1 Maccabees

1:1 And it happened, after that Alexander sonne of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettum, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that hee reigned in his stead, the first ouer Greece,

1:1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

1:2 And made many wars, and wan many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

1:2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

1:3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and tooke spoiles of many nations, insomuch, that the earth was quiet before him, whereupon he was exalted, and his heart was lifted vp.

1:3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

1:4 And he gathered a mighty strong hoste, and ruled ouer countries, and nations and kings, who became tributaries vnto him.

1:4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.

1:5 And after these things he fell sicke, and perceiued that he should die.

1:5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

1:6 Wherefore he called his seruants, such as were honourable, and had bin brought vp with him from his youth, and parted kis kingdome among them, while he was yet aliue:

1:6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

1:7 So Alexander reigned twelue yeeres, and (then) died.

1:7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died.

1:8 And his seruants bare rule euery one in his place.

1:8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.

1:9 And after his death they all put crownes [vpon themselues] so did their sonnes after them, many yeeres, and euils were multiplied in the earth.

1:9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.

1:10 And there came out of them a wicked roote, Antiochus [surnamed] Epiphanes, sonne of Antiochus the king, who had beene an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundreth and thirty and seuenth yeere of the kingdome of the Greekes.

1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1:11 In those daies went there out of Israel wicked men, who perswaded many, saying, Let vs goe, and make a couenant with the heathen, that are round about vs: for since we departed from them, we haue had much sorrow.

1:11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

1:12 So this deuise pleased them well.

1:12 So this device pleased them well.

1:13 Then certaine of the people were so forward heerein, that they went to the king, who gaue them licence to doe after the ordinances of the heathen.

1:13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:

1:14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Ierusalem, according to the customes of the heathen,

1:14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

1:15 And made themselues, vncircumcised, and forsooke the holy couenant, and ioyned themselues to the heathen, and were sold to doe mischiefe.

1:15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

1:16 Now when the kingdome was established, before Antiochus, hee thought to reigne ouer Egypt, that he might haue ye dominion of two realms:

1:16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.

1:17 Wherefore he entred into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great nauie,

1:17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,

1:18 And made warre against Ptolomee king of Egypt, but Ptolomee was afraide of him, and fled: and many were wounded to death.

1:18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.

1:19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt, and hee tooke the spoiles thereof.

1:19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.

1:20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned againe in the hundreth fortie and third yeere, and went vp against Israel and Ierusalem with a great multitude,

1:20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,

1:21 And entred proudly into the sanctuarie, and tooke away the golden altar, and the candlesticke of light, and all the vessels thereof,

1:21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,

1:22 And the table of the shewbread, and the powring vessels, and the vials, and the censers of gold, & the vaile, and the crownes, & the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

1:22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

1:23 Hee tooke also the siluer and the gold, and the pretious vessels: also he tooke the hidden treasures which hee found:

1:23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.

1:24 And when hee had taken all away, he went into his owne land, hauing made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.

1:24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.

1:25 Therfore there was great mourning in Israel, in euery place where they were;

1:25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;

1:26 So that the Princes and Elders mourned, the virgines and yong men were made feeble, and the beautie of women was changed.

1:26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.

1:27 Euery bridegrome tooke vp lamentation, and she that sate in the marriage chamber, was in heauinesse.

1:27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,

1:28 The land also was moued for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Iacob was couered with confusion.

1:28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

1:29 And after two yeeres fully expired, the king sent his chiefe collectour of tribute vnto the cities of Iuda, who came vnto Ierusalem with a great multitude,

1:29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

1:30 And spake peaceable wordes vnto them, but [all was] deceit: for when they had giuen him credence, he fell suddenly vpon the citie, and smote it very sore, & destroyed much people of Israel.

1:30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.

1:31 And when hee had taken the spoiles of the citie, hee set it on fire, and pulled downe the houses, and walles thereof on euery side.

1:31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

1:32 But the women & children tooke they captiue, and possessed the cattell.

1:32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

1:33 Then builded they the citie of Dauid with a great and strong wall, [and] with mightie towers, and made it a strong hold for them,

1:33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.

1:34 And they put therein a sinfull nation, wicked men, and fortified [themselues] therein.

1:34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.

1:35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoiles of Ierusalem, they layd them vp there, and so they became a sore snare:

1:35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:

1:36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the Sanctuary, and an euill aduersary to Israel.

1:36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.

1:37 Thus they shed innocent blood on euery side of the Sanctuary, and defiled it.

1:37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:

1:38 In so much that the inhabitants of Ierusalem fledde because of them, whereupon [the citie] was made an habitation of strangers, & became strange to those that were borne in her, and her owne children left her:

1:38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

1:39 Her Sanctuary was laid waste like a wildernesse, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproch, her honour into contempt.

1:39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.

1:40 As had bene her glory, so was her dishonour encreased, and her excellencie was turned into mourning.

1:40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

1:41 Moreouer king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdome, that all should be one people,

1:41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

1:42 And euery one should leaue his lawes: so all the heathen agreed, according to the commandement of the king.

1:42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

1:43 Yea many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed vnto idols, and prophaned the Sabbath.

1:43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers vnto Ierusalem, and the cities of Iuda, that they should follow the strange lawes of the land,

1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,

1:45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drinke offerings in the temple; and that they should prophane the Sabbaths, and festiuall dayes:

1:45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:

1:46 And pollute the Sanctuarie and holy people:

1:46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:

1:47 Set vp altars, and groues, and chappels of idols, and sacrifice swines flesh, and vncleane beasts:

1:47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:

1:48 That they should also leaue their children vncircumcised, and make their soules abominable with all maner of vncleannesse, and prophanation:

1:48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:

1:49 To the end they might forget the Law, and change all the ordinances.

1:49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

1:50 And whosoeuer would not doe according to the commandement of the king [he said] he should die.

1:50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

1:51 In the selfe same maner wrote he to his whole kingdome, and appointed ouerseers ouer all the people, commanding the cities of Iuda to sacrifice, citie by citie.

1:51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

1:52 Then many of the people were gathered vnto them, to wit, euery one that forsooke the Lawe, and so they committed euils in the land:

1:52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;

1:53 And droue the Israelites into secret places, euen wheresoeuer they could flie for succour.

1:53 And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

1:54 Now the fifteenth day of the moneth Casleu, in the hundreth fourtie and fift yeere, they set vp the abomination of desolation vpon the Altar, and builded idole altars throughout the cities of Iuda, on euery side:

1:54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

1:55 And burnt incense at the doores of their houses, and in the streetes.

1:55 And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.

1:56 And when they had rent in pieces the bookes of the Lawe which they found, they burnt them with fire.

1:56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

1:57 And wheresoeuer was found with any, the booke of the Testament, or if any consented to the Lawe, the kings commandement was, that they should put him to death.

1:57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death.

1:58 Thus did they by their authority, vnto the Israelites euery moneth, to as many as were found in the cities.

1:58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

1:59 Now the fiue and twentieth day of the moneth, they did sacrifice vpon the idole altar, which was vpon the Altar of God.

1:59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

1:60 At which time, according to the commandement, they put to death certaine women that had caused their children to be circumcised.

1:60 At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.

1:61 And they hanged the infants about their neckes, and rifled their houses, and slewe them that had circumcised them.

1:61 And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.

1:62 Howbeit, many in Israel were fully resolued and confirmed in themselues, not to eate any vncleane thing.

1:62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.

1:63 Wherfore they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy Couenant: So then they died.

1:63 Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

1:64 And there was very great wrath vpon Israel.

1:64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.