1 Maccabees 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best horsemen, and removed out of the camp by night;	1 Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this detachment set out at night
2 To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his guides.	2 in order to attack the camp of the Jews and take them by surprise. Some men from the citadel were their guides.
3 Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the valiant men with him, that he might smite the king's army which was at Emmaus,	3 Judas heard of it, and himself set out with his soldiers to attack the king's army at Emmaus,
4 While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp.	4 while the latter's forces were still scattered away from the camp.
5 In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us	5 During the night Gorgias came into the camp of Judas, and found no one there; so he began to hunt for them in the mountains, saying, "They are fleeing from us."
6 But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to their minds.	6 But at daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, who lacked such armor and swords as they would have wished.
7 And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war.	7 They saw the army of the Gentiles, strong and breastplated, flanked with cavalry, and made up of expert soldiers.
8 Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault.	8 Judas said to the men with him: "Do not be afraid of their numbers or dread their attack.
9 Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.	9 Remember how our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.
10 Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day:	10 So now let us cry to Heaven in the hope that he will favor us, remember his covenant with our fathers, and destroy this army before us today.
11 That so all the heathen may know that there is one who delivereth and saveth Israel.	11 All the Gentiles shall know that there is One who redeems and delivers Israel."
12 Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over against them.	12 When the foreigners looked up and saw them marching toward them,
13 Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets.	13 they came out of their camp for battle, and the men with Judas blew the trumpet.
14 So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain.	14 The battle was joined and the Gentiles were defeated and fled toward the plain.
15 Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men.	15 Their whole rearguard fell by the sword, and they were pursued as far as Gazara and the plains of Judea, to Azotus and Jamnia. About three thousand of their men fell.
16 This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them,	16 When Judas and the army returned from the pursuit,
17 And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as there is a battle before us,	17 he said to the people: "Do not be greedy for the plunder, for there is a fight ahead of us,
18 And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye may boldly take the spoils.	18 and Gorgias and his army are near us on the mountain. But now stand firm against our enemies and overthrow them. Afterward you can freely take the plunder."
19 As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them looking out of the mountain:	19 As Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, looking down from the mountain.
20 Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done:	20 They saw that their army had been put to flight and their camp was being burned. The smoke that could be seen indicated what had happened.
21 When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,	21 When they realized this, they were terrified; and when they also saw the army of Judas in the plain ready to attack,
22 They fled every one into the land of strangers.	22 they all fled to Philistine territory.
23 Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.	23 Then Judas went back to plunder the camp, and his men collected much gold and silver, violet and crimson cloth, and great treasure.
24 After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever.	24 As they returned, they were singing hymns and glorifying Heaven, "for he is good, for his mercy endures forever."
25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.	25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26 Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened:	26 But those of the foreigners who had escaped went and told Lysias all that had occurred.
27 Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass.	27 When he heard it he was disturbed and discouraged, because things in Israel had not turned out as he intended and as the king had ordered.
28 The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.	28 So the following year he gathered together sixty thousand picked men and five thousand cavalry, to subdue them.
29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.	29 They came into Idumea and camped at Beth-zur, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer;	30 Seeing that the army was strong, he prayed thus: "Blessed are you, O Savior of Israel, who broke the rush of the mighty one by the hand of your servant David and delivered the camp of the Philistines into the hand of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and his armor-bearer.
31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen:	31 Give this army into the hands of your people Israel; make them ashamed of their troops and their cavalry.
32 Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction:	32 Strike them with fear, weaken the boldness of their strength, and let them tremble at their own destruction.
33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving.	33 Strike them down by the sword of those who love you, that all who know your name may hymn your praise."
34 So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.	34 Then they engaged in battle, and about five thousand of Lysias' men fell in hand-to-hand fighting.
35 Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas' soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea.	35 When Lysias saw his ranks beginning to give way, and the increased boldness of Judas, whose men were ready either to live or to die bravely, he withdrew to Antioch and began to recruit mercenaries so as to return to Judea with greater numbers.
36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.	36 Then Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it."
37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Sion.	37 So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests' chambers pulled down;	38 They found the sanctuary desolate, the altar desecrated, the gates burnt, weeds growing in the courts as in a forest or on some mountain, and the priests' chambers demolished.
39 They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,	39 Then they tore their clothes and made great lamentation; they sprinkled their heads with ashes
40 And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.	40 and fell with their faces to the ground. And when the signal was given with trumpets, they cried out to Heaven.
41 Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.	41 Judas appointed men to attack those in the citadel, while he purified the sanctuary.
42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law:	42 He chose blameless priests, devoted to the law;
43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place.	43 these purified the sanctuary and carried away the stones of the Abomination to an unclean place.
44 And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;	44 They deliberated what ought to be done with the altar of holocausts that had been desecrated.
45 They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,	45 The happy thought came to them to tear it down, lest it be a lasting shame to them that the Gentiles had defiled it; so they tore down the altar.
46 And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them.	46 They stored the stones in a suitable place on the temple hill, until a prophet should come and decide what to do with them.
47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;	47 Then they took uncut stones, according to the law, and built a new altar like the former one.
48 And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts.	48 They also repaired the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and purified the courts.
49 They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.	49 They made new sacred vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.
50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.	50 Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these illuminated the temple.
51 Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.	51 They also put loaves on the table and hung up curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.
52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning,	52 Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.	53 they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of holocausts that they had made.
54 Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals.	54 On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.	55 All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.
56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.	56 For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered holocausts and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.
57 They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.	57 They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers and furnished them with doors.
58 Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.	58 There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.	59 Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.
60 At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had done before.	60 At that time they built high walls and strong towers around Mount Zion, to prevent the Gentiles from coming and trampling over it as they had done before.
61 And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve it; that the people might have a defence against Idumea.	61 Judas also placed a garrison there to protect it, and likewise fortified Beth-zur, that the people might have a stronghold facing Idumea.