4 Maccabees 15 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] O reasoning of the sons, lord over the emotions, and religion more desirable to a mother than children! [2] The mother, when two things were set before her, religion and the safety of her seven sons for a time, on the conditional promise of a tyrant, [3] rather elected the religion which according to God preserves to eternal life. [4] In what way can I describe ethically the affections of parents toward their children, the resemblance of soul and of form impressed into the small type of a child in a wonderful manner, especially through the greater sympathy of mothers with the feelings of those born of them! [5] For by how much mothers are by nature weak in disposition and prolific in offspring, by so much the fonder they are of children. [6] Of all mothers, the mother of the seven was the fondest of children, who in seven childbirths had deeply engendered love toward them. [7] Through her many pains undergone in connection with each one, she was compelled to feel sympathy with them; [8] yet, through fear of God, she neglected the temporary salvation of her children. [9] Not only so, but on account of the excellent disposition to the law, her maternal affection toward them was increased. [10] For they were both just and temperate, and courageous, high-minded, fond of their kindred, and so fond of their mother that even to death they obeyed her by observing the law. [11] Yet, though there were so many circumstances connected with love of children to draw on a mother to sympathy, in the case of none of them were the various tortures able to pervert her principle. [12] But she inclined each one separately and all together to death for religion. [13] O holy nature and parental feeling, and reward of bringing up children, and unconquerable maternal affection! [14] At the racking and roasting of each one of them, the observant mother was prevented by religion from changing. [15] She saw her children’s flesh dissolving around the fire, and their extremities quivering on the ground, and the flesh of their heads dropped forward down to their beards, like masks. [16] O you mother, who was tried at this time with bitterer pangs than those at birth! [17] O you only woman who have produced perfect holiness! [18] Your firstborn, expiring, didn’t turn you, nor the second, looking miserable in his torments, nor the third, breathing out his soul. [19] You didn’t weep when you saw each of their eyes looking sternly at their tortures, and their nostrils foreboding death! [20] When you saw children’s flesh heaped upon children’s flesh that had been torn off, heads decapitated upon heads, dead falling upon the dead, and a choir of children turned through torture into a burying ground, you didn’t lament. [21] Not so do siren melodies or songs of swans attract the hearers to listening, O voices of children calling on your mother in the midst of torments! [22] With what and what manner of torments was the mother herself tortured, as her sons were undergoing the wheel and the fires! [23] But religious reasoning, having strengthened her courage in the midst of sufferings, enabled her to forego, for the time, parental love. [24] Although seeing the destruction of seven children, the noble mother, after one embrace, stripped off her feelings through faith in God. [25] For just as in a council room, seeing in her own soul vehement counselors, nature and parentage and love of her children, and the racking of her children, [26] she holding two votes, one for the death, the other for the preservation of her children, [27] didn’t lean to that which would have saved her children for the safety of a brief space. [28] But this daughter of Abraham remembered his holy fortitude. [29] O holy mother of a nation, avenger of the law, defender of religion, and prime bearer in the battle of the affections! [30] O you nobler in endurance than males, and more courageous than men in perseverance! [31] For like Noah’s ship, bearing the world in the world-filling flood, bore up against the waves, [32] so you, the guardian of the law, when surrounded on every side by the flood of emotions, and assaulted by violent storms which were the torments of your children, bore up nobly against the storms against religion.
