I didn’t know what category to put this in. The translation of the following Greek text relates to an “Argument against Evangelical Universalism” based on non Christian Jewish writings prior to, or at the time of, Christ c.30 AD.
Would anyone like to attempt a translation of the following into English:
17 οὐαὶ ἔθνεσιν ἐπανισταμένοις τῷ γένει μου· Κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἐκδικήσει αὐτοὺς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως δοῦναι πῦρ καὶ σκώληκας εἰς σάρκας αὐτῶν, καὶ κλαύσονται ἐν αἰσθήσει ἕως αἰῶνος.
https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=19&page=16
The same page renders it:
17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them, and weep for ever.
And the JE has:
The Lord, the Almighty, will punish them on the Day of Judgment by putting fire and worms into their flesh, so that they cry out with pain unto all eternity" (Judith xvi. 17)
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6558-gehenna
I’m especially interested in the last two words - ἕως αἰῶνος - which seem to mean “until age”, if rendered literally, as per: https://biblehub.com/greek/2193.htm and
https://biblehub.com/greek/165.htm
Which may imply rather a limited duration, “until” a certain time, age or eon, as opposed to “all eternity” or “for ever”.
“Jesus is with us until the end of the age (ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος).” In Mt.28:20 ἕως…αἰῶνος is usually rendered “to/unto/until…age”.
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/28-20.htm
“This tale of a heroic Jewish maiden who saves her people from an enemy general
called holofernes might come from 150-25 BC though the date is disputed. At the
end of the story the heroin, Judith, leads Israel in a great song of victory over their
former oppressor. Her closing words warn: “Woe to the nations that rise up against
my race. The Lord Almighty will take vengeance against them in the day of judgment,
to put fire and worms in their flesh; and they will weep and feel their pain forever”
(Judith 16:17). The fire and worms probably come from Isaiah 66:24, but now the
transition Sirach hinted at is fully brought to pass. This language is unmistakable. It
describes the traditionalist hell. In all the Old Testament’s inspired pictures of the
wicked, historical, poetic, or prophetical, we have not encountered this scene even
once. We have not found this clear picture of unending conscious torment in the
apocryphal material until now. This passage in Judith marks its first unequivocal
appearance in our literature.160”