The Koine Bible

So the high priest Simon, opposite the temple, bending the knees and stretching out the hands in orderly manner, made such a supplication

Lord, Lord, King of the heavens and Master of all creation, holy among the holy, sole ruler, almighty, attend to us who are oppressed by the impious and profane insolence and strength of the puffed-up one

For you are the one who created all things and are the just master ruling over all, and you judge those acting with insolence and arrogance to do anything.

You destroyed those who had committed injustice before, among whom there were also giants, trusting in strength and daring, by bringing upon them immeasurable water

You destroyed the Sodomites, who practice arrogance, having become conspicuous in their evils, with fire and brimstone, setting them as an example for those who come after.

You, by testing with varied and many punishments the bold Pharaoh who had enslaved your holy people Israel, made known your power in the things by which you made known your great might

and when he pursued him with chariots and a multitude of crowds, you overwhelmed them in the depth of the sea, but those who trusted in you, the one ruling over all creation, you brought through safe and sound

who also, having perceived the works of your hand, praised you, the Almighty

You, O king, having created the boundless and immeasurable earth, chose this city and hallowed this place for your name, you who have need of none among all, and you glorified it by a majestic manifestation, having made its establishment for the glory of your great and honored name

and loving the house of Israel, you promised that if there should be a turning away of us and distress should overtake us, and having come to this place we should pray, you would listen to our supplication

And indeed you are faithful and true.

But since our fathers were afflicted many times, you helped them in their humiliation and rescued them from great evils

But now, behold, holy king, because of our many and great sins we are oppressed and have been subjected to our enemies and we have been left in weakness

But in our downfall this bold and profane man is intent to insult the holy place on earth, distinguished by the name of your glory.

For your dwelling place, indeed, is heaven, the heaven of heaven, inaccessible to men.

but since you were well pleased, you sanctified this place in your people Israel with your glory

Do not avenge us in the uncleanness of these men, nor set us straight in defilement, lest the lawless boast in their wrath, nor rejoice in the pride of their tongue, saying,

We have trampled down the house of holiness as the houses of abominations are trampled down

Blot out our sins and scatter our wrongdoings, and shine forth your mercy at this time.

Let your compassions quickly overtake us, and give praises in the mouth of those who have fallen and have been broken in soul, having made peace for us.

There the God, the overseer of all, and holy forefather among the holy ones, having heard the lawful supplication, scourged him who was greatly puffed up with insolence and boldness.

shaking him on this side and on that like a reed by the wind, so that, fallen to the ground, still ineffective and paralyzed in his limbs, he was not even able to cry out, having been struck by just judgment

Wherefore both the friends and bodyguards, seeing the swift punishment that had come upon him, fearing lest even his life should quickly fail, dragged him out, being overwhelmed with exceeding fear

But later, having recovered himself in time, he in no way came to repentance; and having been rebuked, after uttering bitter threats, he departed.

But having been brought over into Egypt and increasing the things of wickedness, both through the previously mentioned drinking companions and associates separated from all justice

He was not satisfied only with countless acts of licentiousness, but he even advanced to such a degree of boldness that slanders were arising in the places, and many of the friends, looking intently at the king’s intention, were themselves also following his will.

He determined publicly to disseminate a reproach against the nation, and, having set up a pillar on the tower in the court, he engraved an inscription.

that none of those who do not sacrifice should enter into their temples, but all the Jews should be brought into a public registration and into domestic subjection, and those who oppose, being carried by force, should be made to depart from life

those also being registered to be branded and through fire into the body with the mark of Dionysus ivy-leaf, whom also to enroll into the previously established authority

But so that he might not appear to be hated by all, he wrote that if any of them chose to live among those initiated in the rites, these were to be equal citizens with the Alexandrians.

Some, then, hating superficially the treads of the city’s piety, readily gave themselves up, as about to share in some great glory from their association with the king to come

But the greatest part, with noble spirit, held firm and did not depart from piety, and, exchanging their property for the sake of life, they boldly tried to rescue themselves from the registrations

and they had become full of hope to obtain help, and those who were departing from them they abhorred, and as enemies of the nation they judged them, and they deprived them of common intercourse and usefulness