4 Maccabees 5 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] The tyrant Antiochus, therefore, sitting in public state with his assessors upon a certain lofty place, with his armed troops standing in a circle around him, [2] commanded his spearbearers to seize every one of the Hebrews, and to compel them to taste swine’s flesh and things offered to idols. [3] Should any of them be unwilling to eat the accursed food, they were to be tortured on the wheel and so killed. [4] When many had been seized, a foremost man of the assembly, a Hebrew, by name Eleazar, a priest by family, by profession a lawyer, and advanced in years, and for this reason known to many of the king’s followers, was brought near to him. [5] Antiochus, seeing him, said, [6] “I would counsel you, old man, before your tortures begin, to taste the swine’s flesh, and save your life; for I feel respect for your age and hoary head, which since you have had so long, you appear to me to be no philosopher in retaining the superstition of the Jews. [7] For therefore, since nature has conferred upon you the most excellent flesh of this animal, do you loathe it? [8] It seems senseless not to enjoy what is pleasant, yet not disgraceful; and from notions of sinfulness, to reject the gifts of nature. [9] You will be acting, I think, still more senselessly, if you follow vain conceits about the truth. [10] You will, moreover, be despising me to your own punishment. [11] Won’t you awake from your trifling philosophy, give up the folly of your notions, and regaining understanding worthy of your age, search into the truth of an expedient course? [12] Won’t you respect my kindly admonition and have pity on your own years? [13] For bear in mind that if there is any power which watches over this religion of yours, it will pardon you for all transgressions of the law which you commit through compulsion.” [14] While the tyrant incited him in this manner to the unlawful eating of meat, Eleazar begged permission to speak. [15] Having received permission to speak, he began to address the people as follows: [16] “We, O Antiochus, who are persuaded that we live under a divine law, consider no compulsion to be so forcible as obedience to that law. [17] Therefore we consider that we ought not to transgress the law in any way. [18] Indeed, were our law (as you suppose) not truly divine, and if we wrongly think it divine, we would have no right even in that case to destroy our sense of religion. [19] Don’t think that eating unclean meat is a trifling offense. [20] For transgression of the law, whether in small or great matters, is of equal importance; [21] for in either case the law is equally slighted. [22] But you deride our philosophy, as though we lived in it irrationally. [23] Yet it instructs us in self-control, so that we are superior to all pleasures and lusts; and it trains us in courage, so that we cheerfully undergo every grievance. [24] It instructs us in justice, so that in all our dealings we give what is due. It teaches us piety, so that we properly worship the one and only God. [25] That is why we don’t eat the unclean; for believing that the law was established by God, we are convinced that the Creator of the world, in giving his laws, sympathizes with our nature. [26] Those things which are suitable for our souls, he has directed us to eat; but those which are not, he has forbidden. [27] But, tyrant-like, you not only force us to break the law, but also to eat, that you may ridicule us as we thus profanely eat. [28] But you won’t have this cause of laughter against me, [29] nor will I transgress the sacred oaths of my forefathers to keep the law. [30] No, not if you pluck out my eyes, and consume my entrails. [31] I am not so old, and void of courage as to not be youthful in reason and in defense of my religion. [32] Now then, prepare your wheels, and kindle a fiercer flame. [33] I will not so pity my old age, as on my account to break the law of my country. [34] I will not play false to you, O law, my instructor, or forsake you, O beloved self-control! [35] I will not put you to shame, O philosopher Reason, or deny you, O honored priesthood and knowledge of the law. [36] Mouth! You shall not pollute my old age, nor the full stature of a perfect life. [37] My ancestors will receive me as pure, not having feared your compulsion, even to death. [38] For you will rule like a tyrant over the ungodly, but you will not lord it over my thoughts about religion, either by your arguments, or through deeds.”
