§3.1Ἃ καὶ μεταλαμβάνων ὁ δυσσεβὴς ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐξεχόλησεν ὥστε οὐ μόνον τοῖς κατὰ Ἀλεξάνδρειαν ὀργίζεσθαι ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ βαρυτέρως ἐναντιωθῆναι, καὶ προστάξαι σπεύδοντας συναγαγεῖν πάντας ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, καὶ χειρίστῳ μόρῳ τοῦ ζῆν μεταστῆσαι.
Hearing these things, the impious king was so enraged that he was not only angry with those in Alexandria, but also opposed those in the countryside even more severely, and ordered to gather all of them in haste to the same place, and to put them to death by the worst fate.
§3.2τούτων δὲ οἰκονομουμένων φήμη δυσμενὴς ἐξέκειτο κατὰ τοῦ γένους ἀνθρώποις συμφρονοῦσιν εἰς κακοποίησιν, ἀφορμῆς δὲ διδομένης εἰς διάθεσιν, ὡς ἂν ἀπὸ τῶν νομίμων αὐτοὺς κωλυόντων.
While these things were being arranged, a hostile rumor went abroad against the nation among men who agreed to do evil, an opportunity being given for harsh treatment, on the ground that they were hindering them from their customs.
§3.3οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι τὴν μὲν πρὸς τοὺς βασιλεῖς εὔνοιαν καὶ πίστιν ἀδιάστροφον ἦσαν φυλάσσοντες· §3.4σεβόμενοι δὲ τὸν θεόν, καὶ τῷ τούτου νόμῳ πολιτευόμενοι, χωρισμὸν ἐποίουν ἐπὶ τῷ κατὰ τὰς τροφάς.
But the Jews on their part continued to preserve their goodwill and unwavering loyalty toward the kings; but since they worshiped God and lived according to His law, they maintained a separation in the matter of food.
δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν ἔνιοι ἀπεχθεῖς ἐφαίνοντο· §3.5τῇ δὲ τῶν δικαίων εὐπραξίᾳ κοσμοῦντες τὴν συναναστροφήν, ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις εὐδόκιμοι καθειστήκεισαν.
For this reason they appeared hateful to some; but adorning their association with the good conduct of righteous deeds, they had established themselves in good repute with all men.
§3.6τὴν μὲν οὖν περὶ τοῦ γένους ἐν πᾶσιν θρυλουμένην εὐπραξίαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι οὐδαμῶς διηριθμήσαντο· §3.7τὴν δὲ περὶ τῶν προσκυνήσεων καὶ τροφῶν διάστασιν ἐθρύλουν, φάσκοντες μήτε τῷ βασιλεῖ μήτε ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ὁμοσπόνδους τοὺς ἀνθρώπους γίνεσθαι, δυσμενεῖς δὲ εἶναι καὶ μέγα τι τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐναντιουμένους· καὶ οὐ τῷ τυχόντι περιήψαντο φόβῳ.
Now, the foreigners took no account of the good conduct of the nation which was talked about among all; but they made a clamor about the difference regarding worship and food, alleging that the people did not join in fellowship with the king or his forces, but were hostile and greatly opposed to their affairs; and they cast no ordinary fear upon them.
§3.8Οἱ δὲ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν Ἕλληνες οὐδὲν ἠδικημένοι, ταραχὴν ἀπροσδόκητον περὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας θεωροῦντες καὶ συνδρομὰς ἀπροσκόπους γινομένας, βοηθεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἔσθενον· τυραννικὴ γὰρ ἦν ἡ διάθεσις· παρεκάλουν δὲ καὶ δυσφόρως εἶχον, καὶ μεταπεσεῖσθαι ταῦτα ὑπελάμβανον· §3.9μὴ γὰρ οὕτω παροραθήσεσθαι τηλικοῦτο σύστεμα μηδὲν ἠγνοηκός.
The Greeks in the city, though in no way wronged, seeing the unexpected trouble surrounding these men and the sudden assemblies taking place, were powerless to help (for the disposition was tyrannical); but they comforted them and were grieved, and expected that these things would change; for they believed that so great a community, having committed no wrong, would not be thus overlooked.
§3.10ἤδη δὲ καί τινες γείτονές τε καὶ φίλοι καὶ συνπραγματευόμενοι, μυστικῶς τινας ἐπισπώμενοι, πίστεις ἐδίδουν συνασπιεῖν, καὶ πᾶν ἐκτενὲς προσοίσεσθαι πρὸς ἀντίλημψίν.
And already some neighbors, friends, and business associates, secretly drawing some aside, gave pledges to shield them and to put forth every effort to assist them.
