2 Maccabees

Books of the Maccabees

Two books written a century before the birth of Jesus, 1 and 2 Maccabees, tell the inspiring story of the Jewish people fighting for the right to worship God. Written during the time between the Old and New Testaments, these books are from a collection call the Apocrypha (meaning "hidden" books). They are not considered part of the Hebrew or Protestant Bibles.

Both books tell about the war that erupted in Israel afar Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East. After Alexander's death in 232 B.C., the Syrian empire grew very powerful, invaded Israel, and began pressuring the Jews to give up their religion and start worshipping Greek gods.

For years most Jews refused. But in 175 B.C. a new Syrian king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, decided to force the Jews to obey. He killed 40,000 Jews, enslaved 40,000 others, turned the Jewish Temple into a temple for the Greek god Zeus, and ordered Jews to offer sacrifices to the Greek deities. In retaliation, one man and his five sons, who were nicknamed the Maccabees (meaning "the hammerers"), overthrew the Syrians and ruled Israel themselves until the Romans took over 100 years later.

chapter 1

1:1 The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace:
1:2 God be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;
1:3 And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind;
1:4 And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you peace,1:5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
1:6 And now we be here praying for you.
1:7 What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,
1:8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
1:9 And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu.
1:10 In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus' master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:
1:11 Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.
1:12 For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.
1:13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea's priests.
1:14 For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a dowry.
1:15 Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered with a small company into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:
1:16 And opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without.
1:17 Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the ungodly.
1:18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep it, as the feast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the temple and the altar.
1:19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
1:20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Neemias, being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those priests that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water;
1:21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.
1:22 When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marvelled.
1:23 And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming, I say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.
1:24 And the prayer was after this manner; O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
1:25 The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:
1:26 Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
1:27 Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our God.
1:28 Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
1:29 Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
1:30 And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.
1:31 Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones.
1:32 When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
1:33 So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the place, where the priests that were led away had hid the fire, there appeared water, and that Neemias had purified the sacrifices therewith.
1:34 Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he had tried the matter.
1:35 And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify.
1:36 And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.

chapter 2

2:1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified:
2:2 And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.
2:3 And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.
2:4 It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God.
2:5 And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
2:6 And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.
2:7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
2:8 Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.
2:9 It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
2:10 And as when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings.
2:11 And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.
2:12 So Solomon kept those eight days.
2:13 The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Neemias; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.
2:14 In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us,
2:15 Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.
2:16 Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.
2:17 We hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people, and gave them all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,
2:18 As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place: for he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.
2:19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,
2:20 And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,
2:21 And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
2:22 And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord being gracious unto them with all favour:
2:23 All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.
2:24 For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,
2:25 We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.
2:26 Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;
2:27 Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;
2:28 Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.
2:29 For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is with us.
2:30 To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:
2:31 But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.
2:32 Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to that which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.

chapter 3

3:1 Now when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws were kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the high priest, and his hatred of wickedness,
3:2 It came to pass that even the kings themselves did honour the place, and magnify the temple with their best gifts;
3:3 Insomuch that Seleucus of Asia of his own revenues bare all the costs belonging to the service of the sacrifices.
3:4 But one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who was made governor of the temple, fell out with the high priest about disorder in the city.
3:5 And when he could not overcome Onias, he gat him to Apollonius the son of Thraseas, who then was governor of Celosyria and Phenice,
3:6 And told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of infinite sums of money, so that the multitude of their riches, which did not pertain to the account of the sacrifices, was innumerable, and that it was possible to bring all into the king's hand.
3:7 Now when Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of the money whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorus his treasurer, and sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money.
3:8 So forthwith Heliodorus took his journey; under a colour of visiting the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to fulfil the king's purpose.
3:9 And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously received of the high priest of the city, he told him what intelligence was given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if these things were so indeed.
3:10 Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of widows and fatherless children:
3:11 And that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of great dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed: the sum whereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of gold:
3:12 And that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be done unto them, that had committed it to the holiness of the place, and to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honoured over all the world.
3:13 But Heliodorus, because of the king's commandment given him, said, That in any wise it must be brought into the king's treasury.
3:14 So at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this matter: wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city.
3:15 But the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priests' vestments, called unto heaven upon him that made a law concerning things given to he kept, that they should safely be preserved for such as had committed them to be kept.
3:16 Then whoso had looked the high priest in the face, it would have wounded his heart: for his countenance and the changing of his colour declared the inward agony of his mind.
3:17 For the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body, that it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what sorrow he had now in his heart.
3:18 Others ran flocking out of their houses to the general supplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.
3:19 And the women, girt with sackcloth under their breasts, abounded in the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran, some to the gates, and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.
3:20 And all, holding their hands toward heaven, made supplication.
3:21 Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the multitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest being in such an agony.
3:22 They then called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things committed of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them.
3:23 Nevertheless Heliodorus executed that which was decreed.
3:24 Now as he was there present himself with his guard about the treasury, the Lord of spirits, and the Prince of all power, caused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the power of God, and fainted, and were sore afraid.
3:25 For there appeared unto them an horse with a terrible rider upon him, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran fiercely, and smote at Heliodorus with his forefeet, and it seemed that he that sat upon the horse had complete harness of gold.
3:26 Moreover two other young men appeared before him, notable in strength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood by him on either side; and scourged him continually, and gave him many sore stripes.
3:27 And Heliodorus fell suddenly unto the ground, and was compassed with great darkness: but they that were with him took him up, and put him into a litter.
3:28 Thus him, that lately came with a great train and with all his guard into the said treasury, they carried out, being unable to help himself with his weapons: and manifestly they acknowledged the power of God.
3:29 For he by the hand of God was cast down, and lay speechless without all hope of life.
3:30 But they praised the Lord, that had miraculously honoured his own place: for the temple; which a little afore was full of fear and trouble, when the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness.
3:31 Then straightways certain of Heliodorus' friends prayed Onias, that he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who lay ready to give up the ghost.
3:32 So the high priest, suspecting lest the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice for the health of the man.
3:33 Now as the high priest was making an atonement, the same young men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside Heliodorus, saying, Give Onias the high priest great thanks, insomuch as for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life:
3:34 And seeing that thou hast been scourged from heaven, declare unto all men the mighty power of God. And when they had spoken these words, they appeared no more.
3:35 So Heliodorus, after he had offered sacrifice unto the Lord, and made great vows unto him that had saved his life, and saluted Onias, returned with his host to the king.
3:36 Then testified he to all men the works of the great God, which he had seen with his eyes.
3:37 And when the king Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be sent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,
3:38 If thou hast any enemy or traitor, send him thither, and thou shalt receive him well scourged, if he escape with his life: for in that place, no doubt; there is an especial power of God.
3:39 For he that dwelleth in heaven hath his eye on that place, and defendeth it; and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it.
3:40 And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury, fell out on this sort.

chapter 4

4:1 This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he ha terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.
4:2 Thus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved well of the city, and tendered his own nation, and was so zealous of the laws.
4:3 But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were committed,
4:4 Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, as being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase Simon's malice,
4:5 He went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but seeking the good of all, both publick and private:
4:6 For he saw that it was impossible that the state should continue quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did look thereunto.
4:7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,
4:8 Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:
4:9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.
4:10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.
4:11 And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which were according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law:
4:12 For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself, and brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear a hat.
4:13 Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest;
4:14 That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth;
4:15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.
4:16 By reason whereof sore calamity came upon them: for they had them to be their enemies and avengers, whose custom they followed so earnestly, and unto whom they desired to be like in all things.
4:17 For it is not a light thing to do wickedly against the laws of God: but the time following shall declare these things.
4:18 Now when the game that was used every faith year was kept at Tyrus, the king being present,
4:19 This ungracious Jason sent special messengers from Jerusalem, who were Antiochians, to carry three hundred drachms of silver to the sacrifice of Hercules, which even the bearers thereof thought fit not to bestow upon the sacrifice, because it was not convenient, but to be reserved for other charges.
4:20 This money then, in regard of the sender, was appointed to Hercules' sacrifice; but because of the bearers thereof, it was employed to the making of gallies.
4:21 Now when Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt for the coronation of king Ptolemeus Philometor, Antiochus, understanding him not to be well affected to his affairs, provided for his own safety: whereupon he came to Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem:
4:22 Where he was honourably received of Jason, and of the city, and was brought in with torch alight, and with great shoutings: and so afterward went with his host unto Phenice.
4:23 Three years afterward Jason sent Menelaus, the aforesaid Simon's brother, to bear the money unto the king, and to put him in mind of certain necessary matters.
4:24 But he being brought to the presence of the king, when he had magnified him for the glorious appearance of his power, got the priesthood to himself, offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
4:25 So he came with the king's mandate, bringing nothing worthy the high priesthood, but having the fury of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.
4:26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being undermined by another, was compelled to flee into the country of the Ammonites.
4:27 So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money that he had promised unto the king, he took no good order for it, albeit Sostratis the ruler of the castle required it:
4:28 For unto him appertained the gathering of the customs. Wherefore they were both called before the king.
4:29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was governor of the Cyprians.
4:30 While those things were in doing, they of Tarsus and Mallos made insurrection, because they were given to the king's concubine, called Antiochus.
4:31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters, leaving Andronicus, a man in authority, for his deputy.
4:32 Now Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a convenient time, stole certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave some of them to Andronicus, and some he sold into Tyrus and the cities round about.
4:33 Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him, and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lieth by Antiochia.
4:34 Wherefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus apart, prayed, him to get Onias into his hands; who being persuaded thereunto, and coming to Onias in deceit, gave him his right hand with oaths; and though he were suspected by him, yet persuaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary: whom forthwith he shut up without regard of justice.
4:35 For the which cause not only the Jews, but many also of other nations, took great indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of the man.
4:36 And when the king was come again from the places about Cilicia, the Jews that were in the city, and certain of the Greeks that abhorred the fact also, complained because Onias was slain without cause.
4:37 Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry, and moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead.
4:38 And being kindled with anger, forthwith he took away Andronicus his purple, and rent off his clothes, and leading him through the whole city unto that very place, where he had committed impiety against Onias, there slew he the cursed murderer. Thus the Lord rewarded him his punishment, as he had deserved.
4:39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus, and the fruit thereof was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, many vessels of gold being already carried away.
4:40 Whereupon the common people rising, and being filled with rage, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began first to offer violence; one Auranus being the leader, a man far gone in years, and no less in folly.
4:41 They then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus, some of them caught stones, some clubs, others taking handfuls of dust, that was next at hand, cast them all together upon Lysimachus, and those that set upon them.
4:42 Thus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the ground, and all of them they forced to flee: but as for the churchrobber himself, him they killed beside the treasury.
4:43 Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against Menelaus.
4:44 Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him:
4:45 But Menelaus, being now convicted, promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money, if he would pacify the king toward him.
4:46 Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery, as it were to take the air, brought him to be of another mind:
4:47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations, who notwithstanding was cause of all the mischief: and those poor men, who, if they had told their cause, yea, before the Scythians, should have been judged innocent, them he condemned to death.
4:48 Thus they that followed the matter for the city, and for the people, and for the holy vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
4:49 Wherefore even they of Tyrus, moved with hatred of that wicked deed, caused them to be honourably buried.
4:50 And so through the covetousness of them that were of power Menelaus remained still in authority, increasing in malice, and being a great traitor to the citizens.

chapter 5

5:1 About the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt:
5:2 And then it happened, that through all the city, for the space almost of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the air, in cloth of gold, and armed with lances, like a band of soldiers,
5:3 And troops of horsemen in array, encountering and running one against another, with shaking of shields, and multitude of pikes, and drawing of swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden ornaments, and harness of all sorts.
5:4 Wherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good.
5:5 Now when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men, and suddenly made an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the walls being put back, and the city at length taken, Menelaus fled into the castle:
5:6 But Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, not considering that to get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day for him; but thinking they had been his enemies, and not his countrymen, whom he conquered.
5:7 Howbeit for all this he obtained not the principality, but at the last received shame for the reward of his treason, and fled again into the country of the Ammonites.
5:8 In the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused before Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and being had in abomination as an open enemy of his country and countrymen, he was cast out into Egypt.
5:9 Thus he that had driven many out of their country perished in a strange land, retiring to the Lacedemonians, and thinking there to find succour by reason of his kindred:
5:10 And he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him, nor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre with his fathers.
5:11 Now when this that was done came to the king's car, he thought that Judea had revolted: whereupon removing out of Egypt in a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms,
5:12 And commanded his men of war not to spare such as they met, and to slay such as went up upon the houses.
5:13 Thus there was killing of young and old, making away of men, women, and children, slaying of virgins and infants.
5:14 And there were destroyed within the space of three whole days fourscore thousand, whereof forty thousand were slain in the conflict; and no fewer sold than slain.
5:15 Yet was he not content with this, but presumed to go into the most holy temple of all the world; Menelaus, that traitor to the laws, and to his own country, being his guide:
5:16 And taking the holy vessels with polluted hands, and with profane hands pulling down the things that were dedicated by other kings to the augmentation and glory and honour of the place, he gave them away.
5:17 And so haughty was Antiochus in mind, that he considered not that the Lord was angry for a while for the sins of them that dwelt in the city, and therefore his eye was not upon the place.
5:18 For had they not been formerly wrapped in many sins, this man, as soon as he had come, had forthwith been scourged, and put back from his presumption, as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the king sent to view the treasury.
5:19 Nevertheless God did not choose the people for the place's sake, but the place far the people's sake.
5:20 And therefore the place itself, that was partaker with them of the adversity that happened to the nation, did afterward communicate in the benefits sent from the Lord: and as it was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty, so again, the great Lord being reconciled, it was set up with all glory.
5:21 So when Antiochus had carried out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents, he departed in all haste unto Antiochia, weening in his pride to make the land navigable, and the sea passable by foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind.
5:22 And he left governors to vex the nation: at Jerusalem, Philip, for his country a Phrygian, and for manners more barbarous than he that set him there;
5:23 And at Garizim, Andronicus; and besides, Menelaus, who worse than all the rest bare an heavy hand over the citizens, having a malicious mind against his countrymen the Jews.
5:24 He sent also that detestable ringleader Apollonius with an army of two and twenty thousand, commanding him to slay all those that were in their best age, and to sell the women and the younger sort:
5:25 Who coming to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, did forbear till the holy day of the sabbath, when taking the Jews keeping holy day, he commanded his men to arm themselves.
5:26 And so he slew all them that were gone to the celebrating of the sabbath, and running through the city with weapons slew great multitudes.
5:27 But Judas Maccabeus with nine others, or thereabout, withdrew himself into the wilderness, and lived in the mountains after the manner of beasts, with his company, who fed on herbs continually, lest they should be partakers of the pollution.

chapter 6

6:1 Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:
6:2 And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.
6:3 The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:
6:4 For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.
6:5 The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.
6:6 Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.
6:7 And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.
6:8 Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:
6:9 And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.
6:10 For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.
6:11 And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.
6:12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.
6:13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.
6:14 For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,
6:15 Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.
6:16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.
6:17 But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.
6:18 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.
6:19 But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,
6:20 As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted.
6:21 But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
6:22 That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour.
6:23 But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave.
6:24 For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;
6:25 And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.
6:26 For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.
6:27 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth,
6:28 And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment:
6:29 They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.
6:30 But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him.
6:31 And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.

chapter 7

7:1 It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.
7:2 But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.
7:3 Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot:
7:4 Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.
7:5 Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,
7:6 The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants.
7:7 So when the first was dead after this number, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?
7:8 But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.
7:9 And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.
7:10 After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully.
7:11 And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.
7:12 Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marvelled at the young man's courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains.
7:13 Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.
7:14 So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.
7:15 Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.
7:16 Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God;
7:17 But abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed.
7:18 After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvellous things are done unto us.
7:19 But think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God, that thou shalt escape unpunished.
7:20 But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.
7:21 Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,
7:22 I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;
7:23 But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws' sake.
7:24 Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.
7:25 But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life.
7:26 And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.
7:27 But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.
7:28 I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.
7:29 Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.
7:30 Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the king's commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.
7:31 And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.
7:32 For we suffer because of our sins.
7:33 And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants.
7:34 But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hand against the servants of God:
7:35 For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who seeth all things.
7:36 For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.
7:37 But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he alone is God;
7:38 And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.
7:39 Than the king' being in a rage, handed him worse than all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.
7:40 So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.
7:41 Last of all after the sons the mother died.
7:42 Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures.

chapter 8

8:1 Then Judas Maccabeus, and they that were with him, went privily into the towns, and called their kinsfolks together, and took unto them all such as continued in the Jews' religion, and assembled about six thousand men.
8:2 And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon the people that was trodden down of all; and also pity the temple profaned of ungodly men;
8:3 And that he would have compassion upon the city, sore defaced, and ready to be made even with the ground; and hear the blood that cried unto him,
8:4 And remember the wicked slaughter of harmless infants, and the blasphemies committed against his name; and that he would shew his hatred against the wicked.
8:5 Now when Maccabeus had his company about him, he could not be withstood by the heathen: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy.
8:6 Therefore he came at unawares, and burnt up towns and cities, and got into his hands the most commodious places, and overcame and put to flight no small number of his enemies.
8:7 But specially took he advantage of the night for such privy attempts, insomuch that the fruit of his holiness was spread every where.
8:8 So when Philip saw that this man increased by little and little, and that things prospered with him still more and more, he wrote unto Ptolemeus, the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, to yield more aid to the king's affairs.
8:9 Then forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty thousand of all nations under him, to root out the whole generation of the Jews; and with him he joined also Gorgias a captain, who in matters of war had great experience.
8:10 So Nicanor undertook to make so much money of the captive Jews, as should defray the tribute of two thousand talents, which the king was to pay to the Romans.
8:11 Wherefore immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast, proclaiming a sale of the captive Jews, and promising that they should have fourscore and ten bodies for one talent, not expecting the vengeance that was to follow upon him from the Almighty God.
8:12 Now when word was brought unto Judas of Nicanor's coming, and he had imparted unto those that were with him that the army was at hand,
8:13 They that were fearful, and distrusted the justice of God, fled, and conveyed themselves away.
8:14 Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord to deliver them, sold by the wicked Nicanor before they met together:
8:15 And if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants he had made with their fathers, and for his holy and glorious name's sake, by which they were called.
8:16 So Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six thousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror of the enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen, who came wrongly against them; but to fight manfully,
8:17 And to set before their eyes the injury that they had unjustly done to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the city, whereof they made a mockery, and also the taking away of the government of their forefathers:
8:18 For they, said he, trust in their weapons and boldness; but our confidence is in the Almighty who at a beck can cast down both them that come against us, and also all the world.
8:19 Moreover, he recounted unto them what helps their forefathers had found, and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand perished.
8:20 And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians, and that the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed an hundred and twenty thousand because of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great booty.
8:21 Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die for the law and the country, he divided his army into four parts;
8:22 And joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to wit Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred men.
8:23 Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, The help of God; himself leading the first band,
8:24 And by the help of the Almighty they slew above nine thousand of their enemies, and wounded and maimed the most part of Nicanor's host, and so put all to flight;
8:25 And took their money that came to buy them, and pursued them far: but lacking time they returned:
8:26 For it was the day before the sabbath, and therefore they would no longer pursue them.
8:27 So when they had gathered their armour together, and spoiled their enemies, they occupied themselves about the sabbath, yielding exceeding praise and thanks to the Lord, who had preserved them unto that day, which was the beginning of mercy distilling upon them.
8:28 And after the sabbath, when they had given part of the spoils to the maimed, and the widows, and orphans, the residue they divided among themselves and their servants.
8:29 When this was done, and they had made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.
8:30 Moreover of those that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, they slew above twenty thousand, and very easily got high and strong holds, and divided among themselves many spoils more, and made the maimed, orphans, widows, yea, and the aged also, equal in spoils with themselves.
8:31 And when they had gathered their armour together, they laid them up all carefully in convenient places, and the remnant of the spoils they brought to Jerusalem.
8:32 They slew also Philarches, that wicked person, who was with Timotheus, and had annoyed the Jews many ways.
8:33 Furthermore at such time as they kept the feast for the victory in their country they burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire upon the holy gates, who had fled into a little house; and so he received a reward meet for his wickedness.
8:34 As for that most ungracious Nicanor, who had brought a thousand merchants to buy the Jews,
8:35 He was through the help of the Lord brought down by them, of whom he made least account; and putting off his glorious apparel, and discharging his company, he came like a fugitive servant through the midland unto Antioch having very great dishonour, for that his host was destroyed.
8:36 Thus he, that took upon him to make good to the Romans their tribute by means of captives in Jerusalem, told abroad, that the Jews had God to fight for them, and therefore they could not be hurt, because they followed the laws that he gave them.

chapter 9

9:1 About that time came Antiochus with dishonour out of the country of Persia
9:2 For he had entered the city called Persepolis, and went about to rob the temple, and to hold the city; whereupon the multitude running to defend themselves with their weapons put them to flight; and so it happened, that Antiochus being put to flight of the inhabitants returned with shame.
9:3 Now when he came to Ecbatane, news was brought him what had happened unto Nicanor and Timotheus.
9:4 Then swelling with anger. he thought to avenge upon the Jews the disgrace done unto him by those that made him flee. Therefore commanded he his chariotman to drive without ceasing, and to dispatch the journey, the judgment of GOd now following him. For he had spoken proudly in this sort, That he would come to Jerusalem and make it a common burying place of the Jews.
9:5 But the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal, smote him with an incurable and invisible plague: or as soon as he had spoken these words, a pain of the bowels that was remediless came upon him, and sore torments of the inner parts;
9:6 And that most justly: for he had tormented other men's bowels with many and strange torments.
9:7 Howbeit he nothing at all ceased from his bragging, but still was filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey: but it came to pass that he fell down from his chariot, carried violently; so that having a sore fall, all the members of his body were much pained.
9:8 And thus he that a little afore thought he might command the waves of the sea, (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and weigh the high mountains in a balance, was now cast on the ground, and carried in an horselitter, shewing forth unto all the manifest power of God.
9:9 So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.
9:10 And the man, that thought a little afore he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry for his intolerable stink.
9:11 Here therefore, being plagued, he began to leave off his great pride, and to come to the knowledge of himself by the scourge of God, his pain increasing every moment.
9:12 And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God.
9:13 This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,
9:14 That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would set at liberty:
9:15 And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens:
9:16 And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:
9:17 Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.
9:18 But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:
9:19 Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:
9:20 If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.
9:21 As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:
9:22 Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.
9:23 But considering that even my father, at what time he led an army into the high countries. appointed a successor,
9:24 To the end that, if any thing fell out contrary to expectation, or if any tidings were brought that were grievous, they of the land, knowing to whom the state was left, might not be troubled:
9:25 Again, considering how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours unto my kingdom wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event. I have appointed my son Antiochus king, whom I often committed and commended unto many of you, when I went up into the high provinces; to whom I have written as followeth:
9:26 Therefore I pray and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special, and that every man will be still faithful to me and my son.
9:27 For I am persuaded that he understanding my mind will favourably and graciously yield to your desires.
9:28 Thus the murderer and blasphemer having suffered most grievously, as he entreated other men, so died he a miserable death in a strange country in the mountains.
9:29 And Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body, who also fearing the son of Antiochus went into Egypt to Ptolemeus Philometor.

chapter 10

10:1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city:
10:2 But the altars which the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down.
10:3 And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they took fire out of them, and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and shewbread.
10:4 When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned any more against him, that he himself would chasten them with mercy, and that they might not be delivered unto the blasphemous and barbarous nations.
10:5 Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu.
10:6 And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.
10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.
10:8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.
10:9 And this was the end of Antiochus, called Epiphanes.
10:10 Now will we declare the acts of Antiochus Eupator, who was the son of this wicked man, gathering briefly the calamities of the wars.
10:11 So when he was come to the crown, he set one Lysias over the affairs of his realm, and appointed him his chief governor of Celosyria and Phenice.
10:12 For Ptolemeus, that was called Macron, choosing rather to do justice unto the Jews for the wrong that had been done unto them, endeavoured to continue peace with them.
10:13 Whereupon being accused of the king's friends before Eupator, and called traitor at every word because he had left Cyprus, that Philometor had committed unto him, and departed to Antiochus Epiphanes, and seeing that he was in no honourable place, he was so discouraged, that he poisoned himself and died.
10:14 But when Gorgias was governor of the holds, he hired soldiers, and nourished war continually with the Jews:
10:15 And therewithall the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious holds, kept the Jews occupied, and receiving those that were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.
10:16 Then they that were with Maccabeus made supplication, and besought God that he would be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strong holds of the Idumeans,
10:17 And assaulting them strongly, they won the holds, and kept off all that fought upon the wall, and slew all that fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.
10:18 And because certain, who were no less than nine thousand, were fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things convenient to sustain the siege,
10:19 Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also, and them that were with him, who were enough to besiege them, and departed himself unto those places which more needed his help.
10:20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for money through certain of those that were in the castle, and took seventy thousand drachms, and let some of them escape.
10:21 But when it was told Maccabeus what was done, he called the governors of the people together, and accused those men, that they had sold their brethren for money, and set their enemies free to fight against them.
10:22 So he slew those that were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
10:23 And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two holds more than twenty thousand.
10:24 Now Timotheus, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great multitude of foreign forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Jewry by force of arms.
10:25 But when he drew near, they that were with Maccabeus turned themselves to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,
10:26 And fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.
10:27 So after the prayer they took their weapons, and went on further from the city: and when they drew near to their enemies, they kept by themselves.
10:28 Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together; the one part having together with their virtue their refuge also unto the Lord for a pledge of their success and victory: the other side making their rage leader of their battle
10:29 But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the enemies from heaven five comely men upon horses, with bridles of gold, and two of them led the Jews,
10:30 And took Maccabeus betwixt them, and covered him on every side weapons, and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies: so that being confounded with blindness, and full of trouble, they were killed.
10:31 And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
10:32 As for Timotheus himself, he fled into a very strong hold, called Gawra, where Chereas was governor.
10:33 But they that were with Maccabeus laid siege against the fortress courageously four days.
10:34 And they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and uttered wicked words.
10:35 Nevertheless upon the fifth day early twenty young men of Maccabeus' company, inflamed with anger because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manly, and with a fierce courage killed all that they met withal.
10:36 Others likewise ascending after them, whiles they were busied with them that were within, burnt the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive; and others broke open the gates, and, having received in the rest of the army, took the city,
10:37 And killed Timotheus, that was hid in a certain pit, and Chereas his brother, with Apollophanes.
10:38 When this was done, they praised the Lord with psalms and thanksgiving, who had done so great things for Israel, and given them the victory.

chapter 11

11:1 Not long after the, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure for the things that were done.
11:2 And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city an habitation of the Gentiles,
11:3 And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other chapels of the heathen, and to set the high priesthood to sale every year:
11:4 Not at all considering the power of God but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.
11:5 So he came to Judea, and drew near to Bethsura, which was a strong town, but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs, and he laid sore siege unto it.
11:6 Now when they that were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the holds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel.
11:7 Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the other that they would jeopard themselves together with him to help their brethren: so they went forth together with a willing mind.
11:8 And as they were at Jerusalem, there appeared before them on horseback one in white clothing, shaking his armour of gold.
11:9 Then they praised the merciful God all together, and took heart, insomuch that they were ready not only to fight with men, but with most cruel beasts, and to pierce through walls of iron.
11:10 Thus they marched forward in their armour, having an helper from heaven: for the Lord was merciful unto them
11:11 And giving a charge upon their enemies like lions, they slew eleven thousand footmen, and sixteen hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight.
11:12 Many of them also being wounded escaped naked; and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and so escaped.
11:13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,
11:14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.
11:15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
11:16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
11:17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.
11:18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.
11:19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.
11:20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you.
11:21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.
11:22 Now the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:
11:23 Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.
11:24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.
11:25 Wherefore our mind is, that this nation shall be in rest, and we have determined to restore them their temple, that they may live according to the customs of their forefathers.
11:26 Thou shalt do well therefore to send unto them, and grant them peace, that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good comfort, and ever go cheerfully about their own affairs.
11:27 And the letter of the king unto the nation of the Jews was after this manner: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council, and the rest of the Jews:
11:28 If ye fare well, we have our desire; we are also in good health.
11:29 Menelaus declared unto us, that your desire was to return home, and to follow your own business:
11:30 Wherefore they that will depart shall have safe conduct till the thirtieth day of Xanthicus with security.
11:31 And the Jews shall use their own kind of meats and laws, as before; and none of them any manner of ways shall be molested for things ignorantly done.
11:32 I have sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.
11:33 Fare ye well. In the hundred forty and eighth year, and the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.
11:34 The Romans also sent unto them a letter containing these words: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the Jews.
11:35 Whatsoever Lysias the king's cousin hath granted, therewith we also are well pleased.
11:36 But touching such things as he judged to be referred to the king, after ye have advised thereof, send one forthwith, that we may declare as it is convenient for you: for we are now going to Antioch.
11:37 Therefore send some with speed, that we may know what is your mind.
11:38 Farewell. This hundred and eight and fortieth year, the fifteenth day of the month Xanthicus.

