2 Maccabees 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 At about the same time, Antiochus was beating a disorderly retreat from Persia.	1 About that time Antiochus retreated in disgrace from the region of Persia.
2 He had entered the city cal ed Persepolis, planning to rob the temple and occupy the city; but thepopulation at once sprang to arms to defend themselves, with the result that Antiochus was routed by theinhabitants and forced to beat a humiliating retreat.	2 He had entered the city called Persepolis and attempted to rob the temple and gain control of the city. Thereupon the people had swift recourse to arms, and Antiochus' men were routed, so that in the end Antiochus was put to flight by the natives and forced to beat a shameful retreat.
3 On his arrival in Ecbatana he learned what had happened to Nicanor and to Timotheus' forces.	3 On his arrival in Ecbatana, he learned what had happened to Nicanor and to Timothy's forces.
4 Flying into a passion, he resolved to make the Jews pay for the disgrace inflicted by those who hadrouted him, and with this in mind he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping and get the journey over.But the sentence of Heaven was already hanging over him. In his pride, he had said, 'When I reach Jerusalem, Ishall turn it into a mass grave for the Jews.'	4 Overcome with anger, he planned to make the Jews suffer for the injury done by those who had put him to flight. Therefore he ordered his charioteer to drive without stopping until he finished the journey. Yet the condemnation of Heaven rode with him, since he said in his arrogance, "I will make Jerusalem the common graveyard of the Jews as soon as I arrive there."
5 But the al -seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and unseen complaint. Thewords were hardly out of his mouth when he was seized with an incurable pain in his bowels and withexcruciating internal torture;	5 So the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him down with an unseen but incurable blow; for scarcely had he uttered those words when he was seized with excruciating pains in his bowels and sharp internal torment,
6 and this was only right, since he had inflicted many barbaric tortures on the bowels of others.	6 a fit punishment for him who had tortured the bowels of others with many barbarous torments.
7 Even so, he in no way diminished his arrogance; stil bursting with pride, breathing fire in his wrathagainst the Jews, he was in the act of ordering an even keener pace when the chariot gave a sudden lurch andout he fel and, in this serious fal , was dragged along, every joint of his body wrenched out of place.	7 Far from giving up his insolence, he was all the more filled with arrogance. Breathing fire in his rage against the Jews, he gave orders to drive even faster. As a result he hurtled from the dashing chariot, and every part of his body was racked by the violent fall.
8 He who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman boastfulness he could command thewaves of the sea, he who had imagined he could weigh mountain peaks in a balance, found himself flat on theground and then being carried in a litter, a visible demonstration to al of the power of God,	8 Thus he who previously, in his superhuman presumption, thought he could command the waves of the sea, and imagined he could weigh the mountaintops in his scales, was now thrown to the ground and had to be carried on a litter, clearly manifesting to all the power of God.
9 in that the very eyes of this godless man teemed with worms and his flesh rotted away while helingered on in agonising pain, and the stench of his decay sickened the whole army.	9 The body of this impious man swarmed with worms, and while he was still alive in hideous torments, his flesh rotted off, so that the entire army was sickened by the stench of his corruption.
10 A short while before, he had thought to grasp the stars of heaven; now no one could bring himself toact as his bearer, for the stench was intolerable.	10 Shortly before, he had thought that he could reach the stars of heaven, and now, no one could endure to transport the man because of this intolerable stench.
11 Then and there, as a consequence, in his shattered state, he began to shed his excessive pride andcome to his senses under the divine lash, spasms of pain overtaking him.	11 At last, broken in spirit, he began to give up his excessive arrogance, and to gain some understanding, under the scourge of God, for he was racked with pain unceasingly.
12 His stench being unbearable even to himself, he exclaimed, 'It is right to submit to God; no mortalshould aspire to equality with the Godhead.'	12 When he could no longer bear his own stench, he said, "It is right to be subject to God, and not to think one's mortal self divine."
