2 Maccabees · Revised Version with Apocrypha
2 Maccabees 1 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 THE brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem and they that are in the country of Judaea, send greeting to the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt, [and wish them ] good peace:
1 The kindred, the Jews who are in Jerusalem and those who are in the country of Judea, send greetings and good peace to the kindred, the Jews who are throughout Egypt.
2 and may God do good unto you, and remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants;
2 May God do good to you, and remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants,
3 and give you all a heart to worship him and do his pleasure with a great heart and a willing soul;
3 and give you all a heart to worship him and do his will with a strong heart and a willing soul.
4 and open your heart in his law and in his statutes, and make peace,
4 May God open your heart to his law and his statutes, and make peace,
5 and hearken to your supplications, and be reconciled with you, and not forsake you in an evil time.
5 and listen to your requests, and be reconciled with you, and not forsake you in an evil time.
6 And now we here are praying for you.
6 Now we are praying for you here.
7 In the reign of Demetrius, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews have [already ] written unto you in the tribulation and in the extremity that hath come upon us in these years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom,
7 In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred sixty-ninth year, we the Jews have already written to you in the suffering and in the distress that has come upon us in these years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom,
8 and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood: and we besought the Lord, and were heard; and we offered sacrifice and meal [offering, ] and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the shewbread.
8 and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood. We prayed to the Lord, and were heard. We offered sacrifices and meal offerings. We lit the lamps. We set out the show bread.
9 And now [see ] that ye keep the days of the feast of tabernacles of the month Chislev.
9 Now see that you keep the days of the feast of tabernacles in the month Chislev in the one hundred eighty-eighth year.
10 [Written ] in the hundred fourscore and eighth year. THEY that are in Jerusalem and they that are in Judaea and the senate and Judas, unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemy’s teacher, who is also of the stock of the anointed priests, and unto the Jews that are in Egypt, send greeting and health.
10 The people of Jerusalem and those who are in Judea, with the senate and Judas, to Aristobulus, King Ptolemy’s teacher, who is also of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews who are in Egypt, we send greetings and health.
11 Having been saved by God out of great perils, as men arrayed against a king, we thank him greatly.
11 Having been saved by God out of great perils, as men arrayed against a king, we thank him greatly.
12 For himself cast forth into Persia them that arrayed themselves [against us ] in the holy city.
12 For he threw out into Persia those who fought against us in the holy city.
13 For when the prince was come [there, ] and the army with him that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests.
13 For when the prince had come there, with an army that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests.
14 For Antiochus, on the pretence that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his Friends that were with him, that they might take a great part of the treasures in name of a dowry.
14 For Antiochus, on the pretense that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his friends who were with him, that they might take a large part of the treasures as a dowry.
15 And when the priests of Nanaea’s temple had set the treasures forth, and he was come there with a small company within the wall of the precincts, they shut to the temple when Antiochus was come in:
15 And when the priests of Nanaea’s temple had set the treasures out, and he had come there with a small company within the wall of the sacred precinct, they locked the temple when Antiochus had come in.
16 and opening the secret door of the panelled cieling, they threw stones and struck down the prince, and they hewed [him and his company ] in pieces, and smote off their heads, and cast them to those that were without.
16 Opening the secret door of the paneled ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the prince. They cut him and his company in pieces, and cut off their heads, and threw them to the people who were outside.
17 Blessed [be ] our God in all things, who gave [for a prey ] them that had committed impiety.
17 Blessed be our God in all things, who handed over those who had committed impiety.
18 Whereas we are now about to keep the purification of the temple in the [month ] Chislev, on the five and twentieth day, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also may keep a feast of tabernacles, and [a memorial ] of the fire [which was given ] when Nehemiah offered sacrifices, after that he had builded both the temple and the altar.
18 Since we are now about to celebrate the purification of the temple in the month Chislev, on the twenty-fifth day, we thought it necessary to notify you, so that you may also keep a feast of tabernacles, and remember the fire which was given when Nehemiah offered sacrifices, after he had built both the temple and the altar.
19 For indeed when our fathers were about to be led into the land of Persia, the godly priests of that time took of the fire of the altar, and hid it privily in the hollow of a well that was without water, wherein they made [it ] sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
19 For indeed when our fathers were about to be led into the land of Persia, the godly priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar, and hid it secretly in the hollow of a well that was without water, where they made sure that the place was unknown to anyone.
20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having received a charge from the king of Persia, sent in quest of the fire the descendants of the priests that hid it. When they declared to us that they had found no fire, but thick water,
20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having received a charge from the king of Persia, sent in quest of the fire the descendants of the priests who hid it. When they declared to us that they had found no fire, but thick liquid,
21 he commanded them to draw out thereof and bring [to him: ] and when the sacrifices had been offered [on the altar, ] Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle with the water both the wood and the things laid thereupon.
21 he commanded them to draw some of it out and bring it to him. When the sacrifices had been offered, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle with that liquid both the wood and the things laid on it.
22 And when it was done, and some time had passed, and the sun shone out, which before was hid with clouds, there was kindled a great blaze, so that all men marvelled.
22 When that was done and some time had passed, and the sun shone out, which before was hidden with clouds, a great blaze was kindled, so that all men marveled.
23 And the priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was consuming, both the priests and all [others, ] Jonathan leading and the rest answering, as Nehemiah did.
23 The priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was being consumed—both the priests and all the others. Jonathan led and the rest responded, as Nehemiah did.
24 And the prayer was after this manner: O Lord, Lord God, the Creator of all things, who art terrible and strong and righteous and merciful, who alone art King and gracious,
24 The prayer was like this: “O Lord, Lord God, the Creator of all things, you are awesome, strong, righteous, and merciful, you alone are King and gracious,
25 who alone suppliest [every need, ] who alone art righteous and almighty and eternal, thou that savest Israel out of all evil, who madest the fathers [thy ] chosen, and didst sanctify them:
25 you alone supply every need, you alone are righteous, almighty, and eternal, you who save Israel out of all evil, who chose the ancestors and sanctified them,
26 accept the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and guard thine own portion, and consecrate it.
26 accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and preserve your own portion, and consecrate it.
27 Gather together our Dispersion, set at liberty them that are in bondage among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our God.
27 Gather together our scattered people, set at liberty those who are in bondage among the heathen, look upon those who are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that you are our God.
28 Torment them that oppress us and in arrogancy shamefully entreat us.
28 Punish those who oppress us and in arrogance shamefully entreat us.
29 Plant thy people in thy holy place, even as Moses said.
29 Plant your people in your holy place, even as Moses said.”
30 And thereupon the priests sang the hymns.
30 Then the priests sang the hymns.
31 And as soon as the sacrifice was consumed, then Nehemiah commanded to pour [on ] great stones the water that was left.
31 As soon as the sacrifice was consumed, then Nehemiah commanded that the rest of the liquid be poured on large stones.
32 And when this was done, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone over against it, [all ] was consumed.
32 When this was done, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.
33 And when the matter became known, and it was told the king of the Persians, that, in the place where the priests that were led away had hid the fire, there appeared the water, wherewith also Nehemiah and they that were with him purified the sacrifice,
33 When the matter became known, and king of the Persians was told that in the place where the priests who were led away had hid the fire, the liquid appeared which Nehemiah and those who were with him purified the sacrifice,
34 then the king, inclosing [the place, ] made it sacred, after he had proved the matter.
34 then the king enclosed the place and made it sacred after he had investigated the matter.
35 And when the king would shew favour to any, he would take [from them ] many presents and give them some of [this water. ]
35 When the king would show favor to any, he would exchange many presents and give them some of this liquid.
36 And Nehemiah and they that were with him called this thing Nephthar, which is by interpretation, Cleansing; but most men call it Nephthai.
36 Nehemiah and those who were with him called this thing “Nephthar”, which is by interpretation, “Cleansing”; but most men call it Nephthai.