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

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World English Bible Classic
[1] Now it was that the high priest Simon bowed his knees near the holy place, spread out his hands in reverent form, and uttered the following prayer: [2] “O Lord, Lord, King of the heavens, and Ruler of the whole creation, Holy among the holy, sole Governor, Almighty, give ear to us who are oppressed by a wicked and profane one, who celebrates in his confidence and strength. [3] It is you, the Creator of all, the Lord of the universe, who are a righteous Governor, and judge all who act with pride and insolence. [4] It was you who destroyed the former workers of unrighteousness, among whom were the giants, who trusted in their strength and daring, by covering them with a measureless flood. [5] It was you who made the Sodomites, those workers of exceeding iniquity, men notorious for their vices, an example to later generations, when you covered them with fire and brimstone.§ [6] You made known your power when you caused the bold Pharaoh, the enslaver of your people, to pass through the ordeal of many and diverse inflictions. [7] You rolled the depths of the sea over him when he pursued with chariots and with a multitude of followers, and gave a safe passage to those who put their trust in you, the Lord of the whole creation. [8] These saw and felt the works of your hands, and praised you, the Almighty. [9] You, O King, when you created the immeasurable and measureless earth, chose this city. You made this place sacred to your name, even though you need nothing. You glorified it with your illustrious presence, after constructing it to the glory of your great and honorable name. [10] You promised, out of love for the people of Israel, that if we fall away from you, become afflicted, and then come to this house and pray, you would hear our prayer. [11] Truly you are faithful and true. [12] When you often aided our fathers when they were hard pressed and humiliated, and delivered them out of great dangers, [13] see now, holy King, how through our many and great sins we are crushed and made subject to our enemies, and have become weak and powerless. [14] In our low condition, this bold and profane man seeks to dishonor this your holy place, consecrated out of the earth to the name of your Majesty. [15] Your dwelling place, the heaven of heavens, is indeed unapproachable to men. [16] But since it seemed good to you to exhibit your glory among your people Israel, you sanctified this place. [17] Don’t punish us by means of the uncleanness of their men, and don’t chastise us by means of their profanity, lest the lawless ones should boast in their rage, and exult in exuberant pride of speech, and say, [18] ‘We have trampled upon the holy house, as idolatrous houses are trampled upon.’ [19] Blot out our iniquities, do away with our errors, and show your compassion in this hour. [20] Let your mercies quickly go before us. Grant us peace, that the downcast and broken hearted may praise you with their mouth.” [21] At that time God, who sees all things, who is beyond all Holy among the holy, heard that prayer, so suitable, and scourged the man who was greatly uplifted with scorn and insolence. [22] Shaking him back and forth as a reed is shaken with the wind, he threw him down on the pavement, powerless, with limbs paralyzed, and by a righteous judgment deprived of the ability to speak. [23] His friends and bodyguards, seeing the swift recompense which had suddenly overtaken him, struck with exceeding terror, and fearing that he would die, speedily removed him. [24] When in course of time he had come to himself, this severe punishment caused no repentance within him, but he departed with bitter threatenings. [25] He proceeded to Egypt, grew worse in wickedness through his previously mentioned companions in wine, who were lost to all goodness, [26] and not satisfied with countless acts of impiety, his audacity so increased that he raised evil reports there, and many of his friends, watching his purpose attentively, joined in furthering his will. [27] His purpose was to inflict a public stigma upon our race. Therefore he erected a stone pillar in the courtyard, and caused the following inscription to be engraved upon it: [28] “Entrance to this temple is to be refused to all those who would not sacrifice. All the Jews were to be registered among the slaves. Those who resisted are to be forcibly seized and put to death. [29] Those who are thus registered are to be marked on their persons by the ivy-leaf symbol of Dionysus, and to be reduced to these limited rights.” [30] To do away with the appearance of hating them all, he had it written underneath, that if any of them should elect to enter the community of those initiated in the rites, these should have equal rights with the Alexandrians. [31] Some of those who were over the city, therefore, abhorring any approach to the city of piety, unhesitatingly gave in to the king, and expected to derive some great honor from a future connection with him. [32] A nobler spirit, however, prompted the majority to cling to their religious observances, and by paying money that they might live unmolested, these sought to escape the registration, [33] cheerfully looking forward to future aid, they abhorred their own apostates, considering them to be national foes, and depriving them of common fellowship and mutual help.

Footnotes

  1. § 2:5 or, sulfur
King James Version
Book not available in King James Version
Septuaginta
[1] Ὁ G3588 μὲν G3303 οὖν G3767 ἀρχιερεὺς G749 Σιμων G4613 ἐξ G1537 ἐναντίας G1727 τοῦ G3588 ναοῦ G3485 κάμψας G2578 τὰ G3588 γόνατα G1119 καὶ G2532 τὰς G3588 χεῖρας G5495 προτείνας G4385 εὐτάκτως ἐποιήσατο G4160 τὴν G3588 δέησιν G1162 τοιαύτην G5108 [2] Κύριε G2962 κύριε, G2962 βασιλεῦ G935 τῶν G3588 οὐρανῶν G3772 καὶ G2532 δέσποτα G1203 πάσης G3956 κτίσεως, G2937 ἅγιε G40 ἐν G1722 ἁγίοις, G40 μόναρχε, παντοκράτωρ, G3841 πρόσχες G4337 ἡμῖν G2254 καταπονουμένοις G2669 ὑπὸ G5259 ἀνοσίου G462 καὶ G2532 βεβήλου G952 θράσει καὶ G2532 σθένει πεφρυαγμένου. G5433 [3] Σὺ G4771 γὰρ G1063 ὁ G3588 κτίσας G2936 τὰ G3588 πάντα G3956 καὶ G2532 τῶν G3588 ὅλων G3650 ἐπικρατῶν δυνάστης G1413 δίκαιος G1342 εἶ G1488 καὶ G2532 τοὺς G3588 ὕβρει G5196 καὶ G2532 ἀγερωχίᾳ τι G5100 πράσσοντας G4238 κρίνεις. G2919 [4] Σὺ G4771 τοὺς G3588 ἔμπροσθεν G1715 ἀδικίαν G93 ποιήσαντας, G4160 ἐν G1722 οἷς G3739 καὶ G2532 γίγαντες ἦσαν G2258 ῥώμῃ καὶ G2532 θράσει πεποιθότες, G3982 διέφθειρας G1311 ἐπαγαγὼν G1863 αὐτοῖς G846 ἀμέτρητον ὕδωρ. G5204 [5] Σὺ G4771 τοὺς G3588 ὑπερηφανίαν G5243 ἐργαζομένους G2038 Σοδομίτας διαδήλους ταῖς G3588 κακίαις G2549 γενομένους G1096 πυρὶ G4442 καὶ G2532 θείῳ G2304 κατέφλεξας παράδειγμα τοῖς G3588 ἐπιγινομένοις G1920 καταστήσας. G2525 [6] Σὺ G4771 τὸν G3588 θρασὺν Φαραω G5328 καταδουλωσάμενον G2615 τὸν G3588 λαόν G2992 σου G4675 τὸν G3588 ἅγιον G40 Ισραηλ G2474 ποικίλαις G4164 καὶ G2532 πολλαῖς G4183 δοκιμάσας G1381 τιμωρίαις G5098 ἐγνώρισας G1107 τὴν G3588 σὴν G4674 δύναμιν, G1411 ἐφ’ G1909 οἷς G3739 ἐγνώρισας G1107 τὸ G3588 μέγα G3173 σου G4675 κράτος· G2904 [7] καὶ G2532 ἐπιδιώξαντα αὐτὸν G846 σὺν G4862 ἅρμασιν G716 καὶ G2532 ὄχλων G3793 πλήθει G4128 ἐπέκλυσας βάθει G899 θαλάσσης, G2281 τοὺς G3588 δὲ G1161 ἐμπιστεύσαντας ἐπὶ G1909 σοὶ G4671 τῷ G3588 τῆς G3588 ἁπάσης G537 κτίσεως G2937 δυναστεύοντι σώους διεκόμισας, [8] οἳ G3739 καὶ G2532 συνιδόντες G4894 ἔργα G2041 σῆς G4674 χειρὸς G5495 ᾔνεσάν G134 σε G4571 τὸν G3588 παντοκράτορα. G3841 [9] Σύ, G4771 βασιλεῦ, G935 κτίσας G2936 τὴν G3588 ἀπέραντον G562 καὶ G2532 ἀμέτρητον γῆν G1093 ἐξελέξω G1586 τὴν G3588 πόλιν G4172 ταύτην G3778 καὶ G2532 ἡγίασας G37 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 τοῦτον G5126 εἰς G1519 ὄνομά G3686 σοι G4671 τῷ G3588 τῶν G3588 ἁπάντων G537 ἀπροσδεεῖ καὶ G2532 παρεδόξασας ἐν G1722 ἐπιφανείᾳ G2015 μεγαλοπρεπεῖ G3169 σύστασιν ποιησάμενος G4160 αὐτοῦ G846 πρὸς G4314 δόξαν G1391 τοῦ G3588 μεγάλου G3173 καὶ G2532 ἐντίμου G1784 ὀνόματός G3686 σου. G4675 [10] Καὶ G2532 ἀγαπῶν G25 τὸν G3588 οἶκον G3624 τοῦ G3588 Ισραηλ G2474 ἐπηγγείλω G1861 διότι, G1360 ἐὰν G1437 γένηται G1096 ἡμῶν G2257 ἀποστροφὴ καὶ G2532 καταλάβῃ G2638 ἡμᾶς G2248 στενοχωρία G4730 καὶ G2532 ἐλθόντες G2064 εἰς G1519 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 τοῦτον G5126 δεηθῶμεν, G1189 εἰσακούσῃ G1522 τῆς G3588 δεήσεως G1162 ἡμῶν. G2257 [11] Καὶ G2532 δὴ G1211 πιστὸς G4103 εἶ G1488 καὶ G2532 ἀληθινός. G228 [12] Ἐπεὶ G1893 δὲ G1161 πλεονάκις θλιβέντων G2346 τῶν G3588 πατέρων G3962 ἡμῶν G2257 ἐβοήθησας G997 αὐτοῖς G846 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 ταπεινώσει G5014 καὶ G2532 ἐρρύσω G4506 αὐτοὺς G846 ἐκ G1537 μεγάλων G3173 κακῶν, G2556 [13] ἰδοὺ G2400 δὲ G1161 νῦν, G3568 ἅγιε G40 βασιλεῦ, G935 διὰ G1223 τὰς G3588 πολλὰς G4183 καὶ G2532 μεγάλας G3173 ἡμῶν G2257 ἁμαρτίας G266 καταπονούμεθα G2669 καὶ G2532 ὑπετάγημεν G5293 τοῖς G3588 ἐχθροῖς G2190 ἡμῶν G2257 καὶ G2532 παρείμεθα G3935 ἐν G1722 ἀδυναμίαις. [14] Ἐν G1722 δὲ G1161 τῇ G3588 ἡμετέρᾳ G2251 καταπτώσει ὁ G3588 θρασὺς καὶ G2532 βέβηλος G952 οὗτος G3778 ἐπιτηδεύει καθυβρίσαι τὸν G3588 ἐπὶ G1909 τῆς G3588 γῆς G1093 ἀναδεδειγμένον G322 τῷ G3588 ὀνόματι G3686 τῆς G3588 δόξης G1391 σου G4675 ἅγιον G40 τόπον. G5117 [15] Τὸ G3588 μὲν G3303 γὰρ G1063 κατοικητήριόν G2732 σου G4675 οὐρανὸς G3772 τοῦ G3588 οὐρανοῦ G3772 ἀνέφικτος ἀνθρώποις G444 ἐστίν. G2076 [16] Ἀλλὰ G235 ἐπεὶ G1893 εὐδοκήσας G2106 τὴν G3588 δόξαν G1391 σου G4675 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 λαῷ G2992 σου G4675 Ισραηλ G2474 ἡγίασας G37 τὸν G3588 τόπον G5117 τοῦτον, G5126 [17] μὴ G3361 ἐκδικήσῃς G1556 ἡμᾶς G2248 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 τούτων G5130 ἀκαθαρσίᾳ G167 μηδὲ G3366 εὐθύνῃς G2116 ἡμᾶς G2248 ἐν G1722 βεβηλώσει, ἵνα G2443 μὴ G3361 καυχήσωνται G2744 οἱ G3588 παράνομοι ἐν G1722 θυμῷ G2372 αὐτῶν G846 μηδὲ G3366 ἀγαλλιάσωνται G21 ἐν G1722 ὑπερηφανίᾳ G5243 γλώσσης G1100 αὐτῶν G846 λέγοντες G3004 [18] Ἡμεῖς G2249 κατεπατήσαμεν G2662 τὸν G3588 οἶκον G3624 τοῦ G3588 ἁγιασμοῦ, G38 ὡς G5613 καταπατοῦνται G2662 οἱ G3588 οἶκοι G3624 τῶν G3588 προσοχθισμάτων. [19] Ἀπάλειψον τὰς G3588 ἁμαρτίας G266 ἡμῶν G2257 καὶ G2532 διασκέδασον τὰς G3588 ἀμβλακίας ἡμῶν G2257 καὶ G2532 ἐπίφανον G2014 τὸ G3588 ἔλεός G1656 σου G4675 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 ὥραν G5610 ταύτην. G3778 [20] Ταχὺ G5035 προκαταλαβέτωσαν ἡμᾶς G2248 οἱ G3588 οἰκτιρμοί G3628 σου, G4675 καὶ G2532 δὸς G1325 αἰνέσεις G133 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 στόματι G4750 τῶν G3588 καταπεπτωκότων G2667 καὶ G2532 συντετριμμένων G4937 τὰς G3588 ψυχὰς G5590 ποιήσας G4160 ἡμῖν G2254 εἰρήνην. G1515 [21] Ἐνταῦθα ὁ G3588 πάντων G3956 ἐπόπτης G2030 θεὸς G2316 καὶ G2532 προπάτωρ ἅγιος G40 ἐν G1722 ἁγίοις G40 εἰσακούσας G1522 τῆς G3588 ἐνθέσμου λιτανείας, τὸν G3588 ὕβρει G5196 καὶ G2532 θράσει μεγάλως G3171 ἐπηρμένον G1869 ἐμάστιξεν G3147 αὐτὸν G846 [22] ἔνθεν G1782 καὶ G2532 ἔνθεν G1782 κραδάνας αὐτὸν G846 ὡς G5613 κάλαμον G2563 ὑπὸ G5259 ἀνέμου G417 ὥστε G5620 κατ’ G2596 ἐδάφους G1475 ἄπρακτον, ἔτι G2089 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 μέλεσιν G3196 παραλελυμένον G3886 μηδὲ G3366 φωνῆσαι G5455 δύνασθαι G1410 δικαίᾳ G1342 περιπεπληγμένον κρίσει. G2920 [23] Ὅθεν G3606 οἵ G3739 τε G5037 φίλοι G5384 καὶ G2532 σωματοφύλακες ὀξεῖαν G3691 ἰδόντες G1492 τὴν G3588 καταλαβοῦσαν G2638 αὐτὸν G846 εὔθυναν φοβούμενοι G5399 μὴ G3361 καὶ G2532 τὸ G3588 ζῆν G2198 ἐκλείπῃ, G1587 ταχέως G5030 αὐτὸν G846 ἐξείλκυσαν G1828 ὑπερβάλλοντι G5235 καταπεπληγμένοι φόβῳ. G5401 [24] Ἐν G1722 χρόνῳ G5550 δὲ G1161 ὕστερον G5305 ἀναλεξάμενος αὑτὸν G846 οὐδαμῶς G3760 εἰς G1519 μετάμελον ἦλθεν G2064 ἐπιτιμηθείς, G2008 ἀπειλὰς G547 δὲ G1161 πικρὰς G4089 θέμενος G5087 ἀνέλυσεν. G360 [25] Διακομισθεὶς δὲ G1161 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 Αἴγυπτον G125 καὶ G2532 τὰ G3588 τῆς G3588 κακίας G2549 ἐπαύξων διά G1223 τε G5037 τῶν G3588 προαποδεδειγμένων συμποτῶν καὶ G2532 ἑταίρων G2083 τοῦ G3588 παντὸς G3956 δικαίου G1342 κεχωρισμένων G5563 [26] οὐ G3756 μόνον G3440 ταῖς G3588 ἀναριθμήτοις G382 ἀσελγείαις G766 διηρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 τοσοῦτον G5118 θράσους προῆλθεν G4281 ὥστε G5620 δυσφημίας G1426 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 τόποις G5117 συνίστασθαι G4921 καὶ G2532 πολλοὺς G4183 τῶν G3588 φίλων G5384 ἀτενίζοντας G816 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 τοῦ G3588 βασιλέως G935 πρόθεσιν G4286 καὶ G2532 αὐτοὺς G846 ἕπεσθαι τῇ G3588 ἐκείνου G1565 θελήσει. G2308 [27] Προέθετο G4388 δημοσίᾳ G1219 κατὰ G2596 τοῦ G3588 ἔθνους G1484 διαδοῦναι G1239 ψόγον· ἐπὶ G1909 τοῦ G3588 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 αὐλὴν G833 πύργου G4444 στήλην ἀναστήσας G450 ἐκόλαψεν γραφὴν G1124 [28] μηδένα G3367 τῶν G3588 μὴ G3361 θυόντων G2380 εἰς G1519 τὰ G3588 ἱερὰ G2413 αὐτῶν G846 εἰσιέναι, G1524 πάντας G3956 δὲ G1161 τοὺς G3588 Ιουδαίους G2453 εἰς G1519 λαογραφίαν καὶ G2532 οἰκετικὴν διάθεσιν ἀχθῆναι, G71 τοὺς G3588 δὲ G1161 ἀντιλέγοντας G483 βίᾳ G970 φερομένους G5342 τοῦ G3588 ζῆν G2198 μεταστῆσαι, G3179 [29] τούς G3588 τε G5037 ἀπογραφομένους G583 χαράσσεσθαι καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 πυρὸς G4442 εἰς G1519 τὸ G3588 σῶμα G4983 παρασήμῳ G3902 Διονύσου κισσοφύλλῳ, οὓς G3739 καὶ G2532 καταχωρίσαι εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 προσυνεσταλμένην αὐθεντίαν. [30] Ἵνα G2443 δὲ G1161 μὴ G3361 τοῖς G3588 πᾶσιν G3956 ἀπεχθόμενος φαίνηται, G5316 ὑπέγραψεν Ἐὰν G1437 δέ G1161 τινες G5100 ἐξ G1537 αὐτῶν G846 προαιρῶνται G4255 ἐν G1722 τοῖς G3588 κατὰ G2596 τὰς G3588 τελετὰς μεμυημένοις G3453 ἀναστρέφεσθαι, G390 τούτους G5128 ἰσοπολίτας Ἀλεξανδρεῦσιν G221 εἶναι. G1511 [31] Ἔνιοι μὲν G3303 οὖν G3767 ἐπιπολαίως τὰς G3588 τῆς G3588 πόλεως G4172 εὐσεβείας G2150 ἐπιβάθρας στυγοῦντες εὐχερῶς ἑαυτοὺς G1438 ἐδίδοσαν G1325 ὡς G5613 μεγάλης G3173 τινὸς G5100 κοινωνήσοντες G2841 εὐκλείας ἀπὸ G575 τῆς G3588 ἐσομένης G2071 τῷ G3588 βασιλεῖ G935 συναναστροφῆς. [32] Οἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 πλεῖστοι G4118 γενναίᾳ ψυχῇ G5590 ἐνίσχυσαν G1765 καὶ G2532 οὐ G3756 διέστησαν G1339 τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 τά G3588 τε G5037 χρήματα G5536 περὶ G4012 τοῦ G3588 ζῆν G2198 ἀντικαταλλασσόμενοι ἀδεῶς ἐπειρῶντο G3987 ἑαυτοὺς G1438 ῥύσασθαι G4506 ἐκ G1537 τῶν G3588 ἀπογραφῶν· G582 [33] εὐέλπιδές τε G5037 καθειστήκεισαν G2525 ἀντιλήμψεως G484 τεύξασθαι G5177 καὶ G2532 τοὺς G3588 ἀποχωροῦντας G672 ἐξ G1537 αὐτῶν G846 ἐβδελύσσοντο G948 καὶ G2532 ὡς G5613 πολεμίους τοῦ G3588 ἔθνους G1484 ἔκρινον G2919 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 κοινῆς G2839 συναναστροφῆς καὶ G2532 εὐχρηστίας ἐστέρουν.
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament