4 Maccabees 16 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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American Standard Version (1901)ASVByzantine Greek New Testament (2026)BYZClementine Latin Vulgate (1880)CLVKing James Version (1769)KJVSeptuaginta (1935)LXXMajority Standard Bible (2025)MSBNET Bible® (2019)NETWorld English Bible Classic (2020)WEBUSYoung’s Literal Translation (1898)YLT

World English Bible Classic

^[1] If, then, even a woman, and that an aged one, and the mother of seven children, endured to see her children’s torments even to death, it must be admitted that religious reasoning is master even of the emotions. ^[2] I have proved, then, that not only men have obtained the mastery of their emotions, but also that a woman despised the greatest torments. ^[3] The lions around Daniel were not so fierce, nor the furnace of Misael burning with most vehement fires as that natural love of children burned within her, when she saw her seven sons tortured. ^[4] But with the reasoning of religion the mother quenched emotions so great and powerful. ^[5] For we must consider also this: that, had the woman been faint hearted, as being their mother, she would have lamented over them, and perhaps might have spoken thus: ^[6] “Ah! I am wretched and many times miserable, who having born seven sons, have become the mother of none. ^[7] O seven useless childbirths, and seven profitless periods of labor, and fruitless givings of suck, and miserable nursings at the breast. ^[8] Vainly, for your sakes, O sons, have I endured many pangs, and the more difficult anxieties of rearing. ^[9] Alas, of my children, some of you unmarried, and some who have married to no profit, I will not see your children, nor have the joy of being a grandmother. ^[10] Ah, that I who had many and fair children, should be a lone widow full of sorrows! ^[11] Nor, should I die, will I have a son to bury me.” But with such a lament as this, the holy and God-fearing mother wept for none of them. ^[12] Nor did she divert any of them from death, nor grieve for them as for the dead. ^[13] But as one possessed with an adamant mind, and as one bringing forth again her full number of sons to immortality, she rather urged them to death on behalf of religion. ^[14] O woman, soldier of God for religion, you, aged and a female, have conquered through endurance even a tyrant; and even though weak, have been found more powerful in deeds and words. ^[15] For when you were seized along with your children, you stood looking at Eleazar in torture, and said to your sons in the Hebrew tongue, ^[16] “O sons, the contest is noble to which you are being called as a witness for the nation. Strive zealously for the laws of your country. ^[17] For it would be disgraceful if this old man endured pains for the sake of righteousness, and that you who are younger would be afraid of the tortures. ^[18] Remember that through God, you obtained existence and have enjoyed it. ^[19] Therefore, you ought to bear every affliction because of God. ^[20] For him also our father Abraham was zealous to sacrifice Isaac our progenitor, and didn’t shudder at the sight of his own paternal hand descending down with the sword upon him. ^[21] The righteous Daniel was cast to the lions; and Ananias, Azarias, and Misael were hurled into a fiery furnace, yet they endured through God. ^[22] You, then, having the same faith toward God, don’t be troubled. ^[23] For it is unreasonable that they who know religion wouldn’t stand up against troubles. ^[24] With these arguments, the mother of seven, exhorting each of her sons, encouraged and persuaded them not to transgress God’s commandment. ^[25] They saw this, too, that those who die for God, live to God, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the patriarchs.

