4 Maccabees 8 – 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] 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

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Septuaginta

Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament

^[1] Διὰ G1223 (PREP) τοῦτό G5124 (D-ASN) γέ G1065 (PRT) τοι (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μειρακίσκοι (N-NPM) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐσεβείας G2150 (N-GSF) λογισμῷ G3053 (N-DSM) φιλοσοφοῦντες (V-PAP-NPM) χαλεπωτέρων G5467 (A-GPN-C) βασανιστηρίων (N-GPN) ἐπεκράτησαν. (V-AAI-3P) ^[2] Ἐπειδὴ G1894 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) κατὰ G2596 (PREP) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) πρώτην G4413 (A-ASF-S) πεῖραν (V-PAN) ἐνικήθη G3528 (V-API-3S) περιφανῶς (ADV) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) τύραννος (N-NSM) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) δυνηθεὶς G1410 (V-APP-NSM) ἀναγκάσαι G315 (V-AAN) γέροντα G1088 (N-ASM) μιαροφαγῆσαι, (V-AAN) τότε G5119 (ADV) δὴ G1211 (PRT) σφόδρα G4970 (ADV) περιπαθῶς (ADV) ἐκέλευσεν G2753 (V-AAI-3S) ἄλλους G243 (A-APM) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) λείας (A-GSF) τῶν G3588 (T-GPM) Εβραίων G1445 (A-GPM) ἀγαγεῖν, G71 (V-2AAN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εἰ G1487 (COND) μὲν G3303 (PRT) μιαροφαγήσαιεν, (V-AAO-3P) ἀπολύειν G630 (V-PAN) φαγόντας, (V-2AAP-APM) εἰ G1487 (COND) δ’ G1161 (CONJ) ἀντιλέγοιεν, (V-PAO-3P) πικρότερον G4089 (A-ASM-C) βασανίζειν. G928 (V-PAN) ^[3] Ταῦτα G5023 (D-APN) διαταξαμένου G1299 (V-AMP-GSM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) τυράννου, (N-GSM) παρῆσαν G3918 (V-IAI-3P) ἀγόμενοι G71 (V-PPP-NPM) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) γεραιᾶς (A-GSF) μητρὸς G3384 (N-GSF) ἑπτὰ G2033 (A-NUI) ἀδελφοὶ G80 (N-NPM) καλοί G2570 (A-NPM) τε G5037 (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) αἰδήμονες (A-NPM-C) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γενναῖοι (N-NPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐν G1722 (PREP) παντὶ G3956 (A-DSM) χαρίεντες. (A-NPM) ^[4] Οὓς G3739 (R-APM) ἰδὼν G1492 (V-2AAP-NSM) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) τύραννος (N-NSM) καθάπερ G2509 (ADV) ἐν G1722 (PREP) χορῷ G5525 (N-DSM) μέσην G3319 (A-ASF) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) μητέρα G3384 (N-ASF) περιέχοντας G4023 (V-PAP-APM) ἥσθετο (V-AMI-3S) ἐπ’ G1909 (PREP) αὐτοῖς G846 (P-DPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐπρεπείας G2143 (N-GSF) ἐκπλαγεὶς G1605 (V-APP-NSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐγενείας (N-GSF) προσεμειδίασεν (V-AAI-3S) αὐτοῖς G846 (P-DPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) πλησίον G4139 (ADV) καλέσας G2564 (V-AAP-NSM) ἔφη G5346 (V-IAI-3S) ^[5] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) νεανίαι, G3494 (N-VPM) φιλοφρόνως G5390 (ADV) ἐγὼ G1473 (P-1NS) καθ’ G2596 (PREP) ἑνὸς G1520 (A-GSM) ἑκάστου G1538 (A-GSM) ὑμῶν G5216 (P-2GP) θαυμάζω, G2296 (V-PAI-1S) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) κάλλος (N-ASN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) πλῆθος G4128 (N-ASN) τοσούτων G5118 (D-GPM) ἀδελφῶν G80 (N-GPM) ὑπερτιμῶν (V-PAP-NSM) οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) μόνον G3440 (ADV) συμβουλεύω G4823 (V-PAI-1S) μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) μανῆναι G3105 (V-ANN) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) αὐτὴν G846 (P-ASF) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) προβασανισθέντι (V-APP-DSM) γέροντι G1088 (N-DSM) μανίαν, G3130 (N-ASF) ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) παρακαλῶ G3870 (V-PAI-1S) συνείξαντάς (V-AAP-ASM) μοι G3427 (P-1DS) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) ἐμῆς G1699 (S-1SGSF) ἀπολαύειν (V-PAN) φιλίας· G5373 (N-GSF) ^[6] δυναίμην G1410 (V-PNO-1S) δ’ G1161 (CONJ) ἂν G302 (PRT) ὥσπερ G5618 (ADV) κολάζειν G2849 (V-PAN) τοὺς G3588 (T-APM) ἀπειθοῦντάς G544 (V-PAP-APM) μου G3450 (P-1GS) τοῖς G3588 (T-DPN) ἐπιτάγμασιν, (N-DPN) οὕτω G3779 (ADV) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εὐεργετεῖν G2109 (V-PAN) τοὺς G3588 (T-APM) εὐπειθοῦντάς (V-PAP-APM) μοι. G3427 (P-1DS) ^[7] Πιστεύσατε G4100 (V-AAM-2P) οὖν G3767 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀρχὰς G746 (N-APF) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) ἐμῶν G1699 (S-1SGPN) πραγμάτων G4229 (N-GPN) ἡγεμονικὰς (A-APF) λήμψεσθε G2983 (V-FDI-2P) ἀρνησάμενοι G720 (V-ADP-NPM) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) πάτριον (A-ASM) ὑμῶν G5216 (P-2GP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) πολιτείας G4174 (N-GSF) θεσμόν· (N-ASM) ^[8] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μεταλαβόντες G3335 (V-2AAP-NPM) Ἑλληνικοῦ G1673 (A-GSM) βίου G979 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) μεταδιαιτηθέντες (V-APP-NPM) ἐντρυφήσατε G1792 (V-AAI-2P) ταῖς G3588 (T-DPF) νεότησιν G3503 (N-DPF) ὑμῶν· G5216 (P-2GP) ^[9] ἐπεί, G1893 (CONJ) ἐὰν G1437 (COND) ὀργίλως (ADV) με G3165 (P-1AS) διάθησθε G1303 (V-2AMS-2P) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) ἀπειθείας, G543 (N-GSF) ἀναγκάσετέ G315 (V-FAI-2P) με G3165 (P-1AS) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) δειναῖς (A-DPF) κολάσεσιν G2851 (N-DPF) ἕνα G1520 (A-ASM) ἕκαστον G1538 (A-ASM) ὑμῶν G5216 (P-2GP) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τῶν G3588 (T-GPF) βασάνων G931 (N-GPF) ἀπολέσαι. G622 (V-AAN) ^[10] Κατελεήσατε (V-AAM-2P) οὖν G3767 (CONJ) ἑαυτούς, G1438 (F-3APM) οὓς G3739 (R-APM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) πολέμιος (A-NSM) ἔγωγε (P-1NS) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) ἡλικίας G2244 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐμορφίας (N-GSF) οἰκτίρομαι. G3627 (V-PMI-1S) ^[11] Οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) διαλογιεῖσθε G1260 (V-FNI-2P) τοῦτο, G5124 (D-ASN) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) οὐδὲν G3762 (A-ASN-N) ὑμῖν G5213 (P-2DP) ἀπειθήσασιν G544 (V-AAP-DPM) πλὴν G4133 (ADV) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) στρεβλῶν (N-GPF) ἀποθανεῖν G599 (V-2AAN) ἀπόκειται; G606 (V-PNI-3S) ^[12] Ταῦτα G5023 (D-APN) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) λέγων G3004 (V-PAP-NSM) ἐκέλευσεν G2753 (V-AAI-3S) εἰς G1519 (PREP) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) ἔμπροσθεν G1715 (ADV) τιθέναι G5087 (V-PAN) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) βασανιστήρια, (N-APN) ὅπως G3704 (ADV) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) φόβου G5401 (N-GSM) πείσειεν G3982 (V-AAO-3S) αὐτοὺς G846 (P-APM) μιαροφαγῆσαι. (V-AAN) ^[13] Ὡς G5613 (ADV) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) τροχούς