1
ΤΟΙΣ ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς κατʼ Αἴγυπτον Ἰουδαίοις χαίρειν· οἱ ἀδελφοὶ οἱ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις Ἰουδαῖοι, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, εἰρήνην ἀγαθήν.
The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt, health and peace:
2
Καὶ ἀγαθοποιήσαι ὑμῖν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ μνησθείη τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ τῆς πρὸς Ἁβραὰμ, καὶ Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Ἰακὼβ τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ τῶν πιστῶν.
God be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;
3
Καὶ δῴη ὑμῖν καρδίαν πᾶσιν εἰς τὸ σέβεσθαι αὐτὸν, καὶ ποιεῖν αὐτοῦ τὰ θελήματα καρδίᾳ μεγάλῃ, καὶ ψυχῇ βουλομένῃ·
and give you all a heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind;
4
Καὶ διανοίξαι τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασι, καὶ εἰρήνην ποιήσαι,
and open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you peace,
5
καὶ ἐπακούσαι ὑμῶν τῶν δεήσεων, καὶ καταλλαγείη ὑμῖν, καὶ μὴ ὑμᾶς ἐγκαταλίποι ἐν καιρῷ πονηρῷ.
and hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
6
Καὶ νῦν ὧδέ ἐσμεν προσευχόμενοι περὶ ὑμῶν.
And now we be here praying for you.
7
Βασιλεύοντος Δημητρίου ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ ἑξηκοστοῦ ἐννατου, ἡμεῖς ὁ Ιουδαῖοι γεγραφήκαμεν ὑμῖν ἐν τῇ θλίψει, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀκμῇ τῇ ἐπελθούσῃ ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς ἔτεσι τούτοις, ἀφʼ οὗ ἀπέστη Ἰάσων καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁγίας γῆς, καὶ τῆς βασιλείας·
What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,
8
καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν τὸν πυλῶνα, καὶ ἐξέχεαν αἷμα ἀθῶον· καὶ ἐδεήθημεν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ εἰσηκούσθημεν, καὶ προσηνέγκαμεν θυσίαν, καὶ σεμίδαλιν, καὶ ἐξήψαμεν τοὺς λύχνους, καὶ προεθήκαμεν τοὺς ἄρτους.
and burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
9
Καὶ νῦν ἵνα ἄγητε τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς σκηνοπηγίας τοῦ Χασελεὺ μηνός.
And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Chislev.
10
Ἔτους ἑκατοστοῦ ὀγδοηκοστοῦ καὶ ὀγδόου οἱ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, καὶ ἡ γερουσία, καὶ Ἰούδας Ἀριστοβούλῳ διδασκάλῳ Πτολεμαίου τοῦ βασιλέως, ὄντι δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ τῶν χριστῶν ἱερέων γένους, καὶ τοῖς ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ Ἰουδαίοις, χαίρειν καὶ ὑγιαίνειν.
In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, King Ptolemy’s master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:
11
Ἐκ μεγάλων κινδύνων ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ σεσωσμένοι, μεγάλως εὐχαριστοῦμεν αὐτῷ, ὡς ἂν πρὸς βασιλέα παρατασσόμενοι.
Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.
12
Αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐξέβρασε τοὺς παραταξαμένους ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ πόλει.
For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.
13
Εἰς γὰρ τὴν Περσίδα γενόμενος ὁ ἡγεμὼν, καὶ ἡ περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνυπόστατος δοκοῦσα εἶναι δύναμις, κατεκόπησαν ἐν τῷ τῆς Ναναίας ἱερῷ, παραλογισμῷ χρησαμένων τῶν περὶ τὴν Ναναίαν ἱερέων.
For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea’s priests.
14
Ὡς γὰρ συνοικήσων αὐτῇ παρεγένετο εἰς τὸν τόπον ὅ, τε Ἀντίοχος, καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ φίλοι, χάριν τοῦ λαβεῖν τὰ χρήματα εἰς φερνῆς λόγον·
For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a dowry.
15
Καὶ προθέντων αὐτὰ τῶν ἱερέων τῆς Ναναίος, κᾀκείνου προσελθόντος μετʼ ὀλίγων εἰς τὸν περίβολον τοῦ τεμένους, συγκλείσαντες τὸ ἱερὸν, ὡς εἰσῆλθεν Ἀντίοχος,
Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered with a small company into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:
16
ἀνοίξαντες τὴν τοῦ φατνώματος κρυπτὴν θύραν, βάλλοντες πέτρους συνεκεραύνωσαν τὸν ἡγεμόνα, καὶ μέλη ποιήσαντες, καὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀφελόντες, τοῖς ἔξω παρέῤῥιψαν.
and opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads, and cast them to those that were without.
17
Κατὰ πάντα εὐλογητὸς ἡμῶν ὁ Θεὸς, ὃς παρέδωκε τοὺς ἀσεβήσαντας.
Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the ungodly.
18
Μέλλοντες οὖν ἄγειν ἐν τῷ Χασελεὺ πέμπτῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τὸν καθαρισμὸν τοῦ ἱεροῦ, δεόν ἡγησάμεθα διασαφῆσαι ὑμῖν, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἄγητε τῆς σκηνοπηγίας καὶ τοῦ πυρός, ὅτε Νεεμίας οἰκοδομήσας τό, τε ἱερὸν καὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, ἀνήνεγκε θυσίαν.
Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of [the month] Chislev, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep [it, as the feast] of the tabernacles, and of the fire, [which was given us] when Nehemiah offered sacrifice, after that he had built the temple and the altar.
19
Καὶ γὰρ ὅτε εἰς τὴν Περσικὴν ἤγοντο οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, οἵ τότε εὐσεβεῖς ἱερεῖς λαβόντες ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου λαθραίως, κατέκρυψαν ἐν κοιλώματι φρέατος τάξιν ἔχοντος ἀνύδρον, ἐν ᾧ κατησφαλίσαντο, ὥστε πᾶσιν ἄγνωστον εἶναι τὸν τόπον.
For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in a hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept [it] sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
20
Διελθόντων δὲ ἐτῶν ἱκανῶν, ὅτε ἔδοξεν τῷ Θεῷ, ἀποσταλεὶς Νεεμίας ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς Περσίδος, τοὺς ἐκγόνους τῶν ἱερέων τῶν ἀποκρυψάντων ἔπεμψεν ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ·
Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those priests that had hidden it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water;
21
ὡς δὲ διεσάφησαν ἡμῖν μὴ εὑρηκέναι πῦρ, ἀλλὰ ὕδωρ παχύ, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἀποβάψαντας φέρειν· ὡς δὲ ἀνηνέχθη τὰ τῶν θυσιῶν, ἐκέλευσε τοὺς ἱερεῖς Νεεμίας ἐπιῤῥᾶναι τῷ ὕδατι τά τε ξύλα, καὶ τὰ ἐπικείμενα.
then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.
22
Ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο τοῦτο, καὶ χρόνος διῆλθεν ὅτε ἥλιος ἀνέλαμψε πρότερον ἐπινεφὴς ὤν, ἀνήφθη πυρὰ μεγάλη, ὥστε θαυμάσαι πάντας.
When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hidden in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marveled.
23
Προσευχὴν δὲ ἐποιήσαντο οἱ ἱερεῖς δαπανωμένης τῆς θυσίας, οἵ τε ἱερεῖς, καὶ πάντες, καταρχομένου Ἰωνάθου, τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ἐπιφωνούντων, ὡς Νεεμίου.
And the priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was consuming, [I say], both the priests, and all [the rest], Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Nehemiah did.
24
Ἦν δὲ ἡ προσευχὴ τὸν τρόπον ἔχουσα τοῦτον· Κύριε Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ὁ πάντων κτίστης, ὁ φοβερὸς, καὶ ἰσχυρὸς, καὶ δίκαιος, καὶ ἐλεήμων, ὁ μόνος βασιλεὺς καὶ χρηστὸς,
And the prayer was after this manner: O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
25
ὁ μόνος χορηγός, ὁ μόνος δίκαιος, καὶ παντοκράτωρ, καὶ αἰώνιος, ὁ διασώζων τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ παντος κακοῦ, ὁ ποιήσας τοὺς πατέρας ἐκλεκτούς, καὶ ἁγιάσας αὐτούς,
the only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:
26
πρόσδεξαι τὴν θυσίαν ὑπὲρ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ σου Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ διαφύλαξον τὴν μερίδα σου καὶ καθαγίασον.
receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
27
Ἐπισυνάγαγε τὴν διασπορὰν ἡμῶν, ἐλευθέρωσον τοὺς δουλεύοντας ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, τοὺς ἐξουθενημένους καὶ βδελυκτοὺς ἔπιδε, καὶ γνώτωσαν τὰ ἔθνη ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν.
Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our God.
28
Βασάνισον τοὺς καταδυναστεύοντας, καὶ ἐξυβρίζοντας ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ·
Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
29
Καταφύτευσον τὸν λαόν σου εἰς τὸν τόπον τὸν ἅγιόν σου, καθὼς εἶπε Μωυσῆς.
Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
30
Οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς ἐπέψαλλον τοὺς ὕμνους.
And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.
31
Καθὼς δὲ ἀνηλώθη τὰ τῆς θυσίας, καὶ τὸ περιλειπόμενον ὕδωρ, ὁ Νεεμίας ἐκέλευσε λίθους μείζονας καταχεῖν.
Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemiah commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones.
32
Ὡς δὲ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη, φλὸξ ἀνήφθη· τοῦ δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἀντιλάμψαντος φωτὸς ἐδαπανήθη.
When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
33
Ὡς δὲ φανερὸν ἐγενήθη τὸ πρᾶγμα, καὶ διηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ τῶν Περσῶν, ὅτι εἰς τὸν τόπον οὗ τὸ πῦρ ἄπέκρυψαν οἱ μεταχθέντες ἱερεῖς, τὸ ὕδωρ ἐφάνη, ἀφʼ οὗ καὶ οἱ περὶ τὸν Νεεμίαν ἥγνισαν τὰ τῆς θυσίας.
So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the place, where the priests that were led away had hidden the fire, there appeared water, and that Nehemiah had purified the sacrifices therewith.
34
Περιφράξας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἱερὸν ἐποίησε, δοκιμάσας τὸ πρᾶγμα.
Then the king, enclosing the place, made it holy, after he had tried the matter.
35
Καὶ οἷς ἐχαρίζετο ὁ βασιλεὺς πολλὰ διάφορα ἐλάμβανε καὶ μετεδίδου.
And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify.
36
Προσηγόρευσαν δὲ οἱ περὶ τὸν Νεεμίαν τοῦτο Νέφθαρ, ὃ διερμηνεύεται Καθαρισμός· καλεῖται δὲ παρὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς Νεφθαεί.
And Nehemiah called this thing Nephthar, which is as much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephtha.