1 But a little after Lysias the king's procurator, and cousin, and chief over the affairs, being greatly offended with these things, that had happened,
1 A short time after this Lysias, the king’s lieutenant, and cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly displeased with what had happened,
2 having gathered four score thousand, & all the horsemen, came against the Jews, thinking that taking the city, he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles:
2 Gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a habitation of the Gentiles:
3 and he should have the temple to make gain of money, as the rest of the temples of the Gentiles, & every year the priesthood to be sold:
3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the Gentiles and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:
4 never recounting the power of God, but furious in mind, he trusted in the multitude of foot men, and thousands of horsemen, & in four score elephants.
4 Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
5 And he entered into Jury, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place from Jerusalem the space of five furlongs, he expugned that hold.
5 So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid siege to that fortress.
6 But as Machabeus, and they that were with him, understood that the holds were expugned, they besought our Lord with weeping and tears, and all the multitude together, that he would send a good Angel to the saving of Israel.
6 But when Machabeus, and they that were with him, understood that the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to save Israel.
7 And Machabeus himself first taking weapons, exhorted the rest together with him, to adventure, and to give aid to their brethren.
7 Then Machabeus himself first taking his arms, exhorted the rest to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succor their brethren.
8 And when they went forth together with prompt courage, at Jerusalem there appeared going before them an horseman in white clothing, with armour of gold, shaking a spear.
8 And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, there appeared at Jerusalem a horseman going before them in white clothing, with golden armor, shaking a spear.
9 Then all they together blessed our merciful Lord, and took great courage: being ready to penetrate not only men, but also most fierce beasts, and walls of iron.
9 Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and took great courage: being ready to break through not only men, but also the fiercest beasts, and walls of iron.
10 They went therefore promptly having an helper from heaven, and our Lord having pity upon them.
10 So they went on courageously, having a helper from heaven, and the Lord, who showed mercy to them.
11 And like lions running violently upon the enemies, they overthrew of them eleven thousand footmen, and of horsemen a thousand six hundred:
11 And rushing violently upon the enemy, like lions, they slew of them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand six hundred horsemen:
12 and they put to flight all, & very many of them being wounded scaped away naked. Yea and Lysias himself shamefully flying escaped.
12 And put all the rest to flight; and many of them being wounded, escaped naked: Yea, and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and escaped.
13 And because he was not senseless recounting with himself, the diminution made on his side, & understanding the Hebrews to be invincible, because they rested upon the help of the almighty God, he sent unto them:
13 And as he was a man of understanding, considering with himself the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he sent to them:
14 & promised that he would consent to all things, that are just, and that he would force the king to be their friend.
14 And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, and that he would persuade the king to be their friend.
15 And Machabeus granted to Lysias' requests, in all things having respect to the commonwealth and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
15 Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for the common good in all things; and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king allowed of.
16 For there were epistles written to the Jews from Lysias, containing this tenure: Lysias to the people of the Jews health.
16 For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this effect: Lysias, to the people of the Jews, greeting:
17 John and Absalom that were sent from you, delivering the writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which by them were signified.
17 John, and Abesalom, who were sent from you, delivering your writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were signified by them.
18 Therefore whatsoever might be brought to the king I declared unto him: & that which the matters permitted I granted.
18 Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king, I have represented to him: and he hath granted as much as the matter permitted.
19 If therefore you keep fidelity in the affairs & henceforward, also will endeavour to be a cause of doing you good.
19 If, therefore, you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, hereafter also I will endeavor to be a means of your good.
20 And concerning the rest, word for word I have given commandment both to these, and to them that are sent of me, to commune with you.
20 But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you.
21 Fare ye well. In the year an hundred forty eight, of the month Dioscorus the four and twentieth day.
21 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus.
22 But the king's epistle contained these things: King Antiochus to Lysias his brother, health.
22 But the king’s letter contained these words, King Antiochus to Lysias, his brother, greeting:
23 Our father being translated amongst the gods, we being willing that they that are in our kingdom should live without trouble, and employ diligence to their own matters,
23 Our father being translated amongst the gods we are desirous that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply themselves diligently to their own concerns.
24 we have heard that the Jews consented not to my father to turn to the rite of the Greeks, but that they would keep their own institution, and therefore that they request us their rites to be granted them.
24 And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father to turn to the rites of the Greeks but that they would keep to their own manner of living and therefore that they request us to allow them to live after their own laws.
25 Being therefore desirous that this nation also be quiet, ordaining we have decreed, that the temple be restored unto them, that they might do according to the custom of their ancestors.
25 Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their ancestors.
26 Thou shalt do well therefore if thou send to them, & give the right hand, that our pleasure being known they may be of good cheer, & look to their own commodities.
26 Thou shalt do well, therefore, to send to them, and grant them peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and look to their own affairs.
27 But to the Jews the king's epistle was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews health.
27 But the king’s letter to the Jews was in this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, greeting:
28 If you fare well, you are so as we would: yea ourselves also fare well.
28 If you are well, you are as we desire: we ourselves also are well.
29 Menelaus came to us, saying that you would come down to your country men, that are with us.
29 Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to your countrymen, that are with us.
30 To them therefore that come & go, until the thirtieth day of the month Xanthicus, we give the right hands of security,
30 We grant, therefore, a safe conduct to all that come and go, until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus,
31 that the Jews may use their own meats, & their own laws, as also before: & that none of them by any means suffer molestation for these things, which have been done by ignorance.
31 That the Jews may use their own kind of meats, and their own laws, as before: and that none of them any manner of ways be molested for things which have been done by ignorance.
32 And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
32 And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you.
33 Fare ye well. In the year an hundred forty eight, of the month Xanthicus the fifteenth day.
33 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.
34 And the Romans also sent an epistle, which is thus: Quintus Memmius, and Titus Manilius legates of the Romans, to the people of the Jews health.
34 The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect: Quintus Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting:
35 Concerning these things which Lysias the king's cousin hath granted you, we also have granted.
35 Whatsoever Lysias, the king’s cousin, hath granted to you, we also have granted.
36 But touching the things which he thought good to be referred to the king, send ye forthwith somebody, conferring diligently among yourselves, that we may decree as is convenient for you: for we go to Antioch.
36 But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send someone forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we are going to Antioch.
37 And therefore make haste to write again, that we also may know of what mind you are.
37 And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what mind you are.
38 Fare ye well. In the year an hundred forty eight the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
38 Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus.