1 Maccabees 12

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain men and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with them:	1 When Jonathan saw that circumstances were working in his favour, he sent a select mission to Rometo confirm and renew his treaty of friendship with the Romans.
2 And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places according to the same form.	2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places.
3 And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said: Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews have sent us to renew the amity, and alliance as it was before.	3 The envoys made their way to Rome, entered the Senate and said, 'Jonathan the high priest and theJewish nation have sent us to renew your treaty of friendship and al iance with them as before.'
4 And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to conduct them into the land of Juda with peace.	4 The Senate gave them letters to the authorities of each place, to procure their safe conduct toJudaea.
5 And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:	5 The fol owing is the copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6 Jonathan the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting.	6 'Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the rest of the Jewish people to theSpartans their brothers, greetings.
7 There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest from Arius who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.	7 'In the past, a letter was sent to Onias, the high priest, from Areios, one of your kings, stating that youare indeed our brothers, as the copy subjoined attests.
8 And Onias received the ambassador with honour: and received the letters wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.	8 Onias received the envoy with honour, and accepted the letter, in which a clear declaration was made of friendship and al iance.
9 We, though we needed none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands,	9 For our part, though we have no need of these, having the consolation of the holy books in ourpossession,
10 Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.	10 we venture to send to renew our fraternal friendship with you, so that we may not become strangersto you, a long time having elapsed since you last wrote to us.
11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days, wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet, and becoming to remember brethren.	11 We, for our part, on every occasion, at our festivals and on other appointed days, unfailinglyremember you in the sacrifices we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and fitting to remember brothers.
12 And we rejoice at your glory.	12 We rejoice in your renown.
13 But we have had many troubles and wars on every side, and the kings that are round about us, have fought against us.	13 'We ourselves, however, have had many trials and many wars, the neighbouring kings making waron us.
14 But we would not be troublesome to you, nor the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.	14 We were unwil ing to trouble you or our other al ies and friends during these wars,
15 For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.	15 since we have the support of Heaven to help us, thanks to which we have been delivered from ourenemies, and they are the ones who have been brought low.
16 We have chosen therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the former amity and alliance.	16 We have therefore chosen Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, and sent themto the Romans to renew our former treaty of friendship and alliance,
17 And we have commanded them to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.	17 and we have ordered them also to visit you, to greet you and deliver you this letter of oursconcerning the renewal of our brotherhood;
18 And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.	18 we shal be grateful for an answer to it.'
19 And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:	19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias:
20 Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greeting.	20 'Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings.
21 It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.	21 'It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and ofthe race of Abraham.
22 And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.	22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you wil send us news of yourwelfare.
23 And we also have written back to you: That our cattle, and our possessions are yours: and yours, ours. We therefore have commanded that these things should be told you.	23 Our own message to you is this: your flocks and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours, andwe are instructing our envoys to give you a message to this effect.'
24 Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.	24 Jonathan learned that Demetrius' generals had returned with a larger army than before to make waron him.
25 So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.	25 He therefore left Jerusalem and went to engage them in the area of Hamath, not giving them thetime to invade his own territory.
26 And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.	26 He sent spies into their camp, who told him on their return that the enemy were taking up positionsfor a night attack on the Jews.
27 And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels round about the camp.	27 At sunset, Jonathan ordered his men to keep watch with their weapons at hand, in readiness to fightat any time during the night, and posted advance guards al round the camp.
28 And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, and they were struck with fear, and dread in their heart: and they kindled fires in their camp.	28 On learning that Jonathan and his men were ready to fight, the enemy took fright and, with quakinghearts, lit fires in their bivouac and decamped.
29 But Jonathan and they that were with him knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.	29 Jonathan and his men, watching the glow of the fires, were unaware of their withdrawal untilmorning,
30 And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they had passed the river Eleutherus.	30 and although Jonathan pursued them, he failed to overtake them, for they had already crossed theriver Eleutherus.
31 And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians that are called Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them.	31 So Jonathan wheeled round on the Arabs cal ed Zabadaeans, beat them and plundered them;
32 And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through all that country.	32 then, breaking camp, he went to Damascus, thus crossing the whole province.
33 Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took possession of it,	33 Simon, meanwhile, had also set out and had penetrated as far as Ascalon and the neighbouringtowns. He then turned on Joppa and moved quickly to occupy it,
34 (For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them that took part with Demetrius,) and he put a garrison there to keep it.	34 for he had heard of their intention to hand over this strong point to the supporters of Demetrius; hestationed a garrison there to hold it.
35 And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the people, and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in Judea,	35 Jonathan, on his return, cal ed a meeting of the elders of the people and decided with them to buildfortresses in Judaea
36 And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell.	36 and to heighten the walls of Jerusalem and erect a high barrier between the Citadel and the city, tocut the former off from the city and isolate it, to prevent the occupants from buying or sel ing.
37 And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that was upon the brook towards the east was broken down, and he repaired that which is called Caphetetha:	37 Rebuilding the city was a co-operative effort: part of the wall over the eastern ravine had fal en down;he restored the quarter called Chaphenatha.
38 And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up gates and bars.	38 Simon, meanwhile, rebuilt Adida in the lowlands, fortifying it, and erecting gates with bolts.
39 Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia, and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus:	39 Trypho's ambition was to become king of Asia, assume the crown, and overpower King Antiochus.
40 Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan.	40 He was apprehensive that Jonathan might not al ow him to do this, and might even make war onhim, so he set out and came to Beth-Shean, in the hopes of finding some pretext for having him arrested and putto death.
41 And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan.	41 Jonathan went out to intercept him, with forty thousand picked men in battle order, and arrived atBeth-Shean.
42 Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him,	42 When Trypho saw him there with a large force, he hesitated to make any move against him.
43 But received him with honour, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.	43 He even received him with honour, commended him to al his friends, gave him presents andordered his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself.
44 And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war?	44 He said to Jonathan, 'Why have you given all these people so much trouble, when there is no threatof war between us?
45 Now therefore send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming.	45 Send them back home; pick yourself a few men as your bodyguard, and come with me to Ptolemais,which I am going to hand over to you, with the other fortresses and the remaining troops and al the officials;after which, I shal take the road for home. This was my purpose in coming here.'
46 And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda:	46 Jonathan trusted him and did as he said; he dismissed his forces, who went back to Judaea.
47 But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.	47 With him he retained three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, while a thousandaccompanied him.
48 Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that came in with him they slew with the sword.	48 But as soon as Jonathan had entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais closed the gates, seizedhim, and put al those who had entered with him to the sword.
49 Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into the great plain to destroy all Jonathan's company.	49 Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan's supporters.
50 But they, when they understood that Jonathan and all that were with him were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out ready for battle.	50 These, concluding that he had been taken and had perished with his companions, encouraged oneanother, marching with closed ranks and ready to give battle,
51 Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for their lives, returned back.	51 and when their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back.
52 Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda. And they bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and Israel mourned with great lamentation.	52 Al reached Judaea safe and sound, and there they lamented Jonathan and his companions, beingvery frightened indeed; al Israel was plunged into mourning.
53 Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said:	53 The surrounding nations were al now looking for ways of destroying them: 'They have no leader,'they said, 'no ally; we have only to attack them now, and we shall blot out their very memory from all peoples.'
54 They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore let us make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst mem.