2 Maccabees 2

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 One finds in the records that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been told,	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 that the prophet after giving them the law instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, nor to be led astray in their thoughts upon seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment.	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 And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not 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 It was also in the writing that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God.	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 And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed 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 those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not 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 of it, he rebuked them and declared: "The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows 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 And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated."	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 made clear that being possessed of wisdom Solomon offered sacrifice for the dedication and completion of the temple.	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 Just as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and devoured the sacrifices, so also Solomon prayed, and the fire came down and consumed the whole 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 And Moses said, "They were consumed because the sin offering had not been eaten."	11 And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was consumed.
12 Likewise Solomon also kept the eight days.	12 So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days.
13 The same things are reported in the records and in the memoirs of Nehemiah, and also that he founded a library and collected the books about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of kings about votive 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 In the same way Judas also collected all the books that had been lost on account of the war which had come upon us, and they are in our possession.	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 So if you have need of them, send people to get them for you.	15 Wherefore if you want these things, send some that may fetch them to you.
16 Since, therefore, we are about to celebrate the purification, we write to you. Will you therefore please keep the days?	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 It is God who has saved all his people, and has returned the inheritance to all, and the kingship and priesthood and consecration,	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 promised through the law. For we have hope in God that he will soon have mercy upon us and will gather us from everywhere under heaven into his holy place, for he has rescued us from great evils and has purified the place.	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 Maccabeus and his brothers, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,	19 For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed the place.
20 and further 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 appearances which came from heaven to those who strove zealously on behalf of Judaism, so that though few in number they seized the whole land and pursued the barbarian hordes,	21 As also the wars against Antioch the Illustrious, and his son Eupator:
22 and recovered the temple famous throughout the world and freed the city and restored the laws that were about to be abolished, while the Lord with great kindness became gracious 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 all this, which has been set forth by Jason of Cyrene in five volumes, we shall attempt to condense into a single book.	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 For considering the flood of numbers involved and the difficulty there is for those who wish to enter upon the narratives of history because of the mass of material,	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 to please those who wish to read, to make it easy for those who are inclined to memorize, and to profit all readers.	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 toil of abbreviating, it is no light matter but calls for sweat and loss of sleep,	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 just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the benefit of others. However, to secure the gratitude of many we will gladly endure the uncomfortable toil,	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 the responsibility for exact details to the compiler, while devoting our effort to arriving at the outlines of the condensation.	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 For as the master builder of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction, while the one who undertakes its painting and decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its adornment, such in my judgment is the case with 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 It is the duty of the original historian to occupy the ground and to discuss matters from every side and to take trouble with details,	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 one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment.	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 At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, adding only so much to what has already been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short 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.