2 Maccabees 6 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] Not long after this, the king sent out §an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and not to live by the laws of God, [2] and also to pollute the sanctuary in Jerusalem and to call it by the name of Olympian Zeus, and to call the sanctuary in Gerizim by the name of Zeus the Protector of foreigners, even as the people who lived in that place did. [3] The visitation of this evil was harsh and utterly grievous. [4] For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the heathen, who §dallied with prostitutes, and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and moreover brought inside things that were not appropriate. [5] The altar was filled with those abominable things which had been prohibited by the laws. [6] A man could neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the feasts of their ancestors, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew. [7] On the day of the king’s birth every month, they were led along with bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices. When the feast of Dionysia came, they were compelled to go in procession in honor of Dionysus, wearing wreaths of ivy. [8] A decree went out to the neighboring Greek cities, by the suggestion of Ptolemy, that they should observe the same conduct against the Jews, and should make them eat of the sacrifices, [9] and that they should kill those who didn’t choose to go over to the Greek rites. So the present misery was for all to see. [10] For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These, when they had led them publicly around the city with the babes hung from their breasts, they threw down headlong from the wall. [11] Others who had run together into the caves nearby to keep the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of the honor of that most solemn day. [12] I urge those who read this book to not be discouraged because of the calamities, but recognize that these punishments were not for the destruction, but for the chastening of our race. [13] For indeed it is a sign of great kindness that those who act impiously are not let alone for a long time, but immediately meet with retribution. [14] For in the case of the other nations, the Sovereign Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not with us, [15] that he may not take vengeance on us afterward,§ when we have come to the§ height of our sins. [16] Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chastens with calamity, he doesn’t forsake his own people. [17] However let this that we have spoken suffice to remind you; but after a few words, we must come to the narrative. [18] Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well advanced in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh. [19] But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with defilement, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat out the flesh, [20] as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste. [21] But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was proper for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king; [22] that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and so his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly. [23] But he, having formed a high resolve, and one that became his years, the dignity of old age, and the gray hairsⓘ which he had reached with honor, and his excellent‡ education from a child, or rather the holy laws§ of God’s ordaining, declared his mind accordingly, bidding them to quickly send him to Hades. [24] “For it doesn’t become our years to dissemble,” he said, “that many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of ninety years, had gone over to an alien religion; [25] and so they, by reason of my deception, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, would be led astray because of me, and I defile and disgrace myself in my old age. [26] For even if for the present time I would remove from me the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I wouldn’t escape the hands of the Almighty. [27] Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, [28] and §leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws.”When he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture. [29] ⓘWhen they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness, [30] and when he was at the point to die with the§ blows, he groaned aloud and said, “To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, while I might have been delivered from death, I endure severe pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things because of my fear of him.” [31] So this man also died like this, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.

Footnotes

  1. § 6:1 Or, Geron an Athenian
  2. § 6:4 Or, idled with their fellows
  3. § 6:15a Or, when our sins have come to their height
  4. § 6:15b Gr. end.
  5. ⓘ 6:23a The Greek text appears to be corrupt.
  6. ‡ 6:23b Some authorities read manner of life.
  7. § 6:23c Gr. legislation.
  8. § 6:28 Gr. one that has left behind.
  9. ⓘ 6:29 The Greek text of this verse is uncertain.
