§2.2Κύριε, Κύριε, βασιλεῦ τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ δέσποτα πάσης τῆς κτίσεως, ἅγιε ἐν ἁγίοις, μόναρχε, παντοκράτωρ, πρόσχες ἡμῖν καταπονουμένοις ὑπὸ ἀνοσίου καὶ βεβήλου, θράσει καὶ σθένει πεφρυασμένου.
Lord, Lord, King of the heavens, and Master of all creation, Holy among the holy ones, Sovereign, Almighty, look upon us who are suffering under an impious and profane man, who is puffed up with arrogance and strength.
§2.3σὺ γὰρ εἶ ὁ κτίσας τὰ πάντα, καὶ τῶν ὅλων ἐπικρατῶν· δυνάστης δίκαιος εἶ, καὶ τοὺς ὕβρει καὶ ἀγερωχίᾳ τι πράσσοντας κρίνεις.
For you are the one who created all things, and who rules over the universe; you are a righteous ruler, and you judge those who do anything with insolence and arrogance.
§2.4σὺ τοὺς ἔμπροσθεν ἀδικίαν ποιήσαντας, ἐν οἷς γίγαντες ἦσαν ῥώμῃ καὶ θράσει πεποιθότες, διέφθειρας, ἐπαγαγὼν αὐτοῖς ἀμέτρητον ὕδωρ.
You destroyed those who in former times committed injustice, among whom were giants relying on their strength and boldness, by bringing upon them immeasurable water.
§2.5σὺ τοὺς ὑπερηφανίαν ἐργαζομένους Σοδομίτας, ἀδήλους ταῖς κακίαις γενομένους, πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ κατέφλεξας, παράδιγμα τοῖς ἐπιγινομένοις καταστήσας.
You burned with fire and sulfur the Sodomites who practiced arrogance, who had become notorious for their vices, making them an example to those who should come after.
§2.6σὺ τὸν θρασὺν Φαραώ, καταδουλωσάμενον τὸν λαόν σου τὸν ἅγιον Ἰσραήλ, ποικίλαις καὶ πολλαῖς δοκιμάσας τιμωρίαις ἐγνώρισας τὴν σὴν δύναμιν, ἐφʼ αἷς ἐγνώρισας τὸ μέγα σου κράτος.
You tested the bold Pharaoh, who had enslaved your holy people Israel, with various and many punishments, and made known your power, through which you displayed your great might.
§2.7καὶ ἐπιδιώξαντα αὐτὸν σὺν ἅρμασιν καὶ ὄχλων πλήθει, ἐπέκλυσας βάθει θαλάσσης, τοὺς δὲ ἐνπιστεύσαντας ἐπὶ σοὶ τῷ τῆς ἁπάσης κτίσεως δυναστεύοντι, σῴους διεκόμισας.
And when he pursued them with chariots and a multitude of hosts, you overwhelmed him in the depth of the sea, but those who trusted in you, who rule over all creation, you brought through safe and sound.
§2.8οἳ καὶ συνιδόντες ἔργα σῆς χειρός, ἤνεσάν σε τὸν παντοκράτορα.
And they, having witnessed the works of your hand, praised you, the Almighty.
§2.9σύ, βασιλεῦ, κτίσας τὴν ἀπέρατον καὶ ἀμέτρητον γῆν, ἐξελέξω τὴν πόλιν ταύτην, καὶ ἡγίασας τὸν τόπον τοῦτον εἰς σὸν ὄνομά σοι τῷ τῶν ἁπάντων ἀπροσδεεῖ, καὶ παρεδόξασας ἐν ἐπιφανείᾳ μεγαλοπρεπεῖ, σύστασιν ποιησάμενος αὐτοῦ πρὸς δόξαν τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ἐντίμου ὀνόματός σου.
You, O King, having created the boundless and immeasurable earth, chose this city and sanctified this place for your name, for yourself who have no need of anything, and glorified it with a magnificent manifestation, establishing it for the glory of your great and honorable name.
§2.10καὶ ἀγαπῶν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, ἐπηγγείλω διότι ἐὰν γένηται ἡμῶν ἀποστροφὴ καὶ καταλάβῃ ἡμᾶς στενοχωρία, καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὸν τόπον ἡμῶν δεηθῶμεν, εἰσακούσῃ τῆς δεήσεως ἡμῶν.
And loving the house of Israel, you promised that if we should turn away and distress should overtake us, and we should come to this place and pray, you would hear our prayer.
§2.11καὶ δὴ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός.
And indeed, you are faithful and true.
§2.12ἐπεὶ δὲ πλεονάκις καὶ θλιβέντων τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ἐβοήθησας αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει, καὶ ἐρρύσω αὐτοὺς ἐκ μεγάλων κακῶν·
For when our fathers were afflicted many times, you helped them in their humiliation and rescued them from great evils.
§2.13ἰδοὺ δὲ νῦν, ἅγιε βασιλεῦ, διὰ τὰς πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίας καταπονούμεθα, καὶ ὑπετάγημεν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἡμῶν, καὶ παρείμεθα ἐν ἀδυναμίαις.
But behold now, O holy King, because of our many and great sins, we are being afflicted, and we have been subjected to our enemies, and we are left helpless in our weakness.
§2.14ἐν δὲ τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ καταπτώσει ὁ θρασὺς καὶ βέβηλος οὗτος ἐπιτηδεύει καθυβρίσαι τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀναδεδιγμένον τῷ ὀνόματι τῆς δόξης σου ἅγιον τόπον.
In our downfall, this bold and profane man attempts to insult the holy place which has been dedicated on earth to the name of your glory.
§2.15τὸ μὲν γὰρ κατοικητήριόν σου οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀνέφικτος ἀνθρώποις ἐστίν.
For your dwelling place, the heaven of heaven, is inaccessible to humans.
§2.16ὰλλὰ ἐπεὶ εὐδόκησας τὴν δόξαν σου ἐν τῷ λαῷ σου Ἰσραήλ, ἡγίασας τὸν τόπον τοῦτον.
But since you were pleased to place your glory among your people Israel, you sanctified this place.
§2.17μὴ ἐκδικήσῃς ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ τούτων ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, μηδὲ εὐθύνῃς ἡμᾶς ἐν βεβηλώσει, ἵνα μὴ καυχήσωνται οἱ παράνομοι ἐν θυμῷ αὐτῶν, μηδὲ ἀγαλλιάσωνται ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ γλώσσης αὐτῶν, λέγοντες §2.18Ἡμεῖς κατεπατήσαμεν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἁγιασμοῦ, ὡς καταπατοῦνται οἱ οἶκοι τῶν προσοχθισμάτων. §2.19ἀπάλειψον τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, καὶ διασκέδασον τὰς ἀμβλακίας ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐπίφανον τὸ ἔλεός σου κατὰ τὴν ὥραν ταύτην.
Do not punish us by the uncleanness of these men, nor condemn us by their profanation, lest the lawless boast in their wrath, nor let them exult in the pride of their tongue, saying: 'We have trampled down the house of sanctuary, as the houses of abominations are trampled down.' Blot out our sins, and disperse our errors, and manifest your mercy at this very hour.
§2.20ταχὺ προκαταλαβέτωσαν οἱ οἰκτιρμοί σου· καὶ δὸς αἰνέσεις ἐν τῷ στόματι τῶν καταπεπτωκότων καὶ συντετριμμένων τὰς ψυχάς, ποιήσας ἡμῖν εἰρήνην.
Let your compassions speedily overtake us, and put praises in the mouth of those who are cast down and broken in spirit, making peace for us.
§2.21Ἐυταῦθα ὁ πάντων ἐπόπτης θεὸς καὶ προπάτωρ ἅγιος ἐν ἁγίοις εἰσακούσας τῆς ἐνθέσμου λιτανείας, τὸν ὕβρει καὶ θράσει μεγάλως ἐπηρμένον ἐμάστιξεν αὐτόν, §2.22ἔυθεν καὶ ἔνθεν κραδάνας αὐτὸν ὡς κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου, ὥστε κατʼ ἐδάφους ἄπρακτον ἔτι καὶ τοῖς μέλεσιν παραλελυμένον, μηδὲ φωνῆσαι δύνασθαι δικαίᾳ πεπληγμένον κρίσει.
Thereupon the all-seeing God and holy Ancestor among the holy ones, having heard their lawful petition, scourged him who was greatly exalted in insolence and boldness, shaking him to and fro like a reed by the wind, so that he fell to the ground powerless and paralyzed in his limbs, unable even to speak, being stricken by a righteous judgment.
§2.23ὅθεν οἵ τε φίλοι καὶ σωματοφύλακες ὀξεῖαν ἰδόντες τὴν καταλαβοῦσαν αὐτὸν εὔθυναν, φοβούμενοι μὴ καὶ τὸ ζῆν ἐκλείπῃ, ταχέως αὐτὸν ἐξείλκυσαν ὑπερβάλλοντι καταπεπληγμένοι φόβῳ.
Therefore his friends and bodyguards, seeing the sharp punishment that had overtaken him, and fearing lest he should even lose his life, quickly dragged him out, being struck with exceeding fear.
§2.24ἐν χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον ἀναλεξάμενος αὑτόν, οὐδαμῶς εἰς μετάμελον ἦλθεν ἐπιτιμηθείς, μετὰ ἀπειλῆς δὲ πικρᾶς θέμενος ἀνέλυσεν.
