Liber II Maccabaeorum, 1

1. Fratribus, qui sunt per Aegyp tum, Iudaeis salutem dicunt fratres, qui sunt in Hierosolymis Iudaei et qui in regione Iudaeae, pacem bonam.

1. The Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, To their Jewish brethren in Egypt, Greeting, and good peace.

2. Et benefaciat vobis Deus et meminerit testamenti sui, quod locutus est ad Abraham et Isaac et Iacob servorum suorum fidelium;

2. May God do good to you, and may he remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants.

3. et det vobis cor omnibus, ut colatis eum et faciatis eius voluntatem corde magno et animo volenti;

3. May he give you all a heart to worship him and to do his will with a strong heart and a willing spirit.

4. et adaperiat cor vestrum in lege sua et in praeceptis suis et faciat pacem;

4. May he open your heart to his law and his commandments, and may he bring peace.

5. et exaudiat orationes vestras et reconcilietur vobis nec vos deserat in tempore malo.

5. May he hear your prayers and be reconciled to you, and may he not forsake you in time of evil.

6. Et nunc hic sumus orantes pro vobis.

6. We are now praying for you here.

7. Regnante Demetrio, anno centesimo sexagesimo nono, nos Iudaei scripsimus vobis in tribulatione et impetu, qui supervenit nobis in istis annis, ex quo recessit Iason et, qui cum eo erant, a sancta terra et a regno

7. In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you, in the critical distress which came upon us in those years after Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom

8. et portam succenderunt et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem; et oravimus ad Dominum et exauditi sumus et obtulimus sacrificia et similaginem et accendimus lucernas et proposuimus panes.

8. and burned the gate and shed innocent blood. We besought the Lord and we were heard, and we offered sacrifice and cereal offering, and we lighted the lamps and we set out the loaves.

9. Et nunc ut frequentetis dies Scenopegiae mensis Casleu,

9. And now see that you keep the feast of booths in the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.

10. anno centesimo octogesimo octavo. Qui sunt Hierosolymis et in Iudaea, senatusque et Iudas Aristobulo magistro Ptolemaei regis, qui est de genere christorum sacerdotum, et his, qui in Aegypto sunt, Iudaeis salutem et sanitatem.

10. Those in Jerusalem and those in Judea and the senate and Judas, To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of Ptolemy the king, and to the Jews in Egypt, Greeting, and good health.

11. De magnis periculis a Deo liberati magnifice gratias agimus ipsi, utpote qui adversus regem dimicavimus;

11. Having been saved by God out of grave dangers we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king.

12. ipse enim effervere fecit eos, qui pugnaverunt contra sanctam civitatem.

12. For he drove out those who fought against the holy city.

13. Nam cum in Perside esset dux ipse et qui cum ipso videbatur esse intolerabilis exercitus, concisi sunt in templo Naneae, fraude utentibus sacerdotibus Naneae.

13. For when the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a deception employed by the priests of Nanea.

14. Etenim quasi cum ea habitaturus venit ad locum Antiochus et, qui cum ipso erant, amici, ut acciperet pecunias multas dotis nomine.

14. For under pretext of intending to marry her, Antiochus came to the place together with his friends, to secure most of its treasures as a dowry.

15. Cumque proposuissent eas sacerdotes Naneae, et ipse cum paucis ingressus esset intra ambitum fani, clauserunt templum; cum intrasset Antiochus,

15. When the priests of the temple of Nanea had set out the treasures and Antiochus had come with a few men inside the wall of the sacred precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it.

16. aperto occulto aditu laquearis, mittentes lapides percusserunt ducem et diviserunt membratim et, capitibus amputatis, foras proiecerunt.

16. Opening the secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the leader and his men, and dismembered them and cut off their heads and threw them to the people outside.

17. Per omnia benedictus Deus, qui tradidi

17. Blessed in every way be our God, who has brought judgment upon those who have behaved impiously.

18. Facturi igitur quinta et vicesima die mensis Casleu purificationem templi, necessarium duximus significare vobis, ut et vos quoque agatis diem Scenopegiae et ignis, qui datus est, quando Nehemias, aedificato templo et altari, obtulit sacrificia.

18. Since on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev we shall celebrate the purification of the temple, we thought it necessary to notify you, in order that you also may celebrate the feast of booths and the feast of the fire given when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.

19. Nam cum in Persidem ducerentur patres nostri, sacerdotes, qui tunc cultores Dei erant, acceptum ignem de altari occulte absconderunt in cavo putei situm habentis siccum, in quo contutati sunt eum, ita ut omnibus ignotus esset locus.

19. For when our fathers were being led captive to Persia, the pious priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar and secretly hid it in the hollow of a dry cistern, where they took such precautions that the place was unknown to any one.

20. Cum autem praeterissent anni multi, et placuit Deo, ut mitteretur Nehemias a rege Persidis, nepotes sacerdotum illorum, qui absconderant, misit ad ignem.

20. But after many years had passed, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having been commissioned by the king of Persia, sent the descendants of the priests who had hidden the fire to get it. And when they reported to us that they had not found fire but thick liquid, he ordered them to dip it out and bring it.

21. Sicut narraverunt nobis, non invenerunt ignem sed aquam crassam. Et iussit eos haurire et afferre. Utque imposita sunt sacrificia, iussit sacerdotes Nehemias aspergere aqua et ligna et, quae erant superposita.

21. And when the materials for the sacrifices were presented, Nehemiah ordered the priests to sprinkle the liquid on the wood and what was laid upon it.

22. Utque hoc factum est, et tempus transiit, et sol refulsit, qui prius erat in nubilo, accensus est ignis magnus, ita ut omnes mirarentur.

22. When this was done and some time had passed and the sun, which had been clouded over, shone out, a great fire blazed up, so that all marveled.

23. Orationem autem faciebant sacerdotes, dum consummaretur sacrificium: et sacerdotes et omnes, Ionatha inchoante, ceteris autem respondentibus ut Nehemias.

23. And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer -- the priests and every one. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as did Nehemiah.

24. Erat autem oratio hunc habens modum: “Domine, Domine Deus, omnium creator, terribilis et fortis, iustus et misericors, qui solus es rex et bonus,

24. The prayer was to this effect: "O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art awe-inspiring and strong and just and merciful, who alone art King and art kind,

25. solus praestans, solus iustus et omnipotens et aeternus; qui liberas Israel de omni malo, qui fecisti patres electos et sanctificasti eos,

25. who alone art bountiful, who alone art just and almighty and eternal, who dost rescue Israel from every evil, who didst choose the fathers and consecrate them,

26. accipe sacrificium pro universo populo tuo Israel et custodi partem tuam et sanctifica.

26. accept this sacrifice on behalf of all thy people Israel and preserve thy portion and make it holy.

27. Congrega dispersionem nostram, libera eos, qui serviunt gentibus, et contemptos et abominatos respice, ut sciant gentes quia tu es Deus noster.

27. Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look upon those who are rejected and despised, and let the Gentiles know that thou art our God.

28. Afflige opprimentes nos et contumeliam facientes in superbia.

28. Afflict those who oppress and are insolent with pride.

29. Constitue populum tuum in loco sancto tuo, sicut dixit Moyses”.

29. Plant thy people in thy holy place, as Moses said."

30. Sacerdotes autem psallebant hymnos.

30. Then the priests sang the hymns.

31. Cum autem consumptum esset sacrificium, ex residua aqua Nehemias iussit lapides maiores perfundi

31. And when the materials of the sacrifice were consumed, Nehemiah ordered that the liquid that was left should be poured upon large stones.

32. quod ut factum est, flamma accensa est, sed a lumine, quod refulsit ex altari, consumpta est.

32. When this was done, a flame blazed up; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.

33. Ut vero manifestata est res, et renuntiatum est regi Persarum quod in loco, in quo ignem absconderant hi, qui translati fuerant, sacerdotes, aqua apparuit, de qua Nehemias et, qui cum eo erant, purificaverunt ea, quae essent sacrificii,

33. When this matter became known, and it was reported to the king of the Persians that, in the place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, the liquid had appeared with which Nehemiah and his associates had burned the materials of the sacrifice,

34. circumsaepiens autem rex et rem diligenter examinans, templum fecit.

34. the king investigated the matter, and enclosed the place and made it sacred.

35. Et quibus gratificabatur rex, multa dona accipiebat et tribuebat.

35. And with those persons whom the king favored he exchanged many excellent gifts.

36. Appellaverunt autem, qui cum Nehemia erant, hunc locum Nephthar, quod interpretatur Purificatio; vocatur autem apud plures Nephthai.

36. Nehemiah and his associates called this "nephthar," which means purification, but by most people it is called naphtha.