| 1 Malo zatim kraljev skrbnik i rođak Lizija, koji je bio na čelu državnih poslova, vrlo teško podnoseći posljednje događaje, | 1 Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of the government, being vexed at what had happened, |
| 2 skupi kojih osamdeset tisuća pješaka i svekoliko svoje konjaništvo te krenu na Židove, u nakani da grad učini grčkim naseljem | 2 gathered about eighty thousand men and all his cavalry and came against the Jews. He intended to make the city a home for Greeks, |
| 3 i da Hram, poput svetišta poganskih naroda, podloži porezu i svake godine prodaje svećeničku čast. | 3 and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the other nations, and to put up the high priesthood for sale every year. |
| 4 Nije nimalo mislio na Božju moć: zanijelo ga mnoštvo njegovih pješaka i tisuće konjanika te osamdeset njegovih slonova. | 4 He took no account whatever of the power of God, but was elated with his ten thousands of infantry, and his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants. |
| 5 Upade u Judeju i približi se Betsuru, utvrđenu mjestu, udaljenu kojih pet stadija od Jeruzalema, te ga ljuto pritisnu. | 5 Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five leagues from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard. |
| 6 Kad Makabej i njegovi doznaše da Lizija opsjeda tvrđave, počeše plakati i liti suze, moleći Gospodina da Izraelu pošalje dobroga anđela da ga spasi. | 6 When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, besought the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. |
| 7 Nato Makabej prvi pograbi oružje i potače druge da se zajedno s njim izlože pogibli i pomognu svojoj braći. Puni žara, srnuše zajedno. | 7 Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they eagerly rushed off together. |
| 8 Dok su se još nalazili blizu Jeruzalema, ukaza im se na čelu konjanik u bijelim haljinama koji je vitlao zlatnim oružjem. | 8 And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold. |
| 9 Tada se svi zajedno zahvališe milosrdnom Bogu i toliko se ohrabriše da su bili spremni probosti ne samo ljude nego i najdivljije zvijeri i probiti željezne zidove. | 9 And they all together praised the merciful God, and were strengthened in heart, ready to assail not only men but the wildest beasts or walls of iron. |
| 10 Kretali su naprijed u bojnom redu sa suborcem koji im je milošću Gospodnjom stigao s neba. | 10 They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord had mercy on them. |
| 11 Zagnaše se na neprijatelje kao lavovi, oboriše jedanaest tisuća pješaka i tisuću i šest stotina konjanika, a ostale natjeraše u bijeg. | 11 They hurled themselves like lions against the enemy, and slew eleven thousand of them and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee. |
| 12 Većina se spasila, ali ranjeni i razoružani. Sam se Lizija spasio sramotnim bijegom. | 12 Most of them got away stripped and wounded, and Lysias himself escaped by disgraceful flight. |
| 13 Lizija nije bio nerazuman; razmišljao je o porazu koji je pretrpio i uvidio je da su Hebreji nepobjedivi jer im je suborac svesilni Bog. | 13 And as he was not without intelligence, he pondered over the defeat which had befallen him, and realized that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought on their side. So he sent to them |
| 14 Zato im poruči da pod svim pravednim uvjetima pristanu na mir, a on će kralja sklonuti da im postane prijatelj. | 14 and persuaded them to settle everything on just terms, promising that he would persuade the king, constraining him to be their friend. |
| 15 Makabej pristade na sve što je Lizija predlagao, jer mu bijaše stalo do općeg dobra. A sam kralj odobri sve što je Makabej preko Lizije za Židove pismeno zatražio. | 15 Maccabeus, having regard for the common good, agreed to all that Lysias urged. For the king granted every request in behalf of the Jews which Maccabeus delivered to Lysias in writing. |
| 16 Pismo što ga je Lizija pisao Židovima glasilo je ovako: »Lizija pozdravlja židovski narod! | 16 The letter written to the Jews by Lysias was to this effect: "Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. |
| 17 Vaši poslanici Ivan i Apsalom predali su mi niže prepisanu ispravu, preporučujući njezin sadržaj. | 17 John and Absalom, who were sent by you, have delivered your signed communication and have asked about the matters indicated therein. |
| 18 Ja sam nato izvijestio kralja o onom s čime ga je trebalo upoznati, i on je odobrio sve što je bilo prihvatljivo. | 18 I have informed the king of everything that needed to be brought before him, and he has agreed to what was possible. |
