2 Maccabees 2

1 Εὑρίσκεται δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἀπογραφαῖς Ἱερεμίας ὁ προφήτης, ὅτι ἐκέλευσε τοῦ πυρὸς λαβεῖν τοὺς μεταγινομένους, ὡς σεσήμανται,

1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it has been signified:

2 καὶ ὡς ἐνετείλατο τοῖς μεταγενομένοις ὁ προφήτης, δοὺς αὐτοῖς τὸν νόμον, ἵνα μὴ ἐπιλάθωνται τῶν προσταγμάτων τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ἵνα μὴ ἀποπλανηθῶσι ταῖς διανοίαις, βλέποντες ἀγάλματα χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ, καὶ τὸν περὶ αὐτὰ κόσμον.

2 And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.

3 Καὶ ἕτερα τοιαῦτα λέγων, παρεκάλει μὴ ἀποστῆναι τὸν νόμον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν.

3 And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.

4 Ἦν δὲ ἐν τῇ γραφῇ, ὡς τὴν σκηνὴν καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν ἐκέλευσεν ὁ προφήτης, χρηματισμοῦ γενηθέντος, αὐτῷ συνακολουθεῖν, ὡς δὲ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος οὗ ὁ Μωυσῆς ἀναβὰς ἐθεάσατο τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ κληρονομίαν.

4 It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God.

5 Καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ Ἱερεμίας εὗρεν οἶκον ἀντρώδη, καὶ τὴν σκηνὴν, καὶ τὴν κιβωτὸν, καὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ θυμιάματος εἰσήνεγκεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ τὴν θύραν ἐνέφραξε.

5 And when Jeremy came there, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.

6 Καὶ προσελθόντες τινὲς τῶν συνακολουθούντων ὥστε ἐπισημῄνασθαι τὴν ὁδὸν, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν εὑρεῖν.

6 And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.

7 Ὡς δὲ ὁ Ἱερεμίας ἔγνω, μεμψάμενος αὐτοῖς εἶπεν, ὅτι καὶ ἄγνωστος ὁ τόπος ἔσται ἕως ἂν συναγάγῃ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπισυναγωγὴν τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἵλεως γένηται.

7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and receive them to mercy.

8 Καὶ τότε ὁ Κύριος ἀναδείξει ταῦτα, καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ ἡ νεφέλη, ὡς καὶ ἐπὶ Μωυσῇ ἐδηλοῦτο, ὡς καὶ ὁ Σαλωμὼν ἠξίωσεν ἵνα ὁ τόπος καθαγιασθῇ μεγάλως.

8 Then shall the Lord show them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was showed under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.

9 Διεσαφεῖτο δὲ καὶ ὡς σοφίαν ἔχων ἀνήνεγκε θυσίαν ἐγκαινισμοῦ, καὶ τῆς τελειώσεως τοῦ ἱεροῦ.

9 It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.

10 Καθὼς καὶ Μωυσῆς προσηύξατο πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ τὰ τῆς θυσίας ἐδαπάνησεν· οὕτως καὶ Σαλωμὼν προσηύξατο, καὶ καταβὰν τὸ πῦρ ἀνήλωσε τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα.

10 And as when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings.

11 Καὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς, διὰ τὸ μὴ βεβρῶσθαι τὸ περὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἀνηλώθη.

11 And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.

12 Ὡσαύτως καὶ ὁ Σαλωμὼν τὰς ὀκτὼ ἡμέρας ἤγαγεν.

12 So Solomon kept those eight days.

13 Ἐξηγοῦντο δὲ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀναγραφαῖς, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνηματισμοῖς τοῖς κατὰ τὸν Νεεμίαν τὰ αὐτά, καὶ ὡς καταβαλλόμενος βιβλιοθήκην, ἐπισυνήγαγε τὰ περὶ τῶν βασιλέων καὶ προφητῶν, καὶ τὰ τοῦ Δαυεὶδ, καὶ ἐπιστολὰς βασιλέων περὶ ἀναθημάτων.

13 The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Neemias; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.

14 Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ Ἰούδας, τὰ διαπεπτωκότα διὰ τὸν πόλεμον τὸν γεγονότα ἡμῖν ἐπισυνήγαγε πάντα, καὶ ἔστι παρʼ ἡμῖν.

14 In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us,

15 Ὧν οὖν ἐὰν χρείαν ἔχητε, τοὺς ἀποκομιοῦντας ὑμῖν ἀποστέλλετε.

15 Therefore if you⌃ have need thereof, send some to fetch them to you.

16 Μέλλοντες οὖν ἄγειν τὸν καθαρισμὸν, ἐγράψαμεν ὑμῖν· καλῶς οὖν ποιήσετε ἄγοντες τὰς ἡμέρας.

16 Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written to you, and you⌃ shall do well, if you⌃ keep the same days.

17 Ὁ δὲ Θεὸς ὁ σώσας τὸν πάντα λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀποδοὺς τὴν κληρονομίαν πᾶσι, καὶ τὸ βασίλειον, καὶ τὸ ἱεράτευμα, καὶ τὸν ἁγιασμὸν.