chapter 12

12:1 When these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews were about their husbandry.
12:2 But of the governours of several places, Timotheus, and Apollonius the son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet and live in peace.
12:3 The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.
12:4 Who accepted of it according to the common decree of the city, as being desirous to live in peace, and suspecting nothing: but when they were gone forth into the deep, they drowned no less than two hundred of them.
12:5 When Judas heard of this cruelty done unto his countrymen, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready.
12:6 And calling upon God the righteous Judge, he came against those murderers of his brethren, and burnt the haven by night, and set the boats on fire, and those that fled thither he slew.
12:7 And when the town was shut up, he went backward, as if he would return to root out all them of the city of Joppa.
12:8 But when he heard that the Jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews that dwelt among them,
12:9 He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set fire on the haven and the navy, so that the light of the fire was seen at Jerusalem two hundred and forty furlongs off.
12:10 Now when they were gone from thence nine furlongs in their journey toward Timotheus, no fewer than five thousand men on foot and five hundred horsemen of the Arabians set upon him.
12:11 Whereupon there was a very sore battle; but Judas' side by the help of God got the victory; so that the Nomades of Arabia, being overcome, besought Judas for peace, promising both to give him cattle, and to pleasure him otherwise.
12:12 Then Judas, thinking indeed that they would be profitable in many things, granted them peace: whereupon they shook hands, and so they departed to their tents.
12:13 He went also about to make a bridge to a certain strong city, which was fenced about with walls, and inhabited by people of divers countries; and the name of it was Caspis.
12:14 But they that were within it put such trust in the strength of the walls and provision of victuals, that they behaved themselves rudely toward them that were with Judas, railing and blaspheming, and uttering such words as were not to be spoken.
12:15 Wherefore Judas with his company, calling upon the great Lord of the world, who without rams or engines of war did cast down Jericho in the time of Joshua, gave a fierce assault against the walls,
12:16 And took the city by the will of God, and made unspeakable slaughters, insomuch that a lake two furlongs broad near adjoining thereunto, being filled full, was seen running with blood.
12:17 Then departed they from thence seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and came to Characa unto the Jews that are called Tubieni.
12:18 But as for Timotheus, they found him not in the places: for before he had dispatched any thing, he departed from thence, having left a very strong garrison in a certain hold.
12:19 Howbeit Dositheus and Sosipater, who were of Maccabeus' captains, went forth, and slew those that Timotheus had left in the fortress, above ten thousand men.
12:20 And Maccabeus ranged his army by bands, and set them over the bands, and went against Timotheus, who had about him an hundred and twenty thousand men of foot, and two thousand and five hundred horsemen.
12:21 Now when Timotheus had knowledge of Judas' coming, he sent the women and children and the other baggage unto a fortress called Carnion: for the town was hard to besiege, and uneasy to come unto, by reason of the straitness of all the places.
12:22 But when Judas his first band came in sight, the enemies, being smitten with fear and terror through the appearing of him who seeth all things, fled amain, one running into this way, another that way, so as that they were often hurt of their own men, and wounded with the points of their own swords.
12:23 Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.
12:24 Moreover Timotheus himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews' parents, and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, should not be regarded.
12:25 So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.
12:26 Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnion, and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
12:27 And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city, wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations, and the strong young men kept the walls, and defended them mightily: wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.
12:28 But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with his power breaketh the strength of his enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of them that were within,
12:29 From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six hundred furlongs from Jerusalem,
12:30 But when the Jews that dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them, and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity;
12:31 They gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still unto them: and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks approaching.
12:32 And after the feast, called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias the governor of Idumea,
12:33 Who came out with three thousand men of foot and four hundred horsemen.
12:34 And it happened that in their fighting together a few of the Jews were slain.
12:35 At which time Dositheus, one of Bacenor's company, who was on horseback, and a strong man, was still upon Gorgias, and taking hold of his coat drew him by force; and when he would have taken that cursed man alive, a horseman of Thracia coming upon him smote off his shoulder, so that Gorgias fled unto Marisa.
12:36 Now when they that were with Gorgias had fought long, and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord, that he would shew himself to be their helper and leader of the battle.
12:37 And with that he began in his own language, and sung psalms with a loud voice, and rushing unawares upon Gorgias' men, he put them to flight.
12:38 So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.
12:39 And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers' graves.
12:40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.
12:41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,
12:42 Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
12:43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
12:44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
12:45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.

chapter 13

13:1 In the hundred forty and ninth year it was told Judas, that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea,
13:2 And with him Lysias his protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with hooks.
13:3 Menelaus also joined himself with them, and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus, not for the safeguard of the country, but because he thought to have been made governor.
13:4 But the King of kings moved Antiochus' mind against this wicked wretch, and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief, so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea, and to put him to death, as the manner is in that place.
13:5 Now there was in that place a tower of fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes.
13:6 And whosoever was condemned of sacrilege, or had committed any other grievous crime, there did all men thrust him unto death.
13:7 Such a death it happened that wicked man to die, not having so much as burial in the earth; and that most justly:
13:8 For inasmuch as he had committed many sins about the altar, whose fire and ashes were holy, he received his death in ashes.
13:9 Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty mind to do far worse to the Jews, than had been done in his father's time.
13:10 Which things when Judas perceived, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day, that if ever at any other time, he would now also help them, being at the point to be put from their law, from their country, and from the holy temple:
13:11 And that he would not suffer the people, that had even now been but a little refreshed, to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations.
13:12 So when they had all done this together, and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting, and lying flat upon the ground three days long, Judas, having exhorted them, commanded they should be in a readiness.
13:13 And Judas, being apart with the elders, determined, before the king's host should enter into Judea, and get the city, to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord.
13:14 So when he had committed all to the Creator of the world, and exhorted his soldiers to fight manfully, even unto death, for the laws, the temple, the city, the country, and the commonwealth, he camped by Modin:
13:15 And having given the watchword to them that were about him, Victory is of God; with the most valiant and choice young men he went in into the king's tent by night, and slew in the camp about four thousand men, and the chiefest of the elephants, with all that were upon him.
13:16 And at last they filled the camp with fear and tumult, and departed with good success.
13:17 This was done in the break of the day, because the protection of the Lord did help him.
13:18 Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews, he went about to take the holds by policy,
13:19 And marched toward Bethsura, which was a strong hold of the Jews: but he was put to flight, failed, and lost of his men:
13:20 For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary.
13:21 But Rhodocus, who was in the Jews' host, disclosed the secrets to the enemies; therefore he was sought out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.
13:22 The king treated with them in Bethsum the second time, gave his hand, took their's, departed, fought with Judas, was overcome;
13:23 Heard that Philip, who was left over the affairs in Antioch, was desperately bent, confounded, intreated the Jews, submitted himself, and sware to all equal conditions, agreed with them, and offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and dealt kindly with the place,
13:24 And accepted well of Maccabeus, made him principal governor from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians;
13:25 Came to Ptolemais: the people there were grieved for the covenants; for they stormed, because they would make their covenants void:
13:26 Lysias went up to the judgment seat, said as much as could be in defence of the cause, persuaded, pacified, made them well affected, returned to Antioch. Thus it went touching the king's coming and departing.

chapter 14

14:1 After three years was Judas informed, that Demetrius the son of Seleucus, having entered by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy,
14:2 Had taken the country, and killed Antiochus, and Lysias his protector.
14:3 Now one Alcimus, who had been high priest, and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles, seeing that by no means he could save himself, nor have any more access to the holy altar,
14:4 Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year, presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and also of the boughs which were used solemnly in the temple: and so that day he held his peace.
14:5 Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprize, and being called into counsel by Demetrius, and asked how the Jews stood affected, and what they intended, he answered thereunto:
14:6 Those of the Jews that he called Assideans, whose captain is Judas Maccabeus, nourish war and are seditious, and will not let the rest be in peace.
14:7 Therefore I, being deprived of mine ancestors' honour, I mean the high priesthood, am now come hither:
14:8 First, verily for the unfeigned care I have of things pertaining to the king; and secondly, even for that I intend the good of mine own countrymen: for all our nation is in no small misery through the unadvised dealing of them aforersaid.
14:9 Wherefore, O king, seeing knowest all these things, be careful for the country, and our nation, which is pressed on every side, according to the clemency that thou readily shewest unto all.
14:10 For as long as Judas liveth, it is not possible that the state should be quiet.
14:11 This was no sooner spoken of him, but others of the king's friends, being maliciously set against Judas, did more incense Demetrius.
14:12 And forthwith calling Nicanor, who had been master of the elephants, and making him governor over Judea, he sent him forth,
14:13 Commanding him to slay Judas, and to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus high priest of the great temple.
14:14 Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities ot the Jews to be their welfare.
14:15 Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the heathen were up against them, they cast earth upon their heads, and made supplication to him that had established his people for ever, and who always helpeth his portion with manifestation of his presence.
14:16 So at the commandment of the captain they removed straightways from thence, and came near unto them at the town of Dessau.
14:17 Now Simon, Judas' brother, had joined battle with Nicanor, but was somewhat discomfited through the sudden silence of his enemies.
14:18 Nevertheless Nicanor, hearing of the manliness of them that were with Judas, and the courageousness that they had to fight for their country, durst not try the matter by the sword.
14:19 Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Mattathias, to make peace.
14:20 So when they had taken long advisement thereupon, and the captain had made the multitude acquainted therewith, and it appeared that they were all of one mind, they consented to the covenants,
14:21 And appointed a day to meet in together by themselves: and when the day came, and stools were set for either of them,
14:22 Ludas placed armed men ready in convenient places, lest some treachery should be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they made a peaceable conference.
14:23 Now Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no hurt, but sent away the people that came flocking unto him.
14:24 And he would not willingly have Judas out of his sight: for he love the man from his heart
14:25 He prayed him also to take a wife, and to beget children: so he married, was quiet, and took part of this life.
14:26 But Alcimus, perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and considering the covenants that were made, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor was not well affected toward the state; for that he had ordained Judas, a traitor to his realm, to be the king's successor.
14:27 Then the king being in a rage, and provoked with the accusations of the most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was much displeased with the covenants, and commanding him that he should send Maccabeus prisoner in all haste unto Antioch.
14:28 When this came to Nicanor's hearing, he was much confounded in himself, and took it grievously that he should make void the articles which were agreed upon, the man being in no fault.
14:29 But because there was no dealing against the king, he watched his time to accomplish this thing by policy.
14:30 Notwithstanding, when Maccabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more roughly than he was wont, perceiving that such sour behaviour came not of good, he gathered together not a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor.
14:31 But the other, knowing that he was notably prevented by Judas' policy, came into the great and holy temple, and commanded the priests, that were offering their usual sacrifices, to deliver him the man.
14:32 And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,
14:33 He stretched out his right hand toward the temple, and made an oath in this manner: If ye will not deliver me Judas as a prisoner, I will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and I will break down the altar, and erect a notable temple unto Bacchus.
14:34 After these words he departed. Then the priests lifted up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever a defender of their nation, saying in this manner;
14:35 Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us:
14:36 Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop every unrighteous mouth.
14:37 Now was there accused unto Nicanor one Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen, and a man of very good report, who for his kindness was called a father of the Jews.
14:38 For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.
14:39 So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:
14:40 For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.
14:41 Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
14:42 Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:
14:43 But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.
14:44 But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.
14:45 Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,
14:46 When as his blood was now quite gone, he plucked out his bowels, and taking them in both his hands, he cast them upon the throng, and calling upon the Lord of life and spirit to restore him those again, he thus died.

chapter 15

15:1 But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the strong places about Samaria, resolved without any danger to set upon them on the sabbath day.
15:2 Nevertheless the Jews that were compelled to go with him said, O destroy not so cruelly and barbarously, but give honour to that day, which he, that seeth all things, hath honoured with holiness above all other days.
15:3 Then the most ungracious wretch demanded, if there were a Mighty one in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.
15:4 And when they said, There is in heaven a living Lord, and mighty, who commanded the seventh day to be kept:
15:5 Then said the other, And I also am mighty upon earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king's business. Yet he obtained not to have his wicked will done.
15:6 So Nicanor in exceeding pride and haughtiness determined to set up a publick monument of his victory over Judas and them that were with him.
15:7 But Maccabeus had ever sure confidence that the Lord would help him:
15:8 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty.
15:9 And so comforting them out of the law and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles that they won afore, he made them more cheerful.
15:10 And when he had stirred up their minds, he gave them their charge, shewing them therewithall the falsehood of the heathen, and the breach of oaths.
15:11 Thus he armed every one of them, not so much with defence of shields and spears, as with comfortable and good words: and beside that, he told them a dream worthy to be believed, as if it had been so indeed, which did not a little rejoice them.
15:12 And this was his vision: That Onias, who had been high priest, a virtuous and a good man, reverend in conversation, gentle in condition, well spoken also, and exercised from a child in all points of virtue, holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews.
15:13 This done, in like manner there appeared a man with gray hairs, and exceeding glorious, who was of a wonderful and excellent majesty.
15:14 Then Onias answered, saying, This is a lover of the brethren, who prayeth much for the people, and for the holy city, to wit, Jeremias the prophet of God.
15:15 Whereupon Jeremias holding forth his right hand gave to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving it spake thus,
15:16 Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with the which thou shalt wound the adversaries.
15:17 Thus being well comforted by the words of Judas, which were very good, and able to stir them up to valour, and to encourage the hearts of the young men, they determined not to pitch camp, but courageously to set upon them, and manfully to try the matter by conflict, because the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in danger.
15:18 For the care that they took for their wives, and their children, their brethren, and folks, was in least account with them: but the greatest and principal fear was for the holy temple.
15:19 Also they that were in the city took not the least care, being troubled for the conflict abroad.
15:20 And now, when as all looked what should be the trial, and the enemies were already come near, and the army was set in array, and the beasts conveniently placed, and the horsemen set in wings,
15:21 Maccabeus seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretched out his hands toward heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy:
15:22 Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner; O Lord, thou didst send thine angel in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand:
15:23 Wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them;
15:24 And through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.
15:25 Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs.
15:26 But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer.
15:27 So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered.
15:28 Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness.
15:29 Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language.
15:30 And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem.
15:31 So when he was there, and called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower,
15:32 And shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched out against the holy temple of the Almighty.
15:33 And when he had cut out the tongue of that ungodly Nicanor, he commanded that they should give it by pieces unto the fowls, and hang up the reward of his madness before the temple.
15:34 So every man praised toward the heaven the glorious Lord, saying, Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.
15:35 He hanged also Nicanor's head upon the tower, an evident and manifest sign unto all of the help of the Lord.
15:36 And they ordained all with a common decree in no case to let that day pass without solemnity, but to celebrate the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, which in the Syrian tongue is called Adar, the day before Mardocheus' day.
15:37 Thus went it with Nicanor: and from that time forth the Hebrews had the city in their power. And here will I make an end.
15:38 And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired: but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto.
15:39 For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.

2 Esdras

chapter 1

1:1 The second book of the prophet Esdras, the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchias, the son of Sadamias, the sou of Sadoc, the son of Achitob,
1:2 The son of Achias, the son of Phinees, the son of Heli, the son of Amarias, the son of Aziei, the son of Marimoth, the son of And he spake unto the of Borith, the son of Abisei, the son of Phinees, the son of Eleazar,
1:3 The son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi; which was captive in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artexerxes king of the Persians.
1:4 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
1:5 Go thy way, and shew my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickedness which they have done against me; that they may tell their children's children:
1:6 Because the sins of their fathers are increased in them: for they have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods.
1:7 Am not I even he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? but they have provoked me unto wrath, and despised my counsels.
1:8 Pull thou off then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil upon them, for they have not been obedient unto my law, but it is a rebellious people.
1:9 How long shall I forbear them, into whom I have done so much good?
1:10 Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes; Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have I smitten down.
1:11 All the nations have I destroyed before them, and in the east I have scattered the people of two provinces, even of Tyrus and Sidon, and have slain all their enemies.
1:12 Speak thou therefore unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord,
1:13 I led you through the sea and in the beginning gave you a large and safe passage; I gave you Moses for a leader, and Aaron for a priest.
1:14 I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you; yet have ye forgotten me, saith the Lord.
1:15 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, The quails were as a token to you; I gave you tents for your safeguard: nevertheless ye murmured there,
1:16 And triumphed not in my name for the destruction of your enemies, but ever to this day do ye yet murmur.
1:17 Where are the benefits that I have done for you? when ye were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me,
1:18 Saying, Why hast thou brought us into this wilderness to kill us? it had been better for us to have served the Egyptians, than to die in this wilderness.
1:19 Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat; so ye did eat angels' bread.
1:20 When ye were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock, and waters flowed out to your fill? for the heat I covered you with the leaves of the trees.
1:21 I divided among you a fruitful land, I cast out the Canaanites, the Pherezites, and the Philistines, before you: what shall I yet do more for you? saith the Lord.
1:22 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, When ye were in the wilderness, in the river of the Amorites, being athirst, and blaspheming my name,
1:23 I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in the water, and made the river sweet.
1:24 What shall I do unto thee, O Jacob? thou, Juda, wouldest not obey me: I will turn me to other nations, and unto those will I give my name, that they may keep my statutes.
1:25 Seeing ye have forsaken me, I will forsake you also; when ye desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you.
1:26 Whensoever ye shall call upon me, I will not hear you: for ye have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter.
1:27 Ye have not as it were forsaken me, but your own selves, saith the Lord.
1:28 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,
1:29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father?
1:30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face.
1:31 When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.
1:32 I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord.
1:33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.
1:34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.
1:35 Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.
1:36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
1:37 I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.
1:38 And now, brother, behold what glory; and see the people that come from the east:
1:39 Unto whom I will give for leaders, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Joel, Abdias, and Jonas,
1:40 Nahum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachy, which is called also an angel of the Lord.

chapter 2

2:1 Thus saith the Lord, I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by menservants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels.
2:2 The mother that bare them saith unto them, Go your way, ye children; for I am a widow and forsaken.
2:3 I brought you up with gladness; but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord your God, and done that thing that is evil before him.
2:4 But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord.
2:5 As for me, O father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children, which would not keep my covenant,
2:6 That thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that there may be no offspring of them.
2:7 Let them be scattered abroad among the heathen, let their names be put out of the earth: for they have despised my covenant.
2:8 Woe be unto thee, Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous in thee! O thou wicked people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorrha;
2:9 Whose land lieth in clods of pitch and heaps of ashes: even so also will I do unto them that hear me not, saith the Almighty Lord.
2:10 Thus saith the Lord unto Esdras, Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel.
2:11 Their glory also will I take unto me, and give these the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for them.
2:12 They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be weary.
2:13 Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.
2:14 Take heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good: for I live, saith the Lord.
2:15 Mother, embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness, make their feet as fast as a pillar: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
2:16 And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the graves: for I have known my name in Israel.
2:17 Fear not, thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
2:18 For thy help will I send my servants Esau and Jeremy, after whose counsel I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers fruits,
2:19 And as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will fill thy children with joy.
2:20 Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
2:21 Heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let the blind man come into the sight of my clearness.
2:22 Keep the old and young within thy walls.
2:23 Wheresoever thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I will give thee the first place in my resurrection.
2:24 Abide still, O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietness still come.
2:25 Nourish thy children, O thou good nurse; stablish their feet.
2:26 As for the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not one of them perish; for I will require them from among thy number.
2:27 Be not weary: for when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and have abundance.
2:28 The heathen shall envy thee, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee, saith the Lord.
2:29 My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see hell.
2:30 Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the Lord.
2:31 Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Almighty.
2:32 Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.
2:33 I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of the Lord.
2:34 And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.
2:35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
2:36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.
2:37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.
2:38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
2:39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
2:40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
2:41 The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
2:42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
2:43 And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly.
2:44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?
2:45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.
2:46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands?
2:47 So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.
2:48 Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.

chapter 3

3:1 In the thirtieth year after the ruin of the city I was in Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:
3:2 For I saw the desolation of Sion, and the wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
3:3 And my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak words full of fear to the most High, and said,
3:4 O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the people,
3:5 And gavest a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of thine hands, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before thee.
3:6 And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.
3:7 And unto him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he transgressed, and immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his generations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of number.
3:8 And every people walked after their own will, and did wonderful things before thee, and despised thy commandments.
3:9 And again in process of time thou broughtest the flood upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyedst them.
3:10 And it came to pass in every of them, that as death was to Adam, so was the flood to these.
3:11 Nevertheless one of them thou leftest, namely, Noah with his household, of whom came all righteous men.
3:12 And it happened, that when they that dwelt upon the earth began to multiply, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began again to be more ungodly than the first.
3:13 Now when they lived so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose thee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.
3:14 Him thou lovedst, and unto him only thou shewedst thy will:
3:15 And madest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him that thou wouldest never forsake his seed.
3:16 And unto him thou gavest Isaac, and unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob, thou didst choose him to thee, and put by Esau: and so Jacob became a great multitude.
3:17 And it came to pass, that when thou leadest his seed out of Egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount Sinai.
3:18 And bowing the heavens, thou didst set fast the earth, movedst the whole world, and madest the depths to tremble, and troubledst the men of that age.
3:19 And thy glory went through four gates, of fire, and of earthquake, and of wind, and of cold; that thou mightest give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel.
3:20 And yet tookest thou not away from them a wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth fruit in them.
3:21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all they that are born of him.
3:22 Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart of the people with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed away, and the evil abode still.
3:23 So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end: then didst thou raise thee up a servant, called David:
3:24 Whom thou commandedst to build a city unto thy name, and to offer incense and oblations unto thee therein.
3:25 When this was done many years, then they that inhabited the city forsook thee,
3:26 And in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart:
3:27 And so thou gavest thy city over into the hands of thine enemies.
3:28 Are their deeds then any better that inhabit Babylon, that they should therefore have the dominion over Sion?
3:29 For when I came thither, and had seen impieties without number, then my soul saw many evildoers in this thirtieth year, so that my heart failed me.
3:30 For I have seen how thou sufferest them sinning, and hast spared wicked doers: and hast destroyed thy people, and hast preserved thine enemies, and hast not signified it.
3:31 I do not remember how this way may be left: Are they then of Babylon better than they of Sion?
3:32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee beside Israel? or what generation hath so believed thy covenants as Jacob?
3:33 And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labour hath no fruit: for I have gone here and there through the heathen, and I see that they flow in wealth, and think not upon thy commandments.
3:34 Weigh thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and their's also that dwell the world; and so shall thy name no where be found but in Israel.
3:35 Or when was it that they which dwell upon the earth have not sinned in thy sight? or what people have so kept thy commandments?
3:36 Thou shalt find that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts; but not the heathen.

chapter 4

4:1 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an answer,
4:2 And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou to comprehend the way of the most High?
4:3 Then said I, Yea, my lord. And he answered me, and said, I am sent to shew thee three ways, and to set forth three similitudes before thee:
4:4 Whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will shew thee also the way that thou desirest to see, and I shall shew thee from whence the wicked heart cometh.
4:5 And I said, Tell on, my lord. Then said he unto me, Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past.
4:6 Then answered I and said, What man is able to do that, that thou shouldest ask such things of me?
4:7 And he said unto me, If I should ask thee how great dwellings are in the midst of the sea, or how many springs are in the beginning of the deep, or how many springs are above the firmament, or which are the outgoings of paradise:
4:8 Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb up into heaven.
4:9 Nevertheless now have I asked thee but only of the fire and wind, and of the day wherethrough thou hast passed, and of things from which thou canst not be separated, and yet canst thou give me no answer of them.
4:10 He said moreover unto me, Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know;
4:11 How should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and, the world being now outwardly corrupted to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight?
4:12 Then said I unto him, It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live still in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore.
4:13 He answered me, and said, I went into a forest into a plain, and the trees took counsel,
4:14 And said, Come, let us go and make war against the sea that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us more woods.
4:15 The floods of the sea also in like manner took counsel, and said, Come, let us go up and subdue the woods of the plain, that there also we may make us another country.
4:16 The thought of the wood was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it.
4:17 The thought of the floods of the sea came likewise to nought, for the sand stood up and stopped them.
4:18 If thou wert judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou begin to justify? or whom wouldest thou condemn?
4:19 I answered and said, Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised, for the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to bear his floods.
4:20 Then answered he me, and said, Thou hast given a right judgment, but why judgest thou not thyself also?
4:21 For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.
4:22 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have understanding:
4:23 For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,
4:24 And we pass away out of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
4:25 What will he then do unto his name whereby we are called? of these things have I asked.
4:26 Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,
4:27 And cannot comprehend the things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is full of unrighteousness and infirmities.
4:28 But as concerning the things whereof thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.
4:29 If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it come that is sown with good.
4:30 For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of threshing come?
4:31 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of evil seed hath brought forth.
4:32 And when the ears shall be cut down, which are without number, how great a floor shall they fill?
4:33 Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
4:34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.
4:35 Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?
4:36 And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance.
4:37 By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
4:38 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of impiety.
4:39 And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the righteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.
4:40 So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any longer within her.
4:41 Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:
4:42 For like as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail: even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto them.
4:43 From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed thee.
4:44 Then answered I and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore,
4:45 Shew me then whether there be more to come than is past, or more past than is to come.
4:46 What is past I know, but what is for to come I know not.
4:47 And he said unto me, Stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto thee.
4:48 So I stood, and saw, and, behold, an hot burning oven passed by before me: and it happened that when the flame was gone by I looked, and, behold, the smoke remained still.
4:49 After this there passed by before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm; and when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still.
4:50 Then said he unto me, Consider with thyself; as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire is greater than the smoke; but the drops and the smoke remain behind: so the quantity which is past did more exceed.
4:51 Then I prayed, and said, May I live, thinkest thou, until that time? or what shall happen in those days?
4:52 He answered me, and said, As for the tokens whereof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touching thy life, I am not sent to shew thee; for I do not know it.

chapter 5

5:1 Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.
5:2 But iniquity shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard long ago.
5:3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see wasted suddenly.
5:4 But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in the day:
5:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be troubled:
5:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall take their flight away together:
5:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice thereof.
5:8 There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters:
5:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,
5:10 And shall be sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be multiplied upon earth.
5:11 One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.
5:12 At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper.
5:13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again, and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.
5:14 Then I awaked, and an extreme fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was troubled, so that it fainted.
5:15 So the angel that was come to talk with me held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.
5:16 And in the second night it came to pass, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me, saying, Where hast thou been? and why is thy countenance so heavy?
5:17 Knowest thou not that Israel is committed unto thee in the land of their captivity?
5:18 Up then, and eat bread, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of cruel wolves.
5:19 Then said I unto him, Go thy ways from me, and come not nigh me. And he heard what I said, and went from me.
5:20 And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me.
5:21 And after seven days so it was, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again,
5:22 And my soul recovered the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most High again,
5:23 And said, O Lord that bearest rule, of every wood of the earth, and of all the trees thereof, thou hast chosen thee one only vine:
5:24 And of all lands of the whole world thou hast chosen thee one pit: and of all the flowers thereof one lily:
5:25 And of all the depths of the sea thou hast filled thee one river: and of all builded cities thou hast hallowed Sion unto thyself:
5:26 And of all the fowls that are created thou hast named thee one dove: and of all the cattle that are made thou hast provided thee one sheep:
5:27 And among all the multitudes of people thou hast gotten thee one people: and unto this people, whom thou lovedst, thou gavest a law that is approved of all.
5:28 And now, O Lord, why hast thou given this one people over unto many? and upon the one root hast thou prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy only one people among many?
5:29 And they which did gainsay thy promises, and believed not thy covenants, have trodden them down.
5:30 If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thine own hands.
5:31 Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night afore was sent unto me,
5:32 And said unto me, Hear me, and I will instruct thee; hearken to the thing that I say, and I shall tell thee more.
5:33 And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then said he unto me, Thou art sore troubled in mind for Israel's sake: lovest thou that people better than he that made them?
5:34 And I said, No, Lord: but of very grief have I spoken: for my reins pain me every hour, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seek out part of his judgment.
5:35 And he said unto me, Thou canst not. And I said, Wherefore, Lord? whereunto was I born then? or why was not my mother's womb then my grave, that I might not have seen the travail of Jacob, and the wearisome toil of the stock of Israel?
5:36 And he said unto me, Number me the things that are not yet come, gather me together the dross that are scattered abroad, make me the flowers green again that are withered,
5:37 Open me the places that are closed, and bring me forth the winds that in them are shut up, shew me the image of a voice: and then I will declare to thee the thing that thou labourest to know.
5:38 And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men?
5:39 As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof thou askest me?
5:40 Then said he unto me, Like as thou canst do none of these things that I have spoken of, even so canst thou not find out my judgment, or in the end the love that I have promised unto my people.
5:41 And I said, Behold, O Lord, yet art thou nigh unto them that be reserved till the end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us?
5:42 And he said unto me, I will liken my judgment unto a ring: like as there is no slackness of the last, even so there is no swiftness of the first.
5:43 So I answered and said, Couldest thou not make those that have been made, and be now, and that are for to come, at once; that thou mightest shew thy judgment the sooner?
5:44 Then answered he me, and said, The creature may not haste above the maker; neither may the world hold them at once that shall be created therein.
5:45 And I said, As thou hast said unto thy servant, that thou, which givest life to all, hast given life at once to the creature that thou hast created, and the creature bare it: even so it might now also bear them that now be present at once.
5:46 And he said unto me, Ask the womb of a woman, and say unto her, If thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? pray her therefore to bring forth ten children at once.
5:47 And I said, She cannot: but must do it by distance of time.
5:48 Then said he unto me, Even so have I given the womb of the earth to those that be sown in it in their times.
5:49 For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I disposed the world which I created.
5:50 And I asked, and said, Seeing thou hast now given me the way, I will proceed to speak before thee: for our mother, of whom thou hast told me that she is young, draweth now nigh unto age.
5:51 He answered me, and said, Ask a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.
5:52 Say unto her, Wherefore are unto they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before, but less of stature?
5:53 And she shall answer thee, They that be born in the the strength of youth are of one fashion, and they that are born in the time of age, when the womb faileth, are otherwise.
5:54 Consider thou therefore also, how that ye are less of stature than those that were before you.
5:55 And so are they that come after you less than ye, as the creatures which now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth.
5:56 Then said I, Lord, I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, shew thy servant by whom thou visitest thy creature.

chapter 6

6:1 And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew,
6:2 Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid,
6:3 Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
6:4 Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot,
6:5 And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure:
6:6 Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other.
6:7 Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth?
6:8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau.
6:9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.
6:10 The hand of man is betwixt the heel and the hand: other question, Esdras, ask thou not.
6:11 I answered then and said, O Lord that bearest rule, if I have found favour in thy sight,
6:12 I beseech thee, shew thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewedst me part the last night.
6:13 So he answered and said unto me, Stand up upon thy feet, and hear a mighty sounding voice.
6:14 And it shall be as it were a great motion; but the place where thou standest shall not be moved.
6:15 And therefore when it speaketh be not afraid: for the word is of the end, and the foundation of the earth is understood.
6:16 And why? because the speech of these things trembleth and is moved: for it knoweth that the end of these things must be changed.
6:17 And it happened, that when I had heard it I stood up upon my feet, and hearkened, and, behold, there was a voice that spake, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters.
6:18 And it said, Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that dwell upon the earth,
6:19 And will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt unjustly with their unrighteousness, and when the affliction of Sion shall be fulfilled;
6:20 And when the world, that shall begin to vanish away, shall be finished, then will I shew these tokens: the books shall be opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together:
6:21 And the children of a year old shall speak with their voices, the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up.
6:22 And suddenly shall the sown places appear unsown, the full storehouses shall suddenly be found empty:
6:23 And tha trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shall be suddenly afraid.
6:24 At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the fountains shall stand still, and in three hours they shall not run.
6:25 Whosoever remaineth from all these that I have told thee shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.
6:26 And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the inhabitants shall be changed, and turned into another meaning.
6:27 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.
6:28 As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be overcome, and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared.
6:29 And when he talked with me, behold, I looked by little and little upon him before whom I stood.
6:30 And these words said he unto me; I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come.
6:31 If thou wilt pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell thee greater things by day than I have heard.
6:32 For thy voice is heard before the most High: for the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever since thy youth.
6:33 And therefore hath he sent me to shew thee all these things, and to say unto thee, Be of good comfort and fear not
6:34 And hasten not with the times that are past, to think vain things, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter times.
6:35 And it came to pass after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks which he told me.
6:36 And in the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the most High.
6:37 For my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress.
6:38 And I said, O Lord, thou spakest from the beginning of the creation, even the first day, and saidst thus; Let heaven and earth be made; and thy word was a perfect work.
6:39 And then was the spirit, and darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man's voice was not yet formed.
6:40 Then commandedst thou a fair light to come forth of thy treasures, that thy work might appear.
6:41 Upon the second day thou madest the spirit of the firmament, and commandedst it to part asunder, and to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might go up, and the other remain beneath.
6:42 Upon the third day thou didst command that the waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth: six pats hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that of these some being planted of God and tilled might serve thee.
6:43 For as soon as thy word went forth the work was made.
6:44 For immediately there was great and innumerable fruit, and many and divers pleasures for the taste, and flowers of unchangeable colour, and odours of wonderful smell: and this was done the third day.
6:45 Upon the fourth day thou commandedst that the sun should shine, and the moon give her light, and the stars should be in order:
6:46 And gavest them a charge to do service unto man, that was to be made.
6:47 Upon the fifth day thou saidst unto the seventh part, where the waters were gathered that it should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes: and so it came to pass.
6:48 For the dumb water and without life brought forth living things at the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works.
6:49 Then didst thou ordain two living creatures, the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leviathan;
6:50 And didst separate the one from the other: for the seventh part, namely, where the water was gathered together, might not hold them both.
6:51 Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills:
6:52 But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely, the moist; and hast kept him to be devoured of whom thou wilt, and when.
6:53 Upon the sixth day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before thee it should bring forth beasts, cattle, and creeping things:
6:54 And after these, Adam also, whom thou madest lord of all thy creatures: of him come we all, and the people also whom thou hast chosen.
6:55 All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes
6:56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel.
6:57 And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us.
6:58 But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands.
6:59 If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?

chapter 7

7:1 And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore:
7:2 And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell thee.
7:3 And I said, Speak on, my God. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great.
7:4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river;
7:5 Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad?
7:6 There is also another thing; A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things:
7:7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water:
7:8 And one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once.
7:9 If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?
7:10 And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel's portion.
7:11 Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done.
7:12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful.
7:13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit.
7:14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.
7:15 Now therefore why disquietest thou thyself, seeing thou art but a corruptible man? and why art thou moved, whereas thou art but mortal?
7:16 Why hast thou not considered in thy mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?
7:17 Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, thou hast ordained in thy law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish.
7:18 Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
7:19 And he said unto me. There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Highest.
7:20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them.
7:21 For God hath given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
7:22 Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spake against him, and imagined vain things;
7:23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of the most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways:
7:24 But his law have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works.
7:25 And therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
7:26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth.
7:27 And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders.
7:28 For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years.
7:29 After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.
7:30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain.
7:31 And after seven days the world, that yet awaketh not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt
7:32 And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed unto them.
7:33 And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away, and the long suffering shall have an end:
7:34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong:
7:35 And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be shewed, and the good deeds shall be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.
7:36 Then said I, Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness:
7:37 And Jesus after him for Israel in the time of Achan:
7:38 And Samuel and David for the destruction: and Solomon for them that should come to the sanctuary:
7:39 And Helias for those that received rain; and for the dead, that he might live:
7:40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib: and many for many.
7:41 Even so now, seeing corruption is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly: wherefore shall it not be so now also?
7:42 He answered me, and said, This present life is not the end where much glory doth abide; therefore have they prayed for the weak.
7:43 But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,
7:44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.
7:45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.
7:46 I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.
7:47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
7:48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.
7:49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
7:50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?
7:51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
7:52 And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?
7:53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?
7:54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.)
7:55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
7:56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.
7:57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;
7:58 That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.
7:59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.
7:60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken unto them,
7:61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.
7:62 I answered then, and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world,
7:63 And upon those also that turn to his law;
7:64 And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;
7:65 And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it needeth;
7:66 And that he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth more and more mercies to them that are present, and that are past, and also to them which are to come.
7:67 For if he shall not multiply his mercies, the world would not continue with them that inherit therein.
7:68 And he pardoneth; for if he did not so of his goodness, that they which have committed iniquities might be eased of them, the ten thousandth part of men should not remain living.
7:69 And being judge, if he should not forgive them that are cured with his word, and put out the multitude of contentions,
7:70 There should be very few left peradventure in an innumerable multitude.

chapter 8

8:1 And he answered me, saying, The most High hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few.
8:2 I will tell thee a similitude, Esdras; As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould whereof earthen vessels are made, but little dust that gold cometh of: even so is the course of this present world.
8:3 There be many created, but few shall be saved.
8:4 So answered I and said, Swallow then down, O my soul, understanding, and devour wisdom.
8:5 For thou hast agreed to give ear, and art willing to prophesy: for thou hast no longer space than only to live.
8:6 O Lord, if thou suffer not thy servant, that we may pray before thee, and thou give us seed unto our heart, and culture to our understanding, that there may come fruit of it; how shall each man live that is corrupt, who beareth the place of a man?
8:7 For thou art alone, and we all one workmanship of thine hands, like as thou hast said.
8:8 For when the body is fashioned now in the mother's womb, and thou givest it members, thy creature is preserved in fire and water, and nine months doth thy workmanship endure thy creature which is created in her.
8:9 But that which keepeth and is kept shall both be preserved: and when the time cometh, the womb preserved delivereth up the things that grew in it.
8:10 For thou hast commanded out of the parts of the body, that is to say, out of the breasts, milk to be given, which is the fruit of the breasts,
8:11 That the thing which is fashioned may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest it to thy mercy.
8:12 Thou broughtest it up with thy righteousness, and nurturedst it in thy law, and reformedst it with thy judgment.
8:13 And thou shalt mortify it as thy creature, and quicken it as thy work.
8:14 If therefore thou shalt destroy him which with so great labour was fashioned, it is an easy thing to be ordained by thy commandment, that the thing which was made might be preserved.
8:15 Now therefore, Lord, I will speak; touching man in general, thou knowest best; but touching thy people, for whose sake I am sorry;
8:16 And for thine inheritance, for whose cause I mourn; and for Israel, for whom I am heavy; and for Jacob, for whose sake I am troubled;
8:17 Therefore will I begin to pray before thee for myself and for them: for I see the falls of us that dwell in the land.
8:18 But I have heard the swiftness of the judge which is to come.
8:19 Therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before thee. This is the beginning of the words of Esdras, before he was taken up: and I said,
8:20 O Lord, thou that dwellest in everlastingness which beholdest from above things in the heaven and in the air;
8:21 Whose throne is inestimable; whose glory may not be comprehended; before whom the hosts of angels stand with trembling,
8:22 Whose service is conversant in wind and fire; whose word is true, and sayings constant; whose commandment is strong, and ordinance fearful;
8:23 Whose look drieth up the depths, and indignation maketh the mountains to melt away; which the truth witnesseth:
8:24 O hear the prayer of thy servant, and give ear to the petition of thy creature.
8:25 For while I live I will speak, and so long as I have understanding I will answer.
8:26 O look not upon the sins of thy people; but on them which serve thee in truth.
8:27 Regard not the wicked inventions of the heathen, but the desire of those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.
8:28 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee: but remember them, which according to thy will have known thy fear.
8:29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them which have lived like beasts; but to look upon them that have clearly taught thy law.
8:30 Take thou no indignation at them which are deemed worse than beasts; but love them that always put their trust in thy righteousness and glory.
8:31 For we and our fathers do languish of such diseases: but because of us sinners thou shalt be called merciful.
8:32 For if thou hast a desire to have mercy upon us, thou shalt be called merciful, to us namely, that have no works of righteousness.
8:33 For the just, which have many good works laid up with thee, shall out of their own deeds receive reward.
8:34 For what is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? or what is a corruptible generation, that thou shouldest be so bitter toward it?
8:35 For in truth them is no man among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none which hath not done amiss.
8:36 For in this, O Lord, thy righteousness and thy goodness shall be declared, if thou be merciful unto them which have not the confidence of good works.
8:37 Then answered he me, and said, Some things hast thou spoken aright, and according unto thy words it shall be.
8:38 For indeed I will not think on the disposition of them which have sinned before death, before judgment, before destruction:
8:39 But I will rejoice over the disposition of the righteous, and I will remember also their pilgrimage, and the salvation, and the reward, that they shall have.
8:40 Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass.
8:41 For as the husbandman soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet the thing that is sown good in his season cometh not up, neither doth all that is planted take root: even so is it of them that are sown in the world; they shall not all be saved.
8:42 I answered then and said, If I have found grace, let me speak.
8:43 Like as the husbandman's seed perisheth, if it come not up, and receive not thy rain in due season; or if there come too much rain, and corrupt it:
8:44 Even so perisheth man also, which is formed with thy hands, and is called thine own image, because thou art like unto him, for whose sake thou hast made all things, and likened him unto the husbandman's seed.
8:45 Be not wroth with us but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thine own inheritance: for thou art merciful unto thy creature.
8:46 Then answered he me, and said, Things present are for the present, and things to cometh for such as be to come.
8:47 For thou comest far short that thou shouldest be able to love my creature more than I: but I have ofttimes drawn nigh unto thee, and unto it, but never to the unrighteous.
8:48 In this also thou art marvellous before the most High:
8:49 In that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not judged thyself worthy to be much glorified among the righteous.
8:50 For many great miseries shall be done to them that in the latter time shall dwell in the world, because they have walked in great pride.
8:51 But understand thou for thyself, and seek out the glory for such as be like thee.
8:52 For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.
8:53 The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:
8:54 Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.
8:55 And therefore ask thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perish.
8:56 For when they had taken liberty, they despised the most High, thought scorn of his law, and forsook his ways.
8:57 Moreover they have trodden down his righteous,
8:58 And said in their heart, that there is no God; yea, and that knowing they must die.
8:59 For as the things aforesaid shalt receive you, so thirst and pain are prepared for them: for it was not his will that men should come to nought:
8:60 But they which be created have defiled the name of him that made them, and were unthankful unto him which prepared life for them.
8:61 And therefore is my judgment now at hand.
8:62 These things have I not shewed unto all men, but unto thee, and a few like thee. Then answered I and said,
8:63 Behold, O Lord, now hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders, which thou wilt begin to do in the last times: but at what time, thou hast not shewed me.