§3.11Ἐκεῖνος μὲν οὖν τῇ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν εὐημερίᾳ γεγαυρωμένος, καὶ οὐ καθορῶν τὸ τοῦ μεγίστου θεοῦ κράτος, ὑπολαμβάνων δὲ διηνεκῶς ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ διαμένειν βουλῇ, ἔγραψεν κατʼ αὐτῶν ἐπιστολὴν τήνδε §3.12Βασιλεὺς Πτολεμαῖος Φιλοπάτωρ τοῖς κατʼ Αἴγυπτον καὶ κατὰ τόπον στρατηγοῖς καὶ στρατιώταις χαίρειν καὶ ἐρρῶσθαι.
But he, puffed up by his present prosperity, and not seeing the power of the greatest God, but supposing that he would remain continually in the same counsel, wrote against them this letter: King Ptolemy Philopator, to the generals and soldiers in Egypt and in each place, greeting and good health.
§3.13ἔρρωμαι δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ πράγματα ἡμῶν.
I myself am in good health, and our affairs also.
§3.14τῆς εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν γενομένης ἡμῖν ἐπιστρατίας, ἧς ἴστε καὶ αὐτοί, τῇ τῶν θεῶν ἀπροπτώτῳ συμμαχίᾳ κατὰ λόγον ἐπὶ τέλος ἀχθείσης, §3.15ἡγησάμεθα μὴ βίᾳ δόρατος, ἐπιεικείᾳ δὲ καὶ πολλῇ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τιθηνήσασθαι τὰ κατοικοῦντα Κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην ἔθνη, εὖ ποιήσαντες ἀσμένως.
Our expedition to Asia, as you themselves know, having been brought to a successful conclusion by the unexpected alliance of the gods, we thought it right, not by force of the spear but with clemency and great benevolence, to foster the nations inhabiting Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, gladly doing good to them.
§3.16καὶ τοῖς κατὰ πόλεσιν ἱεροῖς ἀπονείμαντες προσόδους πλείστας, προσήχθημεν καὶ εἰς τὰ Ἰεροσόλυμα ἀναβάντες τιμῆσαι τὸ ἱερὸν τῶν ἀλιτηρίων καὶ μηδέποτε ληγόντων τῆς ἀνοίας.
And having allotted very great revenues to the temples in the cities, we also went up to Jerusalem to honor the temple of those impious and never-ceasing-from-folly people.
§3.17οἱ δὲ λόγῳ μὲν τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀποδεξάμενοι παρουσίαν, τῷ δὲ πράγματι νόθως, προθυμηθέντων ἡμῶν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν ναὸν αὐτῶν καὶ τοῖς ἐκπρεπέσιν καὶ καλλίστοις ἀναθήμασιν τιμῆσαι, §3.18τύφοις φερόμενοι παλαιοτέροις, εἶρξαν ἡμᾶς τῆς εἰσόδου, λειπόμενοι τῆς ἡμετέρας ἀλκῆς, δι᾿ ἣν ἔχομεν πρὸς ἅπαντας ἀνθρώπους φιλανθρωπίαν.
But they, welcoming our presence in word, but in deed insincerely, when we were eager to enter their sanctuary and honor it with outstanding and most beautiful offerings, carried away by ancient arrogance, they barred us from entering, falling short of our strength, through which we have benevolence toward all men.
§3.19τὴν δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς ἡμᾶς δυσμενίαν ἔκδηλον καθιστάντες, ὡς μονώτατοι τῶν ἐθνῶν βασιλεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς ἑαυτῶν εὐεργέταις ὑψαυχενοῦντες οὐδὲν γνήσιον βούλονται φέρειν.
Making clear their ill-will toward us, as being the only ones of all nations who lift their necks high against kings and their own benefactors, they wish to show no genuine loyalty.
§3.20Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ τούτων ἀνοίᾳ συνπεριενεχθέντες, καὶ μετὰ νίκης διακομισθέντες, καὶ εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον τοῖς πᾶσιν ἔθνεσιν φιλανθρώπως ἀπαντήσαντες, καθὼς ἔπρεπεν ἐποιήσαμεν.
But we, having borne with their folly, and having returned with victory, and having met all nations in Egypt with benevolence, did what was fitting.
§3.21ἐν δὲ τούτοις πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοφύλους αὐτῶν ἀμνησικακίαν ἅπασιν γνωρίζοντες, διά τε τὴν συμμαχίαν καὶ τὰ πεπιστευμένα μετὰ ἁπλότητος αὐτοῖς ἀρχῆθεν μύρια πράγματα, ἐξαλλοιῶσαι ἐβουλήθημεν, καὶ πολιτίας αὐτοὺς Ἀλεξανδρέων καταξιῶσαι, καὶ μετόχους τῶν ἀεὶ ἱερέων καταστῆσαι.
And among these, showing no resentment toward their compatriots, on account of their alliance and the countless affairs entrusted to them with simplicity from the beginning, we wished to make a change, and to deem them worthy of Alexandrian citizenship, and to make them participants in the perpetual priesthoods.
§3.22οἱ δὲ τοὐναντίον ἐκδεχόμενοι καὶ τῇ συμφύτῳ κακοηθείᾳ τὸ καλὸν ἀπωσάμενοι, διηνεκῶς δὲ εἰς τὸ φαῦλον ἐκνεύοντες, §3.23οὐ μόνον ἀπεστρέψαντο τὴν ἀτίμητον πολιτίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ βδελύσσονται λόγῳ τε καὶ σιγῇ τοὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς ὀλίγους πρὸς ἡμᾶς γνησίως διακειμένους, παρʼ ἕκαστα ὑφορώμενοι μετὰ τῆς δυσκλεεστάτης ἐμβιώσεως διὰ τάχους ἡμᾶς καταστρέψαι τὰ πράγματα.
But they, receiving the opposite, and rejecting the good by their innate malice, and continually inclining toward the bad, not only rejected the priceless citizenship, but also abhor in word and silence those few among them who are genuinely disposed toward us, constantly suspecting, with their most disreputable way of life, that we would quickly ruin their affairs.
§3.24διὸ καὶ τεκμηρίοις καλῶς πεπεισμένοι τούτους κατὰ πάντα δυσνοεῖν ἡμῖν τρόπον, καὶ προνοούμενοι μή ποτε ἐφνιδίου μετέπειτα ταραχῆς ἐνστάσης ἡμῖν τοὺς δυσσεβεῖς τούτους κατὰ νώτου προδότας καὶ βαρβάρους ἔχωμεν πολεμίους· §3.25προστετάχαμεν ἅμα τῷ προσπεσεῖν τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τήνδε, αὐθωρεὶ τοὺς ἐννεμομένους σὺν ταῖς γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις μετὰ ὕβρεως καὶ σκυλμῶν ἀποστεῖλαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐν δεσμοῖς σιδηροῖς πάντοθεν κατακεκλεισμένους, εἰς ἀνήκεστον καὶ δυσκλεῆ πρέποντα δυσμενέσι φόνον.
Therefore, being well convinced by proofs that these men are ill-disposed toward us in every way, and taking precautions lest some sudden disturbance arise among us later, and we have these impious men as traitors at our back and savage enemies; we have commanded that as soon as this letter arrives, they shall send to us immediately those who dwell there, along with women and children, with harsh treatment and insults, in iron bonds, shut up securely on every side, for an incurable and shameful execution, as is fitting for enemies.
§3.26τούτων γὰρ ὁμοῦ κολασθέντων, διειλήφαμεν εἰς τὸν ἐπίλοιπον χρόνον τελείως ἡμῖν τὰ πράγματα ἐν εὐσταθείᾳ καὶ τῇ βελτίστῃ διαθέσει κατασταθήσεσθαι.
For when these are punished together, we conceive that for the remaining time our affairs will be established in perfect stability and the best condition.
§3.27ὃς δ᾿ ἂν σκεπάσῃ τινὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπὸ γεραιοῦ μέχρι νηπίου καὶ μέχρι τῶν ὑπομαστιαίων, ἐχθίσταις βασάνοις ἀποτυμπανισθήσεται πανοικίᾳ·
And whoever shall shelter any of the Jews, from the old to the infant, even to those at the breast, shall be tortured to death with the worst tortures, with his whole house.
§3.28μηνύειν δὲ τὸν βουλόμενον ἐφʼ ᾧ τὴν οὐσίαν τοῦ ἐμπίπτοντος ὑπὸ τὴν εὔθυναν λήμψεται, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ βασιλείου δραχμὰς δισχιλίας, καὶ τῆς ἐλευθερίας στεφανωθήσεται.
And anyone who wishes may give information, upon which he shall receive the property of the one falling under the penalty, and two thousand drachmas from the royal treasury, and shall be crowned with freedom.
§3.29πᾶς δὲ τόπος, οὗ ἐὰν φωραθῇ τὸ σύνολον σκεπαζόμενος Ἰουδαῖος, ἄβατος καὶ πυριφλεγὴς γινέσθω, καὶ πάσῃ θνητῇ φύσει καθʼ ἅπαν ἄχρηστος φανήσεται εἰς τὸν ἀεὶ χρόνον.
And every place where a sheltered Jew is discovered at all, let it become untrodden and burned with fire, and it shall appear entirely useless to every mortal nature for all time.
§3.30καὶ ὁ μὲν τῆς ἐπιστολῆς τύπος οὕτως ἐγέγραπτο.
And the form of the letter was written thus.