1 Maccabees 1

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes:	1 After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip's son, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece.
2 He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:	2 He fought many campaigns, captured fortresses, and put kings to death.
3 And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.	3 He advanced to the ends of the earth, gathering plunder from many nations; the earth fell silent before him, and his heart became proud and arrogant.
4 And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.	4 He collected a very strong army and conquered provinces, nations, and rulers, and they became his tributaries.
5 And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him.	5 But after all this he took to his bed, realizing that he was going to die.
6 And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.	6 He therefore summoned his officers, the nobles, who had been brought up with him from his youth, to divide his kingdom among them while he was still alive.
7 And he called his servants the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.	7 Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died.
8 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.	8 So his officers took over his kingdom, each in his own territory,
9 And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place:	9 and after his death they all put on royal crowns, and so did their sons after them for many years, causing much distress over the earth.
10 And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth.	10 There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the year one hundred and thirty-seven of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.	11 In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying: "Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
12 In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.	12 The proposal was agreeable;
13 And the word seemed good in their eyes.	13 some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles.
14 And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.	14 Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom.
15 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:	15 They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
16 And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.	16 When his kingdom seemed secure, Antiochus proposed to become king of Egypt, so as to rule over both kingdoms.
17 And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms.	17 He invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants, and with a large fleet,
18 And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships:	18 to make war on Ptolemy, king of Egypt. Ptolemy was frightened at his presence and fled, leaving many casualties.
19 And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death.	19 The fortified cities in the land of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the land of Egypt.
20 And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.	20 After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the year one hundred and forty-three, he returned and went up to Israel and to Jerusalem with a strong force.
21 And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel.	21 He insolently invaded the sanctuary and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its fixtures,
22 And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.	22 the offering table, the cups and the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple. He stripped off everything,
23 And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.	23 and took away the gold and silver and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find.
24 And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country.	24 Taking all this, he went back to his own country, after he had spoken with great arrogance and shed much blood.
25 And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.	25 And there was great mourning for Israel, in every place where they dwelt,
26 And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.	26 and the rulers and the elders groaned. Virgins and young men languished, and the beauty of the women was disfigured.
27 And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed.	27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she who sat in the bridal chamber mourned,
28 Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned:	28 And the land was shaken on account of its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was covered with shame.
29 And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.	29 Two years later, the king sent the Mysian commander to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a strong force.
30 And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.	30 He spoke to them deceitfully in peaceful terms, and won their trust. Then he attacked the city suddenly, in a great onslaught, and destroyed many of the people in Israel.
31 And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.	31 He plundered the city and set fire to it, demolished its houses and its surrounding walls,
32 And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel.	32 took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle.
33 And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about:	33 Then they built up the City of David with a high, massive wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.
34 And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed.	34 There they installed a sinful race, perverse men, who fortified themselves inside it,
35 And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them:	35 storing up weapons and provisions, and depositing there the plunder they had collected from Jerusalem. And they became a great threat.
36 And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem;	36 The citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, and a wicked adversary to Israel at all times.
37 And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.	37 And they shed innocent blood around the sanctuary; they defiled the sanctuary.
38 And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.	38 Because of them the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away, and she became the abode of strangers. She became a stranger to her own offspring, and her children forsook her.
39 And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.	39 Her sanctuary was as desolate as a wilderness; her feasts were turned into mourning, Her sabbaths to shame, her honor to contempt.
40 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her.	40 Her dishonor was as great as her glory had been, and her exalation was turned into mourning.
41 Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.	41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42 Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning.	42 each abandoning his particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
43 And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.	43 and many Israelites were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44 And all nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus.	44 The king sent messengers with letters to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land;
45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.	45 to prohibit holocausts, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days,
46 And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that they should follow the law of the nations of the earth,	46 to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers,
47 And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.	47 to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals,
48 And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated.	48 to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to let themselves be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination,
49 And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel.	49 so that they might forget the law and change all their observances.
50 And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.	50 Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king should be put to death.
51 And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that they should forget the law, and should change all the justifications of God.	51 Such were the orders he published throughout his kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people, and he ordered the cities of Judah to offer sacrifices, each city in turn.
52 And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.	52 Many of the people, those who abandoned the law, joined them and committed evil in the land.
53 According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom, and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things.	53 Israel was driven into hiding, wherever places of refuge could be found.
54 And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.	54 On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of holocausts, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
55 Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land:	55 They also burnt incense at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.	56 Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
57 On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:	57 Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.
58 And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets.	58 So they used their power against Israel, against those who were caught, each month, in the cities.
59 And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:	59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month they sacrificed on the altar erected over the altar of holocausts.
60 And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king.	60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree,
61 Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.	61 with the babies hung from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.
62 And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.	62 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
63 Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus.	63 they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
64 And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.
65 And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die than to be defiled with unclean meats.
66 And they would not break the holy law of God, and they were put to death:
67 And there was very great wrath upon the people.