2 Maccabees, 15

1. But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.

1. Nicanor was informed that the men of Judas were in the neighboring villages of Samaria, so he prepared to safely attack them on the day of the sabbath.

2. Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all other days.

2. The Jews, who were forced to accompany him, said to him, "Do not destroy them so savagely and barbarously, but show respect for the day of the sabbath, for He who sees all has honored this day and sanctified it."

3. Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.

3. But the wretch asked if there was indeed a sovereign in heaven who had commanded that the sabbath be holy.

4. And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:

4. They answered, "It is the living God himself, the Sovereign in heaven, who has commanded us to celebrate the seventh day."

5. Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.

5. "So I, as sovereign on earth, command you to take up arms and carry out the decrees of the king." But he could not bring to completion his evil designs.

6. So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.

6. Nicanor was so sure of victory, that he planned to build a monument with the mortal remains of Judas and his men.

7. But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:

7. But Maccabeus, for his part, felt confident and put his trust in God's help.

8. Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.

8. He encouraged his men not to fear the attack of the pagans, and not to forget the times God had come to their help, confident that even now God would give them victory.

9. And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.

9. He roused their spirit with the words of the Law and the Prophets, reminding them of previous triumphs.

10. And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.

10. Encouraging his men more and more, he finished by showing them the evil of the pagans and how they had betrayed their oath.

11. Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.

11. So he armed them not with the sword or shield but with the certainty that comes from noble words. Then he made them all full of joy by telling them what he saw in a true dream.

12. And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.

12. He had seen Onias, the former High Priest, a courteous, good man, humble in his ways, distinguished in his words and exemplary in his irreproachable conduct since childhood. With arms outstretched, Onias prayed for the whole Jewish community.

13. This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.

13. Then, a gray-haired and honorable man appeared, praying in the same way, and characterized by dignity and majesty.

14. Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.

14. Then Onias, the High Priest, said to Judas, "This is he who loves your brothers, he who prays without ceasing for the Jewish people and for the Holy City. He is Jeremiah, the prophet of God."

15. Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,

15. And Jeremiah had stretched out his right hand giving a golden sword to Judas, as he said,

16. Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.

16. "Receive this sword as a gift from God, with which you shall destroy your enemies."

17. Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.

17. Encouraged by these beautiful words of Judas, which were able to encourage righteous people and strengthen young souls, they determined not to set up camp with defenses. They decided instead to rush out bravely and take the offensive to settle the matter by fighting bravely, for the Holy City Jerusalem, their religion and the Temple were in danger.

18. For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and folks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.

18. They considered of secondary importance any concern for their wives, children and friends; because they feared above all for the Temple consecrated to God.

19. Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.

19. Regarding those who had stayed in the city, their anxiety was by no means little, since they were worried about the battle that was about to begin in the camp.

20. And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,

20. Everyone waited for the imminent outcome as the enemies attacked. They had set their troops in place, led the elephants to strategic positions and had the cavalry in the wings.

21. Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:

21. Then Maccabeus could see this multitude with their weapons of every kind and the ferocious elephants. He stretched forth his hands to heaven and called on the Lord who works marvels, for he knew that God gives victory to those who deserve it, and this does not depend on weapons, but on the will of God.

22. Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:

22. So Judas said in prayer, "O Lord, you sent your angel in the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and he wiped out one hundred and eighty-five thousand men of the army of Sennacherib.

23. Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them;

23. So now, O Lord of Heaven, send your good angel, before us too, to fill our enemies with fear and terror.

24. And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

24. Show your power and let your arm strike those who insult you and who come to destroy your holy people." With this, he ended his prayer.

25. Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.

25. Meanwhile, Nicanor and his men advanced amid blasts of trumpets and shouts of war.

26. But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer.

26. Judas and his men, for their part, entered into battle with supplication and prayer.

27. So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.

27. As they fought with their hands, their hearts prayed to God. And being so magnificently strengthened by the manifest presence of God, they killed no less than thirty-five thousand enemies.

28. Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.

28. When the battle ended, and they returned rejoicing, they found Nicanor dead, lying on the ground with all his armor.

29. Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.

29. Then they blessed God in their ancestral language amidst shouts and clamors.

30. And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.

30. Judas, who had once fully consecrated himself to the welfare of his fellow residents and had never wavered in his affection for them, ordered that Nicanor's head and arms up to the shoulders be cut off and brought to Jerusalem.

31. So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower,

31. There he summoned his compatriots and priests. He stood before the altar and ordered them to send for those in the Citadel.

32. And shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty.

32. He showed them the head of that wretched, Nicanor, and the hand which that wicked man had raised in pride above the house of God.

33. And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple.

33. He ordered that Nicanor's tongue be cut into pieces and given to the birds, and the hand be hung in front of the sanctuary as punishment for his arrogance.

34. So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.

34. Then they blessed Heaven saying, "Blessed be he who did not let his Sacred House be defiled!"

35. He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.

35. Finally, Judas ordered that Nicanor's head be hung in the Citadel as a sign of God's help.

36. And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day.

36. By popular agreement, they decided that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month called Adar in Aramaic, the vespers of the day of Mordecai would be commemorated as a festival day.

37. Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.

37. These were the events during the time of Nicanor. As from those days the city remained under the power of the Hebrews, I end my account here.

38. And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.

38. If the narration has been good and well composed, that is indeed what I desired; but if it has been ordinary and indifferent, it is what I was able to do.

39. For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end. .

39. The readers' pleasure depends on how the account was arranged, just as it is with one who drinks. It does not do any good when one drinks only pure wine or water but wine mixed with water is tasty and delightful. Let this, then, be my last word.