1 Maccabees 10

1 And inthe hundred and sixties year Alexander Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, went up and took possession of Ptolemais: and they received him, and he reigned there.

2 And king Demetrius heard thereof, and he gathered together exceeding great forces, and went forth to meet him in battle.

3 And Demetrius sent letters to Jonathan with words of peace, so as to magnify him.

4 For he said, let us be beforehand to make peace with them, ere he make peace with Alexander against us:

5 for he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and to his brethren and to his nation.

6 And he gave him authority to gather together forces, and to provide arms, and that he should be his confederate: and he commanded that they should deliver up to him the hostages that were in the citadel.

7 And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the citadel:

8 and they were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to gather together a host.

9 And they of the citadel delivered up the hostages to Jonathan, and he restored them to their parents.

10 And Jonathan lived in Jerusalem, and began to build and renew the city.

11 And he commanded them that did the work to build the walls and the mount Sion round about withsquare stones for defence; and they did so.

12 And the strangers, that were in the strongholds which Bacchides had built, fled away;

13 and each man left his place, and departed into his own land.

14 Only at Bethsura were there left certain of those that had forsaken the law and the commandments; for it was a place of refuge to them.

15 And king Alexander heard all the promises which Demetrius had sent to Jonathan: and they told him of the battles and the valiant deeds which he and his brethren had done, and of the toils which they had endured;

16 And he said, Shall we find such another man? and now we will make him ourFriend and confederate.

17 And he wrote letters, and sent them to him, according to these words, saying,

18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting:

19 We have heard of you, that you are a mighty man of valour, and meet to be ourFriend.

20 And now we have appointed you this day to be high priest of your nation, and to be called the king’sFriend (and he sent to him a purple robe and a crown of gold), and to take our part, and to keep friendship with us.

21 And Jonathan put on the holy garments in the seventh month ofthe hundred and sixties year, at the feast of tabernacles, and he gathered together forces, and provided arms in abundance.

22 And Demetrius heard these things, and he was grieved, and said,

23 What is this that we have done, that Alexander has been beforehand with us in establishing friendship with the Jews, to strengthen himself?

24 I also will write to them words of encouragement and of honor and of gifts, that they may be with me to aid me.

25 And he sent to them according to these words:

King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

26 Forasmuch as you⌃ have kept your covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, and have not joined yourselves to our enemies, we have heard hereof, and are glad.

27 And now continue you⌃ still to keep faith with us, and we will recompense to you good things in return for your dealings with us,

28 and will grant you many immunities, and give you gifts.

29 And now do I free you, and release all the Jews, from the tributes, and from the customs of salt, and from the crowns.

30 And instead of the third part of the seed, and instead of the half of the fruit of the trees, which falls to me to receive, I release it from this day and henceforth, so that I will not take it from the land of Judah, and from the three governments which are added thereto from the country of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth and for all time.

31 And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and her borders; the tenths and the tollsalso.

32 I yield up also my authority over the citadel which is at Jerusalem, and give it to the high priest, that he may appoint in it such men as he shall choose to keep it.

33 And every soul of the Jews, that has been carried captive from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom, I set at liberty without price; and let all remit the tributes of their cattle also.

34 And all the feasts, and the Sabbaths, and new moons, and appointed days, and three days before a feast, and three days after a feast, let them all be days of immunity and release for all the Jews that are in my kingdom.

35 And no man shall have authority to exact from any of them, or to trouble them concerning any matter.

36 And let there be enrolled among the king’s forces about thirty thousand men of the Jews, and pay shall be given to them, as belongs to all the king’s forces.

37 And of them some shall be placed in the king’s great strongholds, and some of them shall be placed over the affairs of the kingdom, which are of trust: and let those that are over them, and their rulers, be of themselves, and let them walk after their own laws, even as the king has commanded in the land of Judah.

38 And the three governments that have been added to Judaea from the country of Samaria, let them be added to Judaea, that they may be reckoned to be under one, that they may not obey other authority than the high priest’s.

39 As for Ptolemais, and the land pertaining thereto, I have given it as a gift to the sanctuary that is at Jerusalem, for the expenses that befit the sanctuary.

40 And I give every year fifteen thousand shekels of silver from the king’s revenues from the places that are convenient.

41 And all the overplus, which they that manage the king’s affairs paid not in as in the first years, they shall give from henceforth toward the works of the house.

42 And beside this, the five thousand shekels of silver, which they received from the uses of the sanctuary from the revenue year by year, this also is released, because it appertains to the priests that minister.

43 And whoever shall flee to the temple that is at Jerusalem, andbe foundwithin all the borders thereof, whether one owe moneys to the king, or any other matter, let them go free, and all that they have in my kingdom.

44 And for the building and renewing of the works of the sanctuary the expense shall be given also out of the king’s revenue.

45 And for the building of the walls of Jerusalem, and the fortifying thereof round about, shall the expense be given also out of the king’s revenue, and for the building of the walls in Judaea.

46 Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credence to them, nor received them, because they remembered the great evil which he had done in Israel, and that he had afflicted them very sore.

47 And they were well pleased with Alexander, because he was the first that spoke words of peace to them, and they were confederate with him always.

48 And king Alexander gathered together great forces, and encamped over against Demetrius.

49 And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled; and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them.

50 And he strengthened the battle exceedingly until the sun went down: and Demetrius fell that day.

51 And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt according to these words, saying,

52 Forasmuch as I am returned to my kingdom, and am set on the throne of my fathers, and have gotten the dominion, and have overthrown Demetrius, and have gotten possession of our country;

53 yes, I joined the battle with him, and he and his army were discomfited by us, and we sat upon the throne of his kingdom:

54 now also let us establish amity one with the other, and give me now your daughter to wife: and I will make affinity with you, and will give both you and her gifts worthy of you.

55 And Ptolemy the king answered, saying, Happy is the day wherein you did return into the land of your fathers, and did sit on the throne of their kingdom.

56 And now will I do to you, as you have written: but meet me at Ptolemais, that we may see one another; and I will make affinity with you, even as you have said.

57 And Ptolemy went out of Egypt, himself and Cleopatra his daughter, and came to Ptolemais inthe hundred and threescore and second year:

58 and king Alexander met him, and he bestowed on him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great pomp, as the manner of kings is.

59 And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come to meet him.

60 And he went with pomp to Ptolemais, and met the two kings, and gave them and theirFriends silver and gold, and many gifts, and found favor in their sight.

61 And there were gathered together against him certain pestilent fellows out of Israel, men that were transgressors of the law, to complain against him: and the king gave no heed to them.

62 And the king commanded, and they took off Jonathan’s garments, and clothed him in purple: and thus they did.

63 And the king made him sit with him, and said to his princes, Go forth with him into the midst of the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and let no man trouble him for any manner of cause.

64 And it came to pass, when they that complained against him saw his glory according asthe heraldmade proclamation, andsawhim clothed in purple, they all fled away.

65 And the king gave him honor, and wrote him among hisChief Friends, and made him a captain, and governor of a province.

66 And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladness.

67 And inthe hundred and threescore and fifth year came Demetrius, son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers:

68 and king Alexander heard thereof, and he grieved exceedingly, and returned to Antioch.

69 And Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coelesyria, and he gathered together a great host, and encamped in Jamnia, and sent to Jonathan the high priest, saying,

70 You alone lift up yourself against us, but I am had in derision and in reproach because of you. And why do you vaunt your power against us in the mountains?

71 Now therefore, if you trust in your forces, come down to us into the plain, and there let us try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities.

72 Ask and learn who I am, and the rest that help us; and they say, Your foot can’t stand before our face; for your fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.

73 And now you shall not be able to abide the horse and such a host as this in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee to.

74 Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind, and he chose out ten thousand men, and went forth from Jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him for to help him.

75 And he encamped against Joppa: and they of the city shut him out, because Apollonius had a garrison in Joppa:

76 and they fought against it. And they of the city were afraid, and opened to him: and Jonathan became master of Joppa.

77 And Apollonius heard, and he gathered an army of three thousand horse, and a great host, and went to Azotus as though he were on a journey, and therewithal drew onward into the plain, because he had a multitude of horse, and trusted therein.

78 And he pursued after him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle.

79 And Apollonius had left a thousand horse behind them privily.

80 And Jonathan knew that there was an ambushment behind him. And they compassed round his army, and cast their darts at the people, from morning until evening:

81 but the people stood still, as Jonathan commanded them: and their horses were wearied.

82 And Simon drew forth his host, and joined battle with the phalanx (for the horsemen were spent), and they were discomfited by him, and fled.

83 And the horsemen were scattered in the plain, and they fled to Azotus, and entered into Beth-dagon, their idol’s temple, to save themselves.

84 And Jonathan burned Azotus, and the cities round about it, and took their spoils; and the temple of Dagon, and them that fled into it, he burned with fire.

85 And they that had fallen by the sword, with them that were burned, were about eight thousand men.

86 And from thence Jonathan removed, and encamped against Ascalon, and they of the city came forth to meet him with great pomp.

87 And Jonathan, with them that were on his side, returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.

88 And it came to pass, when king Alexander heard these things, he honored Jonathan yet more;

89 and he sent to him a buckle of gold, as the use is to give to such as are of the kindred of the kings: and he gave him Ekron and all the coasts thereof for a possession.

1 Maccabees 11

1 And the king of Egypt gathered together great forces, as the sand which is by the sea shore, and many ships, and sought to make himself master of Alexander’s kingdom by deceit, and to add it to his own kingdom.

2 And he went forth into Syria with words of peace, and they of the cities opened to him, and met him; For king Alexander’s commandment was that they should meet him, because he was his father in law.

3 Now as he entered into the cities of Ptolemais, he set his forces for a garrison in each city.

4 But when he came near to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon burned with fire, and Azotus and the suburbs thereof pulled down, and the bodies cast abroad, and them that had been burned, whom he burned in the war, for they had made heaps of them in his way.

5 And they told the king what things Jonathan had done, that they might cast blame on him: and the king held his peace.

6 And Jonathan met the king with pomp at Joppa, and they saluted one another, and they slept there.

7 And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called Eleutherus, and returned to Jerusalem.

8 But king Ptolemy became master of the cities upon the sea coast, to Selucia which is by the sea, and he devised evil devices concerning Alexander.

9 And he sent ambassadors to king Demetrius, saying, Come, let us make a covenant with one another, and I will give you my daughter whom Alexander has, and you shall reign over your father’s kingdom;

10 for I have repented that I gave my daughter to him, for he sought to kill me.

11 And he cast blame on him, because he coveted his kingdom.

12 And taking his daughter from him, he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity was openly seen.

13 And Ptolemy entered into Antioch, and put on himself the diadem of Asia; and he put two diadems upon his head, the diadem of Egypt and that of Asia.

14 But king Alexander was in Cilicia at that season, because they of those parts were in revolt.

15 And Alexander heard of it, and he came against him in war: and Ptolemy led forthhis host,and met him with a strong force, and put him to flight.

16 And Alexander fled into Arabia, that he might be sheltered there; but king Ptolemy was exalted.

17 And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander’s head, and sent it to Ptolemy.

18 And king Ptolemy died the third day after, and they that were in his strongholds were slain by them that were in the strongholds.

19 And Demetrius reigned inthe hundred and threescore and seventh year.

20 In those days Jonathan gathered together them of Judaea, to take the citadel that was at Jerusalem: and he made many engines of war against it.

21 And certain that hated their own nation, men that transgressed the law, went to the king, and reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel.

22 And he heard, and was angered; but when he heard it, he set forth immediately, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan, that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed.

23 But when Jonathan heard this, he commanded to besiege itstill:and he chose certain of the elders of Israel and of the priests, and put himself in peril,

24 and taking silver and gold and raiment and various presents besides, went to Ptolemais to the king. And he found favor in his sight.

25 And certain lawless men of them that were of the nation made complaints against him,

26 and the king did to him even as his predecessors had done to him, and exalted him in the sight of all hisFriends,

27 and confirmed to him the high priesthood, and all the other honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among hisChief Friends.

28 And Jonathan requested of the king, that he would make Judaea free from tribute, and the threeprovinces, and the country of Samaria; and promised him three hundred talents.

29 And the king consented, and wrote letters to Jonathan concerning all these things after this manner:

30 King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting:

31 The copy of the letter which we wrote to Lasthenes our kinsman concerning you, we have written also to you, that you⌃ may see it.

32 King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father, greeting:

33 We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are our friends, and observe what is just toward us, because of their good will toward us.

34 We have confirmed therefore to them the borders of Judaea, and also the three governments of Aphaerema and Lydda and Ramathaim (thesewere added to Judaea from the country of Samaria), and all things appertaining to them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the king’s dues which the king received of them yearly aforetime from the produce of the earth and the fruits of trees.

35 And as for the other things that pertain to us from henceforth, of the tenths and the tolls that pertain to us, and the saltpits, and the crowns that pertain to us, all these we will bestow upon them.

36 And not one of these things shall be annulled from this time forth and for ever.

37 Now therefore be careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and let it be set up on the holy mount in a meet and conspicuous place.

38 And king Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him, and that no resistance was made to him, and he sent away all his forces, each man to his own place, except the foreign forces, which he had raised from the isles of the Gentiles: and all the forces of his fathers hated him.

39 Now Tryphon was of those who aforetime had been of Alexander’s part, and he saw that all the forces murmured against Demetrius, and he went to Imalcue the Arabian, who was nourishing up Antiochus the young child of Alexander,

40 and pressed sore upon him that he should deliver him to him, that he might reign in his father’s stead: and he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred wherewith his forces hated him; and he abode there many days.

41 And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, that he should cast out of Jerusalem them of the citadel, and them that were in the strongholds; for they fought against Israel continually.

42 And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying, I will not only do this for you and your nation, but I will greatly honor you and your nation, if I find fair occasion.

43 Now therefore you shall do well, if you send me men who shall fight for me; for all my forces are revolted.

44 And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and they came to the king, and the king was glad at their coming.

45 And they of the city gathered themselves together into the midst of the city, to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and they were minded to kill the king.

46 And the king fled into the court of the palace, and they of the city seized the passages of the city, and began to fight.

47 And the king called the Jews to help him, and they were gathered together to him all at once, and they dispersed themselves in the city, and killed that day to the number of a hundred thousand.

48 And they set the city on fire, and got many spoils that day, and saved the king.

49 And they of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves masters of the city as they would, and they waxed faint in their hearts, and they cried out to the king with supplication, saying,

50 Give us your right hand, and let the Jews cease from fighting against us and the city.

51 And they cast away their arms, and made peace; and the Jews were glorified in the sight of the king, and before all that were in his kingdom; and they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils.

52 And king Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom, and the land was quiet before him.

53 And he lied in all that he spoke, and estranged himself from Jonathan, and recompensed him not according to the benefits with which he had recompensed him, and afflicted him exceedingly.

54 Now after this Tryphon returned, and with him the young child Antiochus; and he reigned, and put on a diadem.

55 And there were gathered to him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away with disgrace, and they fought against him, and he fled and was put to the rout.

56 And Tryphon took the elephants, and became master of Antioch.

57 And the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, I confirm to you the high priesthood, and appoint you over the four governments, and to be one of the king’sFriends.

58 And he sent to him golden vessels and furniture for the table, and gave him leave to drink in golden vessels, and to be clothed in purple, and to have a golden buckle.

59 And his brother Simon he made captain from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt.

60 And Jonathan went forth, and took his journey beyond the river and through the cities; and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him for to be his confederates. And he came to Ascalon, and they of the city met him honorably.

61 And he departed thence to Gaza, and they of Gaza shut him out; and he laid siege to it, and burned the suburbs thereof with fire, and spoiled them.

62 And they of Gaza made request to Jonathan, and he gave them his right hand, and took the sons of their princes for hostages, and sent them away to Jerusalem; and he passed through the country as far as Damascus.

63 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were come to Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great host, purposing to remove him from his office;

64 and he went to meet them, but Simon his brother he left in the country.

65 And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and fought against it many days, and shut it up:

66 and they made request to him that he would give them his right hand, and he gave it to them; and he put them out from thence, and took possession of the city, and set a garrison over it.

67 And Jonathan and his army encamped at the water of Gennesareth, and early in the morning they got them to the plain of Hazor.

68 And, behold, an army of strangers met him in the plain, and they laid an ambush for him in the mountains, but themselves met him face to face.

69 But they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined battle; and all they that were of Jonathan’s side fled:

70 not one of them was left, except Mattathias the son of Absalom, and Judas the son of Chalphi, captains of the forces.

71 And Jonathan tore his clothes, and put earth upon his head, and prayed.

72 And he turned again to them in battle, and put them to the rout, and they fled.

73 And they of his side that fled saw it, and returned to him, and pursued with him to Kedesh to their camp, and they encamped there.

74 And there fell of the strangers on that day about three thousand men: and Jonathan returned to Jerusalem.

1 Maccabees 12

1 And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.

2 And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner.

3 And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time.

4 And they gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace.

5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

6 Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their brethren the Spartans, greeting:

7 Even before this time were letters sent to Onias the high priest fromArius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you⌃ are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten shows.

8 And Onias entreated honorably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship.

9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,

10 have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether: for long time is passed since you⌃ sent to us.

11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and on the other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be mindful of brethren:

12 and moreover are glad for your glory.

13 But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have fought against us.

14 We were not minded therefore to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars;

15 for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been brought low.

16 We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy.

17 We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewingof friendshipand our brotherhood.

18 And now you⌃ shall do well if you⌃ give us an answer thereto.

19 And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:

20 Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting:

21 It has been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:

22 and now, since this is come to our knowledge, you⌃ shall do well to write to us of yourprosperity.

23 And we moreover do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you on this wise.

24 And Jonathan heard that Demetrius’ princes were returned to fight against him with a greater host than before,

25 and he removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the country of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to set foot in his country.

26 And he sent spies into his camp, and they came again, and reported to him that they were appointed in such and such a way to fall upon them in the night season.

27 But as soon as the sun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready for battle: and he put forth sentinels round about the camp.

28 And the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they feared, and trembled in their hearts, and they kindled fires in their camp

29 But Jonathan and his men knew it not till the morning; for they saw the lights burning.

30 And Jonathan pursued after them, and overtook them not; for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.

31 And Jonathan turned aside to the Arabians, who are called Zabadaeans, and struck them, and took their spoils.

32 And he came out from thence, and came to Damascus, and took his journey through all the country.

33 And Simon went forth, and took his journey as far as Ascalon, and the strongholds that were near to it. And he turned aside to Joppa, and took possession of it;

34 for he had heard that they were minded to deliver the stronghold to the men of Demetrius; and he set a garrison there to keep it.

35 And Jonathan returned, and called the elders of the people together; and he took counsel with them to build strongholds in Judaea,

36 and to make the walls of Jerusalem higher, and to raise a great mound between the citadel and the city, for to separate it from the city, that so it might be all alone, that men might neither buy nor sell.

37 And they were gathered together to build the city, and there fell down part of the wall of the brook that is on the east side, and he repaired that which is called Chaphenatha.

38 And Simon also built Adida in theplain country, and made it strong, and set up gates and bars.

39 And Tryphon sought to reign over Asia and to put on himself the diadem, and to stretch forth his hand against Antiochus the king.

40 And he was afraid lest haply Jonathan should not suffer him, and lest he should fight against him; and he sought a way how to take him, that he might destroy him. And he removed, and came to Bethshan.

41 And Jonathan came forth to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethshan.

42 And Tryphon saw that he came with a great host, and he was afraid to stretch forth his hand against him:

43 and he received him honorably, and commended him to all hisFriends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself.

44 And he said to Jonathan, Why have you put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war between us?

45 And now send them away to their homes, but choose for yourself a few men who shall be with you, and come you with me to Ptolemais, and I will give it up to you, and the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces, and all the king’s officers: and I will return and depart; for this is the cause of my coming.

46 And he put his trust in him, and did even as he said, and sent away his forces, and they departed into the land of Judah.

47 But he reserved to himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, but one thousand went with him.

48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates, and laid hands on him; and all them that came in with him they killed with the sword.

49 And Tryphon sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan’s men.

50 And they perceived that he was taken and had perished, and they that were with him; and they encouraged one another, and went on their way close together, prepared to fight.

51 And they that followed upon them saw that they were ready to fight for their lives, and turned back again.

52 And they all came in peace into the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan, and them that were with him, and they were sore afraid; and all Israel mourned with a great mourning.

53 And all the Gentiles that were round about them sought to destroy them utterly: for they said, They have no ruler, nor any to help them: now therefore let us fight against them, and take away their memorial from among men.

1 Maccabees 16

1 And John went up from Gazara, and told Simon his father what Cendebaeus was doing.

2 And Simon called his two oldest sons, Judas and John, and said to them, I and my brethren and my father’s house have fought the battles of Israel from our youth, even to this day; and things have prospered in our hands, that we should deliver Israel oftentimes.

3 But now I am old, and you⌃ moreover, byhismercy, are of a sufficient age: be you⌃ instead of me and my brother, and go forth and fight for our nation; but let the help which is from heaven be with you.

4 And he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war and horsemen, and they went against Cendebaeus, and slept at Modin.

5 And rising up in the morning, they went into the plain, and, behold, a great host came to meet them, of footmen and horsemen: and there was a brook between them.

6 And he encamped over against them, he and his people: and he saw that the people were afraid to pass over the brook, and he passed over first, and the men saw him, and passed over after him.

7 And he divided the people, andsetthe horsemen in the midst of the footmen: but the enemies’ horsemen were exceeding many.

8 And they sounded with the trumpets; and Cendebaeus and his army were put to the rout, and there fell of them many wounded to death, but they that were left fled to the stronghold:

9 at that time was Judas John’s brother wounded: but John pursued after them, till he came to Kidron, whichCendebaeushad built;

10 and they fled to the towers that are in the fields of Azotus; and he burned it with fire; and there fell of them about two thousand men. And he returned into Judaea in peace.

11 And Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed captain for the plain of Jericho, and he had much silver and gold;

12 for he was the high priest’s son in law.

13 And his heart was lifted up, and he was minded to make himself master of the country, and he took counsel deceitfully against Simon and his sons, to make away with them.

14 Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; and he went down to Jericho, himself and Mattathias and Judas his sons, inthe hundred and seventy and seventh year, in the eleventh month, the same is the month Sebat:

15 and the son of Abubus received them deceitfully into the little stronghold that is called Dok, which he had built, and made them a great banquet, and hid men there.

16 And when Simon and his sons had drunk freely, Ptolemy and his men rose up, and took their arms, and came in upon Simon into the banqueting place, and killed him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.

17 And he committed a great iniquity, and recompensed evil for good.

18 And Ptolemy wrote these things, and sent to the king, that he should send him forces to aid him, and should deliver him their country and the cities.

19 And he sent others to Gazara to make away with John: and to the captains of thousands he sent letters to come to him, that he might give them silver and gold and gifts.

20 And others he sent to take possession of Jerusalem, and the mount of the temple.

21 And one ran before to Gazara, and told John that his father and brethren were perished, and he has sent to kill you also.

22 And when he heard, he was sore amazed; and he laid hands on the men that came to destroy him, and killed them; for he perceived that they were seeking to destroy him.

23 And the rest of the acts of John, and of his wars, and of his valiant deeds which he did, and of the building of the walls which he built, and of his doings,

24 behold, they are written in thechronicles of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.

Bel and the Dragon 1

1 AND king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.

2 And Daniel lived with the king, and was honored above all his friends.

3 Now the Babylonians had an idol, called Bel, and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six firkins of wine.

4 And the king did honor to it, and went daily to worship it: but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said to him, Why do you not worship Bel?

5 And he said, Because I may not do honor to idols made with hands, but to the living God, who has created the heaven and the earth, and has sovereignty over all flesh.

6 Then said the king to him, Thinkest you not that Bel is a living god? or see you not how much he eats and drinks every day?

7 Then Daniel laughed, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink anything.

8 So the king was angry, and called for his priests, and said to them, If you⌃ tell me not who this is that devours these expenses, you⌃ shall die.

9 But if you⌃ can show me that Bel devours them, then Daniel shall die: for he has spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said to the king, Let it be according to your word.

10 Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.

11 So Bel’s priests said, Behold, we will get us out: but you, O king, set on the meat, and mingle the wine and set it forth, and shut the door fast, and seal it with your own signet;

12 and when you come in the morning, if you find not that Bel has eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that speaks falsely against us.

13 And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.

14 And it came to pass, when they were gone forth, the king set the meat before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and they strewed all the templewith themin the presence of the king alone: then they went out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king’s signet, and so departed.

15 Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drink up all.

16 In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.

17 And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yes, O king, they be whole.

18 And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great are you, O Bel, and with you is no deceit at all.

19 Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these.

20 And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and children. And then the king was angry,

21 and took the priests with their wives and children, who showed him the privy doors, where they came in, and consumed such things as were upon the table.

22 Therefore the king killed them, and delivered Bel into Daniel’s power, who overthrew him and his temple.

23 And in that same place there was a greatdragon, which they of Babylon worshipped.

24 And the king said to Daniel, Wilt you also say that this is of brass? behold, he lives, and eats and drinks; you can not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.

25 Then said Daniel, I will worship the Lord my God: for he is a living God.

26 But give me leave, O king, and I shall kill this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give you leave.

27 Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon’s mouth, so the dragon did eat and burst in sunder: andDanielsaid, Behold, these are the gods you⌃ worship.

28 When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is become a Jew, and he has pulled down Bel, and slain the dragon, and put the priests to the sword.

29 So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy you and your house.

30 Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being constrained, the king delivered Daniel to them:

31 who cast him into the lion’s den: where he was six days.

32 And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

33 Now there was in Jewry the prophetHabakkuk, who had made pottage, and had broken bread into a bowl, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers.

34 But the angel of the Lord said to Habakkuk, Go carry the dinner that you have into Babylon to Daniel, in the lions’ den.

35 And Habakkuk said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is.

36 Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and lifted him up by the hair of his head, and with the blast of his breath set him in Babylon over the den.

37 And Habakkuk cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God has sent you.

38 And Daniel said, You have remembered me, O God: neither have you forsaken them that love you.

39 So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of God set Habakkuk in his own place again immediately.

40 Upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in, and, behold, Daniel was sitting.

41 Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great are you, O Lord, you God of Daniel, and there is none other beside you.

42 And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den: and they were devoured in a moment before his face.

Susanna 1

1 THERE lived a man in Babylon, and his name was Joakim:

2 and he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

4 Now Joakim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining to his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honorable than all others.

5 And the same year there were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spoke of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who were accounted to govern the people.

6 These kept much at Joakim’s house: and all that had any suits in law came to them.

7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk.

8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; and they were inflamed with love for her.

9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven, nor remember just judgements.

10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet dared not one show another his grief.

11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

12 Yet they watched jealously from day to day to see her.

13 And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

14 So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in as aforetime with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.

16 And there was nobody there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

17 Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at the side doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: and they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran to her, saying,

20 Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with you; therefore consent to us, and lie with us.

21 If you will not, we will bear witness against you, that a young man was with you: and therefore you did send away your maids from you.

22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I can’t escape your hands.

23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden doors.

26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the side door, to see what had befallen her.

27 But when the elders had told their tale, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

28 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the people assembled to her husband Joakim, the two elders came full of their wicked intent against Susanna to put her to death;

29 and said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Helkias, Joakim’s wife. So they sent;

30 and she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

32 And these wicked men commanded her to be unveiled, (for she was veiled) that they might be filled with her beauty.

33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

35 And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

36 And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, thiswomancame in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.

37 Then a young man, who there was hid, came to her, and lay with her.

38 And we, being in a corner of the garden, saw this wickedness, and ran to them.

39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the doors, and leaped out.

40 But having taken thiswoman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

41 Then the assembly believed them, as those that were elders of the people and judges: so they condemned her to death.

42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that know the secrets, that know all things before they be:

43 you know that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

44 And the Lord heard her voice.

45 Therefore when she was led away to be put to death, God raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel:

46 and he cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that you have spoken?

48 So he standing in the midst of them said, Are you⌃ such fools, you⌃ sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth you⌃ have condemned a daughter of Israel?

49 Return again to the place of judgement: for these have borne false witness against her.

50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said to him, Come, sit down among us, and show it us, seeing God has given you the honor of an elder.

51 Then said Daniel to them, Put them asunder one far from another, and I will examine them.

52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said to him, O you that have become old in wickedness, now are your sins comehome to youwhich you have committed aforetime,

53 in pronouncing unjust judgement, and condemning the innocent, and letting the guilty go free; albeit the Lord says, The innocent and righteous shall you not kill.

54 Now then, if you saw her, tell me, Under what tree saw you them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.

55 And Daniel said, Right well have you lied against your own head; for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God and shall cut you in two.

56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said to him, O you seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you, and lust has perverted your heart.

57 Thus have you⌃ dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Judah would not abide your wickedness.

58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree did you take them companying together? Who answered, Under a holm tree.

59 Then said Daniel to him, Right well have you also lied against your own head: for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you.

60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and blessed God, who saves them that hope in him.

61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness out of their own mouth:

62 and according to the law of Moses they did to them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor: and they put them to death, and the innocent blood was saved the same day.

63 Therefore Helkias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

64 And from that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.

Jeremy’s Letter 6

1 A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent to them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.

2 Because of the sins which you⌃ have committed before God, you⌃ shall be led away captives to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.

3 So when you⌃ come to Babylon, you⌃ shall remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations: and after that I will bring you out peaceably from thence.

4 But now shall you⌃ see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.

5 Beware therefore that you⌃ in no wise become like to the strangers, neither let fear take hold upon you because of them, when you⌃ see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.

6 But say you⌃ in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship you.

7 For mine angel is with you,and I myself do care for yoursouls.

8 For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet are they but false, and can’t speak.

9 And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loves to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods:

10 and sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves;

11 and will even give thereof to the common harlots: and they deck them as men with garments,eventhe gods of silver, and gods of gold, and of wood.

12 Yet can’t these gods save themselves from rust and moths, though they be covered with purple raiment.

13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them.

14 And he that can’t put to death one that offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country.

15 He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe: but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers.

16 Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.

17 For like as a vessel that a man uses is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temples their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.

18 And as the courts are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as being committed to suffer death;even sothe priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.

19 They light them candles, yes, more than for themselves, whereof they can’t see one.

20 They are as one of the beams of the temple; and men say their hearts are eaten out, when things creeping out of the earth devour both them and their raiment: they feel it not

21 when their faces are blacked through the smoke that comes out of the temple:

22 upon their bodies and heads alight bats, swallows, and birds; and in like manner the cats also.

23 Whereby you⌃ may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.

24 Notwithstanding the gold wherewith they are beset to make them beautiful, except one wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for not even when they were molten did they feel it.

25 Things wherein there is no breath are bought at any cost.

26 Having no feet, they are borne upon shoulders, whereby they declare to men that they be nothing worth.

27 They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again of themselves: neither, if they be set awry, can they make themselves straight: but the offerings are set before them, as if they were dead men.

28 And the things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and spend; and in like manner their wives also lay up part thereof in salt; but to the poor and to the impotent will they give nothing thereof.

29 The menstruous woman and the woman in childbed touch their sacrifices: knowing therefore by these things that they are no gods, fear them not.

30 For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.

31 And in their temples the priestssit on seats, having their clothes tore, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

32 They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

33 The priests also take off garments from them, and clothe their wives and children withal.

34 Whether it be evil that one does to them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.

35 In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow to them, and keep it not, they will never exact it.

36 They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.

37 They can’t restore a blind man to his sight, nor deliver any that is in distress.

38 They can show no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.

39 They are like the stones that behewnout of the mountain,these godsof wood, and that are overlaid with gold and with silver: they that minister to them shall be confounded.

40 How should a man then think or say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them?

41 Who if they shall see one dumb that can’t speak, they bring him, and entreat him to call upon Bel, as though he were able to understand.

42 Yet they can’t perceive this themselves, and forsake them: for they have no understanding.

43 The women also with cords about them sit in the ways, burning bran for incense: but if any of them, drawn by some that passes by, lie with him, she reproaches her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how should a man then think or say that they are gods?

45 They are fashioned by carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.

46 And they themselves that fashioned them can never continue long; how then should the things that are fashioned by them?

47 For they have left lies and reproaches to them that come after.

48 For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.

49 How then can’t men understand that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?

50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with gold and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:

51 and it shall be manifest to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.

52 Who then may not know that they are no gods?

53 For neither can they set up a king in a land, nor give rain to men.

54 Neither can they judge their own cause, norredress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.

55 For even when fire falls upon the house of gods of wood, or overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee away, and escape, but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.

56 Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies: how should a man then allow or think that they be gods?

57 Neither are those gods of wood, and overlaid with silver or with gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.

58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong will take from them, and go away withal: neither shall they be able to help themselves.

59 Therefore it is better to be a king that shows his manhood, or else a vessel in a house profitable for that whereof the owner shall have need, than such false gods; or even a door in a house, to keep the things safe that be therein, than such false gods; or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.

60 For sun, and moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.

61 Likewise also the lightning when it glittereth is fair to see; and after the same manner the wind also blows in every country.

62 And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.

63 And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded: but these are to be likened to them neither in show nor power.

64 Wherefore a man should neither think nor say that they are gods, seeing they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good to men.

65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not.

66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings:

67 neither can they show signs in the heavens among the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

68 The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a covert, and help themselves.

69 In no wise then is it manifest to us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.

70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers that keeps nothing, so are their gods of wood, and overlaid with gold and with silver.

71 Likewise also their gods of wood, and overlaid with gold and with silver, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sits upon; as also to a dead body, that is cast forth into the dark.

72 And you⌃ shall know them to be no gods by thebright purple that rots upon them: And they themselves afterward shall be consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.

73 Better therefore is the just man that has none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.

Baruch 1

1 AND these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maaseas, the son of Sedekias, the son of Asadias, the son of Helkias, wrote in Babylon,

2 in the fifth year,andin the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burned it with fire.

3 And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joakim king of Judah, and in the hearing of all the people that came tohearthe book,

4 and in the hearing of the mighty men, and of the kings’ sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and in the hearing of all the people, from the least to the greatest, even of all them that lived at Babylon by the river Sud.

5 And they wept, and fasted,and prayed before the Lord;

6 they made also a collection of money according to every man’s power:

7 and they sentitto Jerusalem to Joakim thehighpriest, the son of Helkias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,

8 at the same time when he took the vessels of the house of the Lord, that had been carried out of the temple, to returntheminto the land of Judah, the tenth day ofthe monthSivan,namely,silver vessels, which Sedekias the son of Josias king of Judah had made,

9 after that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them to Babylon.

10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money; buy you therefore with the money burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare an oblation, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;

11 and pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Baltasar his son, that their days may beas the days of heaven above the earth:

12 and the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Baltasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favor in their sight.

13 Pray for us also to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and to this day the wrath of the Lord and his indignation is not turned from us.

14 And you⌃ shall read this book which we have sent to you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the day of the feast and on the days of the solemn assembly.

15 And you⌃ shall say, To the Lord our Godbelongsrighteousness, but to us confusion of face, as at this day, to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

16 and to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:

17 for that we have sinned before the Lord,

18 and disobeyed him, and have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments of the Lord that he has set before us:

19 since the day that the Lord brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to this present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, and we have dealt unadvisedly in not hearkening to his voice.

20 Wherefore the plagues clave to us, and the curse, which the Lord commanded Moses his servantto pronouncein the day that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that flows with milk and honey, as at this day.

21 Nevertheless we hearkened not to the voice of the Lord our God, according to all the words of the prophets, whom he sent to us:

22 but we walked every man in the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord our God.

Baruch 2

1 Therefore the Lord has made good his word, which he pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Judah,

2 to bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven,as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that are written in the law of Moses;

3 That we should eat every man the flesh of his own son, and every man the flesh of his own daughter.

4 Moreover he has given them to be in subjection to all the kingdoms that are round about us, to be a reproach and a desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord has scattered them.

5 Thus were they cast down, and not exalted, because we sinned against the Lord our God, in not hearkening to his voice.

6 To the Lord our Godbelongsrighteousness: but to us and to our fathers confusion of face, as at this day.

7 Forall these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord has pronounced against us.

8 Yet have we not entreated the favor of the Lord, in turning every one from the thoughts of his wicked heart.

9 Therefore has the Lord kept watch over the plagues, and the Lord has broughtthemupon us; for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he has commanded us.

10 Yet we have not hearkened to his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord that he has set before us.

11 And now, O Lord, you God of Israel, that have brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and with a high arm, and have gotten yourself a name, as at this day:

12 O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all your ordinances.

13 Let your wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where you have scattered us.

14 Hear our prayer, O Lord, and our petition, and deliver us for your own sake, and give us favor in the sight of them which have led us away captive:

15 that all the earth may know that you are the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by your name.

16 O Lord, look down from your holy house, and consider us: incline your ear, O Lord, and hear:

17 open your eyes, and behold: for the dead that are inthe grave, whose breath is taken from their bodies, will give to the Lord neither glory nor righteousness:

18 but the soul that is greatly vexed, which goes stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give you glory and righteousness, O Lord.

19 For we do not present our supplication before you, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.

20 For you have sent your wrath and your indignation upon us, as you have spoken by your servants the prophets,saying,

21 Thus says the Lord, Bow your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon, and remain in the land that I gave to your fathers.

22 But if you⌃ will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the king of Babylon,

23 I will cause to cease out of the cities of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate without inhabitant.

24 But we would not hearken to your voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore have you made good your words that you spoke by your servants the prophets,namely,that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their places.

25 And, behold, they are cast out to the heat by day, and to the frost by night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by sword, and bypestilence.

26 And the house which is called by your name have you laidwaste,as at this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

27 Yet, O Lord our God, you have dealt with us after all your kindness, and according to all that great mercy of your,

28 as you spoke by your servant Moses in the day when you did command him to write your law before the children of Israel, saying,

29 If you⌃ will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a smallnumberamong the nations, where I will scatter them.

30 For I know that they will not hear me, because it is a stiff-necked people: but in the land of their captivity they shall lay it to heart,

31 and shall know that I am the Lord their God: and I will give them a heart, and ears to hear:

32 and they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think upon my name,

33 and shall return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the Lord.

34 And I will bring them again into the land which I sware to their fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.

35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more remove my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.

Baruch 3

1 O Lord Almighty, you God of Israel, the soul in anguish, the troubled spirit, cries to you.

2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; for you are a merciful God: yes, have mercy upon us, because we have sinned before you.

3 For you sitas kingfor ever, and we perish evermore.

4 O Lord Almighty, you God of Israel, hear now the prayer ofthe dead Israelites, and of the children of them which were sinners before you, that hearkened not to the voice of you their God: for the which cause these plagues clave to us.

5 Remember not the iniquities of our fathers: but remember your power and your namenowat this time.

6 For you are the Lord our God, and you, O Lord, will we praise.

7 For for this cause you have put your fear in our hearts,to the intent that we should call upon your name: and we will praise you in our captivity, for we havecalled to mind all the iniquity of our fathers, that sinned before you.

8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where you have scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to penalty, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.

9 Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand wisdom.

10 How is it, O Israel, that you are in your enemies’ land, that you have become old in a strange country, that you are defiled with the dead,

11 that you are counted with them thatgo downintothe grave?

12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.

13 Forif you had walked in the way of God, you should have dwelled in peace for ever.

14 Learn where iswisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that you may know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.

15 Who has found out her place? and who has come into her treasuries?

16 Where are the princes of the heathen, and such as ruled the beasts that are upon the earth;

17 they that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust; and of whose getting there is no end?

18 For they thatwrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are past finding out,

19 they are vanished and gone down tothe grave, and others are come up in their steads.

20 Younger men have seen the light, and lived upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,

21 neither understood they the paths thereof: neither have their children laid hold of it: they are far off fromtheir way.

22 It has not been heard of in Canaan, neither has it been seen in Teman.

23 The sons also of Agar that seek understanding, which are in the land, the merchants of Merran and Teman, and the authors of fables, and the searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remembered her paths.

24 O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the place of his possession!

25 great, and has none end; high, and unmeasurable.

26 There were the giants born that were famous of old, great of stature,andexpert in war.

27 These did not God choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge to them:

28 so they perished, because they had nowisdom, they perished through their own foolishness.

29 Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?

30 Who has gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for choice gold?

31 There is none that knows her way, nor any that comprehendeth her path.

32 But he that knows all things knows her, he found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore has filled it with four-footed beasts:

33 he that sends forth the light, and it goes; he called it, and it obeyed him with fear:

34 and the stars shined in their watches, and were glad: when he called them, they said, Here we be; they shined with gladness to him that made them.

35 This is our God,andthere shall none other be accounted of in comparison of him.

36 He has found out all the way of knowledge, and has given it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel that is beloved of him.

37 Afterward did she appear upon earth, and was conversant with men.