| 19 Ako se, dakle, budete i dalje blagonaklono odnosili prema državnim probicima, ja ću ubuduće nastojati da poradim za vaše dobro. | 19 If you will maintain your good will toward the government, I will endeavor for the future to help promote your welfare. |
| 20 Ujedno sam vašim i svojim izaslanicima naložio da s vama rasprave o pojedinostima. | 20 And concerning these matters and their details, I have ordered these men and my representatives to confer with you. |
| 21 Da ste zdravo! Godine sto četrdeset i osme, dvadeset i četvrtoga dioskora.« | 21 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Dioscorinthius twenty-fourth." |
| 22 Kraljevo je pismo glasilo ovako: »Kralj Antioh pozdravlja brata Liziju. | 22 The king's letter ran thus: "King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. |
| 23 Naš se otac preselio k bogovima, a mi želimo da nam se u kraljevstvu svatko nesmetano bavi svojim poslovima. | 23 Now that our father has gone on to the gods, we desire that the subjects of the kingdom be undisturbed in caring for their own affairs. |
| 24 Čuli smo da Židovi ne prihvaćaju helenskih običaja moga oca, nego vole svoj poseban način života i traže da im se dopusti da se ravnaju po posebnim zakonima. | 24 We have heard that the Jews do not consent to our father's change to Greek customs but prefer their own way of living and ask that their own customs be allowed them. |
| 25 Želeći, dakle, da i taj narod bude nesmetan, odlučujemo da im se vrati Hram, tako da mogu slobodno živjeti po običajima svojih predaka. | 25 Accordingly, since we choose that this nation also be free from disturbance, our decision is that their temple be restored to them and that they live according to the customs of their ancestors. |
| 26 Zato će biti dobro da im pošalješ poslanike koji će s njima sklopiti ugovor, pa da se, znajući za našu odluku, raspoloženi i radosni late svojih poslova.« | 26 You will do well, therefore, to send word to them and give them pledges of friendship, so that they may know our policy and be of good cheer and go on happily in the conduct of their own affairs." |
| 27 Kraljevo pismo židovskom narodu glasilo je ovako: »Kralj Antioh pozdravlja židovsko starješinstvo i ostale Židove. | 27 To the nation the king's letter was as follows: "King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting. |
| 28 Nadamo se da ste dobro, kako vam i želimo. I mi smo zdravi. | 28 If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health. |
| 29 Menelaj nam je saopćio da se želite vratiti svojim domovima. | 29 Menelaus has informed us that you wish to return home and look after your own affairs. |
| 30 Svima onima koji se kućama vrate do tridesetog ksantika bit će zajamčena nekažnjivost. | 30 Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission |
| 31 Židovi će se služiti svojom posebnom hranom i zakonima kao i prije. Neka se nikome od njih više nikako ne dosađuje zbog pogrešaka učinjenih iz neznanja. | 31 for the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly, and none of them shall be molested in any way for what he may have done in ignorance. |
| 32 Ujedno vam šaljem Menelaja da vas umiri. | 32 And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you. |
| 33 Da ste zdravo! Godine sto četrdeset i osme, petnaestog ksantika.« | 33 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." |
| 34 A i Rimljani su Židovima poslali pismo, koje glasi ovako: »Kvint Memije, Tit Manilije i Manije Sergije, rimski poslanici, pozdravljaju židovski narod. | 34 The Romans also sent them a letter, which read thus: "Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, envoys of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting. |
| 35 Mi pristajemo na ono što vam je dopustio kraljev rođak Lizija. | 35 With regard to what Lysias the kinsman of the king has granted you, we also give consent. |
| 36 O onome pak što je on smatrao da treba predložiti kralju na potvrdu – odmah dobro razmislite i pošaljite nam smjesta nekoga da bismo to mogli izložiti onako kako odgovara, jer putujemo u Antiohiju. | 36 But as to the matters which he decided are to be referred to the king, as soon as you have considered them, send some one promptly, so that we may make proposals appropriate for you. For we are on our way to Antioch. |
| 37 Zato se požurite i pošaljite ljude da i mi doznamo vaše mišljenje. | 37 Therefore make haste and send some men, so that we may have your judgment. |
| 38 Da ste zdravo! Godine sto četrdeset i osme, petnaestog dana mjeseca dioskora.« | 38 Farewell. The one hundred and forty-eighth year, Xanthicus fifteenth." |
