1 At that time Antiochus returned out of Persis dishonourably.
1 At that time Antiochus returned with dishonor out of Persia.
2 For he had entered into the city which is called Persepolis, and he attempted to spoil the temple, and to oppress the city: but the multitude running together to arms, they were put to flight: and so it chanced that Antiochus after his flight returned with dishonour.
2 For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight, returned with disgrace.
3 And when he was come about Ecbatana, he understood the things that were done to Nicanor and Timothee.
3 Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.
4 And swelling in anger, he thought that he might wreak the injury of them, that had put him to flight, upon the Jews. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, journeying without intermission, the heavenly judgement urging him forward, because he spoke so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, & make it an heap of the sepulchre of the Jews.
4 And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
5 But he that seeth all things our Lord the God of Israel, struck him with an uncurable and invisible plague. For as he ended this very speech, a cruel plague of the bowels took him, and bitter torments of the inner parts:
5 ¹But the Lord, the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts.
6 and indeed very justly, as who had tormented the bowels of others with many & new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.
6 And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.
7 And beside this replenished with pride, breathing fire in his mind against the Jews, & commanding the matter to be hastened, it chanced him going with violence to fall from the chariot, & his limbs to be vexed with a grievous bruising of the body.
7 Moreover, being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence, that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.
8 And he that seemed to himself to rule even over the waves of the sea, replenished with pride above the measure of man, & to weigh the heights of mountains in a balance, now being humbled to the ground was carried in a portative seat, testifying the manifest power of God in himself:
8 Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:
9 so that out of the body of the impious man, worms crawled abundantly, and his live flesh fell off for pains, with his smell also & stink the army was annoyed.
9 So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army.
10 And he that a little before thought to touch the stars of heaven, him no man could carry for the intolerable stink.
10 And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.
11 Hereby therefore he began, being brought from his great pride, to come to the knowledge of himself, admonished by the plague of God, his pains increasing every moment.
11 And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.
12 And when neither himself now could abide his own stink, thus he said: It is reason to be subject to God, and a mortal man not to think of himself equally with God.
12 And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not equal himself to God.
13 And this wicked man prayed to our Lord, of whom he was not to obtain mercy.
13 Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.
14 And the city to the which he came in haste to have brought it to the ground, and to have made it a sepulchre of bodies heaped together, now wisheth to make it free:
14 And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to make free:
15 And the Jews whom he said he would not vouchsafe worthy, no not of burial, but would give them to birds and wild beasts to be spoiled, and destroy them with the little ones, now he promiseth to make them equal with the Athenians.
15 And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.
16 The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he would adorn with goodly donaries, & would multiply the holy vessels, and of his revenues would allow the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.
16 The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.
17 Besides these things, that he would be a Jew also, and would walk through every place of the earth, & would declare the power of God.
17 Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God.
18 But the pains ceasing not (for the just judgement of God was come upon him) despairing he wrote to the Jews by the manner of a supplication an epistle containing these words:
18 But his pains not ceasing (for the just judgment of God was come upon him), despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:
19 To His Very Good Subjects the Jews the king and prince Antiochus, much health, and welfare, and to be happy.
19 To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness.
20 If you and your children farewell, and if things be with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.
20 If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.
21 And I being in infirmity, & mindful of you benignly, being returned out of the places of Persis, & taken with a grievous infirmity, have thought it necessary to have a care for the common profit:
21 As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:
22 not despairing of myself, but having great hope to escape the sickness.
22 Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.
23 But considering that my father also, at what times he led his army in the higher places, he shewed who should take the princedom after him:
23 But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:
24 that if any mishap should chance, or hard tidings be told, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was committed, might not be troubled.
24 To the end that if anything contrary to expectation should fall out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.
25 Besides this, considering that all the potestates, and bordering neighbours wait for times, and expect the event, I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom, I having recourse oftentimes to the higher kingdoms did commend to many of you: and I have written to him that which is set down here beneath.
25 Moreover, considering that neighboring princes, and borderers, wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.
26 I pray you therefore, and desire you mindful of the benefits both public and private, that every one keep his fidelity to me, and to my son.
26 I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering favors both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.
27 For I trust that he will deal modestly and gently, and following my purpose, and that he will be common unto you.
27 For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.
28 Therefore the murderer and blasphemer being very sore strucken, & as himself had handled others, in a strange country among the mountains, with a miserable death departed this life.
28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country, among the mountains.
29 But Philip his foster brother removed his body: who fearing the son of Antiochus, went to Ptolomee Philometor into Ægypt.
29 But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.