1 But not long after the king sent a certain ancient man of Antioch, that should compel the Jews to remove themselves from the laws of their fathers and of God:
1 But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God:
2 to contaminate also the temple that was in Jerusalem, & to call it by the name of Jupiter Olympius: and in Garizim, according as they were that inhabited the place, of Jupiter Hospitalis.
2 And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Gazarim of Jupiter Hospitalis, according as they were that inhabited the place.
3 And the invasion of the evils was sore & grievous to all:
3 And very bad was this invasion of evils, and grievous to all.
4 for the temple was full of the lechery & gluttony of the Gentiles: & of them that played the harlots with whores. And women thrusting themselves of their own accord into the sacred houses, bringing in those things which were not lawful.
4 For the temple was full of the riot and revelings of the Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were not lawful.
5 The altar also was full of unlawful things which were forbidden by the laws.
5 The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.
6 And neither were the Sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither plainly did any man confess himself to be a Jew.
6 And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a Jew.
7 But they were led with bitter necessity in the king's birth day to sacrifices: & when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to go about crowned with Ivy unto Bacchus.
7 But they were led by bitter constraint on the king’s birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honor of Bacchus.
8 And there went forth a decree into the next cities of the Gentiles, the Ptolomeans giving the advise, that they also in like manner should do against the Jews, that they might sacrifice:
8 And there went out a decree into the neighboring cities of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:
9 and them that would not pass to the ordinances of the heathen, they should kill. A man then might see the misery.
9 And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen.
10 For two women were accused to have circumcided their children: whom, the infants hanging at their breasts, when they had openly led them about through the city, they threw down headlong by the walls.
10 ¹For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: whom, when they had openly led about through the city, with the infants hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls.
11 And others coming together to the next caves, and secretly keeping the day of the Sabbath, when they were discovered to Philip, were burnt with fire, because they feared for religion and observance, to help themselves with their hand.
11 And others that had met together in caves that were near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day.
12 But I beseech them that shall read this book, that they abhor not for the adversities, but that they account those things, which have happened, not to be for the destruction, but for the chastening of our stock.
12 Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.
13 For not to suffer sinners a long time to do as they will, but forthwith to punish, is a token of a great benefit.
13 For it is a token of great goodness, when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished.
14 For, not as in other nations our Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgement shall come, he may punish them in the fullness of sins:
14 For, not as with other nations (whom the Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them in the fullness of their sins):
15 so also doth he determine in us, that our sins being come to the end, so at length he may punish us.
15 Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to their height, and then take vengeance on us.
16 For which cause he never certes removeth away his mercy from us: but chastening his people by adversity, he forsaketh them not.
16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity he forsaketh them not.
17 But let these things be said of us in few words for an admonition of the readers. And now we must come to the story.
17 But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.
18 Therefore, Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes, a man striken in age, and comely of countenance, with open mouth gaping was compelled to eat swine's flesh.
18 Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.
19 But he embracing rather a most glorious death than an hateful life, went before voluntarily to the punishment.
19 But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.
20 And considering how he ought to come patiently sustaining, he determined not to commit unlawful things for love of life.
20 And considering in what manner he was to come to it, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.
21 But they that stood by, moved with unlawful pity, for the old friendship of the man, taking him in secret, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might feign to have eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the sacrifice:
21 But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the sacrifice:
22 that by this fact he might be delivered from death: and for the old friendship of the man, they did him this courtesy.
22 That by so doing he might be delivered from death; and for the sake of their old friendship with the man, they did him this courtesy.
23 But he began to think upon the worthy preeminence of his age and ancientness, and the hoar hairs of natural nobility, and his doings from a child of very good conversation, and according to the ordinances, and the holy law made of God, he answered quickly, saying: that he would rather be sent unto hell.
23 But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honor of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child; and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.
24 For it is not meet, quoth he, for our age to feign: that many young men thinking, that Eleazarus of four score year and ten is passed to the life of Aliens:
24 For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:
25 they also through my dissimulation, and for a little time of corruptible life, may be deceived, and hereby I may purchase a stain, and a curse to mine old age.
25 And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.
26 For although at this present time I be delivered from the punishments of men, yet neither alive nor dead shall I escape the hand of the Almighty.
26 For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.
27 Wherefore in departing manfully out of this life, I shall appear worthy of mine old age:
27 Wherefore, by departing manfully out of this life, I shall show myself worthy of my old age:
28 & to young men I shall leave a constant example, if with ready mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death, for the most grave and most holy laws. These things being spoken, forthwith he was drawn to execution.
28 And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honorable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.
29 And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were turned into wrath for the words spoken of him, which they thought were uttered through arrogancy.
29 And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.
30 But when he was now in killing with the strokes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, which hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I do sustain sore pains of the body: but according to the soul, for thy fear I do willingly suffer these things.
30 But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned: and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grievous pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear thee.
31 And this man certes in this manner departed this life, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.
31 Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death, for an example of virtue and fortitude.