  10. § 6:30 Or, blows
King James Version
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Septuaginta
[1] Μετ’ G3326 οὐ G3756 πολὺν G4183 δὲ G1161 χρόνον G5550 ἐξαπέστειλεν G1821 ὁ G3588 βασιλεὺς G935 γέροντα G1088 Ἀθηναῖον G117 ἀναγκάζειν G315 τοὺς G3588 Ιουδαίους G2453 μεταβαίνειν G3327 ἀπὸ G575 τῶν G3588 πατρίων νόμων G3551 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ G2316 νόμοις G3551 μὴ G3361 πολιτεύεσθαι, G4176 [2] μολῦναι G3435 δὲ G1161 καὶ G2532 τὸν G3588 ἐν G1722 Ιεροσολύμοις G2414 νεὼ καὶ G2532 προσονομάσαι Διὸς G2203 Ὀλυμπίου καὶ G2532 τὸν G3588 ἐν G1722 Γαριζιν, καθὼς G2531 ἐτύγχανον G5177 οἱ G3588 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 οἰκοῦντες, G3611 Διὸς G2203 Ξενίου. [3] Χαλεπὴ G5467 δὲ G1161 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 ὅλοις G3650 ἦν G2258 δυσχερὴς ἡ G3588 ἐπίτασις τῆς G3588 κακίας. G2549 [4] Τὸ G3588 μὲν G3303 γὰρ G1063 ἱερὸν G2411 ἀσωτίας G810 καὶ G2532 κώμων G2970 ὑπὸ G5259 τῶν G3588 ἐθνῶν G1484 ἐπεπληροῦτο ῥᾳθυμούντων μεθ’ G3326 ἑταιρῶν καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 ἱεροῖς G2413 περιβόλοις γυναιξὶ G1135 πλησιαζόντων, ἔτι G2089 δὲ G1161 τὰ G3588 μὴ G3361 καθήκοντα G2520 ἔνδον εἰσφερόντων. G1533 [5] Τὸ G3588 δὲ G1161 θυσιαστήριον G2379 τοῖς G3588 ἀποδιεσταλμένοις ἀπὸ G575 τῶν G3588 νόμων G3551 ἀθεμίτοις G111 ἐπεπλήρωτο. G4137 [6] Ἦν G2258 δ’ G1161 οὔτε G3777 σαββατίζειν οὔτε G3777 πατρῴους G3971 ἑορτὰς G1859 διαφυλάττειν G1314 οὔτε G3777 ἁπλῶς G574 Ιουδαῖον G2453 ὁμολογεῖν G3670 εἶναι, G1511 [7] ἤγοντο G71 δὲ G1161 μετὰ G3326 πικρᾶς G4089 ἀνάγκης G318 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 κατὰ G2596 μῆνα G3376 τοῦ G3588 βασιλέως G935 γενέθλιον ἡμέραν G2250 ἐπὶ G1909 σπλαγχνισμόν, γενομένης G1096 δὲ G1161 Διονυσίων ἑορτῆς G1859 ἠναγκάζοντο G315 κισσοὺς ἔχοντες G2192 πομπεύειν τῷ G3588 Διονύσῳ. [8] Ψήφισμα δὲ G1161 ἐξέπεσεν G1601 εἰς G1519 τὰς G3588 ἀστυγείτονας Ἑλληνίδας G1674 πόλεις G4172 Πτολεμαίου ὑποθεμένου G5294 τὴν G3588 αὐτὴν G846 ἀγωγὴν G72 κατὰ G2596 τῶν G3588 Ιουδαίων G2453 ἄγειν G71 καὶ G2532 σπλαγχνίζειν, G4697 [9] τοὺς G3588 δὲ G1161 μὴ G3361 προαιρουμένους G4255 μεταβαίνειν G3327 ἐπὶ G1909 τὰ G3588 Ἑλληνικὰ G1673 κατασφάζειν. G2695 Παρῆν G3918 οὖν G3767 ὁρᾶν τὴν G3588 ἐνεστῶσαν