chapter 9

9:1 He answered me then, and said, Measure thou the time diligently in itself: and when thou seest part of the signs past, which I have told thee before,
9:2 Then shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made.
9:3 Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the people in the world:
9:4 Then shalt thou well understand, that the most High spake of those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
9:5 For like as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and an end, and the end is manifest:
9:6 Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs.
9:7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed,
9:8 Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my salvation in my land, and within my borders: for I have sanctified them for me from the beginning.
9:9 Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments.
9:10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not known me;
9:11 And they that have loathed my law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it;
9:12 The same must know it after death by pain.
9:13 And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created.
9:14 Then answered I and said,
9:15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be saved:
9:16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.
9:17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman ls himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the world.
9:18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.
9:19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.
9:20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.
9:21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.
9:22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.
9:23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,
9:24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)
9:25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.
9:26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.
9:27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:
9:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,
9:29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.
9:30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.
9:31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.
9:32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine;
9:33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
9:34 And, lo, it ls a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,
9:35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth perish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.
9:36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it
9:37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.
9:38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.
9:39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her,
9:40 And said unto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so grieved in thy mind?
9:41 And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low.
9:42 And I said unto her, What aileth thee? tell me.
9:43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had an husband thirty years,
9:44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest.
9:45 After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbours: and we gave great honour unto the Almighty.
9:46 And I nourished him with great travail.
9:47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.

chapter 10

10:1 And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died.
10:2 Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night.
10:3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came hither into this field, as thou seest.
10:4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.
10:5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spake to her in anger, saying,
10:6 Thou foolish woman above all other, seest thou not our mourning, and what happeneth unto us?
10:7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore?
10:8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, art thou grieved for one son?
10:9 For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her.
10:10 For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out.
10:11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that hath lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which art sorry but for one?
10:12 But if thou sayest unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth's, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows;
10:13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came:
10:14 Then say I unto thee, Like as thou hast brought forth with labour; even so the earth also hath given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her.
10:15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which hath befallen thee.
10:16 For if thou shalt acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shalt both receive thy son in time, and shalt be commended among women.
10:17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.
10:18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.
10:19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said,
10:20 Do not so, but be counselled. by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem.
10:21 For thou seest that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed;
10:22 Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak;
10:23 And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion hath now lost her honour; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us.
10:24 And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labour.
10:25 And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be.
10:26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman.
10:27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city builded, and a large place shewed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said,
10:28 Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he hath caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
10:29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me.
10:30 And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me,
10:31 What aileth thee? and why art thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?
10:32 And I said, Because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.
10:33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.
10:34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope.
10:35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know.
10:36 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream?
10:37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou wilt shew thy servant of this vision.
10:38 He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee.
10:39 He hath seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrowest continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.
10:40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately sawest:
10:41 Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her:
10:42 But now seest thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city builded.
10:43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution:
10:44 This woman, whom thou sawest is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou seest as a city builded,
10:45 Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she hath been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her.
10:46 But after thirty years Solomon builded the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son.
10:47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labour: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem.
10:48 But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem.
10:49 And, behold, thou sawest her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou begannest to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee.
10:50 For now the most High seeth that thou art grieved unfeignedly, and sufferest from thy whole heart for her, so hath he shewed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty:
10:51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was builded:
10:52 For I knew that the Highest would shew this unto thee.
10:53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was.
10:54 For in the place wherein the Highest beginneth to shew his city, there can no man's building be able to stand.
10:55 And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see:
10:56 And then shalt thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend.
10:57 For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest; and so are but few.
10:58 But to morrow at night thou shalt remain here;
10:59 And so shall the Highest shew thee visions of the high things, which the most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

chapter 11

11:1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.
11:2 And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.
11:3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.
11:4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.
11:5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.
11:6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.
11:7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,
11:8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:
11:9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.
11:10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.
11:11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.
11:12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;
11:13 And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up. and reigned, and had a great time;
11:14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.
11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,
11:16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,
11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.
11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.
11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.
11:20 Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:
11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.
11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:
11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.
11:24 Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their place.
11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.
11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.
11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.
11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:
11:29 And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.
11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.
11:31 And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.
11:32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.
11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.
11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.
11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.
11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.
11:37 And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,
11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,
11:39 Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?
11:40 And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.
11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.
11:42 For thou hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable, thou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm.
11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.
11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.
11:45 And therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings, nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws, nor all thy vain body:
11:46 That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.

chapter 12

12:1 And it came to pass, whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,
12:2 And, behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no more, and the two went unto it and set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and fill of uproar.
12:3 And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,
12:4 Lo, this hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest.
12:5 Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.
12:6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.
12:7 And I said, Lord that bearest rule, if I have found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before thy face;
12:8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul.
12:9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.
12:10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:
12:11 The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.
12:12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.
12:13 Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it.
12:14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:
12:15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the twelve.
12:16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.
12:17 As for the voice which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest not to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation:
12:18 That after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it shall not then fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning.
12:19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation:
12:20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift.
12:21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four shall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end.
12:22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:
12:23 In his last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth,
12:24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.
12:25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end.
12:26 And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.
12:27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.
12:28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.
12:29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side;
12:30 It signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest.
12:31 And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard;
12:32 This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty.
12:33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them.
12:34 For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from the the beginning.
12:35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.
12:36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.
12:37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them:
12:38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets.
12:39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be shewed thee, whatsoever it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee. And with that he went his way.
12:40 And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,
12:41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?
12:42 For of all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cluster of the vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest.
12:43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient?
12:44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?
12:45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,
12:46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob:
12:47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temptation.
12:48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary.
12:49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.
12:50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them:
12:51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs.

chapter 13

13:1 And it came to pass after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:
13:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.
13:3 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.
13:4 And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.
13:5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a multitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of the sea
13:6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.
13:7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not.
13:8 And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.
13:9 And, lo, as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he neither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war:
13:10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and tempests.
13:11 And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was afraid.
13:12 Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another peaceable Multitude.
13:13 And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,
13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer:
13:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.
13:16 For as I conceive in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall be left in those days and much more woe unto them that are not left behind!
13:17 For they that were not left were in heaviness.
13:18 Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days, which shall happen unto them, and to those that are left behind.
13:19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these dreams declare.
13:20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and said,
13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.
13:22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:
13:23 He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty.
13:24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead.
13:25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea:
13:26 The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self shall deliver his creature: and he shall order them that are left behind.
13:27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm;
13:28 And that he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude that came to subdue him; this is the interpretation:
13:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth.
13:30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth.
13:31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, and one realm against another.
13:32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending.
13:33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another.
13:34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting.
13:35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.
13:36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands.
13:37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest;
13:38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me.
13:39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
13:40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
13:41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,
13:42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
13:43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
13:44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.
13:45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.
13:46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.
13:48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders.
13:49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.
13:50 And then shall he shew them great wonders.
13:51 Then said I, O Lord that bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea?
13:52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon earth see my Son, or those that be with him, but in the day time.
13:53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art here lightened.
13:54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought it.
13:55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother.
13:56 And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest: after other three days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare unto thee mighty and wondrous things.
13:57 Then went I forth into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto the most High because of his wonders which he did in time;
13:58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat three days.

chapter 14

14:1 And it came to pass upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and, behold, there came a voice out of a bush over against me, and said, Esdras, Esdras.
14:2 And I said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.
14:3 Then said he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt:
14:4 And I sent him and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up to the mount of where I held him by me a long season,
14:5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end; and commanded him, saying,
14:6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.
14:7 And now I say unto thee,
14:8 That thou lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which thou hast heard:
14:9 For thou shalt be taken away from all, and from henceforth thou shalt remain with my Son, and with such as be like thee, until the times be ended.
14:10 For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old.
14:11 For the world is divided into twelve parts, and the ten parts of it are gone already, and half of a tenth part:
14:12 And there remaineth that which is after the half of the tenth part.
14:13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption,
14:14 Let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the weak nature,
14:15 And set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from these times.
14:16 For yet greater evils than those which thou hast seen happen shall be done hereafter.
14:17 For look how much the world shall be weaker through age, so much the more shall evils increase upon them that dwell therein.
14:18 For the time is fled far away, and leasing is hard at hand: for now hasteth the vision to come, which thou hast seen.
14:19 Then answered I before thee, and said,
14:20 Behold, Lord, I will go, as thou hast commanded me, and reprove the people which are present: but they that shall be born afterward, who shall admonish them? thus the world is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein are without light.
14:21 For thy law is burnt, therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or the work that shall begin.
14:22 But if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost into me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which were written in thy law, that men may find thy path, and that they which will live in the latter days may live.
14:23 And he answered me, saying, Go thy way, gather the people together, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days.
14:24 But look thou prepare thee many box trees, and take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus, and Asiel, these five which are ready to write swiftly;
14:25 And come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall not be put out, till the things be performed which thou shalt begin to write.
14:26 And when thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some things shalt thou shew secretly to the wise: to morrow this hour shalt thou begin to write.
14:27 Then went I forth, as he commanded, and gathered all the people together, and said,
14:28 Hear these words, O Israel.
14:29 Our fathers at the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from whence they were delivered:
14:30 And received the law of life, which they kept not, which ye also have transgressed after them.
14:31 Then was the land, even the land of Sion, parted among you by lot: but your fathers, and ye yourselves, have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you.
14:32 And forasmuch as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that he had given you.
14:33 And now are ye here, and your brethren among you.
14:34 Therefore if so be that ye will subdue your own understanding, and reform your hearts, ye shall be kept alive and after death ye shall obtain mercy.
14:35 For after death shall the judgment come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the works of the ungodly shall be declared.
14:36 Let no man therefore come unto me now, nor seek after me these forty days.
14:37 So I took the five men, as he commanded me, and we went into the field, and remained there.
14:38 And the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying, Esdras, open thy mouth, and drink that I give thee to drink.
14:39 Then opened I my mouth, and, behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was like fire.
14:40 And I took it, and drank: and when I had drunk of it, my heart uttered understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast, for my spirit strengthened my memory:
14:41 And my mouth was opened, and shut no more.
14:42 The Highest gave understanding unto the five men, and they wrote the wonderful visions of the night that were told, which they knew not: and they sat forty days, and they wrote in the day, and at night they ate bread.
14:43 As for me. I spake in the day, and I held not my tongue by night.
14:44 In forty days they wrote two hundred and four books.
14:45 And it came to pass, when the forty days were filled, that the Highest spake, saying, The first that thou hast written publish openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read it:
14:46 But keep the seventy last, that thou mayest deliver them only to such as be wise among the people:
14:47 For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge.
14:48 And I did so.

