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2 Maccabees 3
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1Now when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws were kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the high priest, and his hatred of wickedness,
1When the holy city was inhabited with unbroken peace and the laws were kept very well because of the godliness of Onias the high priest and his hatred of wickedness,
2It came to pass that even the kings themselves did honor the place, and magnify the temple with their best gifts;
2it came to pass that even the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the noblest presents,
3Insomuch that Seleucus of Asia of his own revenues bare all the costs belonging to the service of the sacrifices .
3so that even King Seleucus of Asia bore all the costs belonging to the services of the sacrifices out of his own revenues.
4But one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who was made governor of the temple, fell out with the high priest about disorder in the city.
4But a man named Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, having been made guardian of the temple, disagreed with the high priest about the ruling of the market in the city.
5And when he could not overcome Onias, he got him to Apollonius the son of Thraseas, who then was governor of Celosyria and Phenice,
5When he couldn’t overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
6And told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of infinite sums of money, so that the multitude of their riches, which did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, was innumerable, and that it was possible to bring all into the king's hand.
6He brought him word how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable, and that they didn’t pertain to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power.
7Now when Apollonius came to the king, and had showed him of the money whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorushis treasurer, and sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money.
7When Apollonius met the king, he informed him of the money about which he had been told. So the king appointed Heliodorus, who was his chancellor, and sent him with a command to accomplish the removal of the reported money.
8So forthwith Heliodorus took his journey; under a color of visiting the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to fulfil the king's purpose.
8So Heliodorus set out on his journey at once, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to execute the king’s purpose.
9And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously received of the high priest of the city, he told him what intelligence was given of the money, and declared therefore he came, and asked if these things were so indeed.
9When he had come to Jerusalem and had been courteously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information which had been given, and declared why he had come; and he inquired if in truth these things were so.
10Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of widows and fatherless children:
10The high priest explained to him that there were in the treasury deposits of widows and orphans,
11And that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of great dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed: the sum whereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of gold:
11and moreover some money belonging to Hyrcanus the son of Tobias, a man in very high place, not as that impious Simon falsely alleged; and that in all there were four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold,
12And that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be done to them, that had committed it to the holiness of the place, and to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honored over all the world.
12and that it was altogether impossible that wrong should be done to those who had put trust in the holiness of the place, and in the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honored over all the world.
13But Heliodorus, because of the king's commandment given him, said, That in any wise it must be brought into the king's treasury.
13But Heliodorus, because of the king’s command given him, said that in any case this money must be confiscated for the king’s treasury.
14So at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this matter: therefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city.
14So having appointed a day, he entered in to direct the inquiry concerning these matters; and there was no small distress throughout the whole city.
15But the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priests' vestments, called to heaven upon him that made a law concerning things given to he kept, that they should safely be preserved for such as had committed them to be kept.
15The priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priestly garments, and called toward heaven upon him who gave the law concerning deposits, that he should preserve these treasures safe for those who had deposited them.
16Then whoso had looked the high priest in the face, it would have wounded his heart: for his countenance and the changing of his color declared the inward agony of his mind.
16Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was wounded in mind; for his countenance and the change of his color betrayed the distress of his soul.
17For the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body , that it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what sorrow he had now in his heart .
17For a terror and a shuddering of the body had come over the man, by which the pain that was in his heart was plainly shown to those who looked at him.
18Others ran flocking out of their houses to the general supplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.
18Those who were in the houses rushed out in crowds to make a universal supplication, because the place was about to come into dishonor.
19And the women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, abounded in the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran , some to the gates, and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.
19The women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. The virgins who were kept indoors ran together, some to the gates, others to the walls, and some looked out through the windows.
20And all, holding their hands toward heaven, made supplication.
20All, stretching out their hands toward heaven, made their solemn supplication.
21Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the multitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest being in such an agony.
21Then it was pitiful to see the multitude prostrating themselves all mixed together, and the anxiety of the high priest in his great distress.
22They then called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things committed of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them.
22While therefore they called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things entrusted to them safe and secure for those who had entrusted them,
23Nevertheless Heliodorus executed that which was decreed.