King James Version
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Septuaginta
[1] Προκαθίσας γέ G1065 τοι μετὰ G3326 τῶν G3588 συνέδρων ὁ G3588 τύραννος Ἀντίοχος ἐπί G1909 τινος G5100 ὑψηλοῦ G5308 τόπου G5117 καὶ G2532 τῶν G3588 στρατευμάτων G4753 αὐτῷ G846 παρεστηκότων G3936 κυκλόθεν G2943 ἐνόπλων [2] παρεκέλευεν τοῖς G3588 δορυφόροις ἕνα G1520 ἕκαστον G1538 Εβραῖον G1445 ἐπισπᾶσθαι G1986 καὶ G2532 κρεῶν G2907 ὑείων καὶ G2532 εἰδωλοθύτων G1494 ἀναγκάζειν G315 ἀπογεύεσθαι· [3] εἰ G1487 δέ G1161 τινες G5100 μὴ G3361 θέλοιεν G2309 μιαροφαγῆσαι, τούτους G5128 τροχισθέντας ἀναιρεθῆναι. G337 [4] Πολλῶν G4183 δὲ G1161 συναρπασθέντων G4884 εἷς G1520 πρῶτος G4413 ἐκ G1537 τῆς G3588 ἀγέλης G34 ὀνόματι G3686 Ελεαζαρος, τὸ G3588 γένος G1085 ἱερεύς, G2409 τὴν G3588 ἐπιστήμην νομικὸς G3544 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 ἡλικίαν G2244 προήκων καὶ G2532 πολλοῖς G4183 τῶν G3588 περὶ G4012 τὸν G3588 τύραννον διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 ἡλικίαν G2244 γνώριμος, παρήχθη G3855 πλησίον G4139 αὐτοῦ. G846 [5] Καὶ G2532 αὐτὸν G846 ἰδὼν G1492 ὁ G3588 Ἀντίοχος ἔφη G5346 [6] Ἐγὼ G1473 πρὶν G4250 ἄρξασθαι G757 τῶν G3588 κατὰ G2596 σοῦ G4675 βασάνων, G931 ὦ G5599 πρεσβῦτα, G4246 συμβουλεύσαιμ G4823 ἄν G302 σοι G4671 ταῦτα, G5023 ὅπως G3704 ἀπογευσάμενος τῶν G3588 ὑείων σῴζοιο· G4982 [7] αἰδοῦμαι γάρ G1063 σου G4675 τὴν G3588 ἡλικίαν G2244 καὶ G2532 τὴν G3588 πολιάν, ἣν G3739 μετὰ G3326 τοσοῦτον G5118 ἔχων G2192 χρόνον G5550 οὔ G3756 μοι G3427 δοκεῖς G1380 φιλοσοφεῖν τῇ G3588 Ιουδαίων G2453 χρώμενος G5530 θρησκείᾳ. G2356 [8] Διὰ G1223 τί G5101 γὰρ G1063 τῆς G3588 φύσεως G5449 κεχαρισμένης G5483 καλλίστην τὴν G3588 τοῦδε G3592 τοῦ G3588 ζῴου G2226 σαρκοφαγίαν βδελύττῃ; G948 [9] Καὶ G2532 γὰρ G1063 ἀνόητον G453 τοῦτο, G5124 τὸ G3588 μὴ G3361 ἀπολαύειν τῶν G3588 χωρὶς G5565 ὀνείδους G3681 ἡδέων, καὶ G2532 ἄδικον G94 ἀποστρέφεσθαι G654 τὰς G3588 τῆς G3588 φύσεως G5449 χάριτας. G5485 [10] Σὺ G4771 δέ G1161 μοι G3427 καὶ G2532 ἀνοητότερον G453 ποιήσειν G4160 δοκεῖς, G1380 εἰ G1487 κενοδοξῶν περὶ G4012 τὸ G3588 ἀληθὲς G227 ἔτι G2089 κἀμοῦ G2504 καταφρονήσεις G2706 ἐπὶ G1909 τῇ G3588 ἰδίᾳ G2398 τιμωρίᾳ. G5098 [11] Οὐκ G3756 ἐξυπνώσεις ἀπὸ G575 τῆς G3588 φλυάρου G5397 φιλοσοφίας G5385 ὑμῶν G5216 καὶ G2532 ἀποσκεδάσεις τῶν G3588 λογισμῶν G3053 σου G4675 τὸν G3588 λῆρον G3026 καὶ G2532 ἄξιον G514 τῆς G3588 