G1764 ταλαιπωρίαν. G5004 [10] Δύο G1417 γὰρ G1063 γυναῖκες G1135 ἀνήχθησαν G321 περιτετμηκυῖαι G4059 τὰ G3588 τέκνα· G5043 τούτων G5130 δὲ G1161 ἐκ G1537 τῶν G3588 μαστῶν G3149 κρεμάσαντες G2910 τὰ G3588 βρέφη G1025 καὶ G2532 δημοσίᾳ G1219 περιαγαγόντες G4013 αὐτὰς G846 τὴν G3588 πόλιν G4172 κατὰ G2596 τοῦ G3588 τείχους G5038 ἐκρήμνισαν. [11] Ἕτεροι G2087 δὲ G1161 πλησίον G4139 συνδραμόντες G4936 εἰς G1519 τὰ G3588 σπήλαια G4693 λεληθότως ἄγειν G71 τὴν G3588 ἑβδομάδα μηνυθέντες G3377 τῷ G3588 Φιλίππῳ G5376 συνεφλογίσθησαν διὰ G1223 τὸ G3588 εὐλαβῶς ἔχειν G2192 βοηθῆσαι G997 ἑαυτοῖς G1438 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 δόξαν G1391 τῆς G3588 σεμνοτάτης G4586 ἡμέρας. G2250 [12] Παρακαλῶ G3870 οὖν G3767 τοὺς G3588 ἐντυγχάνοντας G1793 τῇδε G3592 τῇ G3588 βίβλῳ G976 μὴ G3361 συστέλλεσθαι G4958 διὰ G1223 τὰς G3588 συμφοράς, λογίζεσθαι G3049 δὲ G1161 τὰς G3588 τιμωρίας G5098 μὴ G3361 πρὸς G4314 ὄλεθρον, G3639 ἀλλὰ G235 πρὸς G4314 παιδείαν G3809 τοῦ G3588 γένους G1085 ἡμῶν G2257 εἶναι· G1511 [13] καὶ G2532 γὰρ G1063 τὸ G3588 μὴ G3361 πολὺν G4183 χρόνον G5550 ἐᾶσθαι G1439 τοὺς G3588 δυσσεβοῦντας, ἀλλ’ G235 εὐθέως G2112 περιπίπτειν G4045 ἐπιτίμοις, μεγάλης G3173 εὐεργεσίας G2108 σημεῖόν G4592 ἐστιν. G2076 [14] Οὐ G3756 γὰρ G1063 καθάπερ G2509 καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 τῶν G3588 ἄλλων G243 ἐθνῶν G1484 ἀναμένει G362 μακροθυμῶν G3114 ὁ G3588 δεσπότης G1203 μέχρι G3360 τοῦ G3588 καταντήσαντας G2658 αὐτοὺς G846 πρὸς G4314 ἐκπλήρωσιν G1604 ἁμαρτιῶν G266 κολάσαι, G2849 οὕτως G3779 καὶ G2532 ἐφ’ G1909 ἡμῶν G2257 ἔκρινεν G2919 εἶναι, G1511 [15] ἵνα G2443 μὴ G3361 πρὸς G4314 τέλος G5056 ἀφικομένων G864 ἡμῶν G2257 τῶν G3588 ἁμαρτιῶν G266 ὕστερον G5305 ἡμᾶς G2248 ἐκδικᾷ. [16] Διόπερ G1355 οὐδέποτε G3763 μὲν G3303 τὸν G3588 ἔλεον G1656 ἀφ’ G575 ἡμῶν G2257 ἀφίστησιν, G868 παιδεύων G3811 δὲ G1161 μετὰ G3326 συμφορᾶς οὐκ G3756 ἐγκαταλείπει G1459 τὸν G3588 ἑαυτοῦ G1438 λαόν. G2992 [17] Πλὴν G4133 ἕως G2193 ὑπομνήσεως G5280 ταῦθ G5023 ἡμῖν G2254 εἰρήσθω· G2046 δι’ G1223 ὀλίγων G3641 δ’ G1161 ἐλευστέον ἐπὶ G1909 τὴν G3588 διήγησιν. G1335 [18] Ελεάζαρός τις G5100 τῶν G3588 πρωτευόντων G4409 γραμματέων, G1122 ἀνὴρ G435 ἤδη G2235 προβεβηκὼς G4260 τὴν G3588 ἡλικίαν G2244 