2. kniha Machabejcov

1 (KAT) Čoskoro potom vyslal kráľ istého starca pôvodom z Athén donucovať Židov, aby odpadli od otcovských zákonov a neriadili sa Božími príkazmi.
1 (KJV) Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:

2 (KAT) Mal tiež znesvätiť jeruzalemský chrám a pomenovať ho menom Zeusa Olympského; a ten na Garizime mal, vzhľadom na povahu tamojších obyvateľov, nazvať menom Zeusa Pohostinného.
2 (KJV) And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.

3 (KAT) To bol príval zloby, priťažký a odporný najmä obyčajnému ľudu.
3 (KJV) The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:

4 (KAT) Lebo pohania naplnili chrám výstrednosťami a radovánkami, bavili sa tam so smilnicami a vo svätých nádvoriach sa stýkali so ženami, ba vnášali dovnútra aj neslušné veci
4 (KJV) For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.

5 (KAT) a obetný oltár napĺňali neprístojnosťami, ktoré zákony nedovoľovali.
5 (KJV) The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.

6 (KAT) Nebolo možné svätiť soboty, zachovávať otcovské sviatky; ba nik sa už nesmel ani priznať, že je Židom.
6 (KJV) Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.

7 (KAT) Po krutom donucovaní vláčili ich k obete, ktorá sa konávala každý mesiac na deň kráľových narodenín. Alebo keď bol Dionýzov sviatok, nútili Židov, aby sa zúčastnili na sprievode s brečtanovými vencami.
7 (KJV) And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.

8 (KAT) Do susedných gréckych miest tiež došlo nariadenie, a to na popud Ptolemea, aby takisto postupovali proti Židom a donucovali ich obetovať;
8 (KJV) Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:

9 (KAT) a takých, ktorí by nechceli prestúpiť na grécke mravy, aby usmrtili. Bolo, pravda, aj vidieť, aká nastala bieda.
9 (KJV) And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.

10 (KAT) Tak udali dve ženy, ktoré obrezali svojich synov. Zavesili im nemluvňatá na prsia, verejne ich viedli mestom a potom zhodili z múru.
10 (KJV) For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.

11 (KAT) Keď sa zasa iní zhromaždili do najbližších jaskýň, aby tajne svätili sobotu, a udali ich Filipovi, boli upálení, pretože sa vzdali svojej obrany z veľkej úcty pred sviatočným dňom.
11 (KJV) And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.

12 (KAT) Prosím však čitateľov, ktorým raz príde do ruky táto kniha, aby sa nepozastavovali nad tými ťažkými navštíveniami; nech si uvážia, že tie tresty nie sú na záhubu, ale na poučenie nášho národa.
12 (KJV) Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.

13 (KAT) Veď práve to je dôkazom veľkého dobrodenia, keď sa bezbožníci neponechávajú na svojvôľu, ale ak ich hneď stíhajú tresty!
13 (KJV) For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.

14 (KAT) U iných národov zhovievavo čaká Pán s navštívením, až kým sa nenaplní miera ich hriechov,
14 (KJV) For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,

15 (KAT) s nami sa však rozhodol zaobchádzať inak, aby sa nemusel na nás pomstiť až potom, keď už došli naše hriechy k vrcholu.
15 (KJV) Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.

16 (KAT) Preto nám nikdy neodníma svoje milosrdenstvo, ale poučuje navštívením: svoj ľud však neopúšťa.
16 (KJV) And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.

17 (KAT) Toľko na povzbudenie! Ale po tejto skromnej poznámke vráťme sa k rozprávaniu.
17 (KJV) But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.

18 (KAT) Istý Eleazar, jeden z popredných zákonníkov, muž hoc aj pokročilého veku, predsa krásneho výzoru tváre, bol nútený jesť bravčové mäso, pričom mu násilne otvárali ústa.
18 (KJV) Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.

19 (KAT) Ale on radšej volil slávnu smrť než potupný život a dobrovoľne šiel k mučidlu,
19 (KJV) But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,

20 (KAT) keď to už vypľul. Takto postupovať bolo povinnosťou tých, ktorí sa vytrvalo bránili proti tomu, čo nie je dovolené požívať, pri všetkej láske k životu.
20 (KJV) As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.

21 (KAT) Tí, čo dozerali nad nezákonnou obetnou hostinou, odviedli muža nabok a vzhľadom na dávnu známosť s ním ho nahovárali, aby si dal priniesť mäso podľa svojej žiadosti, nech si ho sám pripraví a nech naoko je ako z obetného mäsa podľa kráľovho rozkazu,
21 (KJV) But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;

22 (KAT) aby sa tým činom vyhol smrti; a že mu pre dávne priateľstvo poskytnú ohľaduplné zaobchádzanie.
22 (KJV) That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour.

23 (KAT) On však urobil rozhodnutie ozaj hodné svojho veku a dôstojnosti starca, prirodzenej šľachetnosti svojich šedín i krásneho života od mladi, ba viac, v úplnom súlade so svätým, od Boha daným zákonom. Odpovedal rýchlo a povedal, nech ho radšej pošlú do podsvetia!
23 (KJV) But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.

24 (KAT) „Lebo“ - riekol - „nesluší sa na náš vek pretvarovať sa. Veď mnohí mladíci by sa mohli domnievať, že deväťdesiatročný Eleazar prestúpil na pohanstvo,
24 (KJV) For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;

25 (KAT) a tak by sa mohli pomýliť pre moju pretvárku a trošku nestáleho života. Ja však by som si privolal len odpor a hanbu na moju starobu.
25 (KJV) And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.

26 (KAT) A keby som nateraz aj unikol ľudským mukám, rukám Všemohúceho neuniknem ani živý, ani mŕtvy.
26 (KJV) For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.

27 (KAT) Preto sa teraz mužne rozlúčim so životom a ukážem sa hodným svojej staroby.
27 (KJV) Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth,

28 (KAT) Mladíkom zase zanechám šľachetný príklad, ak ochotne a bez bázne podstúpim smrť za vznešené a sväté zákony.“ S týmito slovami išiel hneď, aby ho umučili.
28 (KJV) And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment:

29 (KAT) Sprevádzali ho tí, ktorí síce krátko predtým boli k nemu milí, ale po jeho slovách sa rozbesnili, lebo si mysleli, že hovoril z blúznivej odvahy.
29 (KJV) They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.

30 (KAT) Už pod ranami dokonával, keď si zavzdychal a riekol: „Pán, ktorý má svätú múdrosť, vie, že hoci som mohol vyhnúť smrti, na tele síce znášam kruté muky bičovania, ale v duši rád trpím z bázne pred Bohom.“
30 (KJV) But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.

31 (KAT) Tak dokonal a zanechal svoju smrť nielen mladíkom, ale väčšine národa za vzor veľkodušnosti a ako pamiatku statočnosti.
31 (KJV) And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.