ἡλικίας G2244 ἀναλαβὼν G353 νοῦν G3563 φιλοσοφήσεις τὴν G3588 τοῦ G3588 συμφέροντος G4851 ἀλήθειαν G225 [12] καὶ G2532 προσκυνήσας G4352 μου G3450 τὴν G3588 φιλάνθρωπον παρηγορίαν G3931 οἰκτιρήσεις G3627 τὸ G3588 σεαυτοῦ G4572 γῆρας; G1094 [13] Καὶ G2532 γὰρ G1063 ἐνθυμήθητι G1760 ὡς, G5613 εἰ G1487 καί G2532 τίς G5100 ἐστιν G2076 τῆσδε G3592 τῆς G3588 θρησκείας G2356 ὑμῶν G5216 ἐποπτικὴ δύναμις, G1411 συγγνωμονήσειεν ἄν G302 σοι G4671 ἐπὶ G1909 πάσῃ G3956 δι’ G1223 ἀνάγκην G318 παρανομίᾳ G3892 γινομένῃ. G1096 [14] Τοῦτον G5126 τὸν G3588 τρόπον G5158 ἐπὶ G1909 τὴν G3588 ἔκθεσμον σαρκοφαγίαν ἐποτρύνοντος τοῦ G3588 τυράννου λόγον G3056 ᾔτησεν G154 ὁ G3588 Ελεαζαρος [15] καὶ G2532 λαβὼν G2983 τοῦ G3588 λέγειν G3004 ἐξουσίαν G1849 ἤρξατο G757 δημηγορεῖν G1215 οὕτως G3779 [16] Ἡμεῖς, G2249 Ἀντίοχε, θείῳ G2304 πεπεισμένοι G3982 νόμῳ G3551 πολιτεύεσθαι G4176 οὐδεμίαν G3762 ἀνάγκην G318 βιαιοτέραν G972 εἶναι G1511 νομίζομεν G3543 τῆς G3588 πρὸς G4314 τὸν G3588 νόμον G3551 ἡμῶν G2257 εὐπειθείας· [17] διὸ G1352 δὴ G1211 κατ’ G2596 οὐδένα G3762 τρόπον G5158 παρανομεῖν G3891 ἀξιοῦμεν. G515 [18] Καίτοι G2543 εἰ G1487 κατὰ G2596 ἀλήθειαν G225 μὴ G3361 ἦν G2258 ὁ G3588 νόμος G3551 ἡμῶν, G2257 ὡς G5613 ὑπολαμβάνεις, G5274 θεῖος, G2304 ἄλλως G247 δὲ G1161 ἐνομίζομεν G3543 αὐτὸν G846 εἶναι G1511 θεῖον, G2304 οὐδὲ G3761 οὕτως G3779 ἐξὸν G1832 ἦν G2258 ἡμῖν G2254 τὴν G3588 ἐπὶ G1909 τῇ G3588 εὐσεβείᾳ G2150 δόξαν G1391 ἀκυρῶσαι. G208 [19] Μὴ G3361 μικρὰν G3398 οὖν G3767 εἶναι G1511 νομίσῃς G3543 ταύτην, G3778 εἰ G1487 μιαροφαγήσαιμεν, ἁμαρτίαν· G266 [20] τὸ G3588 γὰρ G1063 ἐπὶ G1909 μικροῖς G3398 καὶ G2532 μεγάλοις G3173 παρανομεῖν G3891 ἰσοδύναμόν ἐστιν, G2076 [21] δι’ G1223 ἑκατέρου γὰρ G1063 ὡς G5613 ὁμοίως G3668 ὁ G3588 νόμος G3551 ὑπερηφανεῖται. [22] Χλευάζεις G5512 δὲ G1161 ἡμῶν G2257 τὴν G3588 φιλοσοφίαν G5385 ὥσπερ G5618 οὐ G3756 μετὰ G3326 εὐλογιστίας ἐν G1722 αὐτῇ G846 βιούντων· G980 [23] σωφροσύνην G4997 τε G5037 γὰρ G1063 ἡμᾶς G2248 ἐκδιδάσκει ὥστε G5620 πασῶν G3956 τῶν G3588 ἡδονῶν G2237 καὶ G2532 ἐπιθυμιῶν G1939 κρατεῖν G2902 καὶ G2532 ἀνδρείαν ἐξασκεῖ ὥστε G5620 πάντα G3956 πόνον G4192 ἑκουσίως G1596 ὑπομένειν G5278 [24] καὶ G2532 δικαιοσύνην G1343 παιδεύει G3811 ὥστε· G5620 διὰ G1223 πάντων G3956 τῶν G3588 ἠθῶν G2239 ἰσονομεῖν καὶ G2532 εὐσέβειαν G2150 ἐκδιδάσκει ὥστε G5620 μόνον G3440 τὸν G3588 ὄντα G5607 θεὸν G2316 σέβειν G4576 