King James Version

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Septuaginta

Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament

^[1] Εἰ G1487 (COND) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) τοίνυν G5106 (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γυνὴ G1135 (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γεραιὰ (A-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) παίδων G3816 (N-GPM) μήτηρ G3384 (N-NSF) ὑπέμεινεν G5278 (V-AAI-3S) τὰς G3588 (T-APF) μέχρι G3360 (ADV) θανάτου G2288 (N-GSM) βασάνους G931 (N-APF) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) τέκνων G5043 (N-GPN) ὁρῶσα, (V-PAP-NSF) ὁμολογουμένως G3672 (ADV) αὐτοκράτωρ (N-NSM) ἐστὶν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) παθῶν G3806 (N-GPN) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) εὐσεβὴς G2152 (A-NSM) λογισμός. G3053 (N-NSM) ^[2] Ἀπέδειξα G584 (V-2AAI-1S) οὖν G3767 (CONJ) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) μόνον G3440 (ADV) ἄνδρες G435 (N-NPM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) παθῶν G3806 (N-GPN) ἐκράτησαν, G2902 (V-AAI-3P) ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γυνὴ G1135 (N-NSF) τῶν G3588 (T-GPF) μεγίστων G3176 (A-GPF-S) βασάνων G931 (N-GPF) ὑπερεφρόνησεν. G5252 (V-AAI-3S) ^[3] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οὐχ G3756 (PRT-N) οὕτως G3779 (ADV) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) περὶ G4012 (PREP) Δανιηλ G1158 (N-PRI) λέοντες G3023 (N-NPM) ἦσαν G2258 (V-IAI-3P) ἄγριοι G66 (A-NPM) οὐδὲ G3761 (CONJ-N) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) Μισαηλ (N-PRI) ἐκφλεγομένη (V-PEP-NSF) κάμινος G2575 (N-NSM) λαβροτάτῳ (A-DSN-S) πυρί, G4442 (N-DSN) ὡς G5613 (ADV) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) φιλοτεκνίας (N-GSF) περιέκαιεν (V-IAI-3S) ἐκείνην G1565 (D-ASF) φύσις G5449 (N-NSF) ὁρῶσαν (V-PAP-ASF) αὐτῆς G846 (P-GSF) οὕτως G3779 (ADV) ποικίλως (ADV) βασανιζομένους G928 (V-PPP-APM) τοὺς G3588 (T-APM) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) υἱούς. G5207 (N-APM) ^[4] Ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) λογισμῷ G3053 (N-DSM) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐσεβείας G2150 (N-GSF) κατέσβεσεν (V-AAI-3S) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) τοσαῦτα G5118 (D-APN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τηλικαῦτα G5082 (D-APN) πάθη G3806 (N-APN) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) μήτηρ. G3384 (N-NSF) ^[5] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) τοῦτο G5124 (D-ASN) ἐπιλογίσασθε, (V-AMM-2P) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) δειλόψυχος (A-NSF) εἰ G1487 (COND) ἦν G2258 (V-IAI-3S) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) γυνὴ G1135 (N-NSF) καίπερ G2539 (CONJ) μήτηρ G3384 (N-NSF) οὖσα, G5607 (V-PAP-NSF) ὠλοφύρετο (V-IEI-3S) ἂν G302 (PRT) ἐπ’ G1909 (PREP) αὐτοῖς G846 (P-DPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἴσως G2481 (ADV) ἂν G302 (PRT) ταῦτα G5023 (D-APN) εἶπεν (V-2AAI-3S) ^[6] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) μελέα (A-NSF) ἔγωγε (P-1NS) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) πολλάκις G4178 (ADV) τρισαθλία, (A-NSF) ἥτις G3748 (R-NSF) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) παῖδας G3816 (N-APM) τεκοῦσα G5088 (V-2AAP-NSF) οὐδενὸς G3762 (A-GSM-N) μήτηρ G3384 (N-NSF) γεγένημαι. G1096 (V-RDI-1S) ^[7] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) μάταιοι G3152 (A-NPF) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) κυοφορίαι (N-NPF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀνόνητοι (A-NPM) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) δεκάμηνοι (N-NPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἄκαρποι G175 (A-NPF) τιθηνίαι (N-NPF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ταλαίπωροι G5005 (A-NPF) γαλακτοτροφίαι. (N-NPF) ^[8] Μάτην G3155 (ADV) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἐφ’ G1909 (PREP) ὑμῖν, G5213 (P-2DP) ὦ G5599 (INJ) παῖδες, G3816 (N-NPM) πολλὰς G4183 (A-APF) ὑπέμεινα G5278 (V-2AAI-1S) ὠδῖνας G5604 (N-APF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) χαλεπωτέρας G5467 (A-APF-C) φροντίδας (N-APF) ἀνατροφῆς. (N-GSF) ^[9] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) ἐμῶν G1699 (S-1SGPM) παίδων G3816 (N-GPM) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) μὲν G3303 (PRT) ἄγαμοι, G22 (A-NPM) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) γήμαντες G1060 (V-AAP-NPM) ἀνόνητοι· (A-NPM) οὐκ G3756 (PRT-N) ὄψομαι G3700 (V-FDI-1S) ὑμῶν G5216 (P-2GP) τέκνα G5043 (N-APN) οὐδὲ G3761 (CONJ-N) μάμμη G3125 (N-NSF) κληθεῖσα G2564 (V-APP-NSF) μακαρισθήσομαι. G3106 (V-FPI-1S) ^[10] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) πολύπαις (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) καλλίπαις (N-NSF) ἐγὼ G1473 (P-1NS) γυνὴ G1135 (N-NSF) χήρα G5503 (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μόνη G3441 (A-NSF) πολύθρηνος· (A-NSF) ^[11] οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) ἂν G302 (PRT) ἀποθάνω, G599 (V-2AAS-1S) θάπτοντα G2290 (V-PAP-ASM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) υἱῶν G5207 (N-GPM) ἕξω G2192 (V-FAI-1S) τινά. G5100 (X-ASM) ^[12] Ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) τούτῳ G5129 (D-DSM) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) θρήνῳ G2355 (N-DSM) οὐδένα G3762 (A-ASM-N) ὠλοφύρετο (V-IEI-3S) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) ἱερὰ G2413 (A-NPN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) θεοσεβὴς G2318 (A-NSF) μήτηρ G3384 (N-NSF) οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) ἵνα G2443 (CONJ) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) ἀποθάνωσιν G599 (V-2AAS-3P) ἀπέτρεπεν G665 (V-IAI-3S) αὐτῶν G846 (P-GPM) τινα G5100 (X-ASM) οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) ὡς G5613 (ADV) ἀποθνῃσκόντων G599 (V-PAP-GPM) ἐλυπήθη, G3076 (V-API-3S) ^[13] ἀλλ’ G235 (CONJ) ὥσπερ G5618 (ADV) ἀδαμάντινον (A-ASM) ἔχουσα G2192 (V-PAP-NSF) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) νοῦν G3563 (N-ASM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εἰς G1519 (PREP) ἀθανασίαν G110 (N-ASF) ἀνατίκτουσα (V-PAP-NSF) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) υἱῶν G5207 (N-GPM) ἀριθμὸν G706 (N-ASM) μᾶλλον G3123 (ADV) ὑπὲρ G5228 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐσεβείας G2150 (N-GSF) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θάνατον G2288 (N-ASM) αὐτοὺς G846 (P-APM) προετρέπετο (V-IEI-3S) ἱκετεύουσα. (V-PAP-NSF) ^[14] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) μῆτερ G3384 (N-VSF) δι’ G1223 (PREP) εὐσέβειαν G2150 (N-ASF) θεοῦ G2316 (N-GSM) στρατιῶτι (N-VSF) πρεσβῦτι G4247 (N-VSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γύναι, G1135 (N-VSF) διὰ G1223 (PREP) καρτερίαν (N-ASF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τύραννον (N-ASM) ἐνίκησας G3528 (V-AAI-2S) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἔργοις G2041 (N-DPN) δυνατωτέρα G1415 (A-APN-C) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λόγοις G3056 (N-DPM) εὑρέθης G2147 (V-API-2S) ἀνδρός. G435 (N-GSM) ^[15] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) ὅτε G3753 (ADV) συνελήμφθης G4815 (V-API-2S) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) παίδων, G3816 (N-GPM) εἱστήκεις G2476 (V-LAI-2S) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) Ελεαζαρον (N-ASM) ὁρῶσα (V-PAP-NSF) βασανιζόμενον G928 (V-PPP-ASM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἔλεγες (V-IAI-2S) τοῖς G3588 (T-DPM) παισὶν G3816 (N-DPM) ἐν G1722 (PREP) τῇ G3588 (T-DSF) Εβραίδι G1446 (N-DSF) φωνῇ G5456 (N-DSF) ^[16] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) παῖδες, G3816 (N-NPM) γενναῖος (N-NSM) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) ἀγών, G73 (N-NSM) ἐφ’ G1909 (PREP) ὃν G3739 (R-ASM) κληθέντες G2564 (V-APP-NPM) ὑπὲρ G5228 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) διαμαρτυρίας (N-GSF) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSN) ἔθνους G1484 (N-GSN) ἐναγωνίσασθε (V-AMM-2P) προθύμως G4290 (ADV) ὑπὲρ G5228 (PREP) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) πατρῴου G3971 (A-GSM) νόμου· G3551 (N-GSM) ^[17] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) αἰσχρὸν G150 (A-ASN) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) μὲν G3303 (PRT) γέροντα G1088 (N-ASM) τοῦτον G5126 (D-ASM) ὑπομένειν G5278 (V-PAN) τὰς G3588 (T-APF) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) εὐσέβειαν G2150 (N-ASF) ἀλγηδόνας, (N-APF) ὑμᾶς G5209 (P-2AP) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) τοὺς G3588 (T-APM) νεανίσκους G3495 (N-APM) καταπλαγῆναι (V-APN) τὰς G3588 (T-APF) βασάνους. G931 (N-APF) ^[18] Ἀναμνήσθητε G363 (V-APS-2P) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θεὸν G2316 (N-ASM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) κόσμου G2889 (N-GSM) μετελάβετε G3335 (V-2AAI-2P) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) βίου G979 (N-GSM) ἀπελαύσατε, (V-AAI-2P) ^[19] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τοῦτο G5124 (D-ASN) ὀφείλετε G3784 (V-PAI-2P) πάντα G3956 (A-ASM) πόνον G4192 (N-ASM) ὑπομένειν G5278 (V-PAN) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θεόν, G2316 (N-ASM) ^[20] δι’ G1223 (PREP) ὃν G3739 (R-ASM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) πατὴρ G3962 (N-NSM) ἡμῶν G2257 (P-1GP) Αβρααμ G11 (N-PRI) ἔσπευδεν G4692 (V-IAI-3S) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) ἐθνοπάτορα (N-ASM) υἱὸν G5207 (N-ASM) σφαγιάσαι (V-AAN) Ισαακ, G2464 (N-PRI) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) πατρῴαν G3971 (A-ASF) χεῖρα G5495 (N-ASF) ξιφηφόρον (A-ASF) καταφερομένην G2702 (V-PEP-ASF) ἐπ’ G1909 (PREP) αὐτὸν G846 (P-ASM) ὁρῶν G3708 (V-PAP-NSM) οὐκ G3756 (PRT-N) ἔπτηξεν. (V-2AAI-3S) ^[21] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Δανιηλ G1158 (N-PRI) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) δίκαιος G1342 (A-NSM) εἰς G1519 (PREP) λέοντας G3023 (N-APM) ἐβλήθη, G906 (V-API-3S) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Ανανιας G367 (N-NSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Αζαριας (N-PRI) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Μισαηλ (N-PRI) εἰς G1519 (PREP) κάμινον G2575 (N-ASF) πυρὸς G4442 (N-GSN) ἀπεσφενδονήθησαν (V-API-3P) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὑπέμειναν G5278 (V-2AAI-3P) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θεόν. G2316 (N-ASM) ^[22] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὑμεῖς G5210 (P-2NP) οὖν G3767 (CONJ) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) αὐτὴν G846 (P-ASF) πίστιν G4102 (N-ASF) πρὸς G4314 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θεὸν G2316 (N-ASM) ἔχοντες G2192 (V-PAP-NPM) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) χαλεπαίνετε. (V-PAM-2P) ^[23] Ἀλόγιστον (A-NSN) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) εἰδότας G1492 (V-PAP-APM) εὐσέβειαν G2150 (N-ASF) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) ἀνθίστασθαι G436 (V-PMN) τοῖς G3588 (T-DPM) πόνοις. G4192 (N-DPM) ^[24] Διὰ G1223 (PREP) τούτων G5130 (D-GPM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) λόγων G3056 (N-GPM) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) ἑπταμήτωρ (N-NSF) ἕνα G1520 (A-ASM) ἕκαστον G1538 (A-ASM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) υἱῶν G5207 (N-GPM) παρακαλοῦσα G3870 (V-PAP-NSF) ἀποθανεῖν G599 (V-2AAN) ἔπεισεν G3982 (V-AAI-3S) μᾶλλον G3123 (ADV) ἢ G2228 (PRT) παραβῆναι G3845 (V-2AAN) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) ἐντολὴν G1785 (N-ASF) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) θεοῦ, G2316 (N-GSM) ^[25] ἔτι G2089 (ADV) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ταῦτα G5023 (D-APN) εἰδότες G1492 (V-RAP-NPM) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) θεὸν G2316 (N-ASM) ἀποθνῄσκοντες G599 (V-PAP-NPM) ζῶσιν G2198 (V-PAI-3P) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) θεῷ G2316 (N-DSM) ὥσπερ G5618 (ADV) Αβρααμ G11 (N-PRI) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Ισαακ G2464 (N-PRI) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) Ιακωβ G2384 (N-PRI) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) πάντες G3956 (A-NPM) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) πατριάρχαι. G3966 (N-NPM)