1 Maccabees 15

1 Maccabees 15, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent letters from the islands of the sea to Simon, the priest and leader of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people.

   Et misit rex Antiochus filius Demetrii epistolas ab insulis maris Simoni sacerdoti, et principi gentis Judæorum, et universæ genti:

2. 2

   And these continued in this way: “King Antiochus to Simon, the great priest, and to the people of the Jews: greetings.

   et erant continentes hunc modum: Rex Antiochus Simoni sacerdoti magno, et genti Judæorum salutem.

3. 3

   Since certain pestilent persons have obtained the kingdom of our fathers, it is my will, then, to vindicate the kingdom and to restore it, just as it was before. And so, I have chosen a great army, and I have built ships of war.

   Quoniam quidem pestilentes obtinuerunt regnum patrum nostrorum, volo autem vendicare regnum, et restituere illud sicut erat antea: et electam feci multitudinem exercitus, et feci naves bellicas.

4. 4

   Furthermore, I intend to pass through the region, so that I may take revenge on those who have corrupted our country and who have desolated many cities in my kingdom.

   Volo autem procedere per regionem ut ulciscar in eos, qui corruperunt regionem nostram, et qui desolaverunt civitates multas in regno meo.

5. 5

   Now, therefore, I confirm to you all the oblations that all the kings before me have remitted to you, and whatever other gifts they remitted to you.

   Nunc ergo statuo tibi omnes oblationes, quas remiserunt tibi ante me omnes reges, et quæcumque alia dona remiserunt tibi:

6. 6

   And I permit you to make a striking of your own coins for your country.

   et permitto tibi facere percussuram proprii numismatis in regione tua:

7. 7

   Moreover, let Jerusalem be holy and free. And all the weapons that have been made, and the fortresses that you have constructed, or that you hold, let them remain with you.

   Jerusalem autem sanctam esse, et liberam: et omnia arma, quæ fabricata sunt, et præsidia, quæ construxisti, quæ tenes, maneant tibi.

8. 8

   And all that is owed to the king, and what should belong to the king in the future, from this time and for all time, is remitted to you.

   Et omne debitum regis, et quæ futura sunt regi, ex hoc et in totum tempus remittuntur tibi.

9. 9

   Yet, when we have obtained our kingdom, we will glorify you, and your nation, and the temple with great glory, so much so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.”

   Cum autem obtinuerimus regnum nostrum, glorificabimus te, et gentem tuam, et templum, gloria magna, ita ut manifestetur gloria vestra in universa terra.

10. 10

    In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year, Antiochus went into the land of his fathers, and all the armies came over to him, so that few were left with Trypho.

    Anno centesimo septuagesimo quarto exiit Antiochus in terram patrum suorum, et convenerunt ad eum omnes exercitus, ita ut pauci relicti essent cum Tryphone.

11. 11

    And king Antiochus followed him as he fled along the sea coast and came to Dora.

    Et insecutus est eum Antiochus rex, et venit Doram fugiens per maritimam:

12. 12

    For he knew that evils had gathered together upon him, and that his troops had forsaken him.

    sciebat enim quod congregata sunt mala in eum, et reliquit eum exercitus:

13. 13

    And Antiochus took up a position above Dora, with one hundred and twenty thousand men of warfare and eight thousand horsemen.

    et applicuit Antiochus super Doram cum centum viginti millibus virorum belligeratorum, et octo millibus equitum:

14. 14

    And he encircled the city, and the ships drew near by sea. And they assailed the city by land and by sea, and they permitted no one to go in or out.

    et circuivit civitatem, et naves a mari accesserunt: et vexabant civitatem a terra et mari, et neminem sinebant ingredi vel egredi.

15. 15

    But Numenius, and those who had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings and the regions, in which was contained these things:

    Venit autem Numenius, et qui cum eo fuerant, ab urbe Roma, habentes epistolas regibus et regionibus scriptas, in quibus continebantur hæc:

16. 16

    “Lucius, consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemy: greetings.†

    Lucius consul Romanorum, Ptolemæo regi salutem.

17. 17

    The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, having been sent from Simon, the leader of the priests and the people of the Jews.

    Legati Judæorum venerunt ad nos amici nostri, renovantes pristinam amicitiam et societatem, missi a Simone principe sacerdotum et populo Judæorum.

18. 18

    And they also brought a shield of gold of over a thousand pounds.

    Attulerunt autem et clypeum aureum mnarum mille.

19. 19

    And so, it was pleasing to us to write to the kings and the regions, that they should do no harm to them, nor fight against them, and their cities, and their regions, and that they should bear no assistance to those fighting against them.

    Placuit itaque nobis scribere regibus et regionibus, ut non inferant illis mala, neque impugnent eos, et civitates eorum, et regiones eorum: et ut non ferant auxilium pugnantibus adversus eos.

20. 20

    And it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them.

    Visum autem est nobis accipere ab eis clypeum.

21. 21

    If, therefore, those who are pestilent have taken refuge with you from their region, hand them over to Simon, the leader of the priests, so that he may give a verdict to them according to their law.”

    Si qui ergo pestilentes refugerunt de regione ipsorum ad vos, tradite eos Simoni principi sacerdotum, ut vindicet in eos secundum legem suam.

