2 Maccabees 4
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Simon Accuses Onias
4 The previously mentioned Simon, who had informed about the money against[a] his own country, slandered Oni′as, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodor′us and had been the real cause of the misfortune. 2 He dared to designate as a plotter against the government the man who was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws. 3 When his hatred progressed to such a degree that even murders were committed by one of Simon’s approved agents, 4 Oni′as recognized that the rivalry was serious and that Apollo′nius, the son of Menes′theus[b] and governor of Coelesyria and Phoenic′ia, was intensifying the malice of Simon. 5 So he betook himself to the king, not accusing his fellow citizens but having in view the welfare, both public and private, of all the people. 6 For he saw that without the king’s attention public affairs could not again reach a peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not stop his folly.
Jason’s Reforms
7 When Seleu′cus died and Anti′ochus who was called Epiph′anes succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Oni′as obtained the high priesthood by corruption, 8 promising the king at an interview[c] three hundred and sixty talents of silver and, from another source of revenue, eighty talents. 9 In addition to this he promised to pay one hundred and fifty more if permission were given to establish by his authority a gymnasium and a body of youth for it, and to enrol the men of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. 10 When the king assented and Jason[d] came to office, he at once shifted his countrymen over to the Greek way of life. 11 He set aside the existing royal concessions to the Jews, secured through John the father of Eupole′mus, who went on the mission to establish friendship and alliance with the Romans; and he destroyed the lawful ways of living and introduced new customs contrary to the law. 12 For with alacrity he founded a gymnasium right under the citadel, and he induced the noblest of the young men[e] to wear the Greek hat. 13 There was such an extreme of Hellenization and increase in the adoption of foreign ways because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and no high priest, 14 that the priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar. Despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to take part in the unlawful proceedings in the wrestling arena after the call to the discus, 15 disdaining the honors prized by their fathers and putting the highest value upon Greek forms of prestige. 16 For this reason heavy disaster overtook them, and those whose ways of living they admired and wished to imitate completely became their enemies and punished them. 17 For it is no light thing to show irreverence to the divine laws—a fact which later events will make clear.
Jason Introduces Greek Customs
18 When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present, 19 the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antioch′ian citizens from Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Her′cules. Those who carried the money, however, thought best not to use it for sacrifice, because that was inappropriate, but to expend it for another purpose. 20 So this money was intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Her′cules, but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to the construction of triremes.
21 When Apollo′nius the son of Menes′theus was sent to Egypt for the coronation[f] of Philome′tor as king, Anti′ochus learned that Philome′tor[g] had become hostile to his government, and he took measures for his own security. Therefore upon arriving at Joppa he proceeded to Jerusalem. 22 He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city, and ushered in with a blaze of torches and with shouts. Then he marched into Phoenic′ia.
