3588 οἰκοδομήσας G3618 τό G3588 τε G5037 ἱερὸν G2411 καὶ G2532 τὸ G3588 θυσιαστήριον G2379 ἀνήνεγκεν G399 θυσίας. G2378 [19] Καὶ G2532 γὰρ G1063 ὅτε G3753 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 Περσικὴν ἤγοντο G71 ἡμῶν G2257 οἱ G3588 πατέρες, G3962 οἱ G3588 τότε G5119 εὐσεβεῖς G2152 ἱερεῖς G2409 λαβόντες G2983 ἀπὸ G575 τοῦ G3588 πυρὸς G4442 τοῦ G3588 θυσιαστηρίου G2379 λαθραίως κατέκρυψαν ἐν G1722 κοιλώματι φρέατος G5421 τάξιν G5010 ἔχοντος G2192 ἄνυδρον, G504 ἐν G1722 ᾧ G3739 κατησφαλίσαντο ὥστε G5620 πᾶσιν G3956 ἄγνωστον G57 εἶναι G1511 τὸν G3588 τόπον. G5117 [20] Διελθόντων G1330 δὲ G1161 ἐτῶν G2094 ἱκανῶν, G2425 ὅτε G3753 ἔδοξεν G1380 τῷ G3588 θεῷ, G2316 ἀποσταλεὶς G649 Νεεμιας ὑπὸ G5259 τοῦ G3588 βασιλέως G935 τῆς G3588 Περσίδος G4069 τοὺς G3588 ἐκγόνους G1549 τῶν G3588 ἱερέων G2409 τῶν G3588 ἀποκρυψάντων G613 ἔπεμψεν G3992 ἐπὶ G1909 τὸ G3588 πῦρ· G4442 ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 διεσάφησαν G1285 ἡμῖν G2254 μὴ G3361 εὑρηκέναι G2147 πῦρ, G4442 ἀλλὰ G235 ὕδωρ G5204 παχύ, ἐκέλευσεν G2753 αὐτοὺς G846 ἀποβάψαντας φέρειν. G5342 [21] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 ἀνηνέχθη G399 τὰ G3588 τῶν G3588 θυσιῶν, G2378 ἐκέλευσεν G2753 τοὺς G3588 ἱερεῖς G2409 Νεεμιας ἐπιρρᾶναι τῷ G3588 ὕδατι G5204 τά G3588 τε G5037 ξύλα G3586 καὶ G2532 τὰ G3588 ἐπικείμενα. G1945 [22] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 ἐγένετο G1096 τοῦτο G5124 καὶ G2532 χρόνος G5550 διῆλθεν G1330 ὅ G3739 τε G5037 ἥλιος G2246 ἀνέλαμψεν πρότερον G4386 ἐπινεφὴς ὤν, G5607 ἀνήφθη G381 πυρὰ G4443 μεγάλη G3173 ὥστε G5620 θαυμάσαι G2296 πάντας. G3956 [23] Προσευχὴν G4335 δὲ G1161 ἐποιήσαντο G4160 οἱ G3588 ἱερεῖς G2409 δαπανωμένης G1159 τῆς G3588 θυσίας, G2378 οἵ G3739 τε G5037 ἱερεῖς G2409 καὶ G2532 πάντες, G3956 καταρχομένου Ιωναθου, τῶν G3588 δὲ G1161 λοιπῶν G3062 ἐπιφωνούντων G2019 ὡς G5613 Νεεμιου· [24] ἦν G2258 δὲ G1161 ἡ G3588 προσευχὴ G4335 τὸν G3588 τρόπον G5158 ἔχουσα G2192 τοῦτον G5126 Κύριε G2962 κύριε G2962 ὁ G3588 θεός, G2316 ὁ G3588 πάντων G3956 κτίστης, G2939 ὁ G3588 φοβερὸς G5398 καὶ G2532 ἰσχυρὸς G2478 καὶ G2532 δίκαιος G1342 καὶ G2532 ἐλεήμων, G1655 ὁ G3588 μόνος G3441 βασιλεὺς G935 καὶ G2532 χρηστός, G5543 [25] ὁ G3588 μόνος G3441 χορηγός, ὁ G3588 μόνος G3441 δίκαιος G1342 καὶ G2532 παντοκράτωρ G3841 καὶ G2532 αἰώνιος, G166 ὁ G3588 διασῴζων G1295 τὸν G3588 Ισραηλ G2474 ἐκ G1537 παντὸς G3956 κακοῦ, G2556 ὁ G3588 ποιήσας G4160 τοὺς G3588 πατέρας G3962 ἐκλεκτοὺς G1588 καὶ G2532 ἁγιάσας G37 αὐτούς, G846 [26] πρόσδεξαι G4327 τὴν G3588 θυσίαν G2378 ὑπὲρ G5228 παντὸς G3956 τοῦ G3588 λαοῦ G2992 σου G4675 Ισραηλ G2474 καὶ G2532 διαφύλαξον G1314 τὴν G3588 μερίδα G3310 σου G4675 καὶ G2532 καθαγίασον. [27] Ἐπισυνάγαγε G1996 τὴν G3588 διασπορὰν G1290 ἡμῶν, G2257 ἐλευθέρωσον G1659 τοὺς G3588 δουλεύοντας G1398 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 ἔθνεσιν, G1484 τοὺς G3588 ἐξουθενημένους G1848 καὶ G2532 βδελυκτοὺς G947 ἔπιδε, G1896 καὶ G2532 γνώτωσαν G1097 τὰ G3588 ἔθνη G1484 ὅτι G3754 σὺ G4771 εἶ G1488 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 ἡμῶν. G2257 [28] Βασάνισον G928 τοὺς G3588 καταδυναστεύοντας G2616 καὶ G2532 ἐξυβρίζοντας ἐν G1722 ὑπερηφανίᾳ. G5243 [29] Καταφύτευσον τὸν G3588 λαόν G2992 σου G4675 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 τὸν G3588 ἅγιόν σου, G4675 καθὼς G2531 εἶπεν G2036 Μωϋσῆς. G3475 [30] Οἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 ἱερεῖς G2409 ἐπέψαλλον τοὺς G3588 ὕμνους. G5215 [31] Καθὼς G2531 δὲ G1161 ἀνηλώθη G355 τὰ G3588 τῆς G3588 θυσίας, G2378 καὶ G2532 τὸ G3588 περιλειπόμενον G4035 ὕδωρ G5204 ὁ G3588 Νεεμιας ἐκέλευσεν G2753 λίθους G3037 μείζονας G3173 καταχεῖν. G2708 [32] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 τοῦτο G5124 ἐγενήθη, G1096 φλὸξ G5395 ἀνήφθη· G381 τοῦ G3588 δὲ G1161 ἀπὸ G575 τοῦ G3588 θυσιαστηρίου G2379 ἀντιλάμψαντος φωτὸς G5457 ἐδαπανήθη. G1159 [33] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 φανερὸν G5318 ἐγενήθη G1096 τὸ G3588 πρᾶγμα, G4229 καὶ G2532 διηγγέλη G1229 τῷ G3588 βασιλεῖ G935 τῶν G3588 Περσῶν ὅτι G3754 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 τόπον, G5117 οὗ G3739 τὸ G3588 πῦρ G4442 ἔκρυψαν G2928 οἱ G3588 μεταχθέντες G3329 ἱερεῖς, G2409 τὸ G3588 ὕδωρ G5204 ἐφάνη, G5316 ἀφ’ G575 οὗ G3739 καὶ G2532 οἱ G3588 περὶ G4012 τὸν G3588 Νεεμιαν ἥγνισαν G48 τὰ G3588 τῆς G3588 θυσίας, G2378 [34] περιφράξας δὲ G1161 ὁ G3588 βασιλεὺς G935 ἱερὸν G2411 ἐποίησεν G4160 δοκιμάσας G1381 τὸ G3588 πρᾶγμα. G4229 [35] Καὶ G2532 οἷς G3739 ἐχαρίζετο G5483 ὁ G3588 βασιλεύς, G935 πολλὰ G4183 διάφορα G1313 ἐλάμβανεν G2983 καὶ G2532 μετεδίδου. G3330 [36] Προσηγόρευσαν G4316 δὲ G1161 οἱ G3588 περὶ G4012 τὸν G3588 Νεεμιαν τοῦτο G5124 νεφθαρ, ὃ G3739 διερμηνεύεται G1329 καθαρισμός· G2512 καλεῖται G2564 δὲ G1161 παρὰ G3844 τοῖς G3588 πολλοῖς G4183 νεφθαι.
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament