3 Maccabees 4 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] Wherever this decree was received, the people kept up a revelry of joy and shouting, as if their long-pent-up, hardened hatred would now show itself openly. [2] The Jews suffered great throes of sorrow and wept much, while their hearts, all things around being lamentable, were set on fire as they bewailed the sudden destruction which was decreed against them. [3] What home, or city, or any inhabited place, or what streets were there, which their condition didn’t fill with wailing and lamentation? [4] They were sent out unanimously by the generals in various cities, with such stern and pitiless feeling that the exceptional nature of the infliction moved even some of their enemies. These, influenced by sentiments of common humanity, and reflecting upon the uncertain issue of life, shed tears at their miserable expulsion. [5] A multitude of aged hoary-haired old men were driven along with halting bending feet, urged onward by the impulse of a violent, shameless force to quick speed. [6] Girls who had entered the bridal chamber quite lately, to enjoy the partnership of marriage, exchanged pleasure for misery; and with dust scattered upon their myrrh-anointed heads, were hurried along unveiled; and, in the midst of outlandish insults, set up with one accord a lamentable cry instead of the marriage hymn. [7] Bound and exposed to public gaze, they were hurried violently on board ship. [8] The husbands of these, in the prime of their youthful vigor, instead of crowns, wore ropes round their necks. Instead of feasting and youthful celebration, they spent the rest of their nuptial days in wailing, and saw only the grave at hand. [9] They were dragged along by unyielding chains, like wild animals. Of these, some had their necks thrust into the benches of the rowers, while the feet of others were enclosed in hard fetters. [10] The planks of the deck above them blocked out the light and shut out the day on every side, so that they might be treated like traitors during the whole voyage. [11] They were carried like this in this vessel, and at the end of it arrived at Schedia. The king had ordered them to be cast into the vast hippodrome, which was built in front of the city. This place was well adapted by its situation to expose them to the gaze of all comers into the city, and of those who went from the city into the country. Thus they could hold no communication with his forces. They weren’t deemed worthy of any civilized accommodation. [12] When this was done, the king, hearing that their kindred in the city often went out and lamented the melancholy distress of these victims, [13] was full of rage, and commanded that they should be carefully subjected to the same—and not one bit milder—treatment. [14] The whole nation was now to be registered. Every individual was to be specified by name, not for that hard servitude of labor which we have a little before mentioned, but that he might expose them to the before-mentioned tortures; and finally, in the short space of a day, might exterminate them by his cruelties. [15] The registering of these men was carried on cruelly, zealously, assiduously, from the rising of the sun to its going down, and was not brought to an end in forty days. [16] The king was filled with great and constant joy, and celebrated banquets before the temple idols. His erring heart, far from the truth, and his profane mouth gave glory to idols, which are deaf and incapable of speaking or aiding, and uttered unworthy speech against the Greatest God. [17] At the end of the above-mentioned interval of time, the registrars brought word to the king that the multitude of the Jews was too great for registration, [18] inasmuch as there were many still left in the land, of whom some were in inhabited houses, and others were scattered about in various places, so that all the commanders in Egypt were insufficient for the work. [19] The king threatened them, and charged them with taking bribes, in order to contrive the escape of the Jews, but was clearly convinced of the truth of what had been said. [20] They said, and proved, that paper and pens had failed them for the carrying out of their purpose. [21] Now this was an active interference of the unconquerable Providence which assisted the Jews from heaven.
King James Version
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Septuaginta
[1] Πάντῃ G3839 δέ, G1161 ὅπου G3699 προσέπιπτεν G4363 τοῦτο G5124 τὸ G3588 πρόσταγμα, δημοτελὴς συνίστατο G4921 τοῖς G3588 ἔθνεσιν G1484 εὐωχία μετὰ G3326 ἀλαλαγμῶν καὶ G2532 χαρᾶς G5479 ὡς G5613 ἂν G302 τῆς G3588 προκατεσκιρωμένης αὐτοῖς G846 πάλαι G3819 κατὰ G2596 διάνοιαν G1271 μετὰ G3326 παρρησίας G3954 νῦν G3568 ἐκφαινομένης ἀπεχθείας. [2] Τοῖς G3588 δὲ G1161 Ιουδαίοις G2453 ἄληκτον πένθος G3997 ἦν G2258 καὶ G2532 πανόδυρτος μετὰ G3326 δακρύων βοὴ G995 στεναγμοῖς G4726 πεπυρωμένης G4448 πάντοθεν G3840 αὐτῶν G846 τῆς G3588 καρδίας G2588 ὀλοφυρομένων τὴν G3588 ἀπροσδόκητον ἐξαίφνης G1810 αὐτοῖς G846 ἐπικριθεῖσαν G1948 ὀλεθρίαν. [3] Τίς G5101 νομὸς ἢ G2228 πόλις G4172 ἢ G2228 τίς G5101 τὸ G3588 σύνολον οἰκητὸς τόπος G5117 ἢ G2228 τίνες G5101 ἀγυιαὶ κοπετοῦ G2870 καὶ G2532 γόων ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτοῖς G846 οὐκ G3756 ἐνεπιπλῶντο; G1705 [4] Οὕτως G3779 γὰρ G1063 μετὰ G3326 πικρίας G4088 ἀνοίκτου ψυχῆς G5590 ὑπὸ G5259 τῶν G3588 κατὰ G2596 πόλιν G4172 στρατηγῶν G4755 ὁμοθυμαδὸν G3661 ἐξαπεστέλλοντο G1821 ὥστε G5620 ἐπὶ G1909 ταῖς G3588 ἐξάλλοις τιμωρίαις G5098 καί G2532 τινας G5100 τῶν G3588 ἐχθρῶν G2190 λαμβάνοντας G2983 πρὸ G4253 τῶν G3588 ὀφθαλμῶν G3788 τὸν G3588 κοινὸν G2839 ἔλεον G1656 καὶ G2532 λογιζομένους G3049 τὴν G3588 ἄδηλον G82 τοῦ G3588 βίου G979 καταστροφὴν G2692 δακρύειν G1145 αὐτῶν G846 τὴν G3588 δυσάθλιον ἐξαποστολήν. [5] Ἤγετο G71 γὰρ G1063 γεραιῶν πλῆθος G4128 πολιᾷ πεπυκασμένων, τὴν G3588 ἐκ G1537 τοῦ G3588 γήρως G1094 νωθρότητα ποδῶν G4228 ἐπίκυφον ἀνατροπῆς ὁρμῇ G3730 βιαίας G972 ἁπάσης G537 αἰδοῦς G127 ἄνευ G427 πρὸς G4314 ὀξεῖαν G3691 καταχρωμένων G2710 πορείαν. G4197 [6] Αἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 ἄρτι G737 πρὸς G4314 βίου G979 κοινωνίαν G2842 γαμικὸν ὑπεληλυθυῖαι παστὸν νεάνιδες ἀντὶ G473 τέρψεως μεταλαβοῦσαι G3335 γόους καὶ G2532 κόνει τὴν G3588 μυροβρεχῆ πεφυρμέναι κόμην, G2864 ἀκαλύπτως δὲ G1161 ἀγόμεναι G71 θρῆνον G2355 ἀνθ’ G473 ὑμεναίων ὁμοθυμαδὸν G3661 ἐξῆρχον ὡς G5613 ἐσπαραγμέναι G4682 σκυλμοῖς ἀλλοεθνέσιν· [7] δέσμιαι G1198 δὲ G1161 δημοσίᾳ G1219 μέχρι G3360 τῆς G3588 εἰς G1519 τὸ G3588 πλοῖον G4143 ἐμβολῆς εἵλκοντο G1670 μετὰ G3326 βίας. G970 [8] Οἵ G3739 τε G5037 τούτων G5130 συνζυγεῖς βρόχοις G1029 ἀντὶ G473 στεφέων τοὺς G3588 αὐχένας περιπεπλεγμένοι μετὰ G3326 ἀκμαίας νεανικῆς ἡλικίας G2244 ἀντὶ G473 εὐωχίας καὶ G2532 νεωτερικῆς G3512 ῥᾳθυμίας τὰς G3588 ἐπιλοίπους G1954 τῶν G3588 γάμων G1062 ἡμέρας G2250 ἐν G1722 θρήνοις G2355 διῆγον G1236 παρὰ G3844 πόδας G4228 ἤδη G2235 τὸν G3588 ᾅδην G86 ὁρῶντες G3708 κείμενον. G2749 [9] Κατήχθησαν G2609 δὲ G1161 θηρίων G2342 τρόπον G5158 ἀγόμενοι G71 σιδηροδέσμοις ἀνάγκαις, G318 οἱ G3588 μὲν G3303 τοῖς G3588 ζυγοῖς G2218 τῶν G3588 πλοίων G4143 προσηλωμένοι G4338 τοὺς G3588 τραχήλους, G5137 οἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 τοὺς G3588 πόδας G4228 ἀρρήκτοις κατησφαλισμένοι πέδαις, G3976 [10] ἔτι G2089 καὶ G2532 τῷ G3588 καθύπερθε πυκνῷ G4437 σανιδώματι διακειμένῳ, ὅπως G3704 πάντοθεν G3840 ἐσκοτισμένοι G4654 τοὺς G3588 ὀφθαλμοὺς G3788 ἀγωγὴν G72 ἐπιβούλων ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 τῷ G3588 κατάπλῳ λαμβάνωσιν. G2983 [11] Τούτων G5130 δὲ G1161 ἐπὶ G1909 τὴν G3588 λεγομένην G3004 Σχεδίαν ἀχθέντων G71 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 παράπλου περανθέντος, καθὼς G2531 ἦν G2258 δεδογματισμένον G1379 τῷ G3588 βασιλεῖ, G935 προσέταξεν G4367 αὐτοὺς G846 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 πρὸ G4253 τῆς G3588 πόλεως G4172 ἱπποδρόμῳ παρεμβαλεῖν ἀπλάτῳ καθεστῶτι G2525 περιμέτρῳ καὶ G2532 πρὸς G4314 παραδειγματισμὸν ἄγαν εὐκαιροτάτῳ G2121 καθεστῶτι G2525 πᾶσι G3956 τοῖς G3588 καταπορευομένοις εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 πόλιν G4172 καὶ G2532 τοῖς G3588 ἐκ G1537 τούτων G5130 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 χώραν G5561 στελλομένοις G4724 πρὸς G4314 ἐκδημίαν πρὸς G4314 τὸ G3588 μηδὲ G3366 ταῖς G3588 δυνάμεσιν G1411 αὐτοῦ G846 κοινωνεῖν G2841 μηδὲ G3366 τὸ G3588 σύνολον καταξιῶσαι G2661 περιβόλων. [12] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 τοῦτο G5124 ἐγενήθη, G1096 ἀκούσας G191 τοὺς G3588 ἐκ G1537 τῆς G3588 πόλεως G4172 ὁμοεθνεῖς κρυβῇ G2931 ἐκπορευομένους G1607 πυκνότερον G4437 ἀποδύρεσθαι τὴν G3588 ἀκλεῆ τῶν G3588 ἀδελφῶν G80 ταλαιπωρίαν G5004 [13] διοργισθεὶς προσέταξεν G4367 καὶ G2532 τούτοις G5125 ὁμοῦ G3674 τὸν G3588 αὐτὸν G846 τρόπον G5158 ἐπιμελῶς G1960 ὡς G5613 ἐκείνοις G1565 ποιῆσαι G4160 μὴ G3361 λειπομένοις G3007 κατὰ G2596 μηδένα G3367 τρόπον G5158 τῆς G3588 ἐκείνων G1565 τιμωρίας, G5098 [14] ἀπογραφῆναι G583 δὲ G1161 πᾶν G3956 τὸ G3588 φῦλον ἐξ G1537 ὀνόματος, G3686 οὐκ G3756 εἰς G1519 τὴν G3588 ἔμπροσθεν G1715 βραχεῖ G1024 προδεδηλωμένην τῶν G3588 ἔργων G2041 κατάπονον λατρείαν, G2999 στρεβλωθέντας G4761 δὲ G1161 ταῖς G3588 παρηγγελμέναις G3853 αἰκίαις τὸ G3588 τέλος G5056 ἀφανίσαι G853 μιᾶς G3391 ὑπὸ G5259 καιρὸν G2540 ἡμέρας. G2250 [15] Ἐγίνετο G1096 μὲν G3303 οὖν G3767 ἡ G3588 τούτων G5130 ἀπογραφὴ G582 μετὰ G3326 πικρᾶς G4089 σπουδῆς G4710 καὶ G2532 φιλοτίμου προσεδρείας ἀπὸ G575 ἀνατολῶν G395 ἡλίου G2246 μέχρι G3360 δυσμῶν G1424 ἀνήνυτον λαμβάνουσα G2983 τὸ G3588 τέλος G5056 ἐπὶ G1909 ἡμέρας G2250 τεσσαράκοντα. G5062 [16] Μεγάλως G3171 δὲ G1161 καὶ G2532 διηνεκῶς ὁ G3588 βασιλεὺς G935 χαρᾷ G5479 πεπληρωμένος G4137 συμπόσια G4849 ἐπὶ G1909 πάντων G3956 τῶν G3588 εἰδώλων G1497 συνιστάμενος G4921 πεπλανημένῃ G4105 πόρρω G4206 τῆς G3588 ἀληθείας G225 φρενὶ G5424 καὶ G2532 βεβήλῳ G952 στόματι G4750 τὰ G3588 μὲν G3303 κωφὰ G2974 καὶ G2532 μὴ G3361 δυνάμενα G1410 αὐτοῖς G846 λαλεῖν G2980 ἢ G2228 ἀρήγειν ἐπαινῶν, G1867 εἰς G1519 δὲ G1161 τὸν G3588 μέγιστον G3176 θεὸν G2316 τὰ G3588 μὴ G3361 καθήκοντα G2520 λαλῶν. G2980 [17] Μετὰ G3326 δὲ G1161 τὸ G3588 προειρημένον G4280 τοῦ G3588 χρόνου G5550 διάστημα G1292 προσηνέγκαντο G4374 οἱ G3588 γραμματεῖς G1122 τῷ G3588 βασιλεῖ G935 μηκέτι G3371 ἰσχύειν G2480 τὴν G3588 τῶν G3588 Ιουδαίων G2453 ἀπογραφὴν G582 ποιεῖσθαι G4160 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 ἀμέτρητον αὐτῶν G846 πληθὺν [18] καίπερ G2539 ὄντων G5607 ἔτι G2089 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 χώραν G5561 τῶν G3588 πλειόνων, G4119 τῶν G3588 μὲν G3303 κατὰ G2596 τὰς G3588 οἰκίας G3614 ἔτι G2089 συνεστηκότων, G4921 τῶν G3588 δὲ G1161 καὶ G2532 κατὰ G2596 τόπον, G5117 ὡς G5613 ἀδυνάτου G102 καθεστῶτος G2525 πᾶσιν G3956 τοῖς G3588 ἐπ’ G1909 Αἴγυπτον G125 στρατηγοῖς. G4755 [19] Ἀπειλήσαντος G546 δὲ G1161 αὐτοῖς G846 σκληρότερον G4642 ὡς G5613 δεδωροκοπημένοις εἰς G1519 μηχανὴν τῆς G3588 ἐκφυγῆς συνέβη G4819 σαφῶς αὐτὸν G846 περὶ G4012 τούτου G5127 πιστωθῆναι G4104 [20] λεγόντων G3004 μετὰ G3326 ἀποδείξεως G585 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 χαρτηρίαν ἤδη G2235 καὶ G2532 τοὺς G3588 γραφικοὺς καλάμους, G2563 ἐν G1722 οἷς G3739 ἐχρῶντο, G5530 ἐκλελοιπέναι. G1587 [21] Τοῦτο G5124 δὲ G1161 ἦν G2258 ἐνέργεια G1753 τῆς G3588 τοῦ G3588 βοηθοῦντος G997 τοῖς G3588 Ιουδαίοις G2453 ἐξ G1537 οὐρανοῦ G3772 προνοίας G4307 ἀνικήτου.
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament