1 Maccabees 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took his place.	1 Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place.
2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father supported him, and they carried on Israel's war joyfully.	2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.
3 He spread abroad the glory of his people, and put on his breastplate like a giant. He armed himself with weapons of war; he planned battles and protected the camp with his sword.	3 He extended the glory of his people. Like a giant he put on his breastplate; he girded on his armor of war and waged battles, protecting the host by his sword.
4 In his actions he was like a lion, like a young lion roaring for prey.	4 He was like a lion in his deeds, like a lion's cub roaring for prey.
5 He pursued the wicked, hunting them out, and those who troubled his people he destroyed by fire.	5 He searched out and pursued the lawless; he burned those who troubled his people.
6 The lawbreakers were cowed by fear of him, and all evildoers were dismayed. By his hand redemption was happily achieved,	6 Lawless men shrank back for fear of him; all the evildoers were confounded; and deliverance prospered by his hand.
7 and he afflicted many kings; He made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his memory is blessed forever.	7 He embittered many kings, but he made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his memory is blessed for ever.
8 He went about the cities of Judah destroying the impious there. He turned away wrath from Israel	8 He went through the cities of Judah; he destroyed the ungodly out of the land; * thus he turned away wrath from Israel.
9 and was renowned to the ends of the earth; he gathered together those who were perishing.	9 He was renowned to the ends of the earth; he gathered in those who were perishing.
10 Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles, together with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel.	10 But Apollonius gathered together Gentiles and a large force from Samaria to fight against Israel.
11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and defeated and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled.	11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him. Many were wounded and fell, and the rest fled.
12 Their possessions were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who fought with it the rest of his life.	12 Then they seized their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and used it in battle the rest of his life.
13 But Seron, commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered many about him, an assembly of faithful men ready for war.	13 Now when Seron, the commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him and went out to battle,
14 So he said, "I will make a name for myself and win glory in the kingdom by defeating Judas and his followers, who have despised the king's command."	14 he said, "I will make a name for myself and win honor in the kingdom. I will make war on Judas and his companions, who scorn the king's command."
15 And again a large company of renegades advanced with him to help him take revenge on the Israelites.	15 And again a strong army of ungodly men went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the sons of Israel.
16 When he reached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a few men.	16 When he approached the ascent of Beth-horon, Judas went out to meet him with a small company.
17 But when they saw the army coming against them, they said to Judas: "How can we, few as we are, fight such a mighty host as this? Besides, we are weak today from fasting."	17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, "How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and strong a multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today."
18 But Judas said: "It is easy for many to be overcome by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few;	18 Judas replied, "It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few.
19 for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven.	19 It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven.
20 With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us;	20 They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us;
21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws.	21 but we fight for our lives and our laws.
22 He himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them."	22 He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them."
23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly upon Seron and his army, who were crushed before him.	23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were crushed before him.
24 He pursued Seron down the descent of Beth-horon into the plain. About eight hundred of their men fell, and the rest fled to the country of the Philistines.	24 They pursued them * down the descent of Beth-horon to the plain; eight hundred of them fell, and the rest fled into the land of the Philistines.
25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and dread fell upon the Gentiles about them.	25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell upon the Gentiles round about them.
26 His fame reached the king, and all the Gentiles talked about the battles of Judas.	26 His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of the battles of Judas.
27 When Antiochus heard about these events, he was angry; so he ordered a muster of all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army.	27 When king Antiochus heard these reports, he was greatly angered; and he sent and gathered all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army.
28 He opened his treasure chests, gave his soldiers a year's pay, and commanded them to be prepared for anything.	28 And he opened his coffers and gave a year's pay to his forces, and ordered them to be ready for any need.
29 He then found that this exhausted the money in his treasury; moreover the income from the province was small, because of the dissension and distress he had brought upon the land by abolishing the laws which had been in effect from of old.	29 Then he saw that the money in the treasury was exhausted, and that the revenues from the country were small because of the dissension and disaster which he had caused in the land by abolishing the laws that had existed from the earliest days.
30 He feared that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough for his expenses and for the gifts that he had previously given with a more liberal hand than the preceding kings.	30 He feared that he might not have such funds as he had before for his expenses and for the gifts which he used to give more lavishly than preceding kings.
31 Greatly perplexed, he decided to go to Persia and levy tribute on those provinces, and so raise a large sum of money.	31 He was greatly perplexed in mind, and determined to go to Persia and collect the revenues from those regions and raise a large fund.
32 He left Lysias, a nobleman of royal blood, in charge of the king's affairs from the Euphrates River to the frontier of Egypt,	32 He left Lysias, a distinguished man of royal lineage, in charge of the king's affairs from the river Euphrates to the borders of Egypt.
33 and commissioned him to take care of his son Antiochus until his own return.	33 Lysias * was also to take care of Antiochus his son until he returned.
34 He entrusted to him half of the army, and the elephants, and gave him instructions concerning everything he wanted done. As for the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem,	34 And he turned over to Lysias half of his troops and the elephants, and gave him orders about all that he wanted done. As for the residents of Judea and Jerusalem,
35 Lysias was to send an army against them to crush and destroy the power of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem and efface their memory from the land.	35 Lysias was to send a force against them to wipe out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem; he was to banish the memory of them from the place,
36 He was to settle foreigners in all their territory and distribute their land by lot.	36 settle aliens in all their territory, and distribute their land.
37 The king took the remaining half of the army and set out from Antioch, his capital, in the year one hundred and forty-seven; he crossed the Euphrates River and advanced inland.	37 Then the king took the remaining half of his troops and departed from Antioch his capital in the one hundred and forty-seventh year. * He crossed the Euphrates river and went through the upper provinces.
38 Lysias chose Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, capable men among the King's Friends,	38 Lysias chose Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor and Gorgias, mighty men among the friends of the king,
39 and with them he sent forty thousand men and seven thousand cavalry to invade the land of Judah and ravage it according to the king's orders.	39 and sent with them forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into the land of Judah and destroy it, as the king had commanded.
40 Setting out with all their forces, they came and pitched their camp near Emmaus in the plain.	40 so they departed with their entire force, and when they arrived they encamped near Emmaus in the plain.
41 When the merchants of the country heard of their fame, they came to the camp, bringing fetters and a large sum of silver and gold, to buy the Israelites as slaves. A force from Idumea and from Philistia joined with them.	41 When the traders of the region heard what was said to them, they took silver and gold in immense amounts, and fetters, * and went to the camp to get the sons of Israel for slaves. And forces from Syria and the land of the Philistines joined with them.
42 Judas and his brothers saw that the situation had become critical now that armies were encamped within their territory; they knew of the orders which the king had given to destroy and utterly wipe out the people.	42 Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final destruction.
43 So they said to one another, "Let us restore our people from their ruined estate, and fight for our people and our sanctuary!"	43 But they said to one another, "Let us repair the destruction of our people, and fight for our people and the sanctuary."
44 The assembly gathered together to prepare for battle and to pray and implore mercy and compassion.	44 And the congregation assembled to be ready for battle, and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion.
45 Jerusalem was uninhabited, like a desert; not one of her children entered or came out. The sanctuary was trampled on, and foreigners were in the citadel; it was a habitation of Gentiles. Joy had disappeared from Jacob, and the flute and the harp were silent.	45 Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness; not one of her children went in or out. The sanctuary was trampled down, and the sons of aliens held the citadel; it was a lodging place for the Gentiles. Joy was taken from Jacob; the flute and the harp ceased to play.
46 Thus they assembled and went to Mizpah near Jerusalem, because there was formerly at Mizpah a place of prayer for Israel.	46 So they assembled and went to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mizpah.
47 That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes.	47 They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their heads, and rent their clothes.
48 They unrolled the scroll of the law, to learn about the things for which the Gentiles consulted the images of their idols.	48 And they opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about which the Gentiles were consulting the images of their idols.
49 They brought with them the priestly vestments, the first fruits, and the tithes; and they brought forward the nazirites who had completed the time of their vows.	49 They also brought the garments of the priesthood and the first fruits and the tithes, and they stirred up the Nazirites who had completed their days;
50 And they cried aloud to Heaven: "What shall we do with these men, and where shall we take them?	50 and they cried aloud to Heaven, saying, "What shall we do with these? Where shall we take them?
51 For your sanctuary has been trampled on and profaned, and your priests are in mourning and humiliation.	51 Thy sanctuary is trampled down and profaned, and thy priests mourn in humiliation.
52 Now the Gentiles are gathered together against us to destroy us. You know what they plot against us.	52 And behold, the Gentiles are assembled against us to destroy us; thou knowest what they plot against us.
53 How shall we be able to resist them unless you help us?"	53 How will we be able to withstand them, if thou dost not help us?"
54 Then they blew the trumpets and cried out loudly.	54 Then they sounded the trumpets and gave a loud shout.
55 After this Judas appointed officers among the people, over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, and over tens.	55 After this Judas appointed leaders of the people, in charge of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens.
56 He proclaimed that those who were building houses, or were just married, or were planting vineyards, and those who were afraid, could each return to his home, according to the law.	56 And he said to those who were building houses, or were betrothed, or were planting vineyards, or were fainthearted, that each should return to his home, according to the law.
57 Then the army moved off, and they camped to the south of Emmaus.	57 Then the army marched out and encamped to the south of Emmaus.
58 Judas said: "Arm yourselves and be brave; in the morning be ready to fight these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.	58 And Judas said, "Gird yourselves and be valiant. Be ready early in the morning to fight with these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.
59 It is better for us to die in battle than to witness the ruin of our nation and our sanctuary. Whatever Heaven wills, he will do."	59 It is better for us to die in battle than to see the misfortunes of our nation and of the sanctuary.
	60 But as his will in heaven may be, so he will do."