But some time later, when he came to himself, he by no means came to repentance though he had been chastised, but departed with bitter threats.
§2.25Διακομισθεὶς δὲ εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον, καὶ τὰ τῆς κακίας ἐπαύξων, διά τε τῶν προαποδεδιγμένων συνποτῶν καὶ ἑταίρων τοῦ παντὸς δικαίου κεχωρισμένων, §2.26οὐ μόνον ταῖς ἀναριθμήτοις ἀσελγίαις διηρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον θράσους προῆλθεν, ὥστε δυσφημίας ἐν τοῖς τόποις συνίστασθαι, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν φίλων ἀτενίζοντας εἰς τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως πρόθεσιν καὶ αὐτοὺς ἕπεσθαι τῇ ἐκείνου θελήσει.
And having returned to Egypt, and increasing his wickedness through his aforementioned drinking companions and associates, who were alienated from all righteousness, he was not only unsatisfied with countless acts of licentiousness, but also went to such a degree of boldness that he initiated slanders in those places, and many of his friends, looking closely at the king's purpose, themselves also followed his will.
§2.27προέθετο δημοσίᾳ κατὰ τοῦ ἔθνους διαδοῦναι ψόγον· ἐπὶ τοῦ κατὰ τὴν αὐλὴν πύργου στήλην ἀναστήσας, ἐκόλαψεν γραφήν §2.28Μηδένα τῶν μὴ θυόντων ἐπὶ τὰ ἱερὰ αὐτῶν εἰσιέναι, πάντας δὲ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους εἰς λαογραφίαν καὶ οἰκετικὴν διάθεσιν ἀχθῆναι, τοὺς δὲ ἀντιλέγοντας βίᾳ φερομένους τοῦ ζῇν μεταστῆσαι· §2.29τούς τε ἀπογραφομένους χαράσσεσθαι καὶ διὰ πυρὸς εἰς τὸ σῶμα παρασήμῳ Διονύσου κισσοφύλλῳ· οὓς καὶ προκαταχωρίσαι εἰς τὴν προσυνεσταλμένην αὐθεντίαν. §2.30ἵνα δὲ μὴ τοῖς πᾶσιν ἀπεχθόμενος φαίνηται, ὑπέγραψεν Ἐὰν δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν προαιρῶνται ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τελετὰς μεμυημένοις ἀναστρέφεσθαι, τούτους ἰσοπολίτας Ἀλεξανδρεῦσιν εἶναι. §2.31Ἔνιοι μὲν ἐπιπολαίως τὰς τῆς πόλεως εὐσεβείας ἐπιβάθρας στυγοῦντες, εὐχερῶς ἑαυτοὺς ἐδίδοσαν, ὡς μεγάλης τινὸς κοινωνήσοντες εὐκλείας ἀπὸ τῆς ἐσομένης τῷ βασιλεῖ συναναστροφῆς.
He purposed to publish a public reproach against the nation; having set up a pillar on the tower near the court, he engraved a decree: 'None of those who do not sacrifice shall enter their temples, and all Jews shall be subjected to a registration and a slave status, and those who speak against it shall be taken by force and deprived of life;' 'and those who are registered shall be branded on their bodies by fire with the ivy-leaf symbol of Dionysus, and they shall be registered into their previously restricted status.' But so that he might not appear hostile to all, he added: 'But if any of them should prefer to associate with those initiated into the mysteries, these shall have equal citizenship with the Alexandrians.' Some, superficially hating the foundations of the city's piety, readily gave themselves up, thinking that they would share in some great glory from their future association with the king.
§2.32οἱ δὲ πλεῖστοι γενναίᾳ ψυχῇ ἐνίσχυσαν, καὶ οὐ διέστησαν τῆς εὐσεβείας· τά τε χρήματα περὶ τοῦ ζῇν ἀντικαταλλασσόμενοι ἀδεῶς ἐπειρῶντο ἑαυτοὺς ῥύσασθαι ἐκ τῶν ἀπογραφῶν.
But the majority strengthened themselves with a noble soul, and did not depart from their piety; exchanging their possessions for their lives, they fearlessly attempted to rescue themselves from the registration.
§2.33εὐέλπιδές τε καθιστήκεισαν ἀντιλήμψεως τεύξασθαι, καὶ τοὺς ἀποχωροῦντας ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐβδελύσσοντο, καὶ ὡς πολεμίους τοῦ ἔθνους ἔκρινον, καὶ τῆς κοινῆς συναναστροφῆς καὶ εὐχρηστίας ἐστέρουν.
They remained of good hope to obtain help, and abhorred those who departed from among them, judging them as enemies of the nation, and depriving them of common association and mutual usefulness.