King James Version
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Septuaginta
[1] Ὦ G5599 λογισμὲ G3053 τέκνων G5043 παθῶν G3806 τύραννε καὶ G2532 εὐσέβεια G2150 μητρὶ G3384 τέκνων G5043 ποθεινοτέρα. [2] Μήτηρ G3384 δυεῖν G1417 προκειμένων, G4295 εὐσεβείας G2150 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 ἑπτὰ G2033 υἱῶν G5207 σωτηρίας G4991 προσκαίρου G4340 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 τοῦ G3588 τυράννου ὑπόσχεσιν, [3] τὴν G3588 εὐσέβειαν G2150 μᾶλλον G3123 ἠγάπησεν G25 τὴν G3588 σῴζουσαν G4982 εἰς G1519 αἰωνίαν G166 ζωὴν G2222 κατὰ G2596 θεόν. G2316 [4] Ὦ G5599 τίνα G5101 τρόπον G5158 ἠθολογήσαιμι φιλότεκνα G5388 γονέων G1118 πάθη. G3806 Ψυχῆς G5590 τε G5037 καὶ G2532 μορφῆς G3444 ὁμοιότητα G3665 εἰς G1519 μικρὸν παιδὸς G3816 χαρακτῆρα G5481 θαυμάσιον G2297 ἐναποσφραγίζομεν, μάλιστα G3122 διὰ G1223 τὸ G3588 τῶν G3588 παθῶν G3806 τοῖς G3588 γεννηθεῖσιν G1080 τὰς G3588 μητέρας G3384 τῶν G3588 πατέρων G3962 καθεστάναι G2525 συμπαθεστέρας. G4835 [5] Ὅσῳ G3745 γὰρ G1063 καὶ G2532 ἀσθενόψυχοι καὶ G2532 πολυγονώτεραι ὑπάρχουσιν G5225 αἱ G3588 μητέρες, G3384 τοσούτῳ G5118 μᾶλλόν G3123 εἰσιν G1526 φιλοτεκνότεραι. G5388 [6] Πασῶν G3956 δὲ G1161 τῶν G3588 μητέρων G3384 ἐγένετο G1096 ἡ G3588 τῶν G3588 ἑπτὰ G2033 παίδων G3816 μήτηρ G3384 φιλοτεκνοτέρα, G5388 ἥτις G3748 ἑπτὰ G2033 κυοφορίαις τὴν G3588 πρὸς G4314 αὐτοὺς G846 ἐπιφυτευομένη φιλοστοργίαν [7] καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 πολλὰς G4183 τὰς G3588 καθ’ G2596 ἕκαστον G1538 αὐτῶν G846 ὠδῖνας G5604 ἠναγκασμένη G315 τὴν G3588 εἰς G1519 αὐτοὺς G846 ἔχειν G2192 συμπάθειαν, [8] διὰ G1223 τὸν G3588 πρὸς G4314 τὸν G3588 θεὸν G2316 φόβον G5401 ὑπερεῖδεν G5237 τὴν G3588 τῶν G3588 τέκνων G5043 πρόσκαιρον G4340 σωτηρίαν. G4991 [9] Οὐ G3756 μὴν G3375 δὲ G1161 ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 καλοκἀγαθίαν τῶν G3588 υἱῶν G5207 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 πρὸς G4314 τὸν G3588 νόμον G3551 αὐτῶν G846 εὐπείθειαν μείζω G3173 τὴν G3588 ἐν G1722 αὐτοῖς G846 ἔσχεν G2192 φιλοστοργίαν. [10] Δίκαιοί G1342 τε G5037 γὰρ G1063 ἦσαν G2258 καὶ G2532 σώφρονες G4998 καὶ G2532 ἀνδρεῖοι καὶ G2532 μεγαλόψυχοι καὶ G2532 φιλάδελφοι G5361 καὶ G2532 φιλομήτορες οὕτως G3779 ὥστε G5620 καὶ G2532 μέχρι G3360 θανάτου G2288 τὰ G3588 νόμιμα φυλάσσοντας G5442 πείθεσθαι G3982 αὐτῇ. G846 [11] Ἀλλ’ G235 ὅμως G3676 καίπερ G2539 τοσούτων G5118 ὄντων G5607 τῶν G3588 περὶ G4012 τὴν G3588 φιλοτεκνίαν εἰς G1519 συμπάθειαν ἑλκόντων G1670 τὴν G3588 μητέρα, G3384 ἐπ’ G1909 οὐδενὸς G3762 αὐτῶν G846 τὸν G3588 λογισμὸν G3053 αὐτῆς G846 αἱ G3588 παμποίκιλοι βάσανοι G931 ἴσχυσαν G2480 μετατρέψαι, [12] ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 καθ’ G2596 ἕνα G1520 παῖδα G3816 καὶ G2532 ὁμοῦ G3674 πάντας G3956 ἡ G3588 μήτηρ G3384 ἐπὶ G1909 τὸν G3588 τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 προετρέπετο G4389 θάνατον. G2288 [13] Ὦ G5599 φύσις G5449 ἱερὰ G2413 καὶ G2532 φίλτρα γονέων G1118 καὶ G2532 γένεσι G1085 φιλόστοργε G5387 καὶ G2532 τροφεία καὶ G2532 μητέρων G3384 ἀδάμαστα πάθη. G3806 [14] Καθένα G2596 στρεβλούμενον G4761 καὶ G2532 φλεγόμενον ὁρῶσα μήτηρ G3384 οὐ G3756 μετεβάλλετο G3328 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 εὐσέβειαν. G2150 [15] Τὰς G3588 σάρκας G4561 τῶν G3588 τέκνων G5043 ἑώρα περὶ G4012 τὸ G3588 πῦρ G4442 τηκομένας G5080 καὶ G2532 τοὺς G3588 τῶν G3588 ποδῶν G4228 καὶ G2532 χειρῶν G5495 δακτύλους G1147 ἐπὶ G1909 γῆς G1093 σπαίροντας καὶ G2532 τὰς G3588 τῶν G3588 κεφαλῶν G2776 μέχρι G3360 τῶν G3588 περὶ G4012 τὰ G3588 γένεια σάρκας G4561 ὥσπερ G5618 προσωπεῖα προκειμένας. G4295 [16] Ὦ G5599 πικροτέρων G4089 νῦν G3568 πόνων G4192 πειρασθεῖσα G3985 μήτηρ G3384 ἤπερ G2260 τῶν G3588 ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτοῖς G846 ὠδίνων. G5604 [17] Ὦ G5599 μόνη G3441 γύναι G1135 τὴν G3588 εὐσέβειαν G2150 ὁλόκληρον G3648 ἀποκυήσασα. G616 [18] Οὐ G3756 μετέτρεψέν σε G4571 πρωτότοκος‡ G4416 ἀποπνέων οὐδὲ G3761 δεύτερος G1208 εἰς G1519 σὲ G4571 οἰκτρὸν βλέπων G991 ἐν G1722 βασάνοις, G931 οὐ G3756 τρίτος G5154 ἀποψύχων, G674 [19] οὐδὲ G3761 τοὺς G3588 ὀφθαλμοὺς G3788 ἑνὸς G1520 ἑκάστου G1538 θεωροῦσα G2334 ταυρηδὸν ἐπὶ G1909 τῶν G3588 βασάνων G931 ὁρῶντας τὸν G3588 αὐτὸν G846 αἰκισμὸν καὶ G2532 τοὺς G3588 μυκτῆρας προσημειουμένους τὸν G3588 θάνατον G2288 αὐτῶν G846 οὐκ G3756 ἔκλαυσας. G2799 [20] Ἐπὶ G1909 σαρξὶν G4561 τέκνων G5043 ὁρῶσα σάρκας G4561 τέκνων G5043 ἀποκαιομένας καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 χερσὶν G5495 χεῖρας G5495 ἀποτεμνομένας καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 κεφαλαῖς G2776 κεφαλὰς G2776 ἀποδειροτομουμένας καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 νεκροῖς G3498 νεκροὺς G3498 πίπτοντας G4098 καὶ G2532 πολυάνδριον ὁρῶσα τῶν G3588 τέκνων G5043 τὸ G3588 χωρίον G5564 διὰ G1223 τῶν G3588 βασάνων G931 οὐκ G3756 ἐδάκρυσας. G1145 [21] Οὐχ G3756 οὕτως G3779 σειρήνιοι μελῳδίαι οὐδὲ G3761 κύκνειοι πρὸς G4314 φιληκοίαν φωναὶ G5456 τοὺς G3588 ἀκούοντας G191 ἐφέλκονται ὡς G5613 τέκνων G5043 φωναὶ G5456 μετὰ G3326 βασάνων G931 μητέρα G3384 φωνούντων. G5455 [22] Πηλίκαις