1 Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia, was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold, 2 And that there was in it a temple exceeding rich; and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields, which king Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian, that reigned first in Greece, had left there. 3 So he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it; but he was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the city. 4 And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia. 5 And whilst he was in Persia there came one that told him how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight: 6 And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed: 7 And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also, his city. 8 And it came to pass, when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined. 9 And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die. 10 And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety: 11 And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power! 12 But now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver, that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause. 13 I know, therefore, that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land. 14 Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom. 15 And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he should go to Antiochus, his son, and should bring him up for the kingdom. 16 So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and forty-nine. 17 And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus, his son, to reign, whom he had brought up young: and he called his name Eupator.
18 Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles. 19 And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all the people, to besiege them. 20 And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines. 21 And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them. 22 And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute judgment, and to revenge our brethren? 23 We determined to serve thy father, and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts: 24 And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances. 25 Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders. 26 And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the strong hold of Bethsura: 27 And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them. 28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen. 29 There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea, hired troops. 30 And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained to battle. 31 And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth, and burnt them with fire, and fought manfully. But they sallied forth... That is, the citizens of Bethsura sallied forth and burnt them, that is, burnt the engines of the besiegers.
32 And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp. 33 And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets: 34 And they showed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries, to provoke them to fight. 35 And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were chosen for every beast. 36 These before the time wheresoever the beast was they were there: and whithersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it. These before the time... That is, these were ready for every occasion. 37 And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers which covered every one of them: and engines upon them, and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above: and an Indian to rule the beast. 38 And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof. 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire. 40 And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on warily and orderly. 41 And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong. 42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king's army six hundred men. 43 And Eleazar, the son of Saura, saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts; and it seemed to him that the king was on it: 44 And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting name. 45 And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side. 46 And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there. 47 Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.
48 But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and Mount Sion. 49 And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land. 50 And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it. 51 And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines, and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings. 52 And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days. 53 But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up. 54 And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place.
55 Now Lysias heard that Philip; whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son, Antiochus, and to reign, 56 Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom: 57 Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. 58 Now, therefore, let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation. 59 And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws, as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things. 60 And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it. 61 And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the strong hold. 62 Then the king entered into Mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about. 63 And he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city.
Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899
1 Et rex Antiochus perambulabat superiores regiones, et audivit esse civitatem Elymaidem in Perside nobilissimam, et