Ἔσδρας Βʹ 9

1 Και εν τη εικοστή τετάρτη ημέρα τούτου του μηνός συνήχθησαν οι υιοί Ισραήλ με νηστείαν και με σάκκους και με χώμα εφ' εαυτούς.

On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].

2 Και εχωρίσθη το σπέρμα του Ισραήλ από πάντων των ξένων· και σταθέντες εξωμολογήθησαν τας αμαρτίας αυτών και τας ανομίας των πατέρων αυτών.

The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.

3 Και σταθέντες εν τω τόπω αυτών, ανέγνωσαν εν τω βιβλίω του νόμου Κυρίου του Θεού αυτών, εν τέταρτον της ημέρας· και εν τέταρτον, εξωμολογούντο και προσεκύνουν Κύριον τον Θεόν αυτών.

The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.

4 Τότε εσηκώθη επί το βήμα των Λευϊτών Ιησούς και Βανί, Καδμιήλ, Σεβανίας, Βουννί, Σερεβίας, Βανί και Χανανί, και ανεβόησαν μετά φωνής μεγάλης προς Κύριον τον Θεόν αυτών.

[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.

5 Και οι Λευΐται, Ιησούς και Καδμιήλ, Βανί, Ασαβνίας, Σερεβίας, Ωδίας, Σεβανίας και Πεθαΐα, είπον, Σηκώθητε, ευλογήσατε Κύριον τον Θεόν υμών από του αιώνος έως του αιώνος· και ας ήναι, Θεέ, ευλογημένον το ένδοξόν σου όνομα, το υπέρτερον πάσης ευλογίας και αινέσεως.

Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!

6 Συ αυτός είσαι Κύριος μόνος· συ εποίησας τον ουρανόν, τους ουρανούς των ουρανών, και πάσαν την στρατιάν αυτών, την γην και πάντα τα επ' αυτής, τας θαλάσσας και πάντα τα εν αυταίς, και συ ζωοποιείς πάντα ταύτα· και σε προσκυνούσιν αι στρατιαί των ουρανών.

“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.

7 Συ είσαι Κύριος ο Θεός, όστις εξέλεξας τον Άβραμ και εξήγαγες αυτόν από της Ουρ των Χαλδαίων, και έδωκας εις αυτόν το όνομα Αβραάμ·

“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.

8 και εύρηκας την καρδίαν αυτού πιστήν ενώπιόν σου, και έκαμες προς αυτόν διαθήκην, ότι θέλεις δώσει την γην των Χαναναίων, των Χετταίων, των Αμορραίων και των Φερεζαίων και των Ιεβουσαίων και των Γεργεσαίων, ότι θέλεις δώσει αυτήν εις το σπέρμα αυτού· και εξετέλεσας τους λόγους σου· διότι δίκαιος είσαι συ.

You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.

9 Και είδες την θλίψιν των πατέρων ημών εν Αιγύπτω, και ήκουσας την κραυγήν αυτών επί την Ερυθράν θάλασσαν·

“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.

10 και έδειξας σημεία και τέρατα επί τον Φαραώ και επί πάντας τους δούλους αυτού και επί πάντα τον λαόν της γης αυτού· επειδή εγνώρισας ότι υπερηφανεύθησαν εναντίον αυτών. Και έκαμες εις σεαυτόν όνομα, ως την ημέραν ταύτην.

Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!

11 Και διέσχισας την θάλασσαν ενώπιον αυτών, και διέβησαν διά ξηράς εν μέσω της θαλάσσης· τους δε καταδιώκοντας αυτούς έρριψας εις τα βάθη, ως λίθον εις ύδατα ισχυρά·

You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!

12 και ώδήγησας αυτούς την ημέραν διά στύλου νεφέλης, την δε νύκτα διά στύλου πυρός, διά να φωτίζης εις αυτούς την οδόν δι' ης έμελλον να διέλθωσι.

During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.

13 Και κατέβης επί το όρος Σινά, και ελάλησας μετ' αυτών εξ ουρανού, και έδωκας εις αυτούς ευθείας κρίσεις και αληθινούς νόμους, διατάγματα και εντολάς αγαθάς·

“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.

14 και το άγιόν σου σάββατον έκαμες γνωστόν εις αυτούς, και προσέταξας εις αυτούς εντολάς και διατάγματα και νόμους, διά χειρός Μωϋσέως του δούλου σου.

You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.