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 πρόσοψιν τοῦ G3588 προσώπου G4383 κάλλιστος, ἀναχανὼν ἠναγκάζετο G315 φαγεῖν G5315 ὕειον κρέας. G2907 [19] Ὁ G3588 δὲ G1161 τὸν G3588 μετ’ G3326 εὐκλείας θάνατον G2288 μᾶλλον G3123 ἢ G2228 τὸν G3588 μετὰ G3326 μύσους βίον G979 ἀναδεξάμενος, G324 αὐθαιρέτως ἐπὶ G1909 τὸ G3588 τύμπανον προσῆγεν, G4317 [20] προπτύσας δὲ G1161 καθ’ G2596 ὃν G3739 ἔδει G1163 τρόπον G5158 προσέρχεσθαι G4334 τοὺς G3588 ὑπομένοντας G5278 ἀμύνασθαι G292 ὧν G3739 οὐ G3756 θέμις γεύσασθαι G1089 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 πρὸς G4314 τὸ G3588 ζῆν G2198 φιλοστοργίαν. [21] Οἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 πρὸς G4314 τῷ G3588 παρανόμῳ σπλαγχνισμῷ τεταγμένοι G5021 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 ἐκ G1537 τῶν G3588 παλαιῶν G3820 χρόνων G5550 πρὸς G4314 τὸν G3588 ἄνδρα G435 γνῶσιν G1108 ἀπολαβόντες G618 αὐτὸν G846 κατ’ G2596 ἰδίαν G2398 παρεκάλουν G3870 ἐνέγκαντα G5342 κρέα, G2907 οἷς G3739 καθῆκον G2520 αὐτῷ G846 χρᾶσθαι, G5530 δι’ G1223 αὐτοῦ G846 παρασκευασθέντα, G3903 ὑποκριθῆναι G5271 δὲ G1161 ὡς G5613 ἐσθίοντα G2068 τὰ G3588 ὑπὸ G5259 τοῦ G3588 βασιλέως G935 προστεταγμένα G4367 τῶν G3588 ἀπὸ G575 τῆς G3588 θυσίας G2378 κρεῶν, G2907 [22] ἵνα G2443 τοῦτο G5124 πράξας G4238 ἀπολυθῇ G630 τοῦ G3588 θανάτου G2288 καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 ἀρχαίαν G744 πρὸς G4314 αὐτοὺς G846 φιλίαν G5373 τύχῃ G5177 φιλανθρωπίας. G5363 [23] Ὁ G3588 δὲ G1161 λογισμὸν G3053 ἀστεῖον G791 ἀναλαβὼν G353 καὶ G2532 ἄξιον G514 τῆς G3588 ἡλικίας G2244 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 τοῦ G3588 γήρως G1094 ὑπεροχῆς G5247 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 ἐπικτήτου καὶ G2532 ἐπιφανοῦς G2016 πολιᾶς καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 ἐκ G1537 παιδὸς G3816 καλλίστης ἀναστροφῆς, G391 μᾶλλον G3123 δὲ G1161 τῆς G3588 ἁγίας G40 καὶ G2532 θεοκτίστου νομοθεσίας G3548 ἀκολούθως ἀπεφήνατο ταχέως G5030 λέγων G3004 προπέμπειν G4311 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 ᾅδην. G86 [24] Οὐ G3756 γὰρ G1063 τῆς G3588 ἡμετέρας G2251 ἡλικίας G2244 ἄξιόν G514 ἐστιν G2076 ὑποκριθῆναι, G5271 ἵνα G2443 πολλοὶ G4183 τῶν G3588 νέων G3501 ὑπολαβόντες G5274 Ελεαζαρον τὸν G3588 ἐνενηκονταετῆ μεταβεβηκέναι G3327 εἰς G1519 ἀλλοφυλισμὸν [25] καὶ G2532 αὐτοὶ G846 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 ἐμὴν G1699 ὑπόκρισιν G5272 καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 τὸ G3588 μικρὸν G3397 καὶ G2532 ἀκαριαῖον ζῆν G2198 πλανηθῶσιν G4105 δι’ G1223 ἐμέ, G1691 καὶ G2532 μύσος καὶ G2532 κηλῖδα τοῦ G3588 γήρως G1094 κατακτήσωμαι. [26] Εἰ G1487 γὰρ G1063 καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 τοῦ G3588 παρόντος G3918 ἐξελοῦμαι G1807 τὴν G3588 ἐξ G1537 ἀνθρώπων G444 τιμωρίαν, G5098 ἀλλὰ G235 τὰς G3588 τοῦ G3588 παντοκράτορος G3841 χεῖρας G5495 οὔτε G3777 ζῶν G2198 οὔτε G3777 ἀποθανὼν G599 ἐκφεύξομαι. G1628 [27] Διόπερ G1355 ἀνδρείως μὲν G3303 νῦν G3568 διαλλάξας G1259 τὸν G3588 βίον G979 τοῦ G3588 μὲν G3303 γήρως G1094 ἄξιος G514 φανήσομαι, G5316 [28] τοῖς G3588 δὲ G1161 νέοις G3501 ὑπόδειγμα G5262 γενναῖον καταλελοιπὼς G2641 εἰς G1519 τὸ G3588 προθύμως G4290 καὶ G2532 γενναίως ὑπὲρ G5228 τῶν G3588 σεμνῶν G4586 καὶ G2532 ἁγίων G40 νόμων G3551 ἀπευθανατίζειν. Τοσαῦτα G5118 δὲ G1161 εἰπὼν G2036 ἐπὶ G1909 τὸ G3588 τύμπανον εὐθέως G2112 ἦλθεν. G2064 [29] Τῶν G3588 δὲ G1161 ἀγόντων G71 πρὸς G4314 αὐτὸν G846 τὴν G3588 μικρῷ G3398 πρότερον G4386 εὐμένειαν εἰς G1519 δυσμένειαν μεταβαλόντων G3328 διὰ G1223 τὸ G3588 τοὺς G3588 προειρημένους G4280 λόγους, G3056 ὡς G5613 αὐτοὶ G846 διελάμβανον, ἀπόνοιαν εἶναι, G1511 [30] μέλλων G3195 δὲ G1161 ταῖς G3588 πληγαῖς G4127 τελευτᾶν G5053 ἀναστενάξας G389 εἶπεν G2036 Τῷ G3588 κυρίῳ G2962 τῷ G3588 τὴν G3588 ἁγίαν G40 γνῶσιν G1108 ἔχοντι G2192 φανερόν G5318 ἐστιν G2076 ὅτι G3754 δυνάμενος G1410 ἀπολυθῆναι G630 τοῦ G3588 θανάτου G2288 σκληρὰς G4642 ὑποφέρω G5297 κατὰ G2596 τὸ G3588 σῶμα G4983 ἀλγηδόνας μαστιγούμενος, G3146 κατὰ G2596 ψυχὴν G5590 δὲ G1161 ἡδέως G2234 διὰ G1223 τὸν G3588 αὐτοῦ G846 φόβον G5401 ταῦτα G5023 πάσχω. G3958 [31] Καὶ G2532 οὗτος G3778 οὖν G3767 τοῦτον G5126 τὸν G3588 τρόπον G5158 μετήλλαξεν G3337 οὐ G3756 μόνον G3441 τοῖς G3588 νέοις, G3501 ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 πλείστοις G4118 τοῦ G3588 ἔθνους G1484 τὸν G3588 ἑαυτοῦ G1438 θάνατον G2288 ὑπόδειγμα G5262 γενναιότητος καὶ G2532 μνημόσυνον G3422 ἀρετῆς G703 καταλιπών. G2641
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament