1 Maccabees 14

1 Maccabees 14, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. In the one hundred and seventy-second year, king Demetrius gathered together his army, and he went into Media to obtain auxiliaries to fight against Trypho.

   Anno centesimo septuagesimo secundo, congregavit rex Demetrius exercitum suum, et abiit in Mediam ad contrahenda sibi auxilia, ut expugnaret Tryphonem.

2. 2

   And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius entered his confines, and so he sent one of his princes to capture him alive and to bring him to him.

   Et audivit Arsaces rex Persidis et Mediæ, quia intravit Demetrius confines suos: et misit unum de principibus suis ut comprehenderet eum vivum, et adduceret eum ad se.

3. 3

   And he went out and struck the camp of Demetrius. And captured him and brought him to Arsaces, and he placed him under guard.

   Et abiit, et percussit castra Demetrii: et comprehendit eum, et duxit eum ad Arsacem, et posuit eum in custodiam.

4. 4

   And the entire land of Judah was quiet during all the days of Simon, and he sought what was good for his people. And his power and his glory pleased them through all his days.

   Et siluit omnis terra Juda omnibus diebus Simonis, et quæsivit bona genti suæ: et placuit illis potestas ejus et gloria ejus omnibus diebus.

5. 5

   And, with all his glory, he accepted Joppa as a port, and he made it an entrance to the islands of the sea.

   Et cum omni gloria sua accepit Joppen in portum, et fecit introitum in insulis maris.

6. 6

   And he enlarged the boundaries of his nation, and he controlled the countryside.

   Et dilatavit fines gentis suæ, et obtinuit regionem.

7. 7

   And he gathered together many captives, and he was the ruler of Gazara and Bethzur, and the stronghold. And he took uncleanness away from it, and there was no one who could withstand him.

   Et congregavit captivitatem multam, et dominatus est Gazaræ, et Bethsuræ, et arci: et abstulit immunditias ex ea, et non erat qui resisteret ei.

8. 8

   And each one cultivated his land in peace, and the land of Judah produced its fruits, and the trees of the fields their fruit.

   Et unusquisque colebat terram suam cum pace: et terra Juda dabat fructus suos, et ligna camporum fructum suum.

9. 9

   All the elders sat in the streets, and they discussed what was good for the country, and the youths clothed themselves in glory and in the robes of war.

   Seniores in plateis sedebant omnes, et de bonis terræ tractabant, et juvenes induebant se gloriam, et stolas belli.

10. 10

    And he gave tributes of provisions to the cities, and he decreed that they would have equipment for fortification, so that the fame of his glory was renowned, even to the ends of the earth.

    Et civitatibus tribuebat alimonias, et constituebat eas ut essent vasa munitionis quoadusque nominatum est nomen gloriæ ejus usque ad extremum terræ.

11. 11

    He caused there to be peace over the land, and Israel was rejoicing with great joy.

    Fecit pacem super terram, et lætatus est Israël lætitia magna.

12. 12

    And each one sat under his vine and under his fig tree. And there was no one who would terrify them.

    Et sedit unusquisque sub vite sua, et sub ficulnea sua: et non erat qui eos terreret.

13. 13

    There was nothing left of those who might fight against them in the land; kings had been crushed in those days.

    Defecit impugnans eos super terram: reges contriti sunt in diebus illis.

14. 14

    And he confirmed all the humble of his people, and he sought the law, and he took away every iniquity and evil.

    Et confirmavit omnes humiles populi sui, et legem exquisivit, et abstulit omnem iniquum et malum:

15. 15

    He glorified the sanctuary, and he multiplied the vessels of the holy places.

    sancta glorificavit, et multiplicavit vasa sanctorum.

16. 16

    And it was heard at Rome, and even in Sparta, that Jonathan had passed away. And they were very sorrowful.

    Et auditum est Romæ quia defunctus esset Jonathas, et usque in Spartiatas: et contristati sunt valde.

17. 17

    But when they heard that Simon, his brother, had been made high priest in his place, and that he obtained the entire country and the cities in it,

    Ut audierunt autem quod Simon frater ejus factus esset summus sacerdos loco ejus, et ipse obtineret omnem regionem, et civitates in ea,

18. 18

    they wrote to him on tablets of brass, so as to renew the friendship and alliance, which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his brothers.

    scripserunt ad eum in tabulis æreis, ut renovarent amicitias et societatem quam fecerant cum Juda et cum Jonatha, fratribus ejus.