chapter 15

15:1 Behold, speak thou in the ears of my people the words of prophecy, which I will put in thy mouth, saith the Lord:
15:2 And cause them to be written in paper: for they are faithful and true.
15:3 Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the incredulity of them trouble thee, that speak against thee.
15:4 For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness.
15:5 Behold, saith the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world; the sword, famine, death, and destruction.
15:6 For wickedness hath exceedingly polluted the whole earth, and their hurtful works are fulfilled.
15:7 Therefore saith the Lord,
15:8 I will hold my tongue no more as touching their wickedness, which they profanely commit, neither will I suffer them in those things, in which they wickedly exercise themselves: behold, the innocent and righteous blood crieth unto me, and the souls of the just complain continually.
15:9 And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them.
15:10 Behold, my people is led as a flock to the slaughter: I will not suffer them now to dwell in the land of Egypt:
15:11 But I will bring them with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite Egypt with plagues, as before, and will destroy all the land thereof.
15:12 Egypt shall mourn, and the foundation of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment that God shall bring upon it.
15:13 They that till the ground shall mourn: for their seeds shall fail through the blasting and hail, and with a fearful constellation.
15:14 Woe to the world and them that dwell therein!
15:15 For the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up and fight against another, and swords in their hands.
15:16 For there shall be sedition among men, and invading one another; they shall not regard their kings nor princes, and the course of their actions shall stand in their power.
15:17 A man shall desire to go into a city, and shall not be able.
15:18 For because of their pride the cities shall be troubled, the houses shall be destroyed, and men shall be afraid.
15:19 A man shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but shall destroy their houses with the sword, and spoil their goods, because of the lack of bread, and for great tribulation.
15:20 Behold, saith God, I will call together all the kings of the earth to reverence me, which are from the rising of the sun, from the south, from the east, and Libanus; to turn themselves one against another, and repay the things that they have done to them.
15:21 Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense in their bosom. Thus saith the Lord God;
15:22 My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them that shed innocent blood upon the earth.
15:23 The fire is gone forth from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the sinners, like the straw that is kindled.
15:24 Woe to them that sin, and keep not my commandments! saith the Lord.
15:25 I will not spare them: go your way, ye children, from the power, defile not my sanctuary.
15:26 For the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and destruction.
15:27 For now are the plagues come upon the whole earth and ye shall remain in them: for God shall not deliver you, because ye have sinned against him.
15:28 Behold an horrible vision, and the appearance thereof from the east:
15:29 Where the nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be carried as the wind upon earth, that all they which hear them may fear and tremble.
15:30 Also the Carmanians raging in wrath shall go forth as the wild boars of the wood, and with great power shall they come, and join battle with them, and shall waste a portion of the land of the Assyrians.
15:31 And then shall the dragons have the upper hand, remembering their nature; and if they shall turn themselves, conspiring together in great power to persecute them,
15:32 Then these shall be troubled bled, and keep silence through their power, and shall flee.
15:33 And from the land of the Assyrians shall the enemy besiege them, and consume some of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings.
15:34 Behold clouds from the east and from the north unto the south, and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm.
15:35 They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite down a great multitude of stars upon the earth, even their own star; and blood shall be from the sword unto the belly,
15:36 And dung of men unto the camel's hough.
15:37 And there shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon earth: and they that see the wrath shall be afraid, and trembling shall come upon them.
15:38 And then shall there come great storms from the south, and from the north, and another part from the west.
15:39 And strong winds shall arise from the east, and shall open it; and the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star stirred to cause fear toward the east and west wind, shall be destroyed.
15:40 The great and mighty clouds shall be puffed up full of wrath, and the star, that they may make all the earth afraid, and them that dwell therein; and they shall pour out over every high and eminent place an horrible star,
15:41 Fire, and hail, and flying swords, and many waters, that all fields may be full, and all rivers, with the abundance of great waters.
15:42 And they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees of the wood, and grass of the meadows, and their corn.
15:43 And they shall go stedfastly unto Babylon, and make her afraid.
15:44 They shall come to her, and besiege her, the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her: then shall the dust and smoke go up unto the heaven, and all they that be about her shall bewail her.
15:45 And they that remain under her shall do service unto them that have put her in fear.
15:46 And thou, Asia, that art partaker of the hope of Babylon, and art the glory of her person:
15:47 Woe be unto thee, thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like unto her; and hast decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they might please and glory in thy lovers, which have always desired to commit whoredom with thee.
15:48 Thou hast followed her that is hated in all her works and inventions: therefore saith God,
15:49 I will send plagues upon thee; widowhood, poverty, famine, sword, and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death.
15:50 And the glory of thy Power shall be dried up as a flower, the heat shall arise that is sent over thee.
15:51 Thou shalt be weakened as a poor woman with stripes, and as one chastised with wounds, so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive thee.
15:52 Would I with jealousy have so proceeded against thee, saith the Lord,
15:53 If thou hadst not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thine hands, and saying over their dead, when thou wast drunken,
15:54 Set forth the beauty of thy countenance?
15:55 The reward of thy whoredom shall be in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive recompence.
15:56 Like as thou hast done unto my chosen, saith the Lord, even so shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into mischief
15:57 Thy children shall die of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the sword: thy cities shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with the sword in the field.
15:58 They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink their own blood, for very hunger of bread, and thirst of water.
15:59 Thou as unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
15:60 And in the passage they shall rush on the idle city, and shall destroy some portion of thy land, and consume part of thy glory, and shall return to Babylon that was destroyed.
15:61 And thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble, and they shall be unto thee as fire;
15:62 And shall consume thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountains; all thy woods and thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with fire.
15:63 Thy children shall they carry away captive, and, look, what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face.

chapter 16

16:1 Woe be unto thee, Babylon, and Asia! woe be unto thee, Egypt and Syria!
16:2 Gird up yourselves with cloths of sack and hair, bewail your children, and be sorry; for your destruction is at hand.
16:3 A sword is sent upon you, and who may turn it back?
16:4 A fire is sent among you, and who may quench it?
16:5 Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that may drive them away?
16:6 May any man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? or may any one quench the fire in stubble, when it hath begun to burn?
16:7 May one turn again the arrow that is shot of a strong archer?
16:8 The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues and who is he that can drive them away?
16:9 A fire shall go forth from his wrath, and who is he that may quench it?
16:10 He shall cast lightnings, and who shall not fear? he shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid?
16:11 The Lord shall threaten, and who shall not be utterly beaten to powder at his presence?
16:12 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his power:
16:13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.
16:14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.
16:15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.
16:16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.
16:17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?
16:18 The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come?
16:19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.
16:20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.
16:21 Behold, victuals shall be so good cheap upon earth, that they shall think themselves to be in good case, and even then shall evils grow upon earth, sword, famine, and great confusion.
16:22 For many of them that dwell upon earth shall perish of famine; and the other, that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy.
16:23 And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there shall be no man to comfort them: for the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down.
16:24 There shall be no man left to till the earth, and to sow it
16:25 The trees shall give fruit, and who shall gather them?
16:26 The grapes shall ripen, and who shall tread them? for all places shall be desolate of men:
16:27 So that one man shall desire to see another, and to hear his voice.
16:28 For of a city there shall be ten left, and two of the field, which shall hide themselves in the thick groves, and in the clefts of the rocks.
16:29 As in an orchard of Olives upon every tree there are left three or four olives;
16:30 Or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some clusters of them that diligently seek through the vineyard:
16:31 Even so in those days there shall be three or four left by them that search their houses with the sword.
16:32 And the earth shall be laid waste, and the fields thereof shall wax old, and her ways and all her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel therethrough.
16:33 The virgins shall mourn, having no bridegrooms; the women shall mourn, having no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, having no helpers.
16:34 In the wars shall their bridegrooms be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
16:35 Hear now these things and understand them, ye servants of the Lord.
16:36 Behold, the word of the Lord, receive it: believe not the gods of whom the Lord spake.
16:37 Behold, the plagues draw nigh, and are not slack.
16:38 As when a woman with child in the ninth month bringeth forth her son, with two or three hours of her birth great pains compass her womb, which pains, when the child cometh forth, they slack not a moment:
16:39 Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.
16:40 O my people, hear my word: make you ready to thy battle, and in those evils be even as pilgrims upon the earth.
16:41 He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth away: and he that buyeth, as one that will lose:
16:42 He that occupieth merchandise, as he that hath no profit by it: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therein:
16:43 He that soweth, as if he should not reap: so also he that planteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes:
16:44 They that marry, as they that shall get no children; and they that marry not, as the widowers.
16:45 And therefore they that labour labour in vain:
16:46 For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captives, for in captivity and famine shall they get children.
16:47 And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, the more they deck their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their own persons:
16:48 The more will I be angry with them for their sin, saith the Lord.
16:49 Like as a whore envieth a right honest and virtuous woman:
16:50 So shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that shall defend him that diligently searcheth out every sin upon earth.
16:51 And therefore be ye not like thereunto, nor to the works thereof.
16:52 For yet a little, and iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.
16:53 Let not the sinner say that he hath not sinned: for God shall burn coals of fire upon his head, which saith before the Lord God and his glory, I have not sinned.
16:54 Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts:
16:55 Which spake but the word, Let the earth be made; and it was made: Let the heaven be made; and it was created.
16:56 In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them.
16:57 He searcheth the deep, and the treasures thereof; he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth.
16:58 He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters.
16:59 He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault; upon the waters hath he founded it.
16:60 In the desert hath he made springs of water, and pools upon the tops of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the high rocks to water the earth.
16:61 He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life, and understanding.
16:62 Yea and the Spirit of Almighty God, which made all things, and searcheth out all hidden things in the secrets of the earth,
16:63 Surely he knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in your hearts, even them that sin, and would hide their sin.
16:64 Therefore hath the Lord exactly searched out all your works, and he will put you all to shame.
16:65 And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day.
16:66 What will ye do? or how will ye hide your sins before God and his angels?
16:67 Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them for ever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.
16:68 For, behold, the burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed you, being idle, with things offered unto idols.
16:69 And they that consent unto them shall be had in derision and in reproach, and trodden under foot.
16:70 For there shall be in every place, and in the next cities, a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord.
16:71 They shall be like mad men, sparing none, but still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord.
16:72 For they shall waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
16:73 Then shall they be known, who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire.
16:74 Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same.
16:75 Be ye not afraid neither doubt; for God is your guide,
16:76 And the guide of them who keep my commandments and precepts, saith the Lord God: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves.
16:77 Woe be unto them that are bound with their sins, and covered with their iniquities like as a field is covered over with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through!
16:78 It is left undressed, and is cast into the fire to be consumed therewith.

Judith

chapter 1

1:1 In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane,
1:2 And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits:
1:3 And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits:
1:4 And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of his footmen:
1:5 Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king Arphaxad in the great plain, which is the plain in the borders of Ragau.
1:6 And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans, and very many nations of the sons of Chelod, assembled themselves to the battle.
1:7 Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Libanus, and Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the sea coast,
1:8 And to those among the nations that were of Carmel, and Galaad, and the higher Galilee, and the great plain of Esdrelom,
1:9 And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades, and the river of Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the land of Gesem,
1:10 Until ye come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt, until ye come to the borders of Ethiopia.
1:11 But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandment of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to the battle; for they were not afraid of him: yea, he was before them as one man, and they sent away his ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.
1:12 Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this country, and sware by his throne and kingdom, that he would surely be avenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till ye come to the borders of the two seas.
1:13 Then he marched in battle array with his power against king Arphaxad in the seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his battle: for he overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his horsemen, and all his chariots,
1:14 And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame.
1:15 He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.
1:16 So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his company of sundry nations being a very great multitude of men of war, and there he took his ease, and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and twenty days.

chapter 2

2:1 And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.
2:2 So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.
2:3 Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the commandment of his mouth.
2:4 And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him.
2:5 Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth, Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.
2:6 And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they disobeyed my commandment.
2:7 And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth and water: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of mine army, and I will give them for a spoil unto them:
2:8 So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow:
2:9 And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.
2:10 Thou therefore shalt go forth. and take beforehand for me all their coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment.
2:11 But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.
2:12 For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.
2:13 And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and defer not to do them.
2:14 Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called ail the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of Assur;
2:15 And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;
2:16 And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.
2:17 And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision:
2:18 And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver out of the king's house.
2:19 Then he went forth and all his power to go before king Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their chosen footmen.
2:20 A great number also sundry countries came with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.
2:21 And they went forth of Nineve three days' journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.
2:22 Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went from thence into the hill country;
2:23 And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Israel, which were toward the wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians.
2:24 Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till ye come to the sea.
2:25 And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia.
2:26 He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.
2:27 Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and herds, also he spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.
2:28 Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him greatly.

chapter 3

3:1 So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,
3:2 Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.
3:3 Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.
3:4 Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.
3:5 So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.
3:6 Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for aid.
3:7 So they and all the country round about received them with garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.
3:8 Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.
3:9 Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.
3:10 And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.

chapter 4

4:1 Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.
4:2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:
4:3 For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
4:4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem:
4:5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victuals for the provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.
4:6 Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open country, near to Dothaim,
4:7 Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the most.
4:8 And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.
4:9 Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:
4:10 Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.
4:11 Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,
4:12 And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.
4:13 So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.
4:14 And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,
4:15 And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel graciously.

chapter 5

5:1 Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills and had laid impediments in the campaign countries:
5:2 Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast,
5:3 And he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who this people is, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captain of their army;
5:4 And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the inhabitants of the west.
5:5 Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people, which dwelleth near thee, and inhabiteth the hill countries: and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.
5:6 This people are descended of the Chaldeans:
5:7 And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Chaldea.
5:8 For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the God of heaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days.
5:9 Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Chanaan: where they dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very much cattle.
5:10 But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished, and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.
5:11 Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in brick, and made them slaves.
5:12 Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight.
5:13 And God dried the Red sea before them,
5:14 And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades-Barne, and cast forth all that dwelt in the wilderness.
5:15 So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill country.
5:16 And they cast forth before them the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in that country many days.
5:17 And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hateth iniquity was with them.
5:18 But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not their's, and the temple of their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by the enemies.
5:19 But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from the places where they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country; for it was desolate.
5:20 Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error against this people, and they sin against their God, let us consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them.
5:21 But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and we become a reproach before all the world.
5:22 And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people standing round about the tent murmured, and the chief men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab, spake that he should kill him.
5:23 For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the children of Israel: for, lo, it is a people that have no strength nor power for a strong battle
5:24 Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall be a prey to be devoured of all thine army.

chapter 6

6:1 And when the tumult of men that were about the council was ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Assur said unto Achior and all the Moabites before all the company of other nations,
6:2 And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou hast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said, that we should not make war with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them? and who is God but Nabuchodonosor?
6:3 He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his servants will destroy them as one man; for they are not able to sustain the power of our horses.
6:4 For with them we will tread them under foot, and their mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps shall not be able to stand before us, for they shall utterly perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth: for he said, None of my words shall be in vain.
6:5 And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more from this day, until I take vengeance of this nation that came out of Egypt.
6:6 And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their slain, when I return.
6:7 Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill country, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages:
6:8 And thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.
6:9 And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall be taken, let not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none of my words shall be in vain.
6:10 Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent, to take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.
6:11 So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and they went from the midst of the plain into the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under Bethulia.
6:12 And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons, and went out of the city to the top of the hill: and every man that used a sling kept them from coming up by casting of stones against them.
6:13 Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and returned to their lord.
6:14 But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto him, and loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the city:
6:15 Which were in those days Ozias the son of Micha, of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.
6:16 And they called together all the ancients of the city, and all their youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias asked him of that which was done.
6:17 And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Israel.
6:18 Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto God. saying,
6:19 O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low estate of our nation, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto thee this day.
6:20 Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.
6:21 And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a feast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel all that night for help.

chapter 7

7:1 The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his people which were come to take his part, that they should remove their camp against Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of the hill country, and to make war against the children of Israel.
7:2 Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.
7:3 And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which is over against Esdraelon.
7:4 Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his neighbour, Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are able to bear their weight.
7:5 Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.
7:6 But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,
7:7 And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountains of their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and he himself removed toward his people.
7:8 Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and all the governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,
7:9 Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in thine army.
7:10 For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains.
7:11 Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish.
7:12 Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and let thy servants get into their hands the fountain of water, which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain:
7:13 For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; so shall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city, and we and our people shall go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go out of the city.
7:14 So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed with fire, and before the sword come against them, they shall be overthrown in the streets where they dwell.
7:15 Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.
7:16 And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.
7:17 So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel.
7:18 Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and camped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.
7:19 Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.
7:20 Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that all their vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of Bethulia.
7:21 And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by measure.
7:22 Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.
7:23 Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,
7:24 God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of Assur.
7:25 For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.
7:26 Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.
7:27 For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.
7:28 We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said this day.
7:29 Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud voice.
7:30 Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.
7:31 And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word.
7:32 And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children into their houses: and they were very low brought in the city.

chapter 8

8:1 Now at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of Salasadal, the son of Israel.
8:2 And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest.
8:3 For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.
8:4 So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
8:5 And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow's apparel.
8:6 And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons and the feasts and solemn days of the house of Israel.
8:7 She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.
8:8 And there was none that gave her an ill word; ar she feared God greatly.
8:9 Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five days;
8:10 Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the ancients of the city.
8:11 And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that ye have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.
8:12 And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God among the children of men?
8:13 And now try the Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know any thing.
8:14 For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can ye perceive the things that he thinketh: then how can ye search out God, that hath made all these things, and know his mind, or comprehend his purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger.
8:15 For if he will not help us within these five days, he hath power to defend us when he will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies.
8:16 Do not bind the counsels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man, that he may be threatened; neither is he as the son of man, that he should be wavering.
8:17 Therefore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him.
8:18 For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these days neither tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime.
8:19 For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.
8:20 But we know none other god, therefore we trust that he will not dispise us, nor any of our nation.
8:21 For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation thereof at our mouth.
8:22 And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them that possess us.
8:23 For our servitude shall not be directed to favour: but the Lord our God shall turn it to dishonour.
8:24 Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us.
8:25 Moreover let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us, even as he did our fathers.
8:26 Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother.
8:27 For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on us: but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to admonish them.
8:28 Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words.
8:29 For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine heart is good.
8:30 But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
8:31 Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more.
8:32 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation.
8:33 Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand.
8:34 But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do.
8:35 Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.
8:36 So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.

chapter 9

9:1 Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem in the house of the Lord Judith cried with a loud voice, and said,
9:2 O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did so:
9:3 Wherefore thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;
9:4 And hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among thy dear children; which were moved with thy zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon thee for aid: O God, O my God, hear me also a widow.
9:5 For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come.
9:6 Yea, what things thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said, Lo, we are here: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgments are in thy foreknowledge.
9:7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength of their footmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that thou art the Lord that breakest the battles: the Lord is thy name.
9:8 Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth and to cast down with sword the horn of thy altar.
9:9 Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have conceived.
9:10 Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman.
9:11 For thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in strong men: for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope.
9:12 I pray thee, I pray thee, O God of my father, and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of the waters, king of every creature, hear thou my prayer:
9:13 And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed cruel things against thy covenant, and thy hallowed house, and against the top of Sion, and against the house of the possession of thy children.
9:14 And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the God of all power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the people of Israel but thou.

chapter 10

10:1 Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and bad made an end of all these words.
10:2 She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house in the which she abode in the sabbath days, and in her feast days,
10:3 And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of Manasses her husband.
10:4 And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.
10:5 Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she folded all these things together, and laid them upon her.
10:6 Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias and the ancients of the city, Chabris and Charmis.
10:7 And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto her.
10:8 The God, the God of our fathers give thee favour, and accomplish thine enterprizes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped God.
10:9 And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have spoken with me. So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken.
10:10 And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.
10:11 Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the Assyrians met her,
10:12 And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be consumed:
10:13 And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men.
10:14 Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,
10:15 Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.
10:16 And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well.
10:17 Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
10:18 Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.
10:19 And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would despise this people, that have among them such women? surely it is not good that one man of them be left who being let go might deceive the whole earth.
10:20 And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants and they brought her into the tent.
10:21 Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.
10:22 So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.
10:23 And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up.

chapter 11

11:1 Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.
11:2 Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.
11:3 But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:
11:4 For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.
11:5 Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.
11:6 And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.
11:7 As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.
11:8 For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
11:9 Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.
11:10 Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.
11:11 And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:
11:12 For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:
11:13 And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
11:14 For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.
11:15 Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.
11:16 Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.
11:17 For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins:
11:18 And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.
11:19 And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.
11:20 Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,
11:21 There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.
11:22 Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.
11:23 And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.

chapter 12

12:1 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.
12:2 And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.
12:3 Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.
12:4 Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.
12:5 Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,
12:6 And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.
12:7 Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.
12:8 And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.
12:9 So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.
12:10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
12:11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.
12:12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.
12:13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.
12:14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.
12:15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas far her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
12:16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.
12:17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.
12:18 So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.
12:19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
12:20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

chapter 13

13:1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
13:2 And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.
13:3 Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her. coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.
13:4 So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
13:5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.
13:6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,
13:7 And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.
13:8 And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.
13:9 And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid;
13:10 And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
13:11 Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he hath even done this day.
13:12 Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city.
13:13 And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.
13:14 Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God, praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.
13:15 So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.
13:16 As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.
13:17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people.
13:18 Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies.
13:19 For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for ever.
13:20 And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said; So be it, so be it.

chapter 14

14:1 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.
14:2 And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians; but go not down.
14:3 Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.
14:4 So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.
14:5 But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us as it were to his death.
14:6 Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed.
14:7 But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith's feet, and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacles of Juda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished.
14:8 Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she spake unto them.
14:9 And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.
14:10 And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.
14:11 And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.
14:12 But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their leaders, which came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers.
14:13 So they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that had the charge of all his things, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed.
14:14 Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Judith.
14:15 But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head was taken from him.
14:16 Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.
14:17 After he went into the tent where Judith lodged: and when he found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,
14:18 These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground without a head.
14:19 When the captains of the Assyrians' army heard these words, they rent their coats and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.

chapter 15

15:1 And when they that were in the tents heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.
15:2 And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out all together, they fled into every way of the plain, and of the hill country.
15:3 They also that had camped in the mountains round about Bethulia fled away. Then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.
15:4 Then sent Ozias to Betomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Cola and to all the coasts of Israel, such as should tell the things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them.
15:5 Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon them with one consent, and slew them unto Chobai: likewise also they that came from Jerusalem, and from all the hill country, (for men had told them what things were done in the camp of their enemies) and they that were in Galaad, and in Galilee, chased them with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof.
15:6 And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Assur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.
15:7 And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter had that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that were in the mountains and in the plain, gat many spoils: for the multitude was very great.
15:8 Then Joacim the high priest, and the ancients of the children of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to behold the good things that God had shewed to Israel, and to see Judith, and to salute her.
15:9 And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our nation:
15:10 Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done much good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore. And all the people said, So be it.
15:11 And the people spoiled the camp the space of thirty days: and they gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent, and all his plate, and beds, and vessels, and all his stuff: and she took it and laid it on her mule; and made ready her carts, and laid them thereon.
15:12 Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her: and she took branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with her.
15:13 And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that was with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.

chapter 16

16:1 Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang after her this song of praise.
16:2 And Judith said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a new psalm: exalt him, and call upon his name.
16:3 For God breaketh the battles: for among the camps in the midst of the people he hath delivered me out of the hands of them that persecuted me.
16:4 Assur came out of the mountains from the north, he came with ten thousands of his army, the multitude whereof stopped the torrents, and their horsemen have covered the hills.
16:5 He bragged that he would burn up my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against the ground, and make mine infants as a prey, and my virgins as a spoil.
16:6 But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a woman.
16:7 For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did the sons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him: but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her countenance.
16:8 For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed her face with ointment, and bound her hair in a tire, and took a linen garment to deceive him.
16:9 Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind prisoner, and the fauchion passed through his neck.
16:10 The Persians quaked at her boldness, and the Medes were daunted at her hardiness.
16:11 Then my afflicted shouted for joy, and my weak ones cried aloud; but they were astonished: these lifted up their voices, but they were overthrown.
16:12 The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and wounded them as fugatives' children: they perished by the battle of the Lord.
16:13 I will sing unto the Lord a new song: O Lord, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.
16:14 Let all creatures serve thee: for thou spakest, and they were made, thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, and there is none that can resist thy voice.
16:15 For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters, the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: yet thou art merciful to them that fear thee.
16:16 For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee, and all the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt offering: but he that feareth the Lord is great at all times.
16:17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment, in putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them, and weep for ever.
16:18 Now as soon as they entered into Jerusalem, they worshipped the Lord; and as soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their gifts.
16:19 Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord.
16:20 So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for the space of three months and Judith remained with them.
16:21 After this time every one returned to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was in her time honourable in all the country.
16:22 And many desired her, but none knew her all the days of her life, after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered to his people.
16:23 But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in her husband's house, being an hundred and five years old, and made her maid free; so she died in Bethulia: and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses.
16:24 And the house of Israel lamented her seven days: and before she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that were the nearest of her kindred.
16:25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.

Apocrypha books

From Greek apokryptein, "to hide away"), in biblical literature, works outside an accepted canon of scripture. The history of the term's usage indicates that it referred to a body of esoteric writings that were at first prized, later tolerated, and finally excluded. In its broadest sense apocrypha has come to mean any writings of dubious authority.

The first set are books which are included in some version of the canonical Bible, but which have been excluded at one time or another, for textual or doctrinal issues. These are called 'Deuterocanonical', which means 'books added to the canon.'

The second set are other apocryphal texts which have not been canonized, but which nevertheless shed light on the Bible and its history.

There are several levels of dubiety within the general concept of apocryphal works in Judeo-Christian biblical writings.

Apocrypha per se are outside the canon, not considered divinely inspired but regarded as worthy of study by the faithful.

At the time when Greek was the common spoken language in the Mediterranean region, the Old Testament "the Hebrew Bible" was incomprehensible to most of the population. For this reason, Jewish scholars produced the Septuagint, a translation of the Old Testament books from various Hebrew texts, along with fragments in Aramaic, into Greek. That version incorporated a number of works that later, non-Hellenistic Jewish scholarship at the Council of Jamnia (90 AD) identified as being outside the authentic Hebrew canon. The Talmud separates these works as Sefarim Hizonim (Extraneous Books).

The Septuagint was an important basis for St. Jerome's translation of the Old Testament into Latin for the Vulgate Bible; and, although he had doubts about the authenticity of some of the apocryphal works that it contained (he was the first to employ the word apocrypha in the sense of "noncanonical"), he was overruled, and most of them were included in the Vulgate. On April 8, 1546, the Council of Trent declared the canonicity of nearly the entire Vulgate, excluding only the Third and Fourth Books of Macabees, the Prayer of Manasseh, Psalm 151, and the First and Second Books of Esdras. Eastern Christendom, meanwhile, had accepted some of the Old Testament apocrypha Tobit, Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, and Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach) but rejected the rest.

The other apocryphal writings, canonical only to Roman Catholicism, with an exception or two, include the Book of Baruch (a prophet) and the Letter of Jeremiah (often the sixth chapter of Baruch); the First and Second Books of Macabees; several stories from Daniel, namely, the Song of the Three, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon; and extensive portions of the Book of Esther.

In addition to apocryphal works, the New Testament includes a number of works and fragments that are described by a second meaning of the term Deuterocanonical: "added later." The Letter to the Hebrews attributed to Paul, who died before it was written, is one of these; others are the letters of James, Peter (II), John (II and III), and Jude, and the Revelation to John. Fragments include Mark 16:9-20, Luke 22:43-44, and John 7:53 and 8:1-11. All are included in the Roman canon and are accepted by the Eastern Church and most Protestant churches.

At the Synod of Dordrecht (The Netherlands), held in 1618-1619, the Protestants declared all Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha books not canonical as part of the "original" Bible. At this Synod the King James Version of the Bible was established, in The Netherlands called "Statenvertaling".

Deuterocanonical

The Apocrypha refer to texts which are left out of officially sanctioned versions ('canon') of the Bible. The term means 'things hidden away,' which implies secret or esoteric literature. However, none of these texts were ever considered secret.

In some Protestant Bibles, they are placed between the New and Old Testament. In the Roman Catholic Bibles the books are interspersed with the rest of the text. In this case they are also called 'Deuterocanonical', which means 'books added to the canon'. The books on this page are all Deuterocanonical.

Jerome rejected the Deuterocanonical books when he was translating the Bible into Latin circa 450 CE. This was because no Hebrew version of these texts could be found, even though they were present in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint). However, they eventually were accepted by the Church, and remained part of the Bible. Protestants rejected these books during the Reformation as lacking divine authority. They either excised them completely or placed them in a third section of the Bible. The Roman Catholic Council of Trent, on the other hand, declared in 1546 that the Deuterocanonical books were indeed divine.

Deuterocanonical Apocrypha

Chapter Index

First Book of Esdras
Second Book of Esdras
Tobit or Tobias
Judith
Additions to Esther
Wisdom of Solomon
Baruch
Epistle of Jeremiah
Book of Susanna
The Book of Bel and the Dragon
Prayer of Manasseh
First Book of Macabees
Second Book of Macabees
Sirach
Prayer of Azariah

With one exception, all of these books are considered 'Old Testament'. The apocryphal New Testament 'Letter of Paul to the Laodiceans', was once incorporated in many versions of the Bible. However Laodiceans is now considered just a pastiche of other Epistles, and is omitted from contemporary Bibles.

Paul to the Laodiceans

Non-Deuterocanonical

There are many other apocryphal books, which do not fall into the 'Deuterocanonical' category, such as the many additional New Testament Gospels, and the apocalyptic book of Enoch.

The Gospel of Thomas

and many others

The book of Enoch and others you can find in my Pseudepigrapha section.