17 We hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people, and gave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,

18 Καθὼς ἐπηγγείλατο διὰ τοῦ νόμου ἐλπίζομεν γὰρ ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ, ὅτι ταχέως ἡμᾶς ἐλεήσει, καὶ ἐπισυνάξει ἐκ τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τόπον· ἐξείλετο γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἐκ μεγάλων κακῶν, καὶ τὸν τόπον ἐκαθάρισε.

18 As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place: for he has delivered us out of great troubles, and has purified the place.

19 Τὰ δὲ κατὰ τὸν Ἰούδαν τὸν Μακκαβαῖον, καὶ τοὺς τούτου ἀδελφοὺς, καὶ τὸν τοῦ ἱεροῦ τοῦ μεγάλου καθαρισμὸν, καὶ τὸν τοῦ βωμοῦ ἐγκαινισμὸν,

19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20 ἔτι τε τοὺς πρὸς Ἀντιοχον τὸν Ἐπιφανῆ, καὶ τὸν τούτου υἱὸν Εὐπάτορα πολέμους,

20 And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,

21 καὶ τὰς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ γενομένας ἐπιφανείας τοῖς ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰουδαϊσμοῦ φιλοτίμως ἀνδραγαθήσασιν, ὡστε τὴν ὅλην χώραν ὀλίγους ὄντας λεηλατεῖν, καὶ τὰ βάρβαρα πλήθη διώκειν.

21 And the manifest signs that came from heaven to those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,

22 Καὶ τὸ περιβόητον καθʼ ὅλην τὴν οἰκουμένην ἱερὸν ἀνακομίσασθαι, καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐλευθερῶσαι, καὶ τοὺς μέλλοντας καταλύεσθαι νόμους ἐπανορθῶσαι, τοῦ Κυρίου μετὰ πάσης ἐπιεικείας ἵλεω γενομένου αὐτοῖς,

22 And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord being gracious to them with all favour:

23 τὰ ὑπὸ Ἰάσωνος τοῦ Κυρηναίου δεδηλωμένα διὰ πέντε βιβλίων, πειρασόμεθα διʼ ἑνὸς συντάγματος ἐπιτεμεῖν.

23 All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

24 Συνορῶντες γὰρ τὸ χύμα τῶν ἀριθμῶν, καὶ τὴν οὖσαν δυσχέρειαν τοῖς θέλουσιν εἰσκυκλεῖσθαι τοῖς τῆς ἱστορίας διηγήμασι διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς ὕλης,

24 For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,

25 ἐφροντίσαμεν τοῖς μὲν βουλομένοις ἀναγινώσκειν ψυχαγωγίαν, τοῖς δέ φιλοφρονοῦσιν εἰς τὸ διὰ μνήμης ἀναλαβεῖν εὐκοπίαν, πᾶσι δὲ τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν ὠφέλειαν.

25 We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.

26 Καὶ ἡμῖν μὲν τοῖς τὴν κακοπάθειαν ἐπιδεδεγμένοις τῆς ἐπιτομῆς οὐ ῥᾴδιον, ἱδρῶτος δὲ καὶ ἀγρυπνίας τὸ πρᾶγμα·

26 Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;

27 καθάπερ τῷ παρασκευάζοντι συμπόσιον, καὶ ζητοῦντι τὴν ἑτέρων λυσιτέλειαν οὐκ εὐχερές μὲν, ὅμως διὰ τὴν τῶν πολλῶν εὐχαριστίαν, ἡδέως τὴν κακοπάθειαν ὑποίσομεν,

27 Even as it is no ease to him that prepares a banquet, and seeks the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;

28 τὸ μὲν διακριβοῦν περὶ ἑκάστων τῷ συγγραφεῖ παραχωρήσαντες, τὸ δὲ ἐπιπορεύεσθαι τοῖς ὑπογραμμοῖς τῆς ἐπιτομῆς διαπονοῦντες.

28 Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.

29 Καθάπερ γὰρ τῆς καινῆς οἰκίας ἀρχιτέκτονι τῆς ὅλης καταβολῆς φροντιστέον, τῷ δὲ ἐγκαίειν καὶ ζωγραφεῖν ἐπιχειροῦντι, τὰ ἐπιτήδεια πρὸς διακόσμησιν ἐξεταστέον· οὕτω δοκῶ καὶ ἐπὶ ἡμῖν.

29 For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building; but he that undertakes to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is with us.

30 Τὸ μὲν ἐμβατεύειν, καὶ περί πάντων ποιεῖσθαι λόγον καὶ πολυπραγμονεῖν ἐν τοῖς καταμέρος, τῷ τῆς ἱστορίας ἀρχηγέτῃ καθήκει·

30 To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongs to the first author of the story:

31 Τὸ δὲ σύντομον τῆς λέξεως μεταδιώκειν, καὶ τὸ ἐξεργαστικὸν τῆς πραγματείας παραιτεῖσθαι, τῷ τὴν μετάφρασιν ποιουμένῳ συγχωρητέον.

31 But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.

32 Ἐντεῦθεν οὖν ἀρξώμεθα τῆς διηγήσεως, τοῖς προειρημένοις τοσοῦτον ἐπιζεύξαντες· εὔηθες γὰρ τὸ μὲν πρὸ τῆς ἱστορίας πλεονάζειν, τὴν δὲ ἱστορίαν ἐπιτεμεῖν.

32 Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to that which has been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.