19. 19

    And they were read in the sight of the assembly at Jerusalem. And this is a copy of the letters that the Spartans sent:

    Et lectæ sunt in conspectu ecclesiæ in Jerusalem. Et hoc exemplum epistolarum, quas Spartiatæ miserunt:

20. 20

    “The leaders and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the great priest, and to the elders, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, their brothers: greetings.

    Spartianorum principes et civitates, Simoni sacerdoti magno, et senioribus, et sacerdotibus, et reliquo populo Judæorum, fratribus, salutem.

21. 21

    The ambassadors who were sent to our people have reported to us of your glory, and honor, and rejoicing. And we were glad at their arrival.

    Legati, qui missi sunt ad populum nostrum, nuntiaverunt nobis de vestra gloria, et honore, ac lætitia: et gavisi sumus in introitu eorum.

22. 22

    And we wrote down what was said by them in the councils of the people, as follows: ‘Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the former friendship with us.

    Et scripsimus quæ ab eis erant dicta in conciliis populi, sic: Numenius Antiochi, et Antipater Jasonis filius, legati Judæorum, venerunt ad nos, renovantes nobiscum amicitiam pristinam.

23. 23

    And it pleased the people to receive the men gloriously, and to place a copy of their words in a section of the public books, so as to be a memorial for the people of the Spartans. Furthermore, we have written a copy of them to Simon, the great priest.’”

    Et placuit populo excipere viros gloriose, et ponere exemplum sermonum eorum in segregatis populi libris, ut sit ad memoriam populo Spartiatarum. Exemplum autem horum scripsimus Simoni magno sacerdoti.

24. 24

    But after this, Simon sent Numenius to Rome, in possession of a great shield of gold, weighing over a thousand pounds, to confirm the association with them.

    Post hæc autem misit Simon Numenium Romam, habentem clypeum aureum magnum, pondo mnarum mille, ad statuendam cum eis societatem. Cum autem audisset populus Romanus

25. 25

    But when the people of Rome had heard these words, they said: “With what deeds of thanksgiving shall we repay Simon and his sons?

    sermones istos, dixerunt: Quam gratiarum actionem reddemus Simoni, et filiis ejus?

26. 26

    For he has vindicated his brothers, and he has fought off the enemies of Israel from them.” And so, they decreed him free, and they registered it on tablets of brass and placed it in an inscription on mount Zion.

    restituit enim ipse fratres suos, et expugnavit inimicos Israël ab eis, et statuerunt ei libertatem, et descripserunt in tabulis æreis, et posuerunt in titulis in monte Sion.

27. 27

    And this is a copy of the writing: “On the eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the one hundred and seventy-second year, the third year under Simon, the great priest at Asaramel,

    Et hoc est exemplum scripturæ: Octavadecima die mensis Elul, anno centesimo septuagesimo secundo, anno tertio sub Simone sacerdote magno in Asaramel,

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    in a great convocation of the priests, and the people, and the leaders of the nation, and the elders of the country, these things were noted: ‘Now there have often been battles in our country.

    in conventu magno sacerdotum, et populi, et principum gentis, et seniorum regionis, nota facta sunt hæc: quoniam frequenter facta sunt prælia in regione nostra,

29. 29

    And Simon, the son of Mattathias, of the sons of Jarib, and his brothers, have put themselves in danger, and have withstood the enemies of their nation, so as to establish their holy places and the law. And they have glorified their people with great glory.

    Simon autem Mathathiæ filius, ex filiis Jarib, et fratres ejus, dederunt se periculo, et restiterunt adversariis gentis suæ, ut starent sancta ipsorum, et lex: et gloria magna glorificaverunt gentem suam.

30. 30

    And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and he was made their great priest, and he was laid to rest among his people.

    Et congregavit Jonathas gentem suam, et factus est illis sacerdos magnus, et appositus est ad populum suum.

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    And their enemies wanted to trample and lay waste to their country, and to extend their hands against their holy places.

    Et voluerunt inimici eorum calcare et atterere regionem ipsorum, et extendere manus in sancta eorum.

32. 32

    Then Simon resisted, and he fought for his nation, and he requested much money, and he armed the valiant men of his nation and gave them wages.

    Tunc restitit Simon, et pugnavit pro gente sua, et erogavit pecunias multas, et armavit viros virtutis gentis suæ, et dedit illis stipendia:

33. 33

    And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethzur, which are along the borders of Judea, where the weaponry of the enemies was before. And he placed a garrison of Jewish men there.

    et munivit civitates Judææ, et Bethsuram, quæ erat in finibus Judææ, ubi erant arma hostium antea: et posuit illic præsidium viros Judæos.