G5164 (N-APM) τε G5037 (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀρθρέμβολα, (N-APN) στρεβλωτήριά (N-APN) τε G5037 (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τροχαντῆρας (N-APM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) καταπέλτας (N-APM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λέβητας, (N-APM) τήγανά (N-APN) τε G5037 (PRT) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) δακτυλήθρας (N-APF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) χεῖρας G5495 (N-APF) σιδηρᾶς (A-APF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) σφῆνας (N-APM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) ζώπυρα (N-APN) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSN) πυρὸς G4442 (N-GSN) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) δορυφόροι (N-NPM) προέθεσαν, (V-AAI-3P) ὑπολαβὼν G5274 (V-2AAP-NSM) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) τύραννος (N-NSM) ἔφη G5346 (V-IAI-3S) ^[14] Μειράκια, (N-VPN) φοβήθητε, (V-APM-2P) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἣν G3739 (R-ASF) σέβεσθε G4576 (V-PEI-2P) δίκην, G1349 (N-ASF) ἵλεως G2436 (A-NSM-ATT) ὑμῖν G5213 (P-2DP) ἔσται G2071 (V-FDI-3S) δι’ G1223 (PREP) ἀνάγκην G318 (N-ASF) παρανομήσασιν. G3891 (V-AAP-DPM) ^[15] Οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἀκούσαντες G191 (V-AAP-NPM) ἐπαγωγὰ (A-APN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὁρῶντες G3708 (V-PAP-NPM) δεινὰ (A-APN) οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) μόνον G3440 (ADV) οὐκ G3756 (PRT-N) ἐφοβήθησαν, (V-API-3P) ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀντεφιλοσόφησαν (V-AAI-3P) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) τυράννῳ (N-DSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) διὰ G1223 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) εὐλογιστίας (N-GSF) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) τυραννίδα (N-ASF) αὐτοῦ G846 (P-GSM) κατέλυσαν. G2647 (V-AAI-3P) ^[16] Καίτοι G2543 (CONJ) λογισώμεθα, G3049 (V-AMS-1P) εἰ G1487 (COND) δειλόψυχοί (A-NPM) τινες G5100 (X-NPM) ἦσαν G2258 (V-IAI-3P) ἐν G1722 (PREP) αὐτοῖς G846 (P-DPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἄνανδροι, (A-NPM) ποίοις G4169 (A-DPM) ἂν G302 (PRT) ἐχρήσαντο (V-AMI-3P) λόγοις; G3056 (N-DPM) Οὐχὶ G3780 (PRT-N) τούτοις; G5125 (D-DPM) ^[17] Ὦ G5599 (INJ) τάλανες (A-NPM) ἡμεῖς G2249 (P-1NP) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λίαν G3029 (ADV) ἀνόητοι· G453 (A-NPM) βασιλέως G935 (N-GSM) ἡμᾶς G2248 (P-1AP) καλοῦντος G2564 (V-PAP-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) εὐεργεσίᾳ G2108 (N-DSF) παρακαλοῦντος, G3870 (V-PAP-GSM) εἰ G1487 (COND) πεισθείημεν G3982 (V-APO-1P) αὐτῷ, G846 (P-DSM) ^[18] τί G5101 (I-ASN) βουλήμασιν G1013 (N-DPN) κενοῖς G2756 (A-DPN) ἑαυτοὺς G1438 (F-3APM) εὐφραίνομεν G2165 (V-PAI-1P) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) θανατηφόρον G2287 (A-ASF) ἀπείθειαν G543 (N-ASF) τολμῶμεν; G5111 (V-PAI-1P) ^[19] Οὐ G3756 (PRT-N) φοβηθησόμεθα, (V-FPI-1P) ἄνδρες G435 (N-VPM) ἀδελφοί, G80 (N-VPM) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) βασανιστήρια (N-APN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) λογιούμεθα G3049 (V-FDI-1P) τὰς G3588 (T-APF) τῶν G3588 (T-GPF) βασάνων G931 (N-GPF) ἀπειλὰς G547 (N-APF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) φευξόμεθα