Menelaus Becomes High Priest
23 After a period of three years Jason sent Menela′us, the brother of the previously mentioned Simon, to carry the money to the king and to complete the records of essential business. 24 But he, when presented to the king, extolled him with an air of authority, and secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 25 After receiving the king’s orders he returned, possessing no qualification for the high priesthood, but having the hot temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage wild beast. 26 So Jason, who after supplanting his own brother was supplanted by another man, was driven as a fugitive into the land of Ammon. 27 And Menela′us held the office, but he did not pay regularly any of the money promised to the king. 28 When So′stratus the captain of the citadel kept requesting payment, for the collection of the revenue was his responsibility, the two of them were summoned by the king on account of this issue. 29 Menela′us left his own brother Lysim′achus as deputy in the high priesthood, while So′stratus left Crates, the commander of the Cyprian troops.[h]
The Murder of Onias
30 While such was the state of affairs, it happened that the people of Tarsus and of Mallus revolted because their cities had been given as a present to Anti′ochis, the king’s concubine. 31 So the king went hastily to settle the trouble, leaving Androni′cus, a man of high rank, to act as his deputy. 32 But Menela′us, thinking he had obtained a suitable opportunity, stole some of the gold vessels of the temple and gave them to Androni′cus; other vessels, as it happened, he had sold to Tyre and the neighboring cities. 33 When Oni′as became fully aware of these acts he publicly exposed them, having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. 34 Therefore Menela′us, taking Androni′cus aside, urged him to kill Oni′as. Androni′cus[i] came to Oni′as, and resorting to treachery offered him sworn pledges and gave him his right hand, and in spite of his suspicion persuaded Oni′as[j] to come out from the place of sanctuary; then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him out of the way.[k] 35 For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were grieved and displeased at the unjust murder of the man. 36 When the king returned from the region of Cilic′ia, the Jews in the city[l] appealed to him with regard to the unreasonable murder of Oni′as, and the Greeks shared their hatred of the crime. 37 Therefore Anti′ochus was grieved at heart and filled with pity, and wept because of the moderation and good conduct of the deceased; 38 and inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe from Androni′cus, tore off his garments, and led him about the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Oni′as, and there he dispatched the bloodthirsty fellow. The Lord thus repaid him with the punishment he deserved.
Unpopularity of Lysimachus and Menelaus
39 When many acts of sacrilege had been committed in the city by Lysim′achus with the connivance of Menela′us, and when report of them had spread abroad, the populace gathered against Lysim′achus, because many of the gold vessels had already been stolen. 40 And since the crowds were becoming aroused and filled with anger, Lysim′achus armed about three thousand men and launched an unjust attack, under the leadership of a certain Aura′nus,[m] a man advanced in years and no less advanced in folly. 41 But when the Jews[n] became aware of Lysim′achus’ attack, some picked up stones, some blocks of wood, and others took handfuls of the ashes that were lying about, and threw them in wild confusion at Lysim′achus and his men. 42 As a result, they wounded many of them, and killed some, and put them all to flight; and the temple robber himself they killed close by the treasury.
43 Charges were brought against Menela′us about this incident. 44 When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented the case before him. 45 But Menela′us, already as good as beaten, promised a substantial bribe to Ptol′emy son of Dorym′enes to win over the king. 46 Therefore Ptol′emy, taking the king aside into a colonnade as if for refreshment, induced the king to change his mind. 47 Menela′us, the cause of all the evil, he acquitted of the charges against him, while he sentenced to death those unfortunate men, who would have been freed uncondemned if they had pleaded even before Scyth′ians. 48 And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages[o] and the holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. 49 Therefore even the Tyr′ians, showing their hatred of the crime, provided magnificently for their funeral. 50 But Menela′us, because of the cupidity of those in power, remained in office, growing in wickedness, having become the chief plotter against his fellow citizens.
Footnotes
- 2 Maccabees 4:1 Gk and
- 2 Maccabees 4:4 Vg Compare verse 21: Greek uncertain
- 2 Maccabees 4:8 Or by a petition
- 2 Maccabees 4:10 Gk he
- 2 Maccabees 4:12 Some authorities add subjecting them
- 2 Maccabees 4:21 The exact meaning of the Greek word is uncertain
- 2 Maccabees 4:21 Gk he
- 4.29 Vulgate reads: “And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.”
- 2 Maccabees 4:34 Gk He
- 2 Maccabees 4:34 Gk him
- 4.34 put him out of the way: Vulgate has “slew him.”
- 2 Maccabees 4:36 Or in each city
- 4.40 Auranus: Vulgate has “Tyrannus.”
- 2 Maccabees 4:41 Gk they
- 2 Maccabees 4:48 Other authorities read the people
Sirach 47-49
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Nathan
47 And after him Nathan rose up
to prophesy in the days of David.
David
2 As the fat is selected from the peace offering,
so David was selected from the sons of Israel.
3 He played with lions as with young goats,
and with bears as with lambs of the flock.
4 In his youth did he not kill a giant,
and take away reproach from the people,
when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling
and struck down the boasting of Goliath?
5 For he appealed to the Lord, the Most High,
and he gave him strength in his right hand
to slay a man mighty in war,
to exalt the power[a] of his people.
6 So they glorified him for his ten thousands,
and praised him for the blessings of the Lord,
when the glorious diadem was bestowed upon him.
7 For he wiped out his enemies on every side,
and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines;
he crushed their power[b] even to this day.
8 In all that he did he gave thanks
to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory;
he sang praise with all his heart,
and he loved his Maker.
9 He placed singers before the altar,
to make sweet melody with their voices.
10 He gave beauty to the feasts,
and arranged their times throughout the year,[c]
while they praised God’s[d] holy name,
and the sanctuary resounded from early morning.
11 The Lord took away his sins,
and exalted his power[e] for ever;
he gave him the covenant of kings
and a throne of glory in Israel.
Solomon
12 After him rose up a wise son
who fared amply[f] because of him;
13 Solomon reigned in days of peace,
and God gave him rest on every side,
that he might build a house for his name
and prepare a sanctuary to stand for ever.
14 How wise you became in your youth!
You overflowed like a river with understanding.
15 Your soul covered the earth,
and you filled it with parables and riddles.
16 Your name reached to far-off islands,
and you were loved for your peace.
17 For your songs and proverbs and parables,
and for your interpretations, the countries marveled at you.
18 In the name of the Lord God,
who is called the God of Israel,
you gathered gold like tin
and amassed silver like lead.
19 But you laid your loins beside women,
and through your body you were brought into subjection.
20 You put a stain upon your honor,
and defiled your posterity,
so that you brought wrath upon your children
and they were grieved[g] at your folly,
21 so that the sovereignty was divided
and a disobedient kingdom arose out of E′phraim.
22 But the Lord will never give up his mercy,
nor cause any of his works to perish;
he will never blot out the descendants of his chosen one,
nor destroy the posterity of him who loved him;
so he gave a remnant to Jacob,
and to David a root of his stock.
Rehoboam and Jeroboam
23 Solomon rested with his fathers,
and left behind him one of his sons,
ample in[h] folly and lacking in understanding,
Rehobo′am, whose policy caused the people to revolt.
Also Jerobo′am the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin
and gave to E′phraim a sinful way.
24 Their sins became exceedingly many,
so as to remove them from their land.
25 For they sought out every sort of wickedness,
till vengeance came upon them.
Elijah
48 Then the prophet Eli′jah arose like a fire,
and his word burned like a torch.
2 He brought a famine upon them,
and by his zeal he made them few in number.
3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens,
and also three times brought down fire.
4 How glorious you were, O Eli′jah, in your wondrous deeds!
And who has the right to boast which you have?
5 You who raised a corpse from death
and from Hades, by the word of the Most High;
6 who brought kings down to destruction,
and famous men from their beds;
7 who heard rebuke at Sinai
and judgments of vengeance at Horeb;
8 who anointed kings to inflict retribution,
and prophets to succeed you.[i]
9 You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with horses of fire;
10 you who are ready[j] at the appointed time, it is written,
to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury,
to turn the heart of the father to the son,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11 Blessed are those who saw you,
and those who have been adorned[k] in love;
for we also shall surely live.[l]
Elisha
12 It was Eli′jah who was covered by the whirlwind,
and Eli′sha was filled with his spirit;
in all his days he did not tremble before any ruler,
and no one brought him into subjection.
13 Nothing was too hard for him,
and when he was dead his body prophesied.
14 As in his life he did wonders,
so in death his deeds were marvelous.
15 For all this the people did not repent,
and they did not forsake their sins,
till they were carried away captive from their land
and were scattered over all the earth;
the people were left very few in number,
but with rulers from the house of David.
16 Some of them did what was pleasing to God,[m]
but others multiplied sins.
