1 Maccabees 1

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated * Darius, king of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.)
2 He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:	2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth.
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, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.
4 And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.	4 He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him.
5 And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him.	5 After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying.
6 And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.	6 So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and divided 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 And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died.
8 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.	8 Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place.
9 And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place:	9 They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on 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 From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year 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 lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for 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 This proposal pleased them,
13 And the word seemed good in their eyes.	13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances 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 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom,
15 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:	15 and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.
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 Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign 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 So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry 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 He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell.
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 And they captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he 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 subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year. * He went up against Israel and came 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 arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils.
22 And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.	22 He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off.
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 He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures which he found.
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 them all, he departed to his own land. He committed deeds of murder, and spoke with great arrogance.
25 And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.	25 Israel mourned deeply in every community,
26 And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.	26 rulers and elders groaned, maidens and young men became faint, the beauty of women faded.
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 the lament; she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.
28 Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned:	28 Even the land shook for its inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed 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 to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large 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 Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel.
31 And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.	31 He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down 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 And they 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 fortified the city of David with a great strong 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 And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men. These strengthened their position;
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 they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great snare.
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 It became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel continually.
37 And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.	37 On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even 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 residents of Jerusalem fled; she became a dwelling of strangers; she became strange to her offspring, and her children forsook her.
39 And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.	39 Her sanctuary became desolate as a desert; her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into a reproach, her honor into 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 now grew as great as her glory; her exaltation 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 and that each should give up his customs.
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 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
44 And all nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus.	44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land,
45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.	45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and feasts,
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 defile the sanctuary and the priests,
47 And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.	47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals,
48 And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated.	48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane,
49 And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel.	49 so that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances.
50 And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.	50 "And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die."
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 In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. And he appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to offer sacrifice, city by city.
52 And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.	52 Many of the people, every one who forsook the law, joined them, and they did 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 they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had.
54 And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.	54 Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, * they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah,
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 and burned incense at the doors of the 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 The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.
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 Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death.
58 And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets.	58 They kept using violence against Israel, against those found month after month in the cities.
59 And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:	59 And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering.
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 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised,
61 Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.	61 and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks.
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 stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.
63 Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus.	63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
64 And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.	64 And very great wrath came upon Israel.
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.