2 Maccabees, 9

1. About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia

1. By that time, Antiochus had to return without glory from the regions of Persia.

2. For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame.

2. When he entered a city called Persepolis, and tried to plunder the temple and seize the city, its inhabitants rebelled and took up arms against him. This people threw Antiochus and his men out. They fled and returned very much humiliated.

3. Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.

3. When Antiochus came to Ecbatana, he was informed of what had happened to the two generals - Nicanor and Timotheus - in Israel.

4. Then swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of GOd now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jew s.

4. He was infuriated and determined to take revenge on the Jews for the offense he had just received in Persepolis when they forced him to flee. He ordered the chariot driver to hurry up and not to stop until the journey's end. But the judgment of God was coming upon him, for he said in his pride, "As soon as I arrive in Jerusalem, I shall turn it into a cemetery of the Jews."

5. But the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts;

5. Then the Lord who sees all, the God of Israel, punished him with an incurable sickness of an internal nature.

6. And that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments.

6. He had barely finished speaking when he felt an unbearable pain in his stomach and began to be afflicted all over his body. This was indeed just for one who had tortured others in the same way with countless new punishments.

7. Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained.

7. But this did not diminish his arrogance. In his rage against the Jews, he gave orders to journey ahead with even more speed. Yet, because his chariot was running very fast, Antiochus fell and his physical condition worsened.

8. And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God.

8. Not long before, in his conceit and sense of superiority he thought of giving orders to the sea and measuring the heights of the mountains. Now he lay down and had to be brought on a stretcher, giving to all a clear testimony of the power of God.

9. So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.

9. Worms began to teem in the body of the impious and though he was still alive, his flesh tore off into pieces, leaving him in agonizing pain. The stench of his decay was so intolerable that his whole army shunned him.

10. And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink.

10. No one went near him who not long before thought he could touch the stars of heaven with his hand.

11. Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.

11. Only when he was beaten by the divine scourge did he begin to shed his arrogance. His pains grew worse, and he realized this was the punishment of God.

12. And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God.

12. He himself could no longer endure his stench. He said, "It is right to submit to God. Mortal man should not try to be equal with him."

13. This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,

13. And the wretch made a vow to the Lord who would no longer take pity on him.

14. That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would set at liberty:

14. He had marched to Jerusalem to level it and turn it into a cemetery. But now he even promised to declare it a free city.

15. And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens:

15. Moreover, he who before had refused burial to the Jews and wished to throw them with their children to the wild beasts, now offered to make them equal with the Athenians. He had plundered the temple and profaned the Sacred Place;

16. And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:

16. but now he promised to decorate it lavishly, to return a great number of the sacred vessels, and to pay for all the expenses of the sacrifices.

17. Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.

17. And he promised to become a Jew and to proclaim in all the inhabited countries the power of God.

18. But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:

18. His pains however did not diminish, for the just judgment of God had come upon him. He lost hope of recovery and wrote to the Jews this letter of supplication,

19. Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:

19. "To the honorable Jews, our citizens, good health, prosperity and all good things from the king and general, Antiochus.

20. If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.

20. If you and your children are well and your wishes are fulfilled, we give thanks to Heaven, for we remember your token of affection and kindness.

21. As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:

21. On my return from Persia, I became gravely ill, and because of this, I thought it necessary to be concerned for the common security of all of you.

22. Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.

22. I do not despair of my condition, and even have great hope of recovering from this illness.

23. But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries. appointed a successor,

23. But I thought of how my father would designate his successor whenever he set out for any military expedition into the uplands,

24. To the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:

24. so that his subjects would not be upset if anything unexpected should happen or any misfortune should befall him. Everyone would know who is in power.

25. Again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event. I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:

25. I am aware that the kings of all the neighboring countries around are watching the turn of events and waiting for an opportune time. Therefore, I have designated my son, Antiochus, as king. I already presented and commended him to most of you, when I set out for the northern regions. And now I communicate to him this letter I am sending you.

26. Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son.

26. I ask you, then, to take into account the favors each and everyone of you has received from me and maintain the same kindness toward me and my son.

27. For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably and graciously yield to your desires.

27. I am sure that following my own policies of moderation and humanity, he shall live in good accord with you."

28. Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he entreated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains.

28. In this way that blasphemer and murderer ended, suffering the terrible torments he had inflicted on others. He died miserably in the mountains of a foreign land.

29. And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus Philometor.

29. His companion, Philip, brought his body and then withdrew to Egypt to the court of Ptolemy Philometor, because he feared the son of Antiochus.