G5343 (V-FMI-1P) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) κενοδοξίαν G2754 (N-ASF) ταύτην G3778 (D-ASF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ὀλεθροφόρον (A-ASF) ἀλαζονείαν; G212 (N-ASF) ^[20] Ἐλεήσωμεν G1653 (V-AAS-1P) τὰς G3588 (T-APF) ἑαυτῶν G1438 (F-3GPM) ἡλικίας G2244 (N-GSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) κατοικτίρωμεν (V-2AAS-1P) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) μητρὸς G3384 (N-GSF) γῆρας G1094 (N-ASN) ^[21] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐνθυμηθῶμεν G1760 (V-APS-1P) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) ἀπειθοῦντες G544 (V-PAP-NPM) τεθνηξόμεθα. (V-FMI-1P) ^[22] Συγγνώσεται (V-FMI-3S) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἡμῖν G2254 (P-1DP) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) θεία G2304 (A-NSF) δίκη G1349 (N-NSF) δι’ G1223 (PREP) ἀνάγκην G318 (N-ASF) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) βασιλέα G935 (N-ASM) φοβηθεῖσιν. (V-APP-DPM) ^[23] Τί G5101 (I-ASN) ἐξάγομεν G1806 (V-PAI-1P) ἑαυτοὺς G1438 (F-3APM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) ἡδίστου G2236 (A-GSM-S) βίου G979 (N-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀποστεροῦμεν G650 (V-PAI-1P) ἑαυτοὺς G1438 (F-3APM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) γλυκέος G1099 (A-GSM) κόσμου; G2889 (N-GSM) ^[24] Μὴ G3361 (PRT-N) βιαζώμεθα (V-PES-1P) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) ἀνάγκην G318 (N-ASF) μηδὲ G3366 (CONJ-N) κενοδοξήσωμεν (V-AAS-1P) ἐπὶ G1909 (PREP) τῇ G3588 (T-DSF) ἑαυτῶν G1438 (F-3GPM) στρέβλῃ. (N-DSF) ^[25] Οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) αὐτὸς G846 (P-NSM) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) νόμος G3551 (N-NSM) ἑκουσίως G1596 (ADV) ἡμᾶς G2248 (P-1AP) θανατοῖ G2289 (V-PAS-3S) φοβηθέντας (V-APP-APM) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) βασανιστήρια. (N-APN) ^[26] Πόθεν G4159 (ADV-I) ἡμῖν G2254 (P-1DP) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) τοσαύτη G5118 (D-NSF) ἐντέτηκε (V-RAI-3S) φιλονεικία G5379 (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) θανατηφόρος G2287 (A-NSF) ἀρέσκει G700 (V-PAI-3S) καρτερία, (N-NSF) παρὸν G3918 (V-PAP-NSN) μετὰ G3326 (PREP) ἀταραξίας (N-GSF) ζῆν G2198 (V-PAN) τῷ G3588 (T-DSM) βασιλεῖ G935 (N-DSM) πεισθέντας; G3982 (V-APP-APM) ^[27] Ἀλλὰ G235 (CONJ) τούτων G5130 (D-GPN) οὐδὲν G3762 (A-ASN-N) εἶπον (V-2AAI-3P) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) νεανίαι G3494 (N-NPM) βασανίζεσθαι G928 (V-PPN) μέλλοντες G3195 (V-PAP-NPM) οὐδὲ G3761 (CONJ-N) ἐνεθυμήθησαν. G1760 (V-API-3P) ^[28] Ἦσαν G2258 (V-IAI-3P) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) περίφρονες G4065 (V-PAP-NPM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) παθῶν G3806 (N-GPN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) αὐτοκράτορες (N-NPM) τῶν G3588 (T-GPF) ἀλγηδόνων, (N-GPF) ^[29] ὥστε G5620 (CONJ) ἅμα G260 (ADV) τῷ G3588 (T-DSN) παύσασθαι G3973 (V-AMN) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) τύραννον (N-ASM) συμβουλεύοντα G4823 (V-PAP-ASM) αὐτοῖς G846 (P-DPM) μιαροφαγῆσαι, (V-AAN) πάντες G3956 (A-NPM) διὰ G1223 (PREP) μιᾶς G3391 (A-GSF) φωνῆς G5456 (N-GSF) ὁμοῦ G3674 (ADV) ὥσπερ G5618 (ADV) ἀπὸ G575 (PREP) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) αὐτῆς G846 (P-GSF) ψυχῆς G5590 (N-GSF) εἶπον (V-2AAI-3P)