13 The wretch began to pray to the Master, who would never take pity on him now, declaring	13 Then this vile man vowed to the Lord, who would no longer have mercy on him,
14 that the holy city, towards which he had been speeding to rase it to the ground and turn it into a massgrave, should be declared free;	14 that he would set free the holy city, toward which he had been hurrying with the intention of leveling it to the ground and making it a common graveyard;
15 as for the Jews, whom he had considered as not even worth burying, so much carrion to be thrownout with their children for birds and beasts to prey on, he would give them al equal rights with the Athenians;	15 he would put on perfect equality with the Athenians all the Jews, whom he had judged not even worthy of burial, but fit only to be thrown out with their children to be eaten by vultures and wild animals;
16 the holy Temple which he had once plundered he would now adorn with the finest offerings; he wouldrestore al the sacred vessels many times over; he would defray from his personal revenue the expensesincurred for the sacrifices;	16 he would adorn with the finest offerings the holy temple which he had previously despoiled; he would restore all the sacred vessels many times over; and would provide from his own revenues the expenses required for the sacrifices.
17 and, to crown al , he would himself turn Jew and visit every inhabited place, proclaiming the power ofGod.	17 Besides all this, he would become a Jew himself and visit every inhabited place to proclaim there the power of God.
18 Finding no respite at al from his suffering, God's just sentence having overtaken him, he abandonedal hope for himself and wrote the Jews the letter transcribed below, which takes the form of an appeal in theseterms:	18 But since God's punishment had justly come upon him, his sufferings were not lessened, so he lost hope for himself and wrote the following letter to the Jews in the form of a supplication. It read thus: Death of Antiochus
19 'To the excel ent Jews, to the citizens, Antiochus, king and commander-in-chief, sends heartygreetings, wishing them al health and prosperity.	19 "To my esteemed Jewish citizens, Antiochus, their king and general, sends hearty greetings and best wishes for their health and happiness.
20 'If you and your children are wel and your affairs as you would wish, we are profoundly thankful.	20 If you and your children are well and your affairs are going as you wish, I thank God very much, for my hopes are in heaven.
21 For my part, I cherish affectionate memories of you. 'On my return from the country of Persia I felseriously il , and thought it necessary to make provision for the common security of al .	21 Now that I am ill, I recall with affection the esteem and good will you bear me. On returning from the regions of Persia, I fell victim to a troublesome illness; so I thought it necessary to form plans for the general welfare of all.
22 Not that I despair of my condition, for I have great hope of shaking off the malady,	22 Actually, I do not despair about my health, since I have great hopes of recovering from my illness.
23 but considering how my father, whenever he was making an expedition into the uplands, woulddesignate his successor	23 Nevertheless, I know that my father, whenever he went on campaigns in the hinterland, would name his successor,
24 so that, in case of any unforeseen event or disquieting rumour, the people of the provinces mightknow to whom he had left the conduct of affairs, and thus remain undisturbed;	24 so that, if anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the people throughout the realm would know to whom the government had been entrusted, and so not be disturbed.
25 furthermore, being wel aware that the sovereigns on our frontiers and the neighbours of our realm arewatching for opportunities and waiting to see what wil happen, I have designated as king my son Antiochus,whom I have more than once entrusted and commended to most of you when I was setting out for the uplandsatrapies; a transcript of my letter to him is appended hereto.	25 I am also bearing in mind that the neighboring rulers, especially those on the borders of our kingdom, are on the watch for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. I have therefore appointed as king my son Antiochus, whom I have often before entrusted and commended to most of you, when I made hurried visits to the outlying provinces. I have written to him the letter copied below.
26 I therefore urge and require you, being mindful of the benefits both public and personal received fromme, that you each persist in those sentiments of goodwil that you harbour towards me.	26 Therefore I beg and entreat each of you to remember the general and individual benefits you have received, and to continue to show good will toward me and my son.
27 I am confident that he wil pursue my own policy with benevolence and humanity, and wil proveaccommodating to your interests.'	27 I am confident that, following my policy, he will treat you with mildness and kindness in his relations with you."
28 And so this murderer and blasphemer, having endured sufferings as terrible as those which he hadmade others endure, met his pitiable fate, and ended his life in the mountains far from his home.	28 So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land.
29 His comrade Philip brought back his body, and then, fearing Antiochus' son, withdrew to Egypt, to thecourt of Ptolemy Philometor.	29 His foster brother Philip brought the body home; but fearing Antiochus' son, he later withdrew into Egypt, to Ptolemy Philometor.