2 Maccabees 2

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 'It is on record that the prophet Jeremiah ordered the deportees to take the fire, as we have described,	1 Now it is found in the descriptions of Jeremias the prophet, that he commanded them that went into captivity, to take the fire, as it hath been signified, and how he gave charge to them that were carried away into captivity.
2 and how, having given them the Law, the prophet warned the deportees never to forget the Lord'sprecepts, nor to let their thoughts be tempted by the sight of gold and silver statues or the finery adorning them.	2 And how he gave them the law that they should not forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, seeing the idols of gold, and silver, and the ornaments of them.
3 Among other similar admonitions, he urged them not to let the Law depart from their hearts.	3 And with other such like speeches, he exhorted them that they would not remove the law from their heart.
4 'The same document also describes how the prophet, warned by an oracle, gave orders for the tentand the ark to go with him, when he set out for the mountain which Moses had climbed to survey God's heritage.	4 It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain where Moses went up, and saw the inheritance of God.
5 On his arrival, Jeremiah found a cave-dwel ing, into which he put the tent, the ark and the altar ofincense, afterwards blocking up the entrance.	5 And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
6 Some of his companions went back later to mark out the path but were unable to find it.	6 Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: but they could not And it.
7 When Jeremiah learned this, he reproached them, "The place is to remain unknown", he said, "untilGod gathers his people together again and shows them his mercy.	7 And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: The place shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the people, and receive them to mercy.
8 Then the Lord wil bring these things once more to light, and the glory of the Lord will be seen, and sowil the cloud, as it was revealed in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the holy place might begloriously hal owed."	8 And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to Moses, and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God.
9 'It was also recorded how Solomon in his wisdom offered the sacrifice of the dedication and completionof the sanctuary.	9 For he treated wisdom in a magnificent manner: and like a wise man, he offered the sacrifice of the dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
10 As Moses had prayed to the Lord and fire had come down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice,so Solomon also prayed, and the fire from above consumed the burnt offerings.	10 And as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocaust: so Solomon also prayed, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust.
11 Moses had said, "Because the sacrifice for sin had not been eaten, it was burnt instead."	11 And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was consumed.
12 Solomon similarly observed the eight-day festival.	12 So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days.
13 'In addition to the above, it was also recorded, both in these writings and in the Memoirs of Nehemiah, how Nehemiah founded a library and made a col ection of the books dealing with the kings and the prophets, thewritings of David and the letters of the kings on the subject of offerings.	13 And these same things were set down in the memoirs and commentaries of Nehemias: and how he made a library, and gathered together out of the countries, the books both of the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings. and concerning the holy gifts.
14 Similarly, Judas made a complete col ection of the books dispersed in the late war, and these we stillhave.	14 And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things as were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession.
15 If you need any of them, send someone to fetch them.	15 Wherefore if you want these things, send some that may fetch them to you.
16 'Since we are about to celebrate the purification, we now write, requesting you to observe the samedays.	16 As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days.
17 God, who has saved his whole people, conferring heritage, kingdom, priesthood and sanctification onal of us,	17 And we hope that God who hath delivered his people, and hath rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,
18 as he has promised in the Law, will surely, as our hope is in him, be swift to show us mercy andgather us together from everywhere under heaven to the holy place, since he has rescued us from great evilsand has purified it.'	18 As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy place.
19 The story of Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, the purification of the great Temple, the dedicationof the altar,	19 For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed the place.
20 together with the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,	20 Now as concerning Judas Machabeus. and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication o the altar:
21 and the celestial manifestations that came to hearten the brave champions of Judaism, so that, fewthough they were, they pil aged the whole country, routed the barbarian hordes,	21 As also the wars against Antioch the Illustrious, and his son Eupator:
22 recovered the sanctuary renowned the whole world over, liberated the city and re-established the lawsby then all but abolished, the Lord showing his favour by al his gracious help to them-	22 And the manifestations that from heaven to them, that behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being but a few, they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to flight; the barbarous multitude :
23 al this, already related in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we shall attempt to condense into a singlework.	23 And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them.
24 Considering the spate of figures and the difficulty encountered, because of the mass of material, bythose who wish to immerse themselves in historical records,	24 And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.
25 we have aimed at providing diversion for those who merely want something to read, a saving of labourfor those who enjoy committing things to memory, and profit for each and al .	25 For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because of the multitude of the matter,
26 For us who have undertaken the drudgery of this abridgement, it has been no easy task but a matterof sweat and midnight oil,	26 We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive profit.
27 comparable to the exacting task of someone organising a banquet, whose aim is to satisfy a variety oftastes. Nevertheless, for the sake of rendering a general service, we remain glad to endure this drudgery,	27 And as to ourselves indeed, in undertaking this work of abridging, we have taken in hand no easy task, yea rather a business full of watching and sweat.
28 leaving accuracy of detail to the historian, and concentrating our effort on tracing the outlines in thiscondensed version.	28 But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour.
29 Just as the architect of a new house is responsible for the construction as a whole, while the manundertaking the ceramic painting has to take into consideration only the decorative requirements, so, I think, it iswith us.	29 Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, and as for ourselves, according to the plan proposed, studying to be brief.
30 To make the subject his own, to explore its by-ways, to be meticulous about details, is the business ofthe original historian,	30 For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged for us.
31 but the person making the adaptation must be al owed to aim at conciseness of expression and toforgo any exhaustive treatment of his subject.	31 For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of the author of a history:
32 So now let us begin our narrative, without adding any more to what has been said above; there wouldbe no sense in expanding the preface to the history and curtailing the history itself.	32 But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations of things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment.
	33 Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.