1 To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Ægypt, the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and that are in the country of Jurie, send health, & good peace.
1 To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt; the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health and good peace.
2 God do good to you, and remember his testament, that he spake to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
2 May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
3 and give he unto you all an heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.
3 And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.
4 Open he your heart in his law, and in his precepts, and make peace.
4 May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.
5 Hear he your prayers, and be he reconciled unto you, neither forsake he you in the evil time.
5 May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.
6 And now here we are praying for you.
6 And now here we are praying for you.
7 When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundreth sixty nine, we Jews wrote unto you in the tribulation, and violence, that came upon us in these years, since Jason revolted from the holy land, and from the kingdom.
7 When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you in the trouble and violence that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.
8 They burnt the gate and shed innocent blood: and we prayed to our Lord, & were heard, & we offered sacrifice, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth there breads.
8 They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
9 And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia of the month Casleu.
9 And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.
10 In the year one hundreth eighty eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Jurie, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus the master of Ptolomee the king, who is of the stock of the anointed Priests, and to those Jews that are in Ægypt, health and welfare.
10 In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.
11 Being delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him thanks magnifically, as who have fought against such a king.
11 Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.
12 For he made them swarm out of Persis, that have fought against us, & the holy city.
12 For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought against us, and the holy city.
13 For when he was captain in Persis, & with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nania, being deceived by the counsel of Naneæ's priests.
13 For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.
14 For Antiochus, and his friends came to the place as to dwell with her, & that he might receive much money under the title of a dowry.
14 For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the title of a dowry.
15 And when Naneæ's priests had laid it forth, and he with a few was entered within the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,
15 And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,
16 when Antiochus was entered in: & a secret entrance of the temple being opened, casting stones they struck the duke, and them that were with him, and divided them in pieces, and cutting off their heads they threw them forth.
16 When Antiochus was come in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces; and cutting off their heads, they threw them forth.
17 Blessed be the God in all things, who hath delivered up the impious.
17 Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.
18 We therefore meaning to keep the purification of the temple the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, thought it necessary to signify unto you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire that was given, when Nehemias, after the temple was built & the altar, offered sacrifice.
18 Therefore, whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.
19 For when our fathers were carried into Persis, the Priests that then were the worshippers of God, taking the fire from the altar, hid it secretly in a valley where there was a pit deep, & dry, & therein they saved it, so that the place was unknown to all men.
19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that then were worshippers of God, took privately the fire from the altar, and hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men.
20 But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent of the king of Persis: he sent the nephews of those Priests, that had hid it, to seek out the fire: and as they told us, they found not fire, but thick water.
20 But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.
21 And he bade them draw, and bring unto him: and the sacrifices, that were laid on, the Priest Nehemias commanded to be sprinkled with the same water, and the wood, and the things that were laid thereupon.
21 Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest, Nehemias, commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon it.
22 And as this was done, and the time was come that the sun shone forth, which before was in a cloud, there was kindled a great fire, so that all marveled.
22 And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all wondered.
23 And all the Priests made prayer, whilst the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathas beginning, and the rest answering.
23 And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.
24 And the prayer of Nehemias was in this manner: O Lord God creator of all, dreadful, & strong, just, & merciful, which only art the good King,
24 And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone art the good king,
25 only giver, only just, and omnipotent, and eternal: which deliverest Israel from all evil, which madest the fathers elect, and didst sanctify them.
25 Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the fathers, and didst sanctify them:
26 Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, & keep thy part, and sanctify it.
26 Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy own portion, and sanctify it.
27 Gather together our dispersion, deliver them, that serve the Gentiles, and regard the contemned & abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.
27 Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God
28 Afflict them that oppress us, and that do contumely in pride.
28 Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with pride.
29 Place thy people in thy holy place, as Moyses said.
29 Establish thy people in thy holy place, ¹as Moses hath spoken.
30 And the Priests sang hymns, till the sacrifice was consumed.
30 And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.
31 And when the sacrifice was consumed, of the rest of the water Nehemias commanded the greater stones to be throughly washed.
31 And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.
32 Which thing as it was done, out of them was kindled a flame: but by light also, that shined from the altar, it was consumed.
32 Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
33 And as the thing was made manifest, it was told the king of the Persians, that in the place, wherein those Priests that were transported, had hid fire, there appeared water, with the which Nehemias, and they that were with him, purified the sacrifices.
33 And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were with him had purified the sacrifices.
34 And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might approve that which was done.
34 And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.
35 And when he had approved it, he gave to the Priests many good things, and diverse gifts, and taking them with his own hand, he gave to them.
35 And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and divers presents, and he took and distributed them to them with his own hand.
36 And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But it is called with many Nephi.
36 And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But many call it Nephi.