1 And Judas heard of the name of the Romans, that they are mighty of power, and agree unto all things that are requested of them: and whosoever have come unto them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty of power.
1 Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.
2 And they heard of their battles, and goodly acts, which they did in Galatia, that they overcame them, and brought them under tribute:
2 And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute:
3 and how great things they did in the country of Spain, & that they brought into their power the metals of silver and gold, that are there, and possessed every place by their counsel and patience:
3 And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:
4 and destroyed the places that were very far off from them, and the kings that came upon them from the ends of the earth, and struck them with a great plague: and the rest give them tribute every year.
4 And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.
5 And Philip and Perses the king of the Ceteans, & the rest that had borne weapon against them, they discomfited in battle, and overcame them:
5 And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:
6 and that Antiochus the great king of Asia, who made battle against them, having an hundred and twenty elephants, and horsemen, and chariots and army exceeding great was discomfited by them:
6 And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them.
7 and that they took him alive, and appointed him that himself and they that should reign after him, should give a great tribute, and he should give hostages, and the thing appointed him.
7 And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8 and the region of the Indes, and the Medes, and the Lydians of their best countries: and the same being taken of them, they gave to Eumenes the king.
8 And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them, they gave to king Eumenes.
9 And that they which were in Hellada, would have gone to dispatch them: and the word was known to them,
9 And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
10 and they sent unto them one captain, and they fought against them, and many of them were slain, and they led away their wives captive, and their children, and spoiled them, and possessed their land, and destroyed their walls, and brought them into bondage even until this day:
10 And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.
11 and the residue of kingdoms, and isles that some time had resisted them, they spoiled, and brought under their power.
11 And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.
12 But with their friends, and those that rested in them, they kept amity, and obtained the kingdoms, that were next, and that were far off: that whosoever heard their name, feared them.
12 But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.
13 But such as they would help to reign, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were exalted exceedingly.
13 That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
14 And in all these none bare a crown, nor was clothed with purple, to be magnified therein.
14 And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.
15 And that they made themselves a court, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty, that sat in counsel always for the multitude, that they might do the things that were convenient:
15 And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right:
16 and they commit their government to one man every year to rule over all their land, and all they obey one, and there is no envy, nor emulation amongst them.
16 And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy nor jealousy amongst them.
17 And Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, & he sent them to Rome to make amity and society with them:
17 So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them:
18 and that they should take from them the yoke of the Greeks, because they saw that they pressed the kingdom of Israel unto bondage.
18 And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
19 And they went to Rome, a way exceeding great, and they entered into the court, and said:
19 And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:
20 Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us unto you to make society and peace with you, and to write us your fellows and friends.
20 Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.
21 And the word was liked in their sight.
21 And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22 And this is the rescript that they wrote again in tables of brass, and sent into Jerusalem, that it might be with them there a memorial of peace and society.
22 And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance.
23 Be it Well to The Romans, and to the nation of the Jews by sea, and by land for ever: and sword and enemy be far from them.
23 Good success be to the romans, and to the people of the Jews by sea, and by land, forever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
24 But and if war be toward the Romans first, or all their fellows in all their dominion:
24 But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
25 the nation of the Jews shall give aid, according as the time shall appoint, with full heart:
25 The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:
26 and to them fighting, they shall not give nor allow wheat, armour, money, ships, as it hath pleased the Romans: & they shall keep their charge, taking nothing of them.
26 Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking anything of them.
27 In like manner also & if war shall happen first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them:
27 In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them:
28 & to them helping shall not be given wheat, armour, money, ships, as it hath pleased the Romans: and they shall keep their charge without guile.
28 And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.
29 According to these words did the Romans agree to the people of the Jews.
29 According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.
30 And if after these words these or they will add to these, or take away any thing, they shall do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.
30 And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.
31 Yea and concerning the evils, that Demetrius the king hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou aggravated the yoke upon our friends and fellows the Jews?
31 Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews.
32 If therefore they come again unto us against thee, we will do judgement for them, and will fight with thee by sea and land.
32 If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.