1 Maccabees 13

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had gathered together a great host to invade the land of Judea, and destroy it,	1 When Simon heard that Trypho was gathering a large army to invade and ravage the land of Judah,
2 And saw that the people was in great trembling and fear, he went up to Jerusalem, and gathered the people together,	2 and saw that the people were in dread and terror, he went up to Jerusalem. There he assembled the people
3 And gave them exhortation, saying, Ye yourselves know what great things I, and my brethren, and my father's house, have done for the laws and the sanctuary, the battles also and troubles which we have seen.	3 and exhorted them in these words: "You know what I, my brothers, and my father's house have done for the laws and the sanctuary; what battles and disasters we have been through.
4 By reason whereof all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, and I am left alone.	4 It was for the sake of these, for the sake of Israel, that all my brothers have perished, and I alone am left.
5 Now therefore be it far from me, that I should spare mine own life in any time of trouble: for I am no better than my brethren.	5 Far be it from me, then, to save my own life in any time of distress, for I am not better than my brothers.
6 Doubtless I will avenge my nation, and the sanctuary, and our wives, and our children: for all the heathen are gathered to destroy us of very malice.	6 Rather will I avenge my nation and the sanctuary, as well as your wives and children, for all the nations out of hatred have united to destroy us."
7 Now as soon as the people heard these words, their spirit revived.	7 As the people heard these words, their spirit was rekindled.
8 And they answered with a loud voice, saying, Thou shalt be our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan thy brother.	8 They shouted in reply: "You are our leader in place of your brothers Judas and Jonathan.
9 Fight thou our battles, and whatsoever, thou commandest us, that will we do.	9 Fight our battles, and we will do everything that you tell us."
10 So then he gathered together all the men of war, and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about.	10 So Simon mustered all the men able to fight, and quickly completing the walls of Jerusalem, fortified it on every side.
11 Also he sent Jonathan the son of Absolom, and with him a great power, to Joppa: who casting out them that were therein remained there in it.	11 He sent Jonathan, son of Absalom, to Joppa with a large force; Jonathan drove out the occupants and remained there.
12 So Tryphon removed from Ptolemaus with a great power to invade the land of Judea, and Jonathan was with him in ward.	12 Then Trypho moved from Ptolemais with a large army to invade the land of Judah, bringing Jonathan with him as a prisoner.
13 But Simon pitched his tents at Adida, over against the plain.	13 But Simon pitched his camp at Adida, facing the plain.
14 Now when Tryphon knew that Simon was risen up instead of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, he sent messengers unto him, saying,	14 When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan, and that he intended to fight him, he sent envoys to him with this message:
15 Whereas we have Jonathan thy brother in hold, it is for money that he is owing unto the king's treasure, concerning the business that was committed unto him.	15 "We have detained your brother Jonathan on account of the money that he owed the royal treasury in connection with the offices that he held.
16 Wherefore now send an hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons for hostages, that when he is at liberty he may not revolt from us, and we will let him go.	16 Therefore, if you send us a hundred talents of silver, and two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that when he is set free he will not revolt against us, we will release him."
17 Hereupon Simon, albeit he perceived that they spake deceitfully unto him yet sent he the money and the children, lest peradventure he should procure to himself great hatred of the people:	17 Although Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him, he gave orders to get the money and the boys, for fear of provoking much hostility among the people, who might say
18 Who might have said, Because I sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Jonathan dead.	18 that Jonathan perished because Simon would not send Trypho the money and the boys.
19 So he sent them the children and the hundred talents: howbeit Tryphon dissembled neither would he let Jonathan go.	19 So he sent the boys and the hundred talents; but Trypho broke his promise and would not let Jonathan go.
20 And after this came Tryphon to invade the land, and destroy it, going round about by the way that leadeth unto Adora: but Simon and his host marched against him in every place, wheresoever he went.	20 Next he began to invade and ravage the country. His troops went around by the road that leads to Adora, but Simon and his army moved along opposite him everywhere he went.
21 Now they that were in the tower sent messengers unto Tryphon, to the end that he should hasten his coming unto them by the wilderness, and send them victuals.	21 The men in the citadel sent messengers to Trypho, urging him to come to them by way of the desert, and to send them provisions.
22 Wherefore Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night: but there fell a very great snow, by reason whereof he came not. So he departed, and came into the country of Galaad.	22 Although Trypho got all his cavalry ready to go, there was a heavy fall of snow that night, and he could not go. So he left for Gilead.
23 And when he came near to Bascama he slew Jonathan, who was buried there.	23 When he was approaching Baskama, he had Jonathan killed and buried there.
24 Afterward Tryphon returned and went into his own land.	24 Then Trypho returned to his own country.
25 Then sent Simon, and took the bones of Jonathan his brother, and buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers.	25 Simon sent for the remains of his brother Jonathan, and buried him in Modein, the city of his fathers.
26 And all Israel made great lamentation for him, and bewailed him many days.	26 All Israel bewailed him with solemn lamentation, mourning over him for many days.
27 Simon also built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, and raised it aloft to the sight, with hewn stone behind and before.	27 Then Simon erected over the tomb of his father and his brothers a monument of stones, polished front and back, and raised high enough to be seen at a distance.
28 Moreover he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his father, and his mother, and his four brethren.	28 He set up seven pyramids facing one another for his father and his mother and his four brothers.