22. 22

    These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,†

    Hæc eadem scripta sunt Demetrio regi, et Attalo, et Ariarathi, et Arsaci,

23. 23

    and to all the regions, and to Lampsacus and to the Spartans, and to Delos, and Myndos, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samos, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Halicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.

    et in omnes regiones: et Lampsaco, et Spartiatis, et in Delum, et in Myndum, et in Sicyonem, et in Cariam, et in Samum, et in Pamphyliam, et in Lyciam, et in Alicarnassum, et in Coo, et in Siden, et in Aradon, et in Rhodum, et in Phaselidem, et in Gortynam, et Gnidum, et Cyprum, et Cyrenen.

24. 24

    Moreover, they wrote a copy of these things to Simon, the leader of the priests and the people of the Jews.

    Exemplum autem eorum scripserunt Simoni principi sacerdotum, et populo Judæorum.

25. 25

    But king Antiochus positioned his camp near Dora a second time, moving his hand against it continually, and making machines of war. And he enclosed Trypho, lest he escape.

    Antiochus autem rex applicuit castra in Doram secundo, admovens ei semper manus, et machinas faciens: et conclusit Tryphonem, ne procederet:

26. 26

    And Simon sent two thousand chosen men to him as auxiliaries, and silver, and gold, and an abundance of equipment.

    et misit ad eum Simon duo millia virorum electorum in auxilium, et argentum, et aurum, et vasa copiosa:

27. 27

    And he was not willing to receive them, but he broke all of the pact that he made with him before, and he alienated himself from him.

    et noluit ea accipere, sed rupit omnia, quæ pactus est cum eo antea, et alienavit se ab eo.

28. 28

    And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to deal with him, saying: “You hold Joppa and Gazara, and the stronghold that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom.

    Et misit ad eum Athenobium unum de amicis suis, ut tractaret cum ipso, dicens: Vos tenetis Joppen, et Gazaram, et arcem, quæ est in Jerusalem, civitates regni mei:

29. 29

    You have desolated their parts, and you have caused a great scourging in the land, and you have become ruler throughout many places in my kingdom.

    fines earum desolastis, et fecistis plagam magnam in terra, et dominati estis per loca multa in regno meo.

30. 30

    Now, therefore, hand over the cities that you occupy, and the tributes of the places where you have become ruler beyond the borders of Judea.

    Nunc ergo tradite civitates quas occupastis, et tributa locorum in quibus dominati estis extra fines Judææ:

31. 31

    But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the destruction that you have caused, and for the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. But if not, we will come and fight against you.”

    sin autem, date pro illis quingenta talenta argenti, et exterminii, quod exterminastis, et tributorum civitatum alia talenta quingenta: sin autem, veniemus, et expugnabimus vos.

32. 32

    So Athenobius, the friend of the king, came to Jerusalem and saw the glory of Simon, and his splendor in gold and silver, and his abundance of equipment, and he was astonished. And he repeated the words of the king to him.

    Et venit Athenobius amicus regis in Jerusalem, et vidit gloriam Simonis, et claritatem in auro, et argento, et apparatum copiosum: et obstupuit, et retulit ei verba regis.

33. 33

    And Simon responded to him, and he said to him: “We have not taken foreign land, nor do we hold anything foreign, but we hold the inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.

    Et respondit ei Simon, et dixit ei: Neque alienam terram sumpsimus, neque aliena detinemus: sed hæreditatem patrum nostrorum, quæ injuste ab inimicis nostris aliquo tempore possessa est.

34. 34

    In truth, since we have the opportunity, we claim the inheritance of our fathers.

    Nos vero tempus habentes, vindicamus hæreditatem patrum nostrorum.

35. 35

    And as to Joppa and Gazara, which you demand, they brought a great scourging on the people and our country. For these, we will give one hundred talents.” And Athenobius did not respond a word to him.

    Nam de Joppe et Gazara quæ expostulas, ipsi faciebant in populo plagam magnam, et in regione nostra: horum damus talenta centum. Et non respondit ei Athenobius verbum.

36. 36

    But, returning with anger to the king, he reported to him these words, and the glory of Simon, and all that he had seen. And the king became angry with a great anger.

    Reversus autem cum ira ad regem, renuntiavit ei verba ista, et gloriam Simonis, et universa quæ vidit, et iratus est rex ira magna.

37. 37

    But Trypho fled by ship to Orthosia.

    Tryphon autem fugit navi in Orthosiada.

38. 38

    And the king appointed Cendebeus as commander of the seacoast, and he gave him an army of foot soldiers and horsemen.

    Et constituit rex Cendebæum ducem maritimum, et exercitum peditum et equitum dedit illi.

39. 39

    And he commanded him to move with his camp against the face of Judea. And he commanded him to build up Kedron, and to barricade the gates of the city, and to make war against the people. But the king pursued Trypho.

    Et mandavit illi movere castra contra faciem Judææ: et mandavit ei ædificare Gedorem, et obstruere portas civitatis, et debellare populum. Rex autem persequebatur Typhonem.

40. 40

    And Cendebeus passed through to Jamnia, and he began to provoke the populace, and to trample Judea, and to take the people captive, and to execute, and to build up Kedron.

    Et pervenit Cendebæus Jamniam, et cœpit irritare plebem, et conculcare Judæam, et captivare populum, et interficere, et ædificare Gedorem.

41. 41

    And he stationed horsemen and an army there, so that they could go out and travel through the ways of Judea, as the king appointed him to do.

    Et collocavit illic equites et exercitum, ut egressi perambularent viam Judææ, sicut constituit ei rex.

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