G4080 καὶ G2532 πόσαις G4214 τότε G5119 ἡ G3588 μήτηρ G3384 τῶν G3588 υἱῶν G5207 βασανιζομένων G928 τροχοῖς G5164 τε G5037 καὶ G2532 καυτηρίοις ἐβασανίζετο G928 βασάνοις. G931 [23] Ἀλλὰ G235 τὰ G3588 σπλάγχνα G4698 αὐτῆς G846 ὁ G3588 εὐσεβὴς G2152 λογισμὸς G3053 ἐν G1722 αὐτοῖς G846 τοῖς G3588 πάθεσιν G3806 ἀνδρειώσας ἐπέτεινεν τὴν G3588 πρόσκαιρον G4340 φιλοτεκνίαν παριδεῖν. [24] Καίπερ G2539 ἑπτὰ G2033 τέκνων G5043 ὁρῶσα ἀπώλειαν G684 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 τῶν G3588 στρεβλῶν πολύπλοκον ποικιλίαν, ἁπάσας G537 ἡ G3588 γενναία μήτηρ G3384 ἐξέλυσεν G1590 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 πρὸς G4314 θεὸν G2316 πίστιν. G4102 [25] Καθάπερ G2509 γὰρ G1063 ἐν G1722 βουλευτηρίῳ τῇ G3588 ἑαυτῆς G1438 ψυχῇ G5590 δεινοὺς ὁρῶσα συμβούλους G4825 φύσιν G5449 καὶ G2532 γένεσιν G1078 καὶ G2532 φιλοτεκνίαν καὶ G2532 τέκνων G5043 στρέβλας, [26] δύο G1417 ψήφους G5586 κρατοῦσα G2902 μήτηρ, G3384 θανατηφόρον G2287 τε G5037 καὶ G2532 σωτήριον, G4992 ὑπὲρ G5228 τέκνων G5043 [27] οὐκ G3756 ἐπέγνω G1921 τὴν G3588 σῴζουσαν G4982 ἑπτὰ G2033 υἱοὺς G5207 πρὸς G4314 ὀλίγον G3641 χρόνον G5550 σωτηρίαν, G4991 [28] ἀλλὰ G235 τῆς G3588 θεοσεβοῦς G2318 Αβρααμ G11 καρτερίας ἡ G3588 θυγάτηρ G2364 ἐμνήσθη. G3415 [29] Ὦ G5599 μήτηρ G3384 ἔθνους, G1484 ἔκδικε G1558 τοῦ G3588 νόμου G3551 καὶ G2532 ὑπερασπίστρια τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 διὰ G1223 σπλάγχνων G4698 ἀγῶνος G73 ἀθλοφόρε· [30] ὦ G5599 ἀρρένων G730 πρὸς G4314 καρτερίαν γενναιοτέρα καὶ G2532 ἀνδρῶν G435 πρὸς G4314 ὑπομονὴν G5281 ἀνδρειοτέρα. [31] Καθάπερ G2509 γὰρ G1063 ἡ G3588 Νωε G3575 κιβωτὸς G2787 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 κοσμοπληθεῖ κατακλυσμῷ G2627 κοσμοφοροῦσα καρτερῶς ὑπέμεινεν G5278 τοὺς G3588 κλύδωνας, G2830 [32] οὕτως G3779 σὺ G4771 ἡ G3588 νομοφύλαξ πανταχόθεν G3836 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 τῶν G3588 παθῶν G3806 περιαντλουμένη κατακλυσμῷ G2627 καὶ G2532 καρτεροῖς ἀνέμοις, G417 ταῖς G3588 τῶν G3588 υἱῶν G5207 βασάνοις, G931 συνεχομένη G4912 γενναίως ὑπέμεινας G5278 τοὺς G3588 ὑπὲρ G5228 τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 χειμῶνας. G5494
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament

Footnotes

  1. ‡ 15:18 Corrected from πρωτοτόκος, as seen in RH. Accented on the third syllable from the end, πρωτότοκος means “firstborn”; accented on the next-to-last, it means “bearing for the first time,” which the masculine ἀποπνέων beside it rules out. This edition prints πρωτότοκος at its 36 other occurrences.