1 But Nicanor as he understood that Judas was in the places of Samaria, he purposed with all violence to join battle the day of the Sabbath.
1 But ¹when Nicanor understood that Judas was in the places of Samaria, he purposed to set upon him with all violence, on the sabbath day.
2 But the Jews that of necessity followed him, saying do not so fiercely and barbarously, but give honour to the day of the sanctification, and honour him that beholdeth all things:
2 And when the Jews that were constrained to follow him, said: Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honor to the day that is sanctified: and reverence him that beholdeth all things:
3 that unhappy man asked, if there were a power in heaven, that commanded the Sabbath day to be kept.
3 That unhappy man asked, if there were a mighty One in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.
4 And they answering: There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the potent, that commanded the seventh day to be kept.
4 And when they answered: There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the mighty One, that commanded the seventh day to be kept.
5 But he said. And I am potent upon the earth, that commanded arms to be taken, and the king's affairs to be accomplished. Nevertheless he obtained not to accomplish his counsel.
5 Then he said: And I am mighty upon the earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king’s business. Nevertheless he prevailed not to accomplish his design.
6 And Nicanor indeed puffed up with exceeding pride, had thought to have set up a common victorious memory of Judas.
6 So Nicanor being puffed up with exceeding great pride, thought to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas.
7 But Machabeus always trusted with all hope that there would come aid from God to them.
7 But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help them.
8 And exhorted his company, that they should not fear at the coming of the nations, but should have in mind the aids given unto them from heaven, and now should hope that they should have the victory from the Almighty.
8 And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now to hope for victory from the Almighty.
9 And speaking unto them out of the law, and the Prophets, admonishing them also of the conflicts, that they had made before, he made them the more prompt:
9 And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made them more cheerful:
10 and so their hearts being encouraged, withal he shewed the fraud of the Gentiles, and their breaking of oaths.
10 Then after he had encouraged them, he showed withal the falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths.
11 And he armed every one of them not with fence of buckler and spear, but with very good words, and exhortations, declaring a dream worthy to be credited, whereby he rejoiced them all.
11 So he armed everyone of them, not with defence of shield and spear, but with very good speeches, and exhortations, and told them a dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all.
12 And the vision was in this manner: Onias who had been the high-Priest, a good and benign man, reverent to behold, modest of manners, and comely of speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues, that he stretching forth the hands prayed for all the people of the Jews.
12 Now the vision was in this manner. Onias, who had been high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews:
13 After this that there appeared also another man marvelous for age, and glory, and for the port of great dignity about him.
13 After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty:
14 And that Onias answering said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for the whole city, Jeremy the Prophet of God.
14 Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God.
15 And that Jeremy put forth his right hand, and gave unto Judas a sword of gold, saying:
15 Whereupon Jeremias stretch ed forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:
16 Take the holy sword a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel.
16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel.
17 Being exhorted therefore with the words of Judas exceeding good, by which the courages might be stirred up, & the hearts of the young men strengthened, they resolved to fight, and to encounter manfully: that manhood might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the temple were in danger.
17 Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: that valor might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the temple were in danger.
18 For there was less care for their wives, and children, and also for their brethren, and kinsmen: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holiness of the temple.
18 For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and for their brethren, and kinfolks: but their greatest and principal fear was for the holiness of the temple.
19 And they also that were in the city, took no little care for them that were to join battle.
19 And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for them that were to be engaged in battle.
20 And when they did all hope that judgement would be given, and the enemies were present, and the army was set in array, the beasts & horsemen disposed in convenient place,
20 And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the horsemen ranged in convenient places,
21 Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the variety of the provision of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching forth his hands unto heaven, he invocated our Lord, that worketh wonders, who not according to the might of arms, but according as it pleaseth him, giveth victory to the worthy.
21 Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armor, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, that worketh wonders, who giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to the power of their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him.
22 And he said invocating in this manner: Thou Lord which didst send thy Angel in the time of Ezechias king of Juda, and didst kill an hundred eighty five thousand of the camp of Sennacherib:
22 And in his prayer he said after this manner: ²Thou, O Lord, who didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib:
23 and now o Dominatour of the heavens send thy good Angel before us, in fear and trembling of the greatness of thine arm,
23 Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm,
24 that they may be afraid, which with blasphemy come against thine holy people. And he indeed ended his prayer thus.
24 That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer.
25 But Nicanor, and they that were with him, with trumpets & songs came near.
25 But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with trumpets and songs.
26 But Judas, & they that were with him, invocating God by prayers joined battle:
26 But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling upon God by prayers:
27 with the hand indeed fighting, but in their hearts praying to our Lord, they overthrew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly delighted with the presence of God.
27 So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly cheered with the presence of God.
28 And when they had ceased, and returned with joy, they understood that Nicanor was slain, for all his armour.
28 And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armor.
29 Ashout therefore being made, and a great cry, they blessed the Almighty Lord in their country language.
29 Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty Lord in their own language.
30 And Judas, who by all means was in body and mind ready to die for his citizens, commanded that Nicanor's head, & hand with the shoulder being cut off, should be carried to Jerusalem.
30 And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor’s head, and his hand, with the shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.
31 Whither when he was come, having called his countrymen, and the Priests to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castle.
31 And when he was come thither, having called together his countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castle,
32 And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which he stretching forth against the holy house of Almighty God, had mightily bragged.
32 And showing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the Almighty God,
33 The tongue also of impious Nicanor being cut out, he commanded to be given piecemeal to the birds: and the hand of the furious man to be hanged up against the temple.
33 He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious man to be hanged up over against the temple.
34 All therefore blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he, that hath kept his place undefiled.
34 Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.
35 And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it might be an evident, and manifest sign of the help of God.
35 And he hung up Nicanor’s head in the top of the castle, that it might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.
36 Therefore all by common counsel decreed, by no means to let pass this day without solemnity:
36 And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this day pass without solemnity:
37 but to keep the solemnity the thirteenth day of the month Adar, which is called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardocheus' day.
37 But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias’ day.
38 These things therefore being done concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed of the Hebrews, I also in these will make an end of speaking.
38 So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my narration.
39 And if well, and as is competent for a story, that myself also would: but if not so worthily it resteth to be pardoned me.
39 Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.
40 For as to drink always wine, or always water is hurtful, but to use now one now another is delectable: so to the readers, if the speech be always exact, it will not be grateful. Here therefore it shall be ended.
40 For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. But here it shall be ended.