2 Maccabees, 2

1. 'It is on record that the prophet Jeremiah ordered the deportees to take the fire, as we have described,

1. One finds in the records that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been told,

2. and how, having given them the Law, the prophet warned the deportees never to forget the Lord's precepts, nor to let their thoughts be tempted by the sight of gold and silver statues or the finery adorning them.

2. and that the prophet after giving them the law instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, nor to be led astray in their thoughts upon seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment.

3. Among other similar admonitions, he urged them not to let the Law depart from their hearts.

3. And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.

4. 'The same document also describes how the prophet, warned by an oracle, gave orders for the tent and the ark to go with him, when he set out for the mountain which Moses had climbed to survey God's heritage.

4. It was also in the writing that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God.

5. On his arrival, Jeremiah found a cave-dwelling, into which he put the tent, the ark and the altar of incense, afterwards blocking up the entrance.

5. And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance.

6. Some of his companions went back later to mark out the path but were unable to find it.

6. Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not find it.

7. When Jeremiah learned this, he reproached them, "The place is to remain unknown", he said, "until God gathers his people together again and shows them his mercy.

7. When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: "The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy.

8. Then the Lord will bring these things once more to light, and the glory of the Lord will be seen, and so will the cloud, as it was revealed in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the holy place might be gloriously hallowed."

8. And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated."

9. 'It was also recorded how Solomon in his wisdom offered the sacrifice of the dedication and completion of the sanctuary.

9. It was also made clear that being possessed of wisdom Solomon offered sacrifice for the dedication and completion of the temple.

10. As Moses had prayed to the Lord and fire had come down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice, so Solomon also prayed, and the fire from above consumed the burnt offerings.

10. Just as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and devoured the sacrifices, so also Solomon prayed, and the fire came down and consumed the whole burnt offerings.

11. Moses had said, "Because the sacrifice for sin had not been eaten, it was burnt instead."

11. And Moses said, "They were consumed because the sin offering had not been eaten."

12. Solomon similarly observed the eight-day festival.

12. Likewise Solomon also kept the eight days.

13. 'In addition to the above, it was also recorded, both in these writings and in the Memoirs of Nehemiah, how Nehemiah founded a library and made a collection of the books dealing with the kings and the prophets, the writings of David and the letters of the kings on the subject of offerings.

13. The same things are reported in the records and in the memoirs of Nehemiah, and also that he founded a library and collected the books about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of kings about votive offerings.

14. Similarly, Judas made a complete collection of the books dispersed in the late war, and these we still have.

14. In the same way Judas also collected all the books that had been lost on account of the war which had come upon us, and they are in our possession.

15. If you need any of them, send someone to fetch them.

15. So if you have need of them, send people to get them for you.

16. 'Since we are about to celebrate the purification, we now write, requesting you to observe the same days.

16. Since, therefore, we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. Will you therefore please keep the days?

17. God, who has saved his whole people, conferring heritage, kingdom, priesthood and sanctification on all of us,

17. It is God who has saved all his people, and has returned the inheritance to all, and the kingship and priesthood and consecration,

18. as he has promised in the Law, will surely, as our hope is in him, be swift to show us mercy and gather us together from everywhere under heaven to the holy place, since he has rescued us from great evils and has purified it.'

18. as he promised through the law. For we have hope in God that he will soon have mercy upon us and will gather us from everywhere under heaven into his holy place, for he has rescued us from great evils and has purified the place.

19. The story of Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, the purification of the great Temple, the dedication of the altar,

19. The story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20. together with the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,

20. and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,

21. and the celestial manifestations that came to hearten the brave champions of Judaism, so that, few though they were, they pillaged the whole country, routed the barbarian hordes,

21. and the appearances which came from heaven to those who strove zealously on behalf of Judaism, so that though few in number they seized the whole land and pursued the barbarian hordes,

22. recovered the sanctuary renowned the whole world over, liberated the city and re-established the laws by then all but abolished, the Lord showing his favour by all his gracious help to them-

22. and recovered the temple famous throughout the world and freed the city and restored the laws that were about to be abolished, while the Lord with great kindness became gracious to them --

23. all this, already related in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we shall attempt to condense into a single work.

23. all this, which has been set forth by Jason of Cyrene in five volumes, we shall attempt to condense into a single book.

24. Considering the spate of figures and the difficulty encountered, because of the mass of material, by those who wish to immerse themselves in historical records,

24. For considering the flood of numbers involved and the difficulty there is for those who wish to enter upon the narratives of history because of the mass of material,

25. we have aimed at providing diversion for those who merely want something to read, a saving of labour for those who enjoy committing things to memory, and profit for each and all.

25. we have aimed to please those who wish to read, to make it easy for those who are inclined to memorize, and to profit all readers.

26. For us who have undertaken the drudgery of this abridgement, it has been no easy task but a matter of sweat and midnight oil,

26. For us who have undertaken the toil of abbreviating, it is no light matter but calls for sweat and loss of sleep,

27. comparable to the exacting task of someone organising a banquet, whose aim is to satisfy a variety of tastes. Nevertheless, for the sake of rendering a general service, we remain glad to endure this drudgery,

27. just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the benefit of others. However, to secure the gratitude of many we will gladly endure the uncomfortable toil,

28. leaving accuracy of detail to the historian, and concentrating our effort on tracing the outlines in this condensed version.

28. leaving the responsibility for exact details to the compiler, while devoting our effort to arriving at the outlines of the condensation.

29. Just as the architect of a new house is responsible for the construction as a whole, while the man undertaking the ceramic painting has to take into consideration only the decorative requirements, so, I think, it is with us.

29. For as the master builder of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction, while the one who undertakes its painting and decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its adornment, such in my judgment is the case with us.

30. To make the subject his own, to explore its by-ways, to be meticulous about details, is the business of the original historian,

30. It is the duty of the original historian to occupy the ground and to discuss matters from every side and to take trouble with details,

31. but the person making the adaptation must be allowed to aim at conciseness of expression and to forgo any exhaustive treatment of his subject.

31. but the one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment.

32. So now let us begin our narrative, without adding any more to what has been said above; there would be no sense in expanding the preface to the history and curtailing the history itself.

32. At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, adding only so much to what has already been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history itself.