34. 34

    And he fortified Joppa, which is by the sea, and Gazara, which is on the border of Azotus, where the enemies stayed before, and he placed Jews there. And he positioned with them whatever was fitting for their preparations.

    Et Joppen munivit, quæ erat ad mare, et Gazaram, quæ est in finibus Azoti, in qua hostes antea habitabant: et collocavit illic Judæos, et quæcumque apta erant ad correptionem eorum, posuit in eis.

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    And the people saw the acts of Simon, and the glory that he intended to bring to his nation, and they made him their commander and first priest, because he had done all these things, and because of the justice and faith that he maintained for his nation, and because he sought to exalt his people by all means.

    Et vidit populus actum Simonis, et gloriam quam cogitabat facere genti suæ, et posuerunt eum ducem suum, et principem sacerdotum, eo quod ipse fecerat hæc omnia, et justitiam, et fidem, quam conservavit genti suæ, et exquisivit omni modo exaltare populum suum.

36. 36

    And in his days, there was prosperity by his hands, so that the Gentiles were taken away from their country, and also those who were in the city of David, in Jerusalem, in the stronghold, from which they went out and contaminated all the places that were around the sanctuary, and from which they brought a great scourging against chastity.

    Et in diebus ejus prosperatum est in manibus ejus, ut tollerentur gentes de regione ipsorum, et qui in civitate David erant, in Jerusalem in arce, de qua procedebant, et contaminabant omnia quæ in circuitu sanctorum sunt, et inferebant plagam magnam castitati:

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    And he placed in it Jewish men, as a means of protection for the region and the city, and he raised the walls of Jerusalem.

    et collocavit in ea viros Judæos ad tutamentum regionis, et civitatis, et exaltavit muros Jerusalem.

38. 38

    And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood.

    Et rex Demetrius statuit illi summum sacerdotium.

39. 39

    According to these things, he made him his friend, and he glorified him with great glory.

    Secundum hæc fecit eum amicum suum, et glorificavit eum gloria magna.

40. 40

    For he heard that the Romans had called the Jews their friends, and associates, and brothers, and that they received the ambassadors of Simon with glory,

    Audivit enim quod appellati sunt Judæi a Romanis amici, et socii, et fratres, et quia susceperunt legatos Simonis gloriose,

41. 41

    and that the Jews and their priests had consented that he should be their governor and high priest unceasingly, until there should arise a faithful prophet,

    et quia Judæi et sacerdotes eorum consenserunt eum esse ducem suum, et summum sacerdotem in æternum, donec surgat propheta fidelis:

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    and that he should be the commander over them, and that he should take care of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint foremen over their works, and over the country, and over the weapons, and over the strongholds,

    et ut sit super eos dux, et ut cura esset illi pro sanctis, et ut constitueret præpositos super opera eorum, et super regionem, et super arma, et super præsidia:

43. 43

    and that he should take care of the holy places, and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all the records in the country should be recorded in his name, and that he should be clothed in purple and gold,

    et cura sit illi de sanctis: et ut audiatur ab omnibus, et scribantur in nomine ejus omnes conscriptiones in regione: et ut operiatur purpura et auro:

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    and that it should not be lawful for any of the people or the priests to make void any of these things, nor to contradict things that are said by him, nor to call together an assembly in the country without him, nor to be clothed in purple, nor to use a clasp of gold.

    et ne liceat ulli ex populo et ex sacerdotibus irritum facere aliquid horum, et contradicere his quæ ab eo dicuntur, aut convocare conventum in regione sine ipso, et vestiri purpura, et uti fibula aurea:

45. 45

    And whoever will do otherwise, or who will make void any of these things, shall be guilty.

    qui autem fecerit extra hæc, aut irritum fecerit aliquid horum, reus erit.

46. 46

    And it pleased all the people to appoint Simon, and to act according to these words.

    Et complacuit omni populo statuere Simonem, et facere secundum verba ista.

47. 47

    And Simon accepted it, and he was pleased to perform the office of the high priesthood, and to be the commander and leader of the people of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be foremost over them all.

    Et suscepit Simon, et placuit ei ut summo sacerdotio fungeretur, et esset dux et princeps gentis Judæorum, et sacerdotum, et præesset omnibus.

48. 48

    And they asked that this writing be placed on tablets of brass, and be placed within the precinct of the sanctuary in a celebrated place,

    Et scripturam istam dixerunt ponere in tabulis æreis, et ponere eas in peribolo sanctorum, in loco celebri:

49. 49

    and that a copy of these be placed in the treasury, so that Simon and his sons may have it.’ “

    exemplum autem eorum ponere in ærario, ut habeat Simon, et filii ejus.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)