Hezekiah
17 Hezeki′ah fortified his city,
and brought water into the midst of it;
he tunneled the sheer rock with iron
and built pools for water.
18 In his days Sennach′erib came up,
and sent the Rab′shakeh;[n]
he lifted up his hand against Zion
and made great boasts in his arrogance.
19 Then their hearts were shaken and their hands trembled,
and they were in anguish, like women in travail.
20 But they called upon the Lord who is merciful,
spreading forth their hands toward him;
and the Holy One quickly heard them from heaven,
and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah.
21 The Lord[o] smote the camp of the Assyrians,
and his angel wiped them out.
22 For Hezeki′ah did what was pleasing to the Lord,
and he held strongly to the ways of David his father,
which Isaiah the prophet commanded,
who was great and faithful in his vision.
Isaiah
23 In his days the sun went backward,
and he lengthened the life of the king.
24 By the spirit of might he saw the last things,
and comforted those who mourned in Zion.
25 He revealed what was to occur to the end of time,
and the hidden things before they came to pass.
Josiah and Other Worthies
49 The memory of Josi′ah is like a blending of incense
prepared by the art of the perfumer;
it is sweet as honey to every mouth,
and like music at a banquet of wine.
2 He was led aright in converting the people,
and took away the abominations of iniquity.
3 He set his heart upon the Lord;
in the days of wicked men he strengthened godliness.
4 Except David and Hezeki′ah and Josi′ah
they all sinned greatly,
for they forsook the law of the Most High;
the kings of Judah came to an end;
5 for they gave their power to others,
and their glory to a foreign nation,
6 who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary,
and made her streets desolate,
according to the word[p] of Jeremiah.
7 For they had afflicted him;
yet he had been consecrated in the womb as prophet,
to pluck up and afflict and destroy,
and likewise to build and to plant.
8 It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory
which God[q] showed him above the chariot of the cherubim.
9 For God[r] remembered his enemies with storm,
and did good to those who directed their ways aright.[s]
10 May the bones of the twelve prophets
revive from where they lie,
for they comforted the people of Jacob
and delivered them with confident hope.
11 How shall we magnify Zerub′babel?
He was like a signet on the right hand,
12 and so was Jeshua the son of Jo′zadak;
in their days they built the house
and raised a temple[t] holy to the Lord,
prepared for everlasting glory.
13 The memory of Nehemi′ah also is lasting;
he raised for us the walls that had fallen,
and set up the gates and bars
and rebuilt our ruined houses.
Retrospect
14 No one like Enoch has been created on earth,
for he was taken up from the earth.
15 And no man like Joseph[u] has been born,
and his bones are cared for.
16 Shem and Seth were honored among men,
and Adam above every living being in the creation.
Footnotes
- Sirach 47:5 Gk horn
- Sirach 47:7 Gk horn
- Sirach 47:10 Gk to completion
- Sirach 47:10 Gk his
- Sirach 47:11 Gk horn
- Sirach 47:12 Gk lived in a broad place
- Sirach 47:20 Other authorities read I was grieved
- Sirach 47:23 Heb (with a play on the name Rehoboam) Syr: Gk the people’s
- Sirach 48:8 Heb: Gk him
- Sirach 48:10 Heb: Gk are for reproofs
- Sirach 48:11 Other authorities read who have died
- Sirach 48:11 The text and meaning of this verse are uncertain
- Sirach 48:16 Gk lacks to God
- Sirach 48:18 Other authorities add and departed
- Sirach 48:21 Gk he
- Sirach 49:6 Gk by the hand
- Sirach 49:8 Gk he
- Sirach 49:9 Gk he
- Sirach 49:9 The text and meaning of this verse are uncertain
- Sirach 49:12 Other authorities read people
- Sirach 49:15 Heb Syr: Greek adds the leader of his brothers, the support of the people
Proverbs 24:13-16
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do not violence to his home;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again;
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
