II Maccabees 2

¹It 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:

²And 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.

³And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.

⁴It 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.

⁵And 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.

⁶And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.

⁷Which 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.

⁸Then 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.

⁹It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.

¹²So Solomon kept those eight days.

¹³The 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.

¹⁴In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us,

¹⁵Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.

¹⁶Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.

¹⁷We 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,

¹⁸As 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.

¹⁹Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

²⁰And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,

²¹And 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,

²²And 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:

²³All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

²⁴For 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,

²⁵We 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.

²⁶Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;

²⁷Even 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;

²⁸Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.

²⁹For 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.

³⁰To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:

³¹But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.

³²Here 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.

II Maccabees 2

¹Now it is found in the descriptions of Jeremias, the prophet, that he commanded them that went into captivity, to take the fire, as it hath been signified, and how he gave charge to them that were carried away into captivity.

²And how he gave them the law, that they should not forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, seeing the idols of gold, and silver, and the ornaments of them.

³And with other such like speeches, he exhorted them that they would not remove the law from their heart.

⁴It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain where Moses went up, and saw the inheritance of God.

⁵And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.

⁶Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: but they could not find it.

⁷And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: The place shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the people, and receive them to mercy.

⁸And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to Moses, and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God.

⁹For he treated wisdom in a magnificent manner: and like a wise man, he offered the sacrifice of the dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.

¹⁰And as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocaust: so Solomon also prayed, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the holocaust.

¹¹And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was consumed.

¹²So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days.

¹³And these same things were set down in the memoirs, and commentaries of Nehemias: and how he made a library, and gathered together out of the countries, the books both of the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings, and concerning the holy gifts.

¹⁴And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things as were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession.

¹⁵Wherefore, if you want these things, send some that may fetch them to you.

¹⁶As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days.

¹⁷And we hope that God, who hath delivered his people, and hath rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,

¹⁸As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy place.

¹⁹For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed the place.

²⁰Now as concerning Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar:

²¹As also the wars against Antiochus, the Illustrious, and his son, Eupator:

²²And the manifestations that came from heaven to them, that behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being but a few they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to flight the barbarous multitude:

²³And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them.

²⁴And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason, of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.

²⁵For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because of the multitude of the matter,

²⁶We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive profit.

²⁷And as to ourselves indeed, in undertaking this work of abridging, we have taken in hand no easy task; yea, rather a business full of watching and sweat.

²⁸But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour.

²⁹Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, and as for ourselves, according to the plan proposed, studying to be brief.

³⁰For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged of us.

³¹For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of the author of a history:

³²But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations of things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment.

³³Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.