23Heliodorus went on to execute that which had been decreed.
24Now as he was there present himself with his guard about the treasury, the Lord of spirits, and the Prince of all power, caused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the power of God, and fainted, and were sore afraid.
24But when he was already present there with his guards near the treasury, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused a great manifestation, so that all who had presumed to come with him, stricken with dismay at the power of God, fainted in terror.
25For there appeared to them an horse with a terrible rider upon him, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran fiercely, and struck at Heliodorus with his forefeet, and it seemed that he that sat upon the horse had complete harness of gold.
25For they saw a horse with a frightening rider, adorned with beautiful trappings, and he rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodorus with his forefeet. It seemed like he who sat on the horse had complete armor of gold.
26Moreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in strength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood by him on either side; and scourged him continually, and gave him many sore stripes.
26Two others also appeared to him, young men notable in their strength, and beautiful in their glory, and splendid in their apparel, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him unceasingly, inflicting on him many sore stripes.
27And Heliodorus fell suddenly to the ground, and was compassed with great darkness: but they that were with him took him up, and put him into a litter.
27When he had fallen suddenly to the ground, and great darkness had come over him, his guards picked him up and put him on a stretcher,
28Thus him, that lately came with a great train and with all his guard into the said treasury, they carried out, being unable to help himself with his weapons: and manifestly they acknowledged the power of God.
28and carried him—this man who had just now entered with a great retinue and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, himself now brought to utter helplessness, manifestly made to recognize the sovereignty of God.
29For he by the hand of God was cast down, and lay speechless without all hope of life.
29So, while he, through the working of God, speechless and bereft of all hope and deliverance, lay prostrate,
30But they praised the Lord, that had miraculously honored his own place: for the temple; which a little before was full of fear and trouble, when the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness .
30they blessed the Lord who acted marvelously for his own place. The temple, which a little before was full of terror and alarm, was filled with joy and gladness after the Almighty Lord appeared.
31Then straightways certain of Heliodorus' friends prayed Onias, that he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who lay ready to give up the ghost.
31But quickly some of Heliodorus’s familiar friends implored Onias to call upon the Most High to grant life to him who lay quite at the last gasp.
32So the high priest, suspecting lest the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice for the health of the man.
32The high priest, secretly fearing lest the king might come to think that some treachery toward Heliodorus had been perpetrated by the Jews, brought a sacrifice for the recovery of the man.
33Now as the high priest was making an atonement, the same young men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside Heliodorus, saying, Give Onias the high priest great thanks, insomuch as for his sake the Lord has granted you life:
33But as the high priest was making the atoning sacrifice, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus, arrayed in the same garments. They stood and said, “Give Onias the high priest great thanks, for for his sake the Lord has granted you life.
34And seeing that youhave been scourged from heaven, declare to all men the mighty power of God. And when they had spoken these words, they appeared no more.
34See that you, since you have been scourged from heaven, proclaim to all men the sovereign majesty of God.” When they had spoken these words, they vanished out of sight.
35So Heliodorus, after he had offered sacrifice to the Lord, and made great vows to him that had saved his life, and saluted Onias , returned with his host to the king.
35So Heliodorus, having offered a sacrifice to the Lord and vowed great vows to him who had saved his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, returned with his army to the king.
36Then testified he to all men the works of the great God, which he had seen with his eyes.
36He testified to all men the works of the greatest God, which he had seen with his eyes.
37And when the king Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be sent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,
37When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of man was fit to be sent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,
38If you have any enemy or traitor, send him there, and you shall receive him well scourged, if he escape with his life: for in that place, no doubt; there is an especial power of God .
38“If you have any enemy or conspirator against the state, send him there, and you will receive him back well scourged, if he even escapes with his life; because truly there is some power of God in that place.
39For he that dwells in heaven has his eye on that place, and defends it; and he beats and destroys them that come to hurt it.
39For he who has his dwelling in heaven himself has his eyes on that place and helps it. Those who come to hurt it, he strikes and destroys.”
40And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury, fell out on this sort.
40This was the history of Heliodorus and the keeping of the treasury.