4 Maccabees 8 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

🚧 This feature is in beta. You may encounter issues as we continue to improve it. 🚧

Versions
Versions
World English Bible Classic
[1] then, indeed, vehemently swayed with emotion, he commanded to bring others of the adult Hebrews, and if they would eat of the unclean thing, to let them go when they had eaten; but if they objected, to torment them more grievously. [2] The tyrant having given this charge, seven kindred were brought into his presence, along with their aged mother. They were handsome, modest, well-born, and altogether comely. [3] When the tyrant saw them encircling their mother as in a dance, he was pleased with them. Being struck with their becoming and innocent manner, smiled at them, and calling them near, said, [4] “O youths, with favorable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you. Greatly honouring so numerous a band of kindred, I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before, [5] but I beg you to yield, and to enjoy my friendship; for I possess the power, not only of punishing those who disobey my commands, but of doing good to those who obey them. [6] Put confidence in me, then, and you will receive places of authority in my government, if you forsake your national way of life, [7] and, conforming to the Greek way of life, alter your rule and revel in youth’s delights. [8] For if you provoke me by your disobedience, you will compel me to destroy every one of you with terrible punishments by tortures. [9] Have mercy, then, upon your own selves, whom I, although an enemy, am compassionate for your age and attractive appearance. [10] Won’t you consider this: that if you disobey, there will be nothing left for you but to die in torture?” [11] When he had said this, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought forward, that fear might prevail upon them to eat unclean meat. [12] When the spearman brought forward the wheels, the racks, the hooks, caldrons, pans, finger-racks, iron hands and wedges, and bellows, the tyrant continued: [13] “Fear, young men, and the righteousness which you worship will be merciful to you if you transgress because of compulsion.” [14] Now they having listened to these words of persuasion, and seeing the fearful instruments, not only were not afraid, but even answered the arguments of the tyrant, and through their good reasoning destroyed his power. [15] Now let’s consider the matter. Had any of them been weak-spirited and cowardly among them, what reasoning would they have employed but these? [16] “O wretched that we are, and exceedingly senseless! When the king exhorts us, and calls us to his bounty, should we not obey him? [17] Why do we cheer ourselves with vain counsels, and venture upon a disobedience bringing death? [18] Shall we not fear, O kindred, the instruments of torture and weigh the threatenings of torment and shun this vain-glory and destructive pride? [19] Let’s have compassion upon our age and relent over the years of our mother. [20] Let’s bear in mind that we will be dying as rebels. [21] Divine Justice will pardon us if we fear the king through necessity. [22] Why withdraw ourselves from a most sweet life, and deprive ourselves of this pleasant world? [23] Let’s not oppose necessity, nor seek vain-glory by our own torture. [24] The law itself wouldn’t arbitrarily put us to death because we dread torture. [25] Why has such angry zeal taken root in us, and such fatal obstinacy approved itself to us, when we might live unmolested by the king?” [26] But the young men didn’t say or think anything of this kind when about to be tortured. [27] For they were well aware of the sufferings, and masters of the pains. [28] -29 So that as soon as the tyrant had ceased counselling them to eat the unclean, they all with one voice, as from the same heart said:
