1 Maccabees 8

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to those who came to them,	1 Judas had heard of the reputation of the Romans. They were valiant fighters and acted amiably to all who took their side. They established a friendly alliance with all who applied to them.
2 and that they were very strong. Men told him of their wars and of the brave deeds which they were doing among the Gauls, how they had defeated them and forced them to pay tribute,	2 He was also told of their battles and the brave deeds that they had performed against the Gauls, conquering them and forcing them to pay tribute.
3 and what they had done in the land of Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there,	3 They had gotten possession of the silver and gold mines in Spain,
4 and how they had gained control of the whole region by their planning and patience, even though the place was far distant from them. They also subdued the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and inflicted great disaster upon them; the rest paid them tribute every year.	4 and by planning and persistence had conquered the whole country, although it was very remote from their own. They had crushed the kings who had come against them from the far corners of the earth and had inflicted on them severe defeat, and the rest paid tribute to them every year.
5 Philip, and Perseus king of the Macedonians, * and the others who rose up against them, they crushed in battle and conquered.	5 Philip and Perseus, king of the Macedonians, and the others who opposed them in battle had been overwhelmed and subjugated.
6 They also defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them;	6 Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who had fought against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very great army, had been defeated by them.
7 they took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign after him should pay a heavy tribute and give hostages and surrender some of their best provinces,	7 They had taken him alive and obliged him and the kings who succeeded him to pay a heavy tribute, to give hostages and a section of
8 the country of India and Media and Lydia. These they took from him and gave to Eumenes the king.	8 Lycia, Mysia, and Lydia from among their best provinces. The Romans took these from him and gave them to King Eumenes.
9 The Greeks planned to come and destroy them,	9 When the men of Greece had planned to come and destroy them,
10 but this became known to them, and they sent a general against the Greeks * and attacked them. Many of them were wounded and fell, and the Romans * took captive their wives and children; they plundered them, conquered the land, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them to this day.	10 the Romans discovered it, and sent against the Greeks a single general who made war on them. Many were wounded and fell, and the Romans took their wives and children captive. They plundered them, took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds and reduced them to slavery even to this day.
11 The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as ever opposed them, they destroyed and enslaved;	11 All the other kingdoms and islands that had ever opposed them they destroyed and enslaved;
12 but with their friends and those who rely on them they have kept friendship. They have subdued kings far and near, and as many as have heard of their fame have feared them.	12 with their friends, however, and those who relied on them, they maintained friendship. They had conquered kings both far and near, and all who heard of their fame were afraid of them.
13 Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings, and those whom they wish they depose; and they have been greatly exalted.	13 In truth, those whom they desired to help to a kingdom became kings, and those whom they wished to depose they deposed; and they were greatly exalted.
14 Yet for all this not one of them has put on a crown or worn purple as a mark of pride,	14 Yet with all this, none of them put on a crown or wore purple as a display of grandeur.
15 but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty senators constantly deliberate concerning the people, to govern them well.	15 They had made for themselves a senate house, and every day three hundred and twenty men took counsel, deliberating on all that concerned the people and their well-being.
16 They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their land; they all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.	16 They entrusted their government to one man every year, to rule over their entire country, and they all obeyed that one, and there was no envy or jealousy among them.
17 So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance,	17 So Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish an alliance of friendship with them.
18 and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was completely enslaving Israel.	18 He did this to get rid of the yoke, for it was obvious that the kingdom of the Greeks was subjecting Israel to slavery.
19 They went to Rome, a very long journey; and they entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows:	19 After making a very long journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate and spoke as follows:
20 "Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends."	20 "Judas, called Maccabeus, and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to make a peaceful alliance with you, and to enroll ourselves among your allies and friends."
21 The proposal pleased them,	21 The proposal pleased the Romans,
22 and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance:	22 and this is a copy of the reply they inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem, to remain there with the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:
23 "May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.	23 "May it be well with the Romans and the Jewish nation at sea and on land forever; may sword and enemy be far from them.
24 If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,	24 But if war is first made on Rome, or any of its allies in any of their dominions,
25 the nation of the Jews shall act as their allies wholeheartedly, as the occasion may indicate to them.	25 the Jewish nation will help them wholeheartedly, as the occasion shall demand;
26 And to the enemy who makes war they shall not give or supply grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep their obligations without receiving any return.	26 and to those who wage war they shall not give nor provide grain, arms, money, or ships; this is Rome's decision. They shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense.
27 In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may indicate to them.	27 In the same way, if war is made first on the Jewish nation, the Romans will help them willingly, as the occasion shall demand,
28 And to the enemy allies shall be given no grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep these obligations and do so without deceit.	28 and to those who are attacking them there shall not be given grain, arms, money, or ships; this is Rome's decision. They shall fulfill their obligations without deception.
29 Thus on these terms the Romans make a treaty with the Jewish people.	29 On these terms the Romans have made an agreement with the Jewish people.
30 If after these terms are in effect both parties shall determine to add or delete anything, they shall do so at their discretion, and any addition or deletion that they may make shall be valid.	30 But if both parties hereafter decide to add or take away anything, they shall do as they choose, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be valid.
31 "And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we have written to him as follows, 'Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?	31 "Moreover, concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius has done to them, we have written to him thus: 'Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?
32 If now they appeal again for help against you, we will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land.'"	32 If they complain about you again, we will do them justice and make war on you by land and sea.'"