中英对照

1. 1.不久之后，王派了一位雅典的参议员，强迫犹太人放弃他们祖先的律法，不再按照神的律法生活，The Suppression of Judaism Not long after this, the king sent an Athenian senator to compel the Jews to forsake the laws of their fathers and cease to live by the laws of God,💡
2. 2.并且要污秽耶路撒冷的圣殿，称之为奥林匹斯宙斯的圣殿，要称革里琐的圣殿为陌生人之神宙斯的圣殿，正如那地方居住的人所做的那样。and also to pollute the temple in Jerusalem and call it the temple of Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in Geri′zim the temple of Zeus the Friend of Strangers, as did the people who dwelt in that place.💡
3. 3.邪恶的侵袭非常残酷和痛苦。Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil.💡
4. 4.因为圣殿中充满了外邦人所进行的淫乱和狂欢，他们在圣地内与娼妓嬉戏，并与妇人交合，另外还把不洁的祭物带进来。For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and besides brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit.💡
5. 5.祭坛上摆满了法律禁止的可憎供物。The altar was covered with abominable offerings which were forbidden by the laws.💡
6. 6.一个人不能守安息日，也不能遵守他祖先的节日，甚至不能承认自己是犹太人。A man could neither keep the sabbath, nor observe the feasts of his fathers, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew.💡
7. 7.在国王生日的月度庆祝活动中，犹太人在苦涩的强迫下被带来参与祭祀；当狄俄尼索斯的节日到来时，他们被迫戴着常春藤花环参加狄俄尼索斯的游行队伍，以示对狄俄尼索斯的敬意。On the monthly celebration of the king’s birthday, the Jews were taken, under bitter constraint, to partake of the sacrifices; and when the feast of Diony′sus came, they were compelled to walk in the procession in honor of Diony′sus, wearing wreaths of ivy.💡
8. 8.在托勒密的建议下，颁布了一项命令给邻近的希腊城市，要求他们也对犹太人采取同样的政策，让他们分享祭祀At the suggestion of Ptol′emy a decree was issued to the neighboring Greek cities, that they should adopt the same policy toward the Jews and make them partake of the sacrifices,💡
9. 9.并且应当杀死那些不愿改变为希腊风俗的人。因此，可以看到他们所遭遇的灾祸。and should slay those who did not choose to change over to Greek customs. One could see, therefore, the misery that had come upon them.💡
10. 10.例如，有两个妇女因为为孩子行了割礼而被带来。这些妇女被公开游街，婴儿挂在她们的胸前，然后被从城墙上抛下去。For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These women they publicly paraded about the city, with their babies hung at their breasts, then hurled them down headlong from the wall.💡
11. 11.其他聚集在附近洞穴中，秘密守七日安息的信徒，被出卖给腓力，并全部被烧死，因为他们的虔诚使他们不敢自卫，以示对那最圣日的尊重。Others who had assembled in the caves near by, to observe the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of their regard for that most holy day.💡
12. 12.现在遭遇的迫害具有神的安排意义 现在我敦促那些阅读这本书的人不要被这些灾难所压倒，而要认识到这些惩罚的目的不是要毁灭我们，而是要管教我们的百姓。Providential Significance of the Persecution Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities, but to recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our people.💡
13. 13.实际上，不让不虔诚的人长久存在，而是立即惩罚他们，这是极大的仁慈的标志。In fact, not to let the impious alone for long, but to punish them immediately, is a sign of great kindness.💡
14. 14.因为在其他国家，主等待时机成熟，直到他们的罪恶达到顶点才惩罚他们，但他对我们不是这样。For in the case of the other nations the Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have reached the full measure of their sins; but he does not deal in this way with us,💡
15. 15.为的是他不至于在我们的罪恶达到极点之后再来对我们施行报应。in order that he may not take vengeance on us afterward when our sins have reached their height.💡
16. 16.因此，他从不撤回对我们的怜悯。虽然他用灾难管教我们，却不抛弃自己的子民。Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us. Though he disciplines us with calamities, he does not forsake his own people.💡
17. 17.我们所说的话可以作为一个提醒，我们必须简要地继续讲这个故事。Let what we have said serve as a reminder; we must go on briefly with the story.💡
18. 18.以拉贾的殉道 以拉贾是位身居高位的文士，现已年纪老迈，仪表堂堂，他被强迫张开嘴吃猪肉。The Martyrdom of Eleazar Elea′zar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.💡
19. 19.但他宁愿以荣誉迎接死亡也不愿以污秽度日，于是他自愿走向刑架，吐出肉体，But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh,💡
20. 20.正如那些有勇气拒绝不该享受的事的人一样，即使是出于对生命的自然之爱，他们也应当这样做。as men ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life.💡
21. 21.那些主持违法祭祀的人因为与那人长期相识，就把他拉到一边，私下里催促他自己带来适合自己吃的肉，假装吃由王命令的祭祀肉Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside, because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal which had been commanded by the king,💡
22. 22.这样做他也许能免于一死，并且因为他们过去的友谊而得到他们的宽待。so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them.💡
23. 23.但他却立下高尚的决心，配得上他的年纪、老年应有的尊严和他以卓著的成就赢得的白发，以及他从童年时期就过的美好生活，况且也是遵循神圣的法律，他迅速表明了自己的态度，告诉他们把他送往阴间。But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray hairs which he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them to send him to Hades.💡
24. 24.“这种做法不配我们这个年龄的人，”他说，“免得许多年轻人以为九十岁的埃勒亚撒已经转向异教，“Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life,” he said, “lest many of the young should suppose that Elea′zar in his ninetieth year has gone over to an alien religion,💡
25. 25.并且因我的虚伪，为了多活一会儿，他们因我而误入歧途，而我却玷污和羞辱我的晚年。and through my pretense, for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led astray because of me, while I defile and disgrace my old age.💡
26. 26.即使我现在能够避免人前的惩罚，无论我是生是死，都不能脱离全能者的手。For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty.💡
27. 27.因此，我现在勇敢地献出生命，就会证明自己配得上自己的年纪Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age💡
28. 28.并为年轻人留下了一个高尚的榜样，表明他们如何能够甘愿并高贵地为受人尊敬和神圣的法律献出生命。”说完这些话，他立刻走向了刑架。and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said this, he went at once to the rack.💡
29. 29.那些稍早前对他还表示好意的人，现在却转而怀着恶意，因为他们认为他所说的话纯粹是胡言乱语。And those who a little before had acted toward him with good will now changed to ill will, because the words he had uttered were in their opinion sheer madness.💡
30. 30.他快要死去的时候，痛苦地叹息着说：主以他的圣洁知识清楚地知道，虽然我可以避免死亡，但我仍然忍受着身体的极大痛苦，因为我惧怕他，所以我高兴地忍受这些苦难。When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned aloud and said: “It is clear to the Lord in his holy knowledge that, though I might have been saved from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my body under this beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these things because I fear him.”💡
31. 31.于是他以这样的方式死去，在他的死中留下了高尚的榜样和勇气的纪念，不仅对于年轻人，也是对于他整个民族的大众。So in this way he died, leaving in his death an example of nobility and a memorial of courage, not only to the young but to the great body of his nation.💡