4 Maccabees 8

Greek original · 29 verses · some words can be tapped for a gloss

📖 This chapter exists in 1 other originals — side by side (Apocrypha)

8:1

τότε δὴ σφόδρα περιπαθῶς ἐκέλευσεν ἄλλους ἐκ τῆς ἡλικίας τῶν ῾Εβραίων ἀγαγεῖν, καὶ εἰ μὲν μιαροφαγήσαιεν, ἀπολύειν φαγόντας, εἰ δὲ ἀντιλέγοιεν, πικρότερον βασανίζειν.

Then, indeed, vehemently swayed with passion, 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.

正因如此，連幾個孩童憑著敬虔的理性而思辨，也勝過了更為苦烈的酷刑。

8:2

ταῦτα διαταξαμένου τοῦ τυράννου, παρῆσαν ἀγόμενοι μετὰ γηραιᾶς μητρὸς ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί, καλοί τε καὶ αἰδήμονες καὶ γενναῖοι καὶ ἐν παντὶ χαρίεντες.

The tyrant having given this charge, seven kindred were brought into his presence, along with their aged mother, handsome, and modest, and well-born, and altogether comely.

因為暴君在頭一次的試煉中明顯落敗，無法強迫一位老人喫不潔之物，那時他就大為惱怒，吩咐從擄來的希伯來人中再帶些人來，他們若喫了不潔之物，喫了就放他們走；若拒絕，就更殘酷地拷打他們。

8:3

οὓς ἰδὼν ὁ τύραννος καθάπερ ἐν χορῷ περιέχοντας μέσην τὴν μητέρα, ἥσθη ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς καὶ τῆς εὐπρεπείας ἐκπλαγεὶς καὶ τῆς εὐγενείας, προσεμειδίασεν αὐτοῖς καὶ πλησίον καλέσας ἔφη.

When the tyrant saw them encircling their mother as in a dance, he was pleased at them; and being struck with their becoming and ingenuous mien, smiled upon them, and calling them near, said:

暴君這樣吩咐之後，就有七兄弟同他們年邁的母親被帶來，他們既俊美、端莊、出身高貴，又樣樣討人喜愛。

8:4

ὦ νεανίαι, φιλοφρόνως ἐγὼ καθ’ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου ὑμῶν θαυμάζω, τὸ κάλλος καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τοσούτων ἀδελφῶν ὑπερτιμῶν, οὐ μόνον συμβουλεύω μὴ μανῆναι τὴν αὐτὴν τῷ προβασανισθέντι γέροντι μανίαν,

O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you; and 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,

暴君看見他們如同跳舞般圍繞著中間的母親，心中喜悅，又因他們俊美高貴的儀態大為驚異，便向他們微笑，召他們近前，說：

8:5

ἀλλὰ καὶ παρακαλῶ συνείξαντάς μου τῇ συμβουλίᾳ τῆς ἐμῆς ἀπολαῦσαι φιλίας· δυναίμην δ’ ἂν ὥσπερ κολάζειν τοὺς ἀπειθοῦντάς μου τοῖς ἐπιτάγμασιν, οὕτως καὶ εὐεργετεῖν τοὺς εὐπειθοῦντάς μοι.

but I do 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.

「少年人哪，我親切地讚賞你們每一個人的俊美，又極其看重你們這眾多兄弟，我不僅勸你們不要與那先前受刑的老人發同樣的瘋狂，

8:6

πεισθέντες οὖν μοι καὶ ἀρχὰς καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐμῶν πραγμάτων ἡγεμονίας λήψεσθε, ἀρνησάμενοι τὸν πάτριον ὑμῶν τῆς πολιτείας θεσμόν·

Put confidence in me, then, and you shall receive places of authority in my government, if you forsake your national ordinance,

更懇求你們順從我，享受我的友誼；因為我既有權柄刑罰那些違抗我命令的人，也有權柄善待那些順從我的人。

8:7

καὶ μεταλαβόντες ἑλληνικοῦ βίου καὶ μεταδιαιτηθέντες ἐντρυφήσατε ταῖς νεότησιν ὑμῶν·

and, conforming to the Greek mode of life, alter your rule, and revel in youth’s delights.

你們若信靠我，背棄你們祖宗的制度律例，就必在我國中得著掌權的職位，

8:8

ἐπεὶ ἐὰν ὀργίλως με διάθησθε διὰ τῆς ἀπειθείας ὑμῶν, ἀναγκάσετέ με ἐπὶ δειναῖς κολάσεσιν ἕνα ἕκαστον ὑμῶν διὰ τῶν βασάνων ἀπολέσαι.

For if you provoke me by your disobedience, you will compel me to destroy you, every one, with terrible punishments by tortures.

改採希臘的生活方式，更換你們的習俗，盡情享受你們的青春。

8:9

κατελεήσατε οὖν ἑαυτούς, οὓς καὶ ὁ πολέμιος ἔγωγε καὶ τῆς ἡλικίας καὶ τῆς εὐμορφίας οἰκτείρομαι.

Have mercy, then, upon your own selves, whom I, although an enemy, compassionate for your age and comeliness.

因為你們若用悖逆惹我發怒，就必逼我用可怕的酷刑，藉著各樣的拷打把你們每一個都毀滅。