2 Maccabees 1

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 To the brethren the Jews that are I throughout Egypt, the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health, and good peace.	1 The Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, To their Jewish brethren in Egypt, Greeting, and good peace.
2 May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:	2 May God do good to you, and may he remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants.
3 And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.	3 May he give you all a heart to worship him and to do his will with a strong heart and a willing spirit.
4 May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.	4 May he open your heart to his law and his commandments, and may he bring peace.
5 May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.	5 May he hear your prayers and be reconciled to you, and may he not forsake you in time of evil.
6 And now here we are praying for you.	6 We are now praying for you here.
7 When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you, in the trouble, and violence, that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.	7 In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred and sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you, in the critical distress which came upon us in those years after Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom
8 They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the leaves.	8 and burned the gate and shed innocent blood. We besought the Lord and we were heard, and we offered sacrifice and cereal offering, and we lighted the lamps and we set out the loaves.
9 And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.	9 And now see that you keep the feast of booths in the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and eighty-eighth year.
10 In the year Bone hundred and eightyeight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.	10 Those in Jerusalem and those in Judea and the senate and Judas, To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of Ptolemy the king, and to the Jews in Egypt, Greeting, and good health.
11 Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.	11 Having been saved by God out of grave dangers we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king.
12 For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia that have fought against us, and the holy city.	12 For he drove out those who fought against the holy city.
13 For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.	13 For when the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a deception employed by the priests of Nanea.
14 For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the title of a dowry.	14 For under pretext of intending to marry her, Antiochus came to the place together with his friends, to secure most of its treasures as a dowry.
15 And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,	15 When the priests of the temple of Nanea had set out the treasures and Antiochus had come with a few men inside the wall of the sacred precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it.
16 When Antiochus was came in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces, and cutting off their heads they threw them forth.	16 Opening the secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the leader and his men, and dismembered them and cut off their heads and threw them to the people outside.
17 Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.	17 Blessed in every way be our God, who has brought judgment upon those who have behaved impiously.
18 Therefore whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.	18 Since on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev we shall celebrate the purification of the temple, we thought it necessary to notify you, in order that you also may celebrate the feast of booths and the feast of the fire given when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.
19 For when our fathers were led in Persia, the priests that then were worshippers of God took privately the fire from the altar, and hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they kept it safe,	19 For when our fathers were being led captive to Persia, the pious priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar and secretly hid it in the hollow of a dry cistern, where they took such precautions that the place was unknown to any one.
20 But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.	20 But after many years had passed, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having been commissioned by the king of Persia, sent the descendants of the priests who had hidden the fire to get it. And when they reported to us that they had not found fire but thick liquid, he ordered them to dip it out and bring it.
21 Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest Nehemias commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon it.	21 And when the materials for the sacrifices were presented, Nehemiah ordered the priests to sprinkle the liquid on the wood and what was laid upon it.
22 And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all wondered.	22 When this was done and some time had passed and the sun, which had been clouded over, shone out, a great fire blazed up, so that all marveled.
23 And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.	23 And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer -- the priests and every one. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as did Nehemiah.
24 And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: 0 Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone art the goad king,	24 The prayer was to this effect: "O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art awe-inspiring and strong and just and merciful, who alone art King and art kind,
25 Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the fathers and didst sanctify them :	25 who alone art bountiful, who alone art just and almighty and eternal, who dost rescue Israel from every evil, who didst choose the fathers and consecrate them,
26 Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy own portion, and sanctify it.	26 accept this sacrifice on behalf of all thy people Israel and preserve thy portion and make it holy.
27 Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.	27 Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look upon those who are rejected and despised, and let the Gentiles know that thou art our God.
28 Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with pride.	28 Afflict those who oppress and are insolent with pride.
29 Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.	29 Plant thy people in thy holy place, as Moses said. "
30 And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.	30 Then the priests sang the hymns.
31 And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.	31 And when the materials of the sacrifice were consumed, Nehemiah ordered that the liquid that was left should be poured upon large stones.
32 Which being done, there -was kindled a dame from them: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.	32 When this was done, a flame blazed up; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.
33 And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were with him had purified the sacrifices.	33 When this matter became known, and it was reported to the king of the Persians that, in the place where the exiled priests had hidden the fire, the liquid had appeared with which Nehemiah and his associates had burned the materials of the sacrifice,
34 And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.	34 the king investigated the matter, and enclosed the place and made it sacred.
35 And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and divers presents, and he took end distributed them to them with his own hand.	35 And with those persons whom the king favored he exchanged many excellent gifts.
36 And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But many call it Nephi.	36 Nehemiah and his associates called this "nephthar," which means purification, but by most people it is called naphtha.
37 dummy verses inserted by amos
38 dummy verses inserted by amos
39 dummy verses inserted by amos
40 dummy verses inserted by amos
41 dummy verses inserted by amos
42 dummy verses inserted by amos
43 dummy verses inserted by amos
44 dummy verses inserted by amos
45 dummy verses inserted by amos
46 dummy verses inserted by amos
47 dummy verses inserted by amos
48 dummy verses inserted by amos
49 dummy verses inserted by amos
50 dummy verses inserted by amos
51 dummy verses inserted by amos
52 dummy verses inserted by amos
53 dummy verses inserted by amos
54 dummy verses inserted by amos
55 dummy verses inserted by amos
56 dummy verses inserted by amos
57 dummy verses inserted by amos
58 dummy verses inserted by amos
59 dummy verses inserted by amos
60 dummy verses inserted by amos
61 dummy verses inserted by amos
62 dummy verses inserted by amos
63 dummy verses inserted by amos
64 dummy verses inserted by amos
65 dummy verses inserted by amos
66 dummy verses inserted by amos
67 dummy verses inserted by amos
68 dummy verses inserted by amos
69 dummy verses inserted by amos
70 dummy verses inserted by amos
71 dummy verses inserted by amos
72 dummy verses inserted by amos
73 dummy verses inserted by amos
74 dummy verses inserted by amos
75 dummy verses inserted by amos
76 dummy verses inserted by amos
77 dummy verses inserted by amos
78 dummy verses inserted by amos
79 dummy verses inserted by amos
80 dummy verses inserted by amos
81 dummy verses inserted by amos
82 dummy verses inserted by amos
83 dummy verses inserted by amos
84 dummy verses inserted by amos
85 dummy verses inserted by amos
86 dummy verses inserted by amos
87 dummy verses inserted by amos
88 dummy verses inserted by amos
89 dummy verses inserted by amos
90 that the place was unknown to all men.