2 Maccabees, 14

1. After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy,

1. Three years later, Judas and his men were informed that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had landed in Tripoli with a fleet and a powerful army,

2. Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his protector.

2. and had taken control of the kingdom, killing Antiochus and his tutor Lysias.

3. Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,

3. A certain Alcimus, who had been High Priest before, but was disgraced during the time of the rebellion, realized that there was no way for him to be restored to the ministry at the sacred altar.

4. Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple: and so that day he held his peace.

4. So, he went to King Demetrius in about the year one hundred and fifty-one, and offered him a golden crown, a palm and even some olive branches from the Temple as usual. On that day, he did not ask for anything.

5. Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprize, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and asked how the Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:

5. But he found a proper occasion for his evil designs when he was called to a meeting of the king's council. When he was asked with what disposition and spirit the Jews were to be confronted, he answered,

6. Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the rest be in peace.

6. "There exists a party called Hasideans among the Jews, headed by Judas Maccabeus, that keeps up war and rebellion, and hinders the reestablishment of peace and order in the land.

7. Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honour, I mean the high priesthood, am now come hither:

7. Because of them, I have been deprived of the dignity of my ancestors, that is, the office of High Priest. And I came here,

8. First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforersaid.

8. concerned for the king's interests above everything else, but for my compatriots as well, since the fanaticism of those men has plunged our people into great misery.

9. Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.

9. O King, look upon our land and nation which is hard pressed on all sides, with that same kindness you have for all.

10. For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.

10. For as long as Judas lives, it is impossible for the State to find peace."

11. This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense Demetrius.

11. When Alcimus had said this, the rest of the King's Friends who were hostile to Judas, quickly incited Demetrius against him.

12. And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,

12. And the king immediately chose Nicanor, who commanded the squadron of elephants, and appointed him military commissioner of Judea

13. Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.

13. with orders to kill Judas, disperse his men and restore Alcimus as priest of the great Temple.

14. Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities ot the Jews to be their welfare.

14. The pagans who had earlier escaped from Judea for fear of Judas, flocked in great number to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and defeat of the Jews would mean victory for them.

15. Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.

15. When the men of Judas learned about the coming of Nicanor and the invasion of Nicanor was coming and about the invasion of the pagans, they sprinkled dust upon their heads, and called on Him who had established his people forever, and had each time protected his people by wonderful manifestations.

16. So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.

16. Then, at their leader's command they set out to march, and the battle began near Dessau.

17. Now Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.

17. Simon, the brother of Judas, had attacked Nicanor, but his men were suddenly confounded by the enemies, suffering a slight setback.

18. Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.

18. However, as Nicanor had heard of the courage of Judas and his men and of how bravely they fought for their country, he feared resolving the situation by bloodshed.

19. Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to make peace.

19. So, he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange for peace.

20. So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,

20. After a thorough consideration of the conditions, he communicated this to his troops and it seemed that they were unanimous about it. The treaty of peace was accepted.

21. And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,

21. So they set the date on which the leaders should meet. A chariot came forward from each side and they prepared seats of honor.

22. Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a peaceable conference.

22. Judas positioned armed men in strategic places, in case of sudden treachery on the part of the enemy. But their meeting went well.

23. Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.

23. Nicanor spent some time in Jerusalem without doing any harm, and even dismissed the people that had gathered around him.

24. And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he love the man from his heart

24. He always had Judas with him, for he had a high regard for him.

25. He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life.

25. He advised him to get married and have children, so Judas got married and enjoyed a peaceful life.

26. But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king's successor.

26. When Alcimus saw the good understanding between the two, he secured a copy of the signed accord and went to Demetrius, accusing Nicanor of acting against the interests of the State, inasmuch as he had appointed Judas, the enemy of the kingdom, as his minister.

27. Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.

27. The king was infuriated and stirred up by the slanders of that wicked man. He wrote Nicanor telling him how indignant he was over the treaty and ordering him to put Maccabeus in chains and to send him to Antioch at once.

28. When this came to Nicanor's hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.

28. Nicanor was dismayed to learn that he was asked to break the treaty with Judas who had done nothing wrong.

29. But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy.

29. But he could not go against the king's orders, so he sought an occasion to carry this out by deceit.

30. Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.

30. Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor had become more reserved towards him and more unpleasant in their usual meetings, so he understood that this did not promise well. He began to gather some of his men, but did not make this known to Nicanor.

31. But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas' policy, came into the great and holy temple, and commanded the priests, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.

31. When the latter became aware that Judas had escaped without being disloyal, he appeared in the holy Temple while the priests were offering the ritual sacrifices, and demanded that they hand Judas over to him.

32. And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,

32. The priests declared on oath that they did not know where he was to be found.

33. He stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and I will break down the altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.

33. Then, he stretched out his hand to the sanctuary and made this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me in chains, I shall raze this place consecrated to God, destroy the altar, and right here build a splendid temple to Dionysus."

34. After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;

34. And after saying this, he left. The priests stretched forth their hands to heaven and called on him who had unceasingly defended our nation, saying

35. Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:

35. "O Lord of the universe, though you do not need anything, it has pleased you to put among us this temple as your dwelling place.

36. Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.

36. So now, keep undefiled forever this house that has just been purified."

37. Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.

37. Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as being a very patriotic man, well known as "father of the Jews" because of his kindness.

38. For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.

38. In the time before the rebellion, he had been accused of Judaism and with much enthusiasm he had totally given himself to the defense of Judaism.

39. So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:

39. Now then, Nicanor, wishing to show his hatred towards the Jews, ordered more than five hundred soldiers to take him prisoner.

40. For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.

40. He thought that by putting him in prison, he would deal a great blow to the Jews.

41. Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;

41. When the soldiers were about to capture the tower and were breaking the door of the courtyard (they had already ordered that fire be brought to burn the door), Razis, surrounded on all sides, struck his belly with his own sword.

42. Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:

42. He preferred to die bravely rather than fall into the hands of foreigners and suffer insults unworthy of his noble birth.

43. But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.

43. But when he fell upon his sword, he did not hit exactly, so when he saw the troops were now rushing in through the gates, he gathered enough strength to climb to the top of the tower, and manfully threw himself down upon the soldiers.

44. But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.

44. But they quickly withdrew, so he fell into an empty space.

45. Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,

45. Still alive, and aflame with valor, he stood up in spite of the blood that gushed forth and the wounds he had, and came running through the soldiers.

46. When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.

46. He stood on a steep rock and there, with his blood almost completely drained from him, he took hold of his intestines with both hands and hurled them at the crowd. Then calling upon the name of the Lord of life and spirit to give them back to him again one day, he left this life.