29 And in these he made cunning devices, about the which he set great pillars, and upon the pillars he made all their armour for a perpetual memory, and by the armour ships carved, that they might be seen of all that sail on the sea.	29 For the pyramids he devised a setting of big columns, on which he carved suits of armor as a perpetual memorial, and next to the armor he placed carved ships, which could be seen by all who sailed the sea.
30 This is the sepulchre which he made at Modin, and it standeth yet unto this day.	30 This tomb which he built at Modein is there to the present day.
31 Now Tryphon dealt deceitfully with the young king Antiochus, and slew him.	31 Trypho dealt treacherously with the young King Antiochus. He killed him
32 And he reigned in his stead, and crowned himself king of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land.	32 and assumed the kingship in his place, putting on the crown of Asia. Thus he brought much evil on the land.
33 Then Simon built up the strong holds in Judea, and fenced them about with high towers, and great walls, and gates, and bars, and laid up victuals therein.	33 Simon, on his part, built up the strongholds of Judea, strengthening their fortifications with high towers, thick walls, and gates with bars, and he stored up provisions in the fortresses.
34 Moreover Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end he should give the land an immunity, because all that Tryphon did was to spoil.	34 Simon also sent chosen men to King Demetrius with the request that he grant the land a release from taxation, for all that Trypho did was to plunder the land.
35 Unto whom king Demetrius answered and wrote after this manner:	35 In reply, King Demetrius sent him the following letter:
36 King Demetrius unto Simon the high priest, and friend of kings, as also unto the elders and nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting:	36 "King Demetrius sends greetings to Simon the high priest, the friend of kings, and to the elders and the Jewish people.
37 The golden crown, and the scarlet robe, which ye sent unto us, we have received: and we are ready to make a stedfast peace with you, yea, and to write unto our officers, to confirm the immunities which we have granted.	37 We have received the gold crown and the palm branch that you sent. We are willing to be on most peaceful terms with you and to write to our official to grant you release from tribute.
38 And whatsoever covenants we have made with you shall stand; and the strong holds, which ye have builded, shall be your own.	38 Whatever we have guaranteed to you remains in force, and the strongholds that you have built shall remain yours.
39 As for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax also, which ye owe us: and if there were any other tribute paid in Jerusalem, it shall no more be paid.	39 We remit any oversights and defaults incurred up to now, as well as the crown tax that you owe. Any other tax that may have been collected in Jerusalem shall no longer be collected there.
40 And look who are meet among you to be in our court, let then be enrolled, and let there be peace betwixt us.	40 If any of you are qualified for enrollment in our service, let them be enrolled. Let there be peace between us."
41 Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken away from Israel in the hundred and seventieth year.	41 Thus in the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel,
42 Then the people of Israel began to write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews.	42 and the people began to write in their records and contracts, "In the first year of Simon, high priest, governor, and leader of the Jews."
43 In those days Simon camped against Gaza and besieged it round about; he made also an engine of war, and set it by the city, and battered a certain tower, and took it.	43 In those days Simon besieged Gazara and surrounded it with troops. He made a siege machine, pushed it up against the city, and attacked and captured one of the towers.
44 And they that were in the engine leaped into the city; whereupon there was a great uproar in the city:	44 The men who had been on the siege machine jumped down into the city and caused a great tumult there.
45 Insomuch as the people of the city rent their clothes, and climbed upon the walls with their wives and children, and cried with a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace.	45 The men of the city, joined by their wives and children, went up on the wall, with their garments rent, and cried out in loud voices, begging Simon to grant them peace.
46 And they said, Deal not with us according to our wickedness, but according to thy mercy.	46 "Do not treat us according to our evil deeds," they said, "but according to your mercy."
47 So Simon was appeased toward them, and fought no more against them, but put them out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein the idols were, and so entered into it with songs and thanksgiving.	47 So Simon came to terms with them and did not destroy them. He made them leave the city, however, and he purified the houses in which there were idols. Then he entered the city with hymns and songs of praise.
48 Yea, he put all uncleanness out of it, and placed such men there as would keep the law, and made it stronger than it was before, and built therein a dwellingplace for himself.	48 After removing from it everything that was impure, he settled there men who observed the law. He improved its fortifications and built himself a residence.
49 They also of the tower in Jerusalem were kept so strait, that they could neither come forth, nor go into the country, nor buy, nor sell: wherefore they were in great distress for want of victuals, and a great number of them perished through famine.	49 The men in the citadel in Jerusalem were prevented from going out into the country and back for the purchase of food; they suffered greatly from hunger, and many of them died of starvation.
50 Then cried they to Simon, beseeching him to be at one with them: which thing he granted them; and when he had put them out from thence, he cleansed the tower from pollutions:	50 They finally cried out to Simon for peace, and he gave them peace. He expelled them from the citadel and cleansed it of impurities.
51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.	51 On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, the Jews entered the citadel with shouts of jubilation, waving of palm branches, the music of harps and cymbals and lyres, and the singing of hymns and canticles, because a great enemy of Israel had been destroyed.
52 He ordained also that that day should be kept every year with gladness. Moreover the hill of the temple that was by the tower he made stronger than it was, and there he dwelt himself with his company.	52 Simon decreed that this day should be celebrated every year with rejoicing. He also strengthened the fortifications of the temple hill alongside the citadel, and he and his companions dwelt there.
53 And when Simon saw that John his son was a valiant man, he made him captain of all the hosts; and he dwelt in Gazera.	53 Seeing that his son John was now a grown man, Simon made him commander of all his soldiers, with his residence in Gazara.