15 Και άρτον εξ ουρανού έδωκας εις αυτούς εις την πείναν αυτών, και ύδωρ εκ πέτρας εξήγαγες εις αυτούς εις την δίψαν αυτών· και είπας προς αυτούς να εισέλθωσι διά να κληρονομήσωσι την γην, περί ης ύψωσας την χείρα σου ότι θέλεις δώσει αυτήν εις αυτούς.

When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.

16 Εκείνοι δε και οι πατέρες ημών υπερηφανεύθησαν και εσκλήρυναν τον τράχηλον αυτών και δεν υπήκουσαν εις τας εντολάς σου·

“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.

17 και ηρνήθησαν να υπακούσωσι και δεν ενεθυμήθησαν τα θαυμάσιά σου τα οποία έκαμες εις αυτούς· αλλ' εσκλήρυναν τον τράχηλον αυτών, και εν τη αποστασία αυτών διώρισαν αρχηγόν διά να επιστρέψωσιν εις την δουλείαν αυτών. Αλλά συ είσαι Θεός συγχωρητικός, ελεήμων και οικτίρμων, μακρόθυμος και πολυέλεος, και δεν εγκατέλιπες αυτούς.

They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.

18 Μάλιστα, ότε έκαμον εις εαυτούς χωνευτόν μόσχον και είπον, Ούτος είναι ο Θεός σου όστις σε ανήγαγεν εξ Αιγύπτου, και έπραξαν μεγάλους παροργισμούς·

So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.

19 συ όμως, εν τοις οικτιρμοίς σου τοις μεγάλοις, δεν εγκατέλιπες αυτούς εν τη ερήμω· ο στύλος της νεφέλης δεν εξέκλινεν απ' αυτών την ημέραν, διά να οδηγή αυτούς εν τη οδώ, ουδέ ο στύλος του πυρός την νύκτα, διά να φωτίζη εις αυτούς και την οδόν δι' ης έμελλον να διέλθωσι.

“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.

20 Και έδωκας εις αυτούς το αγαθόν σου πνεύμα, διά να συνετίζη αυτούς· και δεν εστέρησας το μάννα σου από του στόματος αυτών, και ύδωρ έδωκας εις αυτούς εις την δίψαν αυτών.

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.

21 Και τεσσαράκοντα έτη έθρεψας αυτούς εν τη ερήμω· δεν έλειψεν εις αυτούς ουδέν· τα ιμάτια αυτών δεν επαλαιώθησαν και οι πόδες αυτών δεν επρήσθησαν.

For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].

22 Και έδωκας εις αυτούς βασίλεια και λαούς, και διεμέρισας εις αυτούς διά μερίδας· και εκληρονόμησαν την γην του Σηών και την γην του βασιλέως της Εσεβών και την γην του Ωγ βασιλέως της Βασάν.

“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].

23 Και τους υιούς αυτών επλήθυνας ως τα άστρα του ουρανού· και έφερες αυτούς εις την γην, εις την οποίαν είπας προς τους πατέρας αυτών να εισέλθωσι, διά να κληρονομήσωσιν αυτήν.

You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.

24 Και εισήλθον οι υιοί αυτών και εκληρονόμησαν την γήν· και υπέταξας έμπροσθεν αυτών τους κατοίκους της γης, τους Χαναναίους, και παρέδωκας αυτούς εις τας χείρας αυτών, και τους βασιλείς αυτών και τους λαούς της γης, διά να κάμωσιν εις αυτούς κατά την θέλησιν αυτών.

Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.

25 Και εκυρίευσαν πόλεις ισχυράς και γην παχείαν, και εκληρονόμησαν οίκους πλήρεις πάντων των αγαθών, φρέατα ωρυγμένα, αμπελώνας και ελαιώνας και δένδρα κάρπιμα εν αφθονία· και έφαγον και εχορτάσθησαν και επαχύνθησαν και ενετρύφησαν, εν τη μεγάλη σου αγαθότητι.

Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.

26 Και ηπείθησαν και επανεστάτησαν εναντίον σου, και έρριψαν τον νόμον σου οπίσω των νώτων αυτών, και τους προφήτας σου εφόνευσαν, οίτινες διεμαρτύροντο εναντίον αυτών διά να επιστρέψωσιν αυτούς προς σε, και έπραξαν μεγάλους παροργισμούς.

“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.

27 Διά τούτο παρέδωκας αυτούς εις την χείρα των θλιβόντων αυτούς, και κατέθλιψαν αυτούς· και εν τω καιρώ της θλίψεως αυτών ανεβόησαν προς σε, και συ εισήκουσας εξ ουρανού· και κατά τους πολλούς οικτιρμούς σου έδωκας σωτήρας εις αυτούς, και έσωσαν αυτούς εκ της χειρός των θλιβόντων αυτούς.

So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.

28 Αλλ' αφού ανεπαύθησαν, εστράφησαν εις το να πράττωσι πονηρά ενώπιόν σου· όθεν εγκατέλιπες αυτούς εις την χείρα των εχθρών αυτών, και εξουσίασαν αυτούς· ότε όμως επέστρεψαν και ανεβόησαν προς σε, συ εισήκουσας εξ ουρανού· και πολλάκις ηλευθέρωσας αυτούς κατά τους οικτιρμούς σου.

“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.

29 Και διεμαρτυρήθης εναντίον αυτών, διά να επιστρέψης αυτούς εις τον νόμον σου· πλην αυτοί υπερηφανεύθησαν και δεν υπήκουσαν εις τας εντολάς σου, αλλ' ημάρτησαν εις τας κρίσεις σου, τας οποίας εάν τις εκτελή, θέλει ζήσει δι' αυτών· και έδωκαν νώτον απειθή και εσκλήρυναν τον τράχηλον αυτών και δεν ήκουσαν.

“You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.

30 Και όμως έτη πολλά παρέκτεινας επ' αυτούς, και διεμαρτυρήθης εναντίον αυτών διά του πνεύματός σου διά των προφητών σου· αλλά δεν έδωκαν ακρόασιν· διά τούτο παρέδωκας αυτούς εις την χείρα των λαών των τόπων.

You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.

31 Πλην διά τους πολλούς οικτιρμούς σου δεν συνετέλεσας αυτούς, ουδέ εγκατέλιπες αυτούς· διότι Θεός οικτίρμων και ελεήμων είσαι.

But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!

32 Τώρα λοιπόν, Θεέ ημών, ο μέγας, ο ισχυρός και φοβερός Θεός, ο φυλάττων την διαθήκην και το έλεος, ας μη λογισθή μικρά ενώπιόν σου πάσα η θλίψις ήτις εύρηκεν ημάς, τους βασιλείς ημών, τους άρχοντας ημών και τους ιερείς ημών και τους προφήτας ημών και τους πατέρας ημών και πάντα τον λαόν σου, από των ημερών των βασιλέων της Ασσυρίας μέχρι της ημέρας ταύτης.

“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.

33 Δίκαιος βεβαίως είσαι εις πάντα τα επελθόντα εφ' ημάς· διότι συ μεν αλήθειαν έκαμες, ημείς δε ησεβήσαμεν.

[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.

34 Και οι βασιλείς ημών, οι άρχοντες ημών, οι ιερείς ημών και οι πατέρες ημών, δεν εφύλαξαν τον νόμον σου και δεν έδωκαν προσοχήν εις τας εντολάς σου και εις τα μαρτύριά σου, με τα οποία διεμαρτυρήθης εναντίον αυτών.

Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.

35 Διότι αυτοί, εν τη βασιλεία αυτών και εν τη μεγάλη σου αγαθωσύνη την οποίαν έδωκας εις αυτούς, και εν τη γη τη πλατεία και παχεία, την οποίαν έδωκας ενώπιον αυτών, δεν σε εδούλευσαν ουδέ εστράφησαν από των πονηρών έργων αυτών.

Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.

36 Ιδού, δούλοι είμεθα την ημέραν ταύτην· και εν τη γη, την οποίαν έδωκας εις τους πατέρας ημών, διά να τρώγωσι τον καρπόν αυτής και τα αγαθά αυτής, ιδού, δούλοι είμεθα επ' αυτής·

“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.

37 και αυτή δίδει πολλήν αφθονίαν εις τους βασιλείς, τους οποίους επέβαλες εφ' ημάς διά τας αμαρτίας ημών· και κατεξουσιάζουσιν επί των σωμάτων ημών και επί των κτηνών ημών κατά την αρέσκειαν αυτών· και είμεθα εν θλίψει μεγάλη.

Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.

38 Όθεν διά πάντα ταύτα ημείς κάμνομεν διαθήκην πιστήν και γράφομεν αυτήν· και επισφραγίζουσιν αυτήν οι άρχοντες ημών, οι Λευΐται ημών και οι ιερείς ημών.

“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”