μεγαλοπρεπῶς. [25] Διὸ G1352 οὐ G3756 μιαροφαγοῦμεν· πιστεύοντες G4100 γὰρ G1063 θεοῦ G2316 καθεστάναι G2525 τὸν G3588 νόμον G3551 οἴδαμεν G1492 ὅτι G3754 κατὰ G2596 φύσιν G5449 ἡμῖν G2254 συμπαθεῖ G4834 νομοθετῶν G3549 ὁ G3588 τοῦ G3588 κόσμου G2889 κτίστης· G2939 [26] τὰ G3588 μὲν G3303 οἰκειωθησόμενα ἡμῶν G2257 ταῖς G3588 ψυχαῖς G5590 ἐπέτρεψεν G2010 ἐσθίειν, G2068 τὰ G3588 δὲ G1161 ἐναντιωθησόμενα ἐκώλυσεν G2967 σαρκοφαγεῖν. [27] Τυραννικὸν δὲ G1161 οὐ G3756 μόνον G3440 ἀναγκάζειν G315 ἡμᾶς G2248 παρανομεῖν, G3891 ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 ἐσθίειν, G2068 ὅπως G3704 τῇ G3588 ἐχθίστῃ G2190 ἡμῶν G2257 μιαροφαγίᾳ ταύτῃ G3778 ἐπεγγελάσῃς. [28] Ἀλλ’ G235 οὐ G3756 γελάσεις G1070 κατ’ G2596 ἐμοῦ G1699 τοῦτον G5126 τὸν G3588 γέλωτα, G1071 [29] οὔτε G3777 τοὺς G3588 ἱεροὺς G2413 τῶν G3588 προγόνων G4269 περὶ G4012 τοῦ G3588 φυλάξαι G5442 τὸν G3588 νόμον G3551 ὅρκους G3727 οὐ G3756 παρήσω, G3935 [30] οὐδ’ G3761 ἂν G302 ἐκκόψειάς G1581 μου G3450 τὰ G3588 ὄμματα G3659 καὶ G2532 τὰ G3588 σπλάγχνα G4698 μου G3450 τήξειας. G5080 [31] Οὐχ G3756 οὕτως G3779 εἰμὶ G1510 γέρων G1088 ἐγὼ G1473 καὶ G2532 ἄνανδρος ὥστε G5620 μοι G3427 διὰ G1223 τὴν G3588 εὐσέβειαν G2150 μὴ G3361 νεάζειν τὸν G3588 λογισμόν. G3053 [32] Πρὸς G4314 ταῦτα G5023 τροχοὺς G5164 εὐτρέπιζε καὶ G2532 τὸ G3588 πῦρ G4442 ἐκφύσα σφοδρότερον. [33] Οὐχ G3756 οὕτως G3779 οἰκτίρομαι G3627 τὸ G3588 ἐμαυτοῦ G1683 γῆρας G1094 ὥστε G5620 δι’ G1223 ἐμαυτοῦ G1683 τὸν G3588 πάτριον καταλῦσαι G2647 νόμον. G3551 [34] Οὐ G3756 ψεύσομαί G5574 σε, G4571 παιδευτὰ G3810 νόμε, G3551 οὐδὲ G3761 ἐξομοῦμαί σε, G4571 φίλη G5384 ἐγκράτεια, G1466 [35] οὐδὲ G3761 καταισχυνῶ G2617 σε, G4571 φιλόσοφε G5386 λόγε, G3056 οὐδὲ G3761 ἐξαρνήσομαί σε, G4571 ἱερωσύνη G2420 τιμία G5093 καὶ G2532 νομοθεσίας G3548 ἐπιστήμη· [36] οὐδὲ G3761 μιανεῖς G3392 μου G3450 τὸ G3588 σεμνὸν G4586 γήρως G1094 στόμα G4750 οὐδὲ G3761 νομίμου βίου G979 ἡλικίαν. G2244 [37] Ἁγνόν G53 με G3165 οἱ G3588 πατέρες G3962 εἰσδέξονται G1523 μὴ G3361 φοβηθέντα G5399 σου G4675 τὰς G3588 μέχρι G3360 θανάτου G2288 ἀνάγκας. G318 [38] Ἀσεβῶν G765 μὲν G3303 γὰρ G1063 τυραννήσεις, τῶν G3588 δὲ G1161 ἐμῶν G1699 ὑπὲρ G5228 τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 λογισμῶν G3053 οὔτε G3777 λόγοις G3056 δεσπόσεις οὔτε G3777 δι’ G1223 ἔργων. G2041
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament