1 Maccabees · Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 Maccabees 3 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 And his son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his stead.
1 His son Judas, who was called Maccabaeus, rose up in his place.
2 And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that clave unto his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
2 All his kindred helped him, and so did all those who joined with his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
3 And he gat his people great glory, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and set battles in array, protecting the army with his sword.
3 He got his people great glory, and put on a breastplate like a giant, and bound his warlike harness around him, and set battles in array, protecting the army with his sword.
4 And he was like a lion in his deeds, and as a lion’s whelp roaring for prey.
4 He was like a lion in his deeds, and like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.
5 And he pursued the lawless, seeking them out, and he burnt up those that troubled his people.
5 He hunted and pursued the lawless, and he burned up those who troubled his people.
6 And the lawless shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were sore troubled, and salvation prospered in his hand.
6 The lawless shrunk back for fear of him, and all the workers of lawlessness were very troubled, and deliverance prospered in his hand.
7 And he angered many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever.
7 He angered many kings and made Jacob glad with his acts. His memory is blessed forever.
8 And he went about among the cities of Judah, and destroyed the ungodly out of the land, and turned away wrath from Israel:
8 He went through the cities of Judah, destroyed the ungodly out of the land, and turned away wrath from Israel.
9 and he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he gathered together such as were ready to perish.
9 He was renowned to the utmost part of the earth. He gathered together those who were ready to perish.
10 And Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host from Samaria, to fight against Israel.
10 Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together with a great army from Samaria to fight against Israel.
11 And Judas perceived it, and he went forth to meet him, and smote him, and slew him: and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled.
11 Judas learned of it, and he went out to meet him, struck him, and killed him. Many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled.
12 And they took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and therewith he fought all his days.
12 They took their spoils, and Judas took Apollonius’ sword, and he fought with it all his days.
13 And Seron, the commander of the host of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered a gathering and a congregation of faithful men with him, and of such as went out to war;
13 Seron, the commander of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him, went out to war.
14 And he said, I will make myself a name and get me glory in the kingdom; and I will fight against Judas and them that are with him, that set at nought the word of the king.
14 He said, “I will make myself a name and get myself glory in the kingdom. I will fight against Judas and those who are with him, who despise the king’s command.
15 And there went up with him also a mighty army of the ungodly to help him, to take vengeance on the children of Israel.
15 A mighty army of the ungodly went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the children of Israel.
16 And he came near unto the going up of Bethhoron, and Judas went forth to meet him with a small company.
16 He came near to the ascent of Bethhoron, and Judas went out to meet him with a small company.
17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judas, What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? and we for our part are faint, having tasted no food this day.
17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “What? Shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? We for our part are faint, having tasted no food this day.”
18 And Judas said, It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few:
18 Judas said, “It is an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few;
19 for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of a host; but strength is from heaven.
19 for victory in battle stands not in the multitude of an army, but strength is from heaven.
20 They come unto us in fulness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us:
20 They come to us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to plunder us,
21 but we fight for our lives and our laws.
21 but we fight for our lives and our laws.
22 And he himself will discomfit them before our face: but as for you, be ye not afraid of them.
22 He himself will crush them before our face; but as for you, don’t be afraid of them.
23 Now when he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and Seron and his army were discomfited before him.
23 Now when he had finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were defeated before him.
24 And they pursued them in the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, and there fell of them about eight hundred men; but the residue fled into the land of the Philistines.
24 They pursued them down the descent of Bethhoron to the plain, and about eight hundred men of them fell; but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
25 And the fear of Judas and his brethren, and the dread of them, began to fall upon the nations round about them:
25 The fear of Judas and his kindred, and the dread of them, began to fall on the nations around them.
26 and his name came near even unto the king, and every nation told of the battles of Judas.
26 His fame reached the king, and every nation told of the battles of Judas.
27 But when king Antiochus heard these words, he was full of indignation: and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, an exceeding strong army.
27 But when King Antiochus heard these words, he was full of indignation; and he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, an exceedingly strong army.
28 And he opened his treasury, and gave his forces pay for a year, and commanded them to be ready for every need.
28 He opened his treasury and gave his forces pay for a year, and commanded them to be ready for every need.
29 And he saw that the money failed from his treasures, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and plague which he had brought upon the land, to the end that he might take away the laws which had been from the first days;
29 He saw that the money was gone from his treasures, and that the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension and disaster which he had brought upon the land, to the end that he might take away the laws which had been from the first days.
30 and he feared that he should not have enough as at other times for the charges and the gifts which he gave aforetime with a liberal hand, and he abounded above the kings that were before him.
30 He was afraid that he wouldn’t have enough as at other times for the charges and the gifts which he used to give with a liberal hand, more abundantly than the kings who were before him.
31 And he was exceedingly perplexed in his mind, and he determined to go into Persia, and to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money.
31 And he was exceedingly perplexed in his mind, and he determined to go into Persia, and to take the tributes of those countries, and to gather much money.
32 And he left Lysias, an honourable man, and one of the seed royal, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt,
32 He left Lysias, an honorable man, and one of royal lineage, to be over the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt,
33 and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.
33 and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.
34 And he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge of all the things that he would have done, and concerning them that dwelt in Judaea and in Jerusalem,
34 He delivered to Lysias half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him charge of all the things that he would have done, and concerning those who lived in Judea and in Jerusalem,
35 that he should send a host against them, to root out and destroy the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from the place;
35 that he should send an army against them to root out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memory from the place,
36 And that he should make strangers to dwell on all their coasts, and should divide their land to them by lot.
36 and that he should make foreigners live in all their territory, and should divide their land to them by lot.
37 And the king took the half that remained of the forces, and removed from Antioch, from his royal city, the hundred and forty and seventh year; and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through the upper countries.
37 The king took the half that remained of the forces, and left Antioch, his royal city, in the one hundred forty seventh year; and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went through the upper countries.
38 And Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s Friends;
38 Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends;
39 and with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horse, to go into the land of Judah, and to destroy it, according to the word of the king.
39 and with them, he sent forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into the land of Judah and to destroy it, according to the word of the king.
40 And they removed with all their host, and came and pitched near unto Emmaus in the plain country.
40 They set out with all their army, and came and encamped near Emmaus in the plain country.
41 And the merchants of the country heard the fame of them, and took silver and gold exceeding much, with fetters, and came into the camp to take the children of Israel for servants: and there were added unto them the forces of Syria and of the land of the Philistines.
41 The merchants of the country heard of their fame, and took silver and gold in large quantities, and fetters, and came into the camp to take the children of Israel for slaves. Forces of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined with them.
42 And Judas and his brethren saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces were encamping in their borders; and they took knowledge of the king’s words which he had commanded, to destroy the people and make an end of them;
42 Judas and his kindred saw that evils were multiplied, and that the forces were encamping in their borders. They learned about the king’s words which he had commanded, to destroy the people and make an end of them.
43 and they said each man to his neighbour, Let us raise up the ruin of our people, and let us fight for our people and the holy place.
43 Then they each said to his neighbor, “Let’s repair the ruins of our people. Let’s fight for our people and the holy place.”
44 And the congregation was gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask for mercy and compassion.
44 The congregation was gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45 And Jerusalem was without inhabitant as a wilderness, there was none of her offspring that went in or went out; and the sanctuary was trodden down, and the sons of strangers were in the citadel, the Gentiles lodged therein; and joy was taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and the harp ceased.
45 Jerusalem was without inhabitant like a wilderness. There was none of her offspring who went in or went out. The sanctuary was trampled down. Children of foreigners were in the citadel. The Gentiles lived there. Joy was taken away from Jacob, and the pipe and the harp ceased.
46 And they gathered themselves together, and came to Mizpeh, over against Jerusalem; for in Mizpeh was there a place of prayer aforetime for Israel.
46 They gathered themselves together, and came to Mizpeh, near Jerusalem; for in Mizpeh there used to be a place of prayer for Israel.
47 And they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and [put ] ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes,
47 They fasted that day, put on sackcloth, put ashes on their heads, tore their clothes,
48 and laid open the book of the law, concerning which the Gentiles were wont to inquire, seeking the likenesses of their idols.
48 and opened the book of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.
49 And they brought the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and they stirred up the Nazarites, who had accomplished their days.
49 They brought the priests’ garments, the first fruits, and the tithes. They stirred up the Nazarites, who had accomplished their days.
50 And they cried aloud toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with these men, and whither shall we carry them away?
50 They cried aloud toward heaven, saying, “What should we do with these men? Where should we carry them away?
51 And thy holy place is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness and brought low.
51 Your holy place is trampled down and profaned. Your priests mourn in humiliation.
52 And, behold, the Gentiles are assembled together against us to destroy us: thou knowest what things they imagine against us.
52 Behold, the Gentiles are assembled together against us to destroy us. You know what things they imagine against us.
53 How shall we be able to stand before them, except thou be our help?
53 How will we be able to stand against them, unless you help us?”
54 And they sounded with the trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.
54 They sounded with the trumpets, and gave a loud shout.
55 And after this Judas appointed leaders of the people, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens.
55 And after this Judas appointed leaders of the people: captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens.
56 And he said to them that were building houses, and were betrothing wives, and were planting vineyards, and were fearful, that they should return, each man to his own house, according to the law.
56 He said to those who were building houses, were betrothing wives, were planting vineyards, and were fearful, that they should return, each man to his own house, according to the law.
57 And the army removed, and encamped upon the south side of Emmaus.
57 The army marched out and encamped upon the south side of Emmaus.
58 And Judas said, Gird yourselves, and be valiant men, and be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these Gentiles, that are assembled together against us to destroy us, and our holy place:
58 Judas said, “Arm yourselves and be valiant men! Be ready in the morning to fight with these Gentiles who are assembled together against us to destroy us and our holy place.
59 for it is better for us to die in battle, than to look upon the evils of our nation and the holy place.
59 For it is better for us to die in battle than to see the calamities of our nation and the holy place.
60 Nevertheless, as may be the will in heaven, so shall he do.
60 Nevertheless, as may be the will in heaven, so shall he do.