2 Maccabees, 3

1. While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of evil,

1. While the holy city was inhabited in all peace and the laws were observed as perfectly as possible, owing to the piety of Onias the high priest and his hatred of wickedness,

2. the kings themselves honored the Place and glorified the temple with the most magnificent gifts.

2. it came about that the kings themselves honoured the holy place and enhanced the glory of the Temple with the most splendid offerings,

3. Thus Seleucus, king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary for the sacrificial services.

3. even to the extent that Seleucus king of Asia defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses arising out of the sacrificial liturgy.

4. But a certain Simon, of the priestly course of Bilgah, who had been appointed superintendent of the temple, had a quarrel with the high priest about the supervision of the city market.

4. But a certain Simon, of the tribe of Bilgah, on being appointed administrator of the Temple, came into conflict with the high priest over the regulation of the city markets.

5. Since he could not prevail against Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,

5. Unable to get the better of Onias, he went off to Apollonius, son of Thraseos, who was at that time commander-in-chief of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia,

6. and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was so full of untold riches that the total sum of money was incalculable and out of all proportion to the cost of the sacrifices, and that it would be possible to bring it all under the control of the king.

6. and made out to him that the Treasury in Jerusalem was groaning with untold wealth, that the amount contributed was incalculable and out of all proportion to expenditure on the sacrifice, but that it could all be brought under the control of the king.

7. When Apollonius had an audience with the king, he informed him about the riches that had been reported to him. The king chose his minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to expropriate the aforesaid wealth.

7. Apollonius met the king and told him about the wealth that had been disclosed to him; whereupon the king selected Heliodorus, his chancellor, and sent him with instructions to effect the removal of the reported wealth.

8. So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king's purpose.

8. Heliodorus lost no time in setting out, ostensibly to inspect the towns of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, but in fact to accomplish the king's purpose.

9. When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he asked if these things were really true.

9. On his arrival in Jerusalem, and after a hospitable reception from the high priest and the city, he announced what had been disclosed, thus revealing the reason for his presence, and asked if this was indeed the true situation.

10. The high priest explained that part of the money was a care fund for widows and orphans,

10. The high priest explained that there were funds set aside for widows and orphans,

11. and a part was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the calumnies of the impious Simon, the total amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.

11. with some belonging to Hyrcanus son of Tobias, a man occupying a very exalted position, and that the whole sum, in contrast to what the evil Simon had alleged, amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.

12. He added that it was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the Place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world.

12. He also added that it was entirely out of the question that an injustice should be done to those who had put their trust in the sanctity of the place and in the inviolable majesty of a Temple venerated throughout the entire world.

13. But because of the orders he had from the king, Heliodorus said that in any case the money must be confiscated for the royal treasury.

13. But Heliodorus, because of his instructions from the king, peremptorily insisted that the funds must be confiscated for the royal exchequer.

14. So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was great distress throughout the city.

14. Fixing a day for the purpose, he went in to draw up an inventory of the funds. There was no little consternation throughout the city;

15. Priests prostrated themselves in their priestly robes before the altar, and loudly begged him in heaven who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them.

15. the priests in their sacred vestments prostrated themselves before the altar and prayed to Heaven, to the Author of the law governing deposits, to preserve these funds intact for the depositors.

16. Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed color of his face manifested the anguish of his soul.

16. The appearance of the high priest was enough to pierce the heart of the beholder, his expression and his altered colour betraying the anguish of his soul;

17. The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart.

17. the man was so overwhelmed by fear and bodily trembling that those who saw him could not possibly mistake the distress he was suffering.

18. People rushed out of their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the Place was in danger of being profaned.

18. People rushed headlong from the houses, intent on making public supplication because of the indignity threatening the holy place.

19. Women, girded with sackcloth below their breasts, filled the streets; maidens secluded indoors ran together, some to the gates, some to the walls, others peered through the windows,

19. Women thronged the streets swathed in sackcloth below their breasts; girls secluded indoors came running, some to the doorways, some to the city walls, while others leaned out of the windows,

20. all of them with hands raised toward heaven, making supplication.

20. all stretching out their hands to Heaven in entreaty.

21. It was pitiful to see the populace variously prostrated in prayer and the high priest full of dread and anguish.

21. It was pitiful to see the people crowding together to prostrate themselves, and the foreboding of the high priest in his deep anguish.

22. While they were imploring the almighty Lord to keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in trust,

22. While they were calling on the all-powerful Lord to preserve the deposits intact for the depositors, in full security,

23. Heliodorus went on with his plan.

23. Heliodorus set about his appointed task.

24. But just as he was approaching the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits who holds all power manifested himself in so striking a way that those who had been bold enough to follow Heliodorus were panic-stricken at God's power and fainted away in terror.

24. He had already arrived with his bodyguard near the Treasury, when the Sovereign of spirits and of every power caused so great an apparition that all who had dared to accompany Heliodorus were dumbfounded at the power of God and reduced to abject terror.

25. There appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a dreadful rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hoofs. The rider was seen to be wearing golden armor.

25. Before their eyes appeared a horse richly caparisoned and carrying a fearsome rider. Rearing violently, it struck at Heliodorus with its forefeet. The rider was seen to be accoutred entirely in gold.

26. Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him innumerable blows.

26. Two other young men of outstanding strength and radiant beauty, magnificently apparelled, appeared to him at the same time and, taking their stand on each side of him, flogged him unremittingly, inflicting stroke after stroke.

27. Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness. Men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher.

27. Suddenly Heliodorus fell to the ground, enveloped in thick darkness. His men came to his rescue and placed him in a litter,

28. The man who a moment before had entered that treasury with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard was carried away helpless, having clearly experienced the sovereign power of God.

28. this man who but a moment before had made his way into the Treasury, as we said above, with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard; and as they carried him away, powerless to help himself, they openly acknowledged the sovereign power of God.

29. While he lay speechless and deprived of all hope of aid, due to an act of God's power,

29. While Heliodorus lay prostrate under the divine visitation, speechless and bereft of all hope of deliverance,

30. the Jews praised the Lord who had marvelously glorified his holy Place; and the temple, charged so shortly before with fear and commotion, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the almighty Lord had manifested himself.

30. the Jews blessed the Lord who had miraculously glorified his own holy place. And the Temple, which a little while before had been filled with terror and commotion, now overflowed with joy and gladness at the manifestation of the almighty Lord.

31. Soon some of the companions of Heliodorus begged Onias to invoke the Most High, praying that the life of the man who was about to expire might be spared.

31. Some of Heliodorus' companions quickly begged Onias to entreat the Most High to grant the man his life, lying as he did at the very point of death.

32. Fearing that the king might think that Heliodorus had suffered some foul play at the hands of the Jews, the high priest offered a sacrifice for the man's recovery.

32. The high priest, afraid that the king might suspect the Jews of some foul play concerning Heliodorus, did indeed offer a sacrifice for the man's recovery.

33. While the high priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men in the same clothing again appeared and stood before Heliodorus. "Be very grateful to the high priest Onias," they told him. "It is for his sake that the Lord has spared your life.

33. And while the high priest was performing the rite of expiation, the same young men again appeared to Heliodorus, wearing the same apparel and, standing beside him, said, 'Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, since it is for his sake that the Lord has granted you your life.

34. Since you have been scourged by Heaven, proclaim to all men the majesty of God's power." When they had said this, they disappeared.

34. As for you, who have been scourged by Heaven, you must proclaim to everyone the grandeur of God's power.' So saying, they vanished.

35. After Heliodorus had offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to him who had spared his life, he bade Onias farewell, and returned with his soldiers to the king.

35. Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to the preserver of his life, and then took courteous leave of Onias and marched his forces back to the king.

36. Before all men he gave witness to the deeds of the most high God that he had seen with his own eyes.

36. He openly testified to everyone about the works of the supreme God which he had seen with his own eyes.

37. When the king asked Heliodorus who would be a suitable man to be sent to Jerusalem next, he answered:

37. When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of man would be the right person to send to Jerusalem on a second occasion, he replied,

38. "If you have an enemy or a plotter against the government, send him there, and you will receive him back well-flogged, if indeed he survives at all; for there is certainly some special divine power about the Place.

38. 'If you have some enemy or anyone disloyal to the state, send him there, and you will get him back well flogged, if he survives at all, since some peculiarly divine power attaches to the holy place.

39. He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that Place and protects it, and he strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it."

39. He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over the place and defends it, and he strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it.'

40. This was how the matter concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the treasury turned out.

40. This was the outcome of the affair of Heliodorus and the preservation of the Treasury.