2 Maccabees · Revised Version with Apocrypha
2 Maccabees 5 Revised Version with Apocrypha
1 Now about this time Antiochus made his second inroad into Egypt.
1 Now about this time Antiochus made his second invasion into Egypt.
2 And it [so ] befell that throughout all the city, for the space of almost forty days, there appeared in the midst of the sky horsemen in swift motion, wearing robes inwrought with gold and [carrying ] spears, equipped in troops for battle;
2 It happened that throughout all the city, for almost forty days, cavalry appeared in the midst of the sky in swift motion, wearing robes woven with gold and carrying spears, equipped with troops for battle—
3 and drawing of swords; and [on the other side ] squadrons of horse in array; and encounters and pursuits of both [armies; ] and shaking of shields, and multitudes of lances, and casting of darts, and flashing of golden trappings, and girding on of all sorts of armour.
3 drawing swords, squadrons of cavalry in array, encounters and pursuits of both armies, shaking shields, multitudes of lances, throwing of missiles, flashing of golden trappings, and putting on all sorts of armor.
4 Wherefore all men besought that the vision might have been given for good.
4 Therefore everyone prayed that the manifestation might have been given for good.
5 But when a false rumour had arisen that Antiochus was deceased, Jason took not less than a thousand men, and suddenly made an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the wall being routed, and the city being now at length well nigh taken, Menelaus took refuge in the citadel.
5 When a false rumor had arisen that Antiochus was dead, Jason took not less than a thousand men, and suddenly made an assault upon the city. When those who were on the wall were being routed, and the city was at length nearly taken, Menelaus took refuge in the citadel.
6 But Jason slaughtered his own citizens without mercy, not considering that good success against kinsmen is the greatest ill success, but supposing himself to be setting up trophies over enemies, and not over fellow-countrymen.
6 But Jason slaughtered his own citizens without mercy, not considering that good success against kinsmen is the greatest misfortune, but supposing himself to be setting up trophies over enemies, and not over fellow countrymen.
7 The office [however ] he did not get, but, receiving shame as the end of his conspiracy, he passed again a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
7 He didn’t win control of the government, but receiving shame as the result of his conspiracy, he fled again as a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
8 At the last therefore he met with a miserable end: having been shut up at the court of Aretas the prince of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as an apostate from the laws, and held in abomination as the butcher of his country and his fellow-citizens, he was cast forth into Egypt;
8 At last therefore he met with a miserable end. Having been imprisoned at the court of Aretas the prince of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued by all men, hated as a rebel against the laws, and abhorred as the executioner of his country and his fellow citizens, he was cast ashore in Egypt.
9 and he that had driven many from their own country into strange lands perished [himself ] in a strange land, having crossed the sea to the Lacedaemonians, as thinking to find shelter [there ] because they were near of kin;
9 He who had driven many from their own country into exile perished in exile, having crossed the sea to the Lacedaemonians, hoping to find shelter there because they were near of kin.
10 and he that had cast out a multitude unburied had none to mourn for him, nor had he any funeral at all, or place in the sepulchre of his fathers.
10 He who had thrown out a multitude unburied had none to mourn for him. He didn’t have any funeral at all and no place in the tomb of his ancestors.
11 Now when tidings came to the king concerning that which was done, he thought that Judaea was in revolt; whereupon setting out from Egypt in a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms,
11 Now when news came to the king concerning that which was done, he thought that Judea was in revolt. So, setting out from Egypt in a rage, he took the city by force of weapons,
12 and commanded his soldiers to cut down without mercy such as came in their way, and to slay such as went up upon the houses;
12 and commanded his soldiers to cut down without mercy those who came in their way, and to kill those who went into their houses.
13 and there was killing of young and old, making away of boys, women, and children, slaying of virgins and infants.
13 Then there was killing of young and old, destruction of boys, women, and children, and slaying of virgins and infants.
14 And in all the three days [of the slaughter ] there were destroyed fourscore thousand, [whereof ] forty thousand [were slain ] in close combat, and no fewer were sold than slain.
14 In a total of three days, eighty thousand were destroyed, of which forty thousand were slain in close combat, and no fewer were sold into slavery than slain.
15 But not content with this he presumed to enter into the most holy temple of all the earth, having Menelaus for his guide (him that had proved himself a traitor both to the laws and to his country),
15 Not content with this, he presumed to enter into the most holy temple of all the earth, having Menelaus for his guide (who had proved himself a traitor both to the laws and to his country),
16 even taking the sacred vessels with his polluted hands, and dragging down with his profane hands the offerings that had been dedicated by other kings to the augmentation and glory and honour of the place.
16 even taking the sacred vessels with his polluted hands, and dragging down with his profane hands the offerings that had been dedicated by other kings to enhance the glory and honor of the place.
17 And Antiochus was lifted up in mind, not seeing that because of the sins of them that dwelt in the city the Sovereign Lord had been provoked to anger a little while, and therefore his eye was [then ] turned away from the place.
17 Antiochus was lifted up in mind, not seeing that because of the sins of those who lived in the city the Sovereign Lord had been provoked to anger a little while, and therefore his eye was turned away from the place.
18 But had it not so been that they were already holden by many sins, this man, even as Heliodorus who was sent by Seleucus the king to view the treasury, would, so soon as he pressed forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed.
18 But had it not been so that they were already bound by many sins, this man, even as Heliodorus who was sent by King Seleucus to view the treasury, would, as soon as he came forward, have been scourged and turned back from his daring deed.
19 Howbeit the Lord did not choose the nation for the place’s sake, but the place for the nation’s sake.
19 However the Lord didn’t choose the nation for the place’s sake, but the place for the nation’s sake.
20 Wherefore also the place itself, having partaken in the calamities that befell the nation, did afterward share in [its ] benefits; and the [place ] which was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was, at the reconciliation of the great Sovereign, restored again with all glory.
20 Therefore also the place itself, having shared in the calamities that happened to the nation, did afterward share in its benefits; and the place which was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was, at the reconciliation of the great Sovereign, restored again with all glory.
21 As for Antiochus, when he had carried away out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antioch, weening in his arrogancy to make the land navigable and the sea passable by foot, because his heart was lifted up.
21 As for Antiochus, when he had carried away out of the temple one thousand eight hundred talents, he hurried away to Antioch, thinking in his arrogance that he could sail on land and walk on the sea, because his heart was lifted up.
22 And moreover he left governors to afflict the race: at Jerusalem, Philip, by race a Phrygian, and in character more barbarous than him that set him there;
22 Moreover he left governors to afflict the race: at Jerusalem, Philip, by race a Phrygian, and in character more barbarous than him who set him there;
23 and at Gerizim, Andronicus; and besides these, Menelaus, who worse than all the rest exalted himself against his fellow-citizens. And having a malicious mind toward the Jews [whom he had made ] his citizens,
23 and at Gerizim, Andronicus; and besides these, Menelaus, who worse than all the rest, exalted himself against his fellow citizens. Having a malicious mind toward the Jews whom he had made his citizens,
24 he sent that lord of pollutions Apollonius with an army of two and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those that were of full age, and to sell the women and the younger men.
24 he sent that lord of pollutions Apollonius with an army of twenty-two thousand, commanding him to kill all those who were of full age, and to sell the women and the boys as slaves.
25 And he coming to Jerusalem, and playing the man of peace, waited till the holy day of the sabbath, and finding the Jews at rest from work, he commanded his men to parade in arms.
25 He came to Jerusalem, and pretending to be a man of peace, waited till the holy day of the Sabbath, and finding the Jews at rest from work, he commanded his men to parade fully armed.
26 And he put to the sword all them that came forth to the spectacle; and running into the city with the armed men he slew great multitudes.
26 He put to the sword all those who came out to the spectacle. Running into the city with the armed men, he killed great multitudes.
27 But Judas, who is also [called ] Maccabaeus, with nine others or thereabout, withdrew himself, and with his company kept himself alive in the mountains after the manner of wild beasts; and they continued feeding on such poor herbs as grew there, that they might not be partakers of the [threatened ] pollution.
27 But Judas, who is also called Maccabaeus, with about nine others, withdrew himself, and with his company kept himself alive in the mountains like wild animals do. They continued feeding on what grew wild, that they might not be partakers of the defilement.