King James Version
Book not available in King James Version
Septuaginta
[1] Διὰ G1223 τοῦτό G5124 γέ G1065 τοι καὶ G2532 μειρακίσκοι τῷ G3588 τῆς G3588 εὐσεβείας G2150 λογισμῷ G3053 φιλοσοφοῦντες χαλεπωτέρων G5467 βασανιστηρίων ἐπεκράτησαν. [2] Ἐπειδὴ G1894 γὰρ G1063 κατὰ G2596 τὴν G3588 πρώτην G4413 πεῖραν G3984 ἐνικήθη G3528 περιφανῶς ὁ G3588 τύραννος μὴ G3361 δυνηθεὶς G1410 ἀναγκάσαι G315 γέροντα G1088 μιαροφαγῆσαι, τότε G5119 δὴ G1211 σφόδρα G4970 περιπαθῶς ἐκέλευσεν G2753 ἄλλους G243 ἐκ G1537 τῆς G3588 λείας G3006 τῶν G3588 Εβραίων G1445 ἀγαγεῖν, G71 καὶ G2532 εἰ G1487 μὲν G3303 μιαροφαγήσαιεν, ἀπολύειν G630 φαγόντας, εἰ G1487 δ’ G1161 ἀντιλέγοιεν, πικρότερον G4089 βασανίζειν. G928 [3] Ταῦτα G5023 διαταξαμένου G1299 τοῦ G3588 τυράννου, παρῆσαν G3918 ἀγόμενοι G71 μετὰ G3326 γεραιᾶς μητρὸς G3384 ἑπτὰ G2033 ἀδελφοὶ G80 καλοί G2570 τε G5037 καὶ G2532 αἰδήμονες καὶ G2532 γενναῖοι καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 παντὶ G3956 χαρίεντες. [4] Οὓς G3739 ἰδὼν G1492 ὁ G3588 τύραννος καθάπερ G2509 ἐν G1722 χορῷ G5525 μέσην G3319 τὴν G3588 μητέρα G3384 περιέχοντας G4023 ἥσθετο ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτοῖς G846 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 εὐπρεπείας G2143 ἐκπλαγεὶς G1605 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 εὐγενείας προσεμειδίασεν αὐτοῖς G846 καὶ G2532 πλησίον G4139 καλέσας G2564 ἔφη G5346 [5] Ὦ G5599 νεανίαι, G3494 φιλοφρόνως G5390 ἐγὼ G1473 καθ’ G2596 ἑνὸς G1520 ἑκάστου G1538 ὑμῶν G5216 θαυμάζω, G2296 τὸ G3588 κάλλος καὶ G2532 τὸ G3588 πλῆθος G4128 τοσούτων G5118 ἀδελφῶν G80 ὑπερτιμῶν οὐ G3756 μόνον G3440 συμβουλεύω G4823 μὴ G3361 μανῆναι G3105 τὴν G3588 αὐτὴν G846 τῷ G3588 προβασανισθέντι γέροντι G1088 μανίαν, G3130 ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 παρακαλῶ G3870 συνείξαντάς μοι G3427 τῆς G3588 ἐμῆς G1699 ἀπολαύειν φιλίας· G5373 [6] δυναίμην G1410 δ’ G1161 ἂν G302 ὥσπερ G5618 κολάζειν G2849 τοὺς G3588 ἀπειθοῦντάς G544 μου G3450 τοῖς G3588 ἐπιτάγμασιν, οὕτω G3779 καὶ G2532 εὐεργετεῖν G2109 τοὺς G3588 εὐπειθοῦντάς μοι. G3427 [7] Πιστεύσατε G4100 οὖν G3767 καὶ G2532 ἀρχὰς G746 ἐπὶ G1909 τῶν G3588 ἐμῶν G1699 πραγμάτων G4229 ἡγεμονικὰς λήμψεσθε G2983 ἀρνησάμενοι G720 τὸν G3588 πάτριον ὑμῶν G5216 τῆς G3588 πολιτείας G4174 θεσμόν· [8] καὶ G2532 μεταλαβόντες G3335 Ἑλληνικοῦ G1673 βίου G979 καὶ G2532 μεταδιαιτηθέντες ἐντρυφήσατε G1792 ταῖς G3588 νεότησιν G3503 ὑμῶν· G5216 [9] ἐπεί, G1893 ἐὰν G1437 ὀργίλως με G3165 διάθησθε G1303 διὰ G1223 τῆς G3588 ἀπειθείας, G543 ἀναγκάσετέ G315 με G3165 ἐπὶ G1909 δειναῖς κολάσεσιν G2851 ἕνα G1520 ἕκαστον G1538 ὑμῶν G5216 διὰ G1223 τῶν G3588 βασάνων G931 ἀπολέσαι. G622 [10] Κατελεήσατε οὖν G3767 ἑαυτούς, G1438 οὓς G3739 καὶ G2532 ὁ G3588 πολέμιος ἔγωγε καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 ἡλικίας G2244 καὶ G2532 τῆς G3588 εὐμορφίας οἰκτίρομαι. G3627 [11] Οὐ G3756 διαλογιεῖσθε G1260 τοῦτο, G5124 ὅτι G3754 οὐδὲν G3762 ὑμῖν G5213 ἀπειθήσασιν G544 πλὴν G4133 τοῦ G3588 μετὰ G3326 στρεβλῶν ἀποθανεῖν G599 ἀπόκειται; G606 [12] Ταῦτα G5023 δὲ G1161 λέγων G3004 ἐκέλευσεν G2753 εἰς G1519 τὸ G3588 ἔμπροσθεν G1715 τιθέναι G5087 τὰ G3588 βασανιστήρια, ὅπως G3704 καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 τοῦ G3588 φόβου G5401 πείσειεν G3982 αὐτοὺς G846 μιαροφαγῆσαι. [13] Ὡς G5613 δὲ G1161 τροχούς G5164 τε G5037 καὶ G2532 ἀρθρέμβολα, στρεβλωτήριά τε G5037 καὶ G2532 τροχαντῆρας καὶ G2532 καταπέλτας καὶ G2532 λέβητας, τήγανά τε G5037 καὶ G2532 δακτυλήθρας καὶ G2532 χεῖρας G5495 σιδηρᾶς G4603 καὶ G2532 σφῆνας καὶ G2532 τὰ G3588 ζώπυρα τοῦ G3588 πυρὸς G4442 οἱ G3588 δορυφόροι προέθεσαν, G4388 ὑπολαβὼν G5274 ὁ G3588 τύραννος ἔφη G5346 [14] Μειράκια, φοβήθητε, G5399 καὶ G2532 ἣν G3739 σέβεσθε G4576 δίκην, G1349 ἵλεως G2436 ὑμῖν G5213 ἔσται G2071 δι’ G1223 ἀνάγκην G318 παρανομήσασιν. G3891 [15] Οἱ G3588 δὲ G1161 ἀκούσαντες G191 ἐπαγωγὰ καὶ G2532 ὁρῶντες G3708 δεινὰ οὐ G3756 μόνον G3440 οὐκ G3756 ἐφοβήθησαν, G5399 ἀλλὰ G235 καὶ G2532 ἀντεφιλοσόφησαν τῷ G3588 τυράννῳ καὶ G2532 διὰ G1223 τῆς G3588 εὐλογιστίας τὴν G3588 τυραννίδα αὐτοῦ G846 κατέλυσαν. G2647 [16] Καίτοι G2543 λογισώμεθα, G3049 εἰ G1487 δειλόψυχοί τινες G5100 ἦσαν G2258 ἐν G1722 αὐτοῖς G846 καὶ G2532 ἄνανδροι, ποίοις G4169 ἂν G302 ἐχρήσαντο G5530 λόγοις; G3056 Οὐχὶ G3780 τούτοις; G5125 [17] Ὦ G5599 τάλανες ἡμεῖς G2249 καὶ G2532 λίαν G3029 ἀνόητοι· G453 βασιλέως G935 ἡμᾶς G2248 καλοῦντος G2564 καὶ G2532 ἐπὶ G1909 εὐεργεσίᾳ G2108 παρακαλοῦντος, G3870 εἰ G1487 πεισθείημεν G3982 αὐτῷ, G846 [18] τί G5101 βουλήμασιν G1013 κενοῖς G2756 ἑαυτοὺς G1438 εὐφραίνομεν G2165 καὶ G2532 θανατηφόρον G2287 ἀπείθειαν G543 τολμῶμεν; G5111 [19] Οὐ G3756 φοβηθησόμεθα, G5399 ἄνδρες G435 ἀδελφοί, G80 τὰ G3588 βασανιστήρια καὶ G2532 λογιούμεθα G3049 τὰς G3588 τῶν G3588 βασάνων G931 ἀπειλὰς G547 καὶ G2532 φευξόμεθα G5343 τὴν G3588 κενοδοξίαν G2754 ταύτην G3778 καὶ G2532 ὀλεθροφόρον ἀλαζονείαν; G212 [20] Ἐλεήσωμεν G1653 τὰς G3588 ἑαυτῶν G1438 ἡλικίας G2244 καὶ G2532 κατοικτίρωμεν τὸ G3588 τῆς G3588 μητρὸς G3384 γῆρας G1094 [21] καὶ G2532 ἐνθυμηθῶμεν G1760 ὅτι G3754 ἀπειθοῦντες G544 τεθνηξόμεθα. G2348 [22] Συγγνώσεται δὲ G1161 ἡμῖν G2254 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 θεία G2304 δίκη G1349 δι’ G1223 ἀνάγκην G318 τὸν G3588 βασιλέα G935 φοβηθεῖσιν. G5399 [23] Τί G5101 ἐξάγομεν G1806 ἑαυτοὺς G1438 τοῦ G3588 ἡδίστου βίου G979 καὶ G2532 ἀποστεροῦμεν G650 ἑαυτοὺς G1438 τοῦ G3588 γλυκέος G1099 κόσμου; G2889 [24] Μὴ G3361 βιαζώμεθα G971 τὴν G3588 ἀνάγκην G318 μηδὲ G3366 κενοδοξήσωμεν ἐπὶ G1909 τῇ G3588 ἑαυτῶν G1438 στρέβλῃ. [25] Οὐδ’ G3761 αὐτὸς G846 ὁ G3588 νόμος G3551 ἑκουσίως G1596 ἡμᾶς G2248 θανατοῖ G2289 φοβηθέντας G5399 τὰ G3588 βασανιστήρια. [26] Πόθεν G4159 ἡμῖν G2254 ἡ G3588 τοσαύτη G5118 ἐντέτηκε φιλονεικία G5379 καὶ G2532 ἡ G3588 θανατηφόρος G2287 ἀρέσκει G700 καρτερία, παρὸν G3918 μετὰ G3326 ἀταραξίας ζῆν G2198 τῷ G3588 βασιλεῖ G935 πεισθέντας; G3982 [27] Ἀλλὰ G235 τούτων G5130 οὐδὲν G3762 εἶπον G2036 οἱ G3588 νεανίαι G3494 βασανίζεσθαι G928 μέλλοντες G3195 οὐδὲ G3761 ἐνεθυμήθησαν. G1760 [28] Ἦσαν G2258 γὰρ G1063 περίφρονες τῶν G3588 παθῶν G3806 καὶ G2532 αὐτοκράτορες τῶν G3588 ἀλγηδόνων, [29] ὥστε G5620 ἅμα G260 τῷ G3588 παύσασθαι G3973 τὸν G3588 τύραννον συμβουλεύοντα G4823 αὐτοῖς G846 μιαροφαγῆσαι, πάντες G3956 διὰ G1223 μιᾶς G3391 φωνῆς G5456 ὁμοῦ G3674 ὥσπερ G5618 ἀπὸ G575 τῆς G3588 αὐτῆς G846 ψυχῆς G5590 εἶπον G2036
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament