2 Maccabees

11:1 Not long after this, Lysias the kings protectour & cousin, who also managed the affaires, tooke sore displeasure for the things that were done.

11:1 Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.

11:2 And when he had gathered about fourescore thousand, with all the horsemen, he came against the Iewes, thinking to make the citie an habitation of the Gentiles,

11:2 And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles,

11:3 And to make a gaine of the Temple, as of the other Chappels of the heathen, and to set the high Priesthood to sale euery yeere:

11:3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:

11:4 Not at all considering the power of God, but puffed vp with his ten thousand footmen, and his thousand horsemen, and his fourescore Elephants.

11:4 Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.

11:5 So he came to Iudea, & drew neere to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Ierusalem about fiue furlongs, and he laid sore siege vnto it.

11:5 So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.

11:6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holdes, they and all the people with lamentation and teares besought the Lord, that he would send a good Angel to deliuer Israel.

11:6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.

11:7 Then Maccabeus himselfe first of all tooke weapons, exhorting the other, that they would ieopard themselues together with him, to helpe their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing minde.

11:7 Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.

11:8 And as they were at Ierusalem, there appeared before them on horsebacke, one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.

11:8 And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.

11:9 Then they praised the mercifull God altogether, and tooke heart, insomuch that they were ready not onely to fight with men, but with most cruell beasts, & to pierce through wals of yron.

11:9 Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.

11:10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, hauing an helper from heauen: for the Lord was mercifull vnto them.

11:10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them

11:11 And giuing a charge vpon their enemies like lions, they slew eleuen thousand footmen, & sixteene hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.

11:11 And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.

11:12 Many of them also being wounded, escaped naked, and Lysias himselfe fled away shamefully, and so escaped.

11:12 Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.

11:13 Who as hee was a man of vnderstanding, casting with himselfe what losse he had had, and considering that the Hebrewes could not be ouercome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent vnto them,

11:13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,

11:14 And perswaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, & [promised] that hee would perswade the king, that he must needs be a friend vnto them.

11:14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.

11:15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being carefull of the common good; and whatsoeuer Maccabeus wrote vnto Lysias concerning the Iewes, the king granted it.

11:15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.

11:16 For there were letters written vnto the Iewes from Lysias, to this effect: Lysias vnto the people of the Iewes, sendeth greeting.

11:16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:

11:17 Iohn and Absalon, who were sent from you, deliuered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.

11:17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.

11:18 Therefore what things soeuer were meet to be reported to the king, I haue declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.

11:18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.

11:19 If then you wil keepe your selues loyall to the state, hereafter also will I endeuour to be a meanes of your good.

11:19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.

11:20 But of the particulars I haue giuen order, both to these, & the other that came from me, to commune with you.

11:20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you.

11:21 Fare ye wel. The hundred & eight and fortie yeere, the foure and twentie day of the moneth Dioscorinthius.

11:21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.

11:22 Now the kings letter conteined these words, King Antiochus vnto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting.

11:22 Now the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:

11:23 Since our father is translated vnto ye gods, our will is, that they that are in our realme liue quietly, that euery one may attend vpon his own affaires.

11:23 Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.

11:24 Wee vnderstand also that the Iewes would not consent to our father for to bee brought vnto the custome of the Gentiles, but had rather keepe their owne manner of liuing: for the which cause they require of vs that we should suffer the to liue after their own lawes.

11:24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.

11:25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we haue determined to restore them their Temple, that they may liue according to the customes of their forefathers.

11:25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers.

11:26 Thou shalt doe well therefore to send vnto them, and grant them peace, that whe they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, & euer goe cheerefully about their owne affaires.

11:26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.

11:27 And the letter of ye king vnto the nation of the Iewes was after this maner: king Antiochus sendeth greeting vnto the counsel, & the rest of the Iewes

11:27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:

11:28 If ye fare well, we haue our desire, we are also in good health.

11:28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.

11:29 Menelaus declared vnto vs, that your desire was to returne home, and to follow your owne businesse.

11:29 Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:

11:30 Wherefore they that will depart shall haue safe conduct, till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with securitie.

11:30 Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.

11:31 And the Iewes shal vse their owne kind of meats, and lawes, as before, and none of them any maner of wayes shal be molested for things ignorantly done.

11:31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.

11:32 I haue sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.

11:32 I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.

11:33 Fare ye wel. In the hundred, forty and eight yeere, and the fifteenth day of the moneth Xanthicus.

11:33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.

11:34 The Romanes also sent vnto them a letter containing these wordes: Quintus Memmius, & Titus Manlius embassadours of ye Romanes, send greeting vnto the people of the Iewes.

11:34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.

11:35 Whatsoeuer Lysias the kings cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.

11:35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.

11:36 But touching such things as hee iudged to be referred to the king: after you haue aduised therof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is conuenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.

11:36 But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.

11:37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.

11:37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.

11:38 Farewell, this hundred and eight and fortie yeere, the fifteenth day of the moneth Xanthicus.

11:38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.