1 Maccabees 4

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this division moved out by night	1 Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this detachment set out at night
2 to fall upon the camp of the Jews and attack them suddenly. Men from the citadel 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 But Judas heard of it, and he and his mighty men moved out to attack the king's force in Emmaus	3 Judas heard of it, and himself set out with his soldiers to attack the king's army at Emmaus,
4 while the division was still absent from the camp.	4 while the latter's forces were still scattered away from the camp.
5 When Gorgias entered the camp of Judas by night, he found no one there, so he looked for them in the hills, because he said, "These men are fleeing 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 At daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, but they did not have armor and swords such as they desired.	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 Gentiles, strong and fortified, with cavalry round about it; and these men were trained in war.	7 They saw the army of the Gentiles, strong and breastplated, flanked with cavalry, and made up of expert soldiers.
8 But Judas said to the men who were with him, "Do not fear their numbers or be afraid when they charge.	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 saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh with his forces pursued them.	9 Remember how our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.
10 And now let us cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and remember his covenant with our fathers and crush this army before us today.	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 Then all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves Israel."	11 All the Gentiles shall know that there is One who redeems and delivers Israel."
12 When the foreigners looked up and saw them coming against them,	12 When the foreigners looked up and saw them marching toward them,
13 they went forth from their camp to battle. Then the men with Judas blew their trumpets	13 they came out of their camp for battle, and the men with Judas blew the trumpet.
14 and engaged in battle. The Gentiles were crushed and fled into the plain,	14 The battle was joined and the Gentiles were defeated and fled toward the plain.
15 and all those in the rear fell by the sword. They pursued them to Gazara, and to the plains of Idumea, and to Azotus and Jamnia; and three thousand of them fell.	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 Then Judas and his force turned back from pursuing them,	16 When Judas and the army returned from the pursuit,
17 and he said to the people, "Do not be greedy for plunder, for 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 Gorgias and his force are near us in the hills. But stand now against our enemies and fight them, and afterward seize the plunder boldly."	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 Just as Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, coming out of the hills.	19 As Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, looking down from the mountain.
20 They saw that their army * had been put to flight, and that the Jews * were burning the camp, for the smoke that was seen showed what had happened.	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 they perceived this they were greatly frightened, and when they also saw the army of Judas drawn up in the plain for battle,	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 all fled into the land of the Philistines.	22 they all fled to Philistine territory.
23 Then Judas returned to plunder the camp, and they seized much gold and silver, and cloth dyed blue and sea purple, 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 On their return they sang hymns and praises to Heaven, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever.	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 Those of the foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lysias all that had happened.	26 But those of the foreigners who had escaped went and told Lysias all that had occurred.
27 When he heard it, he was perplexed and discouraged, for things had not happened to Israel as he had intended, nor had they turned out as the king had commanded him.	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 But the next year he mustered sixty thousand picked infantrymen and five thousand cavalry to subdue them.	28 So the following year he gathered together sixty thousand picked men and five thousand cavalry, to subdue them.
29 They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur, 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 When he saw that the army was strong, he prayed, saying, "Blessed art thou, O Savior of Israel, who didst crush the attack of the mighty warrior by the hand of thy servant David, and didst give the camp of the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and of the man who carried his armor.	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 So do thou hem in this army by the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be ashamed of their troops and their cavalry.	31 Give this army into the hands of your people Israel; make them ashamed of their troops and their cavalry.
32 Fill them with cowardice; melt the boldness of their strength; let them tremble in their destruction.	32 Strike them with fear, weaken the boldness of their strength, and let them tremble at their own destruction.
33 Strike them down with the sword of those who love thee, and let all who know thy name praise thee with hymns."	33 Strike them down by the sword of those who love you, that all who know your name may hymn your praise."
34 Then both sides attacked, and there fell of the army of Lysias five thousand men; they fell in action. *	34 Then they engaged in battle, and about five thousand of Lysias' men fell in hand-to-hand fighting.
35 And when Lysias saw the rout of his troops and observed the boldness which inspired those of Judas, and how ready they were either to live or to die nobly, he departed to Antioch and enlisted mercenaries, to invade Judea again with an even larger army.	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 brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it."	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 So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion.	37 So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
38 And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins.	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 Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and sprinkled themselves with ashes.	39 Then they tore their clothes and made great lamentation; they sprinkled their heads with ashes
40 They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to 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 detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary.	41 Judas appointed men to attack those in the citadel, while he purified the sanctuary.
42 He chose blameless priests devoted to the law,	42 He chose blameless priests, devoted to the law;
43 and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place.	43 these purified the sanctuary and carried away the stones of the Abomination to an unclean place.
44 They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned.	44 They deliberated what ought to be done with the altar of holocausts that had been desecrated.
45 And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar,	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 stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do 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 unhewn * stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one.	47 Then they took uncut stones, according to the law, and built a new altar like the former one.
48 They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts.	48 They also repaired the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and purified the courts.
49 They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.	49 They made new sacred vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.
50 Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave 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 They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.	51 They also put loaves on the table and hung up curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.
52 Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, *	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 they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built.	53 they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of holocausts that they had made.
54 At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes 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 All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.	55 All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.
56 So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a 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 decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors.	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 There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.	58 There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
59 Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.	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 they fortified Mount Zion with high walls and strong towers round about, to keep the Gentiles from coming and trampling them 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 he stationed a garrison there to hold it. He also * fortified Beth-zur, so that the people might have a stronghold that faced 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.