2 Maccabees 14

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Three years later, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius, son of Seleucus, had sailed into the port of Tripolis with a powerful army and a fleet,	1 Three years after this, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius son of Seleucus had landed at theport of Tripolis with a strong army and a fleet,
2 and that he had occupied the country, after doing away with Antiochus and his guardian Lysias.	2 and that he had occupied the country and had killed Antiochus and his tutor Lysias.
3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, who had willfully incurred defilement at the time of the revolt, realized that there was no way for him to salvage his position and regain access to the holy altar.	3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, had wilful y incurred defilement at the time of the insurrection;realising that whichever way he turned there was no security for him, nor any further access to the holy altar,
4 So he went to King Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the customary olive branches from the temple. On that occasion he kept quiet.	4 he went to King Demetrius in about the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with agolden crown and a palm, together with the traditional olive branches from the Temple; there, for that day, he letthe matter rest.
5 But he found an opportunity to further his mad scheme when he was invited to the council by Demetrius and questioned about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews. He replied:	5 Presently he found an opportunity to further his mad plan. When Demetrius cal ed him into his counciland questioned him about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews, he replied,
6 "Those Jews called Hasideans, led by Judas Maccabeus, are warmongers, who stir up sedition and keep the kingdom from enjoying peace and quiet.	6 'Those Jews called Hasidaeans, who are led by Judas Maccabaeus, are war-mongers and rebels whoare preventing the kingdom from finding stability.
7 For this reason, now that I am deprived of my ancestral dignity, that is to say, the high priesthood, I have come here--	7 That is why, after being deprived of my hereditary dignity -- I mean the high priesthood -- I have comehere now,
8 first, out of my genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of consideration for my own countrymen, since our entire nation is suffering great affliction from the unreasonable conduct of the people just mentioned.	8 first out of genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of a regard for our own fellow-citizens, because the irresponsible behaviour of those I have mentioned has brought no slight misery on ourentire race.
9 When you have informed yourself in detail on these matters, O king, act in the interest of our country and its hard-pressed people with the same gracious consideration that you show toward all.	9 When your majesty has taken note of al these points, may it please you to make provision for thewelfare of our country and our oppressed nation, as befits the gracious benevolence you extend to al ;
10 As long as Judas is around, it is impossible for the state to enjoy peace."	10 for, as long as Judas remains alive, the State wil never enjoy peace.'
11 When he had said this, the other Friends who were hostile to Judas quickly added fuel to Demetrius' indignation.	11 No sooner had he spoken thus than the rest of the King's Friends, who were hostile to Judas'activities, stoked Demetrius' anger.
12 The king immediately chose Nicanor, who had been in command of the elephants, and appointed him governor of Judea. He sent him off	12 The latter at once selected Nicanor, then commander of the elephants, promoted him to thecommand of Judaea and despatched him
13 with orders to put Judas to death, to disperse his followers, and to set up Alcimus as high priest of the great temple.	13 with instructions to dispose of Judas, disperse his followers and instal Alcimus as high priest of thegreatest of temples.
14 The Gentiles from Judea, who would have banished Judas, came flocking to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves.	14 The foreigners in Judaea, who had fled before Judas, flocked to join Nicanor, thinking that themisfortunes and troubles of the Jews would be to their own advantage.
15 When the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the Gentiles were rallying to him, they sprinkled themselves with earth and prayed to him who established his people forever, and who always comes to the aid of his heritage.	15 When the Jews heard that Nicanor was coming and that the foreigners were about to attack, theysprinkled dust over themselves and made supplication to him who had established his people for ever and whonever failed to support his own heritage by direct manifestations.
16 At their leader's command, they set out at once and came upon the enemy at the village of Adasa.	16 On their leader's orders, they at once left the place where they were and confronted the enemy atthe vil age of Dessau.
17 Judas' brother Simon had engaged Nicanor, but because of the sudden appearance of the enemy suffered a slight repulse.	17 Simon, brother of Judas, engaged Nicanor but, owing to the sudden arrival of the enemy, suffered aslight reverse.
18 However, when Nicanor heard of the valor of Judas and his men, and the great courage with which they fought for their country, he shrank from deciding the issue by bloodshed.	18 Nicanor, however, had heard how brave Judas and his men were and how resolutely they alwaysfought for their country, and he did not dare al ow bloodshed to decide the issue.
19 So he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to arrange an agreement.	19 And so he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to offer the Jews pledges of friendship and toaccept theirs.
20 After a long discussion of the terms, each leader communicated them to his troops; and when general agreement was expressed, they assented to the treaty.	20 After careful consideration of his terms, the leader communicated them to his troops, and since theywere all clearly of one mind they agreed to the treaty.
21 A day was set on which the leaders would meet by themselves. From each side a chariot came forward and thrones were set in place.	21 A day was fixed on which the respective leaders were to meet as individuals. A litter came out fromeither side and seats were set up.
22 Judas had posted armed men in readiness at suitable points for fear that the enemy might suddenly carry out some treacherous plan. But the conference was held in the proper way.	22 Judas had posted armed men in strategic positions, in case of a sudden treacherous move by theenemy. The leaders held their conference and reached agreement.
23 Nicanor stayed on in Jerusalem, where he did nothing out of place. He got rid of the throngs of ordinary people who gathered around him;	23 Nicanor took up residence in Jerusalem and did nothing out of place there; indeed, he sent away thecrowds that had flocked to join him.
24 but he always kept Judas in his company, for he had a cordial affection for the man.	24 He kept Judas constantly with him, becoming deeply attached to him
25 He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life.	25 and encouraged him to marry and have children. Judas married, settled down and led a normal life.
26 When Alcimus saw their friendship for each other, he took the treaty that had been made, went to Demetrius, and said that Nicanor was plotting against the state, and that he had appointed Judas, the conspirator against the kingdom, to be his successor.	26 When Alcimus saw how friendly the two men had become, he went to Demetrius with a copy of thetreaty they had signed and told him that Nicanor was harbouring thoughts against the interests of the State, andwas planning that Judas, an enemy of the realm, should fil the next vacancy among the Friends of the King.
27 Stirred up by the villain's calumnies, the king became enraged. He wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the treaty, and ordering him to send Maccabeus as a prisoner to Antioch without delay.	27 The king flew into a rage; roused by the slanders of this villain, he wrote to Nicanor, tel ing him of hisstrong displeasure at these agreements and ordering him immediately to send Maccabaeus to Antioch in chains.
28 When this message reached Nicanor he was dismayed, for he hated to break his agreement with a man who had done no wrong.	28 When the letter reached Nicanor, he was very much upset, for he disliked the prospect of breakingan agreement with a man who had done nothing wrong.
29 However, there was no way of opposing the king, so he watched for an opportunity to carry out this order by a stratagem.	29 Since, however, there was no way of opposing the king, he waited for an opportunity to carry out theorder by a stratagem.
30 But Maccabeus noticed that Nicanor was becoming cool in his dealings with him, and acting with unaccustomed rudeness when they met; he concluded that this coldness betokened no good. So he gathered together a large number of his men, and went into hiding from Nicanor.	30 Maccabaeus began to notice that Nicanor was treating him more sharply and that his manner ofspeaking to him was more abrupt than it had been, and he concluded that such sharpness could have no verygood motive. He therefore collected a considerable number of his fol owers and got away from Nicanor.
31 When Nicanor realized that he had been disgracefully outwitted by the man, he went to the great and holy temple, at a time when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrender Judas.	31 The latter, realising that the man had wel and truly outmanoeuvred him, went to the greatest andholiest of Temples when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrenderJudas.
32 As they declared under oath that they did not know where the wanted man was,	32 When they protested on oath that they did not know where the wanted man could be,
33 he raised his right hand toward the temple and swore this oath: "If you do not hand Judas over to me as prisoner, I will level this shrine of God to the ground; I will tear down the altar, and erect here a splendid temple to Dionysus."	33 he stretched out his right hand towards the Temple and swore this oath, 'If you do not hand Judasover to me as prisoner, I shal rase this dwelling of God to the ground, I shal demolish the altar, and on this veryspot I shal erect a splendid temple to Dionysus.'
34 With these words he went away. The priests stretched out their hands toward heaven, calling upon the unfailing defender of our nation in these words:	34 With these words he left them. The priests stretched out their hands to heaven, cal ing on him whohas at al times done battle for our nation; this was their prayer:
35 "Lord of all, though you are in need of nothing, you have approved of a temple for your dwelling place among us.	35 'O Lord in need of nothing, it has pleased you that the Temple where you dwel should be here withus.
36 Therefore, O holy One, Lord of all holiness, preserve forever undefiled this house, which has been so recently purified."	36 Now, therefore, holy Lord of al holiness, preserve for ever from all profanation this House, so newlypurified.'
37 A certain Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor as a patriot. A man highly regarded, he was called a father of the Jews because of his love for them.	37 Now, a man cal ed Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor. He was a manwho loved his countrymen and stood high in their esteem, and he was known as the father of the Jews becauseof his kindness.
38 In the early days of the revolt, he had been convicted of Judaism, and had risked body and life in his ardent zeal for it.	38 In the earlier days of the insurrection he had been convicted of Judaism, and he had risked both lifeand limb for Judaism with the utmost zeal.
39 Nicanor, to show his detestation of the Jews, sent more than five hundred soldiers to arrest him.	39 Nicanor, by way of demonstrating the enmity he had for the Jews, sent over five hundred soldiers toarrest him,
40 He thought that by arresting such a man he would deal the Jews a hard blow.	40 reckoning that if he eliminated this man he would be dealing them a severe blow.
41 But when these troops, on the point of capturing the tower, were forcing the outer gate and calling for fire to set the door ablaze, Razis, now caught on all sides, turned his sword against himself,	41 When the troops were on the point of capturing the tower and were forcing the outer door and cal ingfor fire to set the doors alight, Razis, finding himself completely surrounded, fel on his own sword,
42 preferring to die nobly rather than fall into the hands of vile men and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth.	42 nobly resolving to die rather than fal into the clutches of these villains and suffer outrages unworthyof his noble birth.
43 In the excitement of the struggle he failed to strike exactly. So while the troops rushed in through the doors, he gallantly ran up to the top of the wall and with manly courage threw himself down into the crowd.	43 But in the heat of conflict he missed his thrust, and while the troops swarmed in through thedoorways, he ran nimbly upstairs to the parapet and manfully threw himself down among the troops.
44 But as they quickly drew back and left an opening, he fell into the middle of the empty space.	44 But, as they immediately drew back, he fell into the middle of the empty space.
45 Still breathing, and inflamed with anger, he got up and ran through the crowd, with blood gushing from his frightful wounds.	45 Stil breathing, and blazing with anger, he struggled to his feet, blood spurting in al directions, anddespite his terrible wounds ran right through the crowd; then, taking his stand on a steep rock,
46 Then, standing on a steep rock, as he lost the last of his blood, he tore out his entrails and flung them with both hands into the crowd, calling upon the Lord of life and of spirit to give these back to him again. Such was the manner of his death.	46 although he had now lost every drop of blood, he tore out his entrails and taking them in both handsflung them down on the crowd, cal ing on the Master of his life and spirit to give them back to him one day. Thushe died.