Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| Now Judas heard of the name of the Romans, that they were mighty in strength, and that they showed goodwill toward all who joined themselves to them, and that whoever came to them, with them they established friendship,
2| and that they were mighty in strength; and men related to him their wars and the brave deeds that they were doing among the Gauls, and how they had mastered them and brought them under tribute;
3| and everything they accomplished within Spanish territory, to gain control of the silver and gold mines located there,
4| and how by their counsel and their patience they had mastered the whole place, though the place was very far distant from them, and how they mastered the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and struck them with a great blow, while the rest paid them tribute every year;
5| and Philip, and Perseus king of the Kittians, and those who rose up against them, they crushed in war and mastered them;
6| and Antiochus the great king of Asia, who marched to war against them with a hundred and twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots, and a truly massive host, was defeated by them;
7| and they captured him alive, and fixed terms that he and his successors on the throne must pay heavy annual dues, hand over hostages, and yield a fixed share of territory,
8| along with the regions of India, Media, and Lydia, taken from among his finest provinces, and having stripped these from him they gave them to Eumenes the king;
9| and how those from Greece had planned to come and destroy them,
10| and the matter became known to them, and they sent against them a single general, and made war against them, and many of them fell wounded, and they took captive their wives and their children, and plundered them, and mastered their land, and tore down their strongholds, and plundered them, and enslaved them until this very day;
11| and the remaining kingdoms, and the islands, as many as ever rose up against them, they destroyed and enslaved to themselves;
12| but with their friends, and those who relied on them, they kept friendship; and they mastered kingdoms both near and far, so that all who heard their name feared them;
13| and whom they wished to help to a kingdom, these should reign; and whom they wished, these they removed; and they were exalted exceedingly.
14| And in all this, not one of them put on a diadem, nor did they wrap themselves in purple, so as to be exalted by it.
15| And they made for themselves a senate house, and every day three hundred and twenty men took counsel, deliberating continually concerning the people, to keep good order among them.
16| And they entrust to one man the rule over them each year, and the lordship over all their land, and all obey the one, and there is no envy nor jealousy among them.
17| So Judas chose Eupolemus son of John, son of Akkos, and Jason son of Eleazar, and dispatched them to the city of Rome, to establish friendship and alliance with them,
18| and to remove their yoke, since they could see that the realm ruled by the Greeks was pressing Israel into servitude.
19| So they went to Rome, and the way was very long; and they entered the senate house, and spoke, saying,
20| Judas, called Maccabeus, and his brothers, and the body of the Jewish people, have sent us to you, to establish alliance and peace with you, and that we should be enrolled as your allies and friends.
21| And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22| And here follows the text of the reply they inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem, so it would remain there as a record of the peace and alliance:
23| May it go well for the Romans and for the nation of the Jews, by sea and on land, forever, and may sword and enemy be kept far from them.
24| But if war comes first upon Rome, or upon any of their allies, in all their dominion,
25| the nation of the Jews shall fight beside them, as the occasion shall be indicated to them, with a whole heart.
26| And to those making war on them they shall give and supply nothing — grain, weapons, silver, ships — as Rome has decreed; and they shall keep these obligations, taking nothing in return.
27| And likewise, should conflict strike the Jewish nation before it strikes Rome, the Romans shall stand and fight at their side wholeheartedly, as circumstances direct.
28| And to those allied with them shall be given no grain, weapons, or silver, as Rome has decreed; and they shall keep these obligations, and without deceit.
29| On these terms the Romans concluded their pact with the Jewish people.
30| But if, after these terms, these or those should decide to add to them or take away, they shall do so at their own choice, and whatever they add or take away shall be valid.
31| And concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius is doing against them, we wrote to him, saying: Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews?
32| If then they appeal to us again against you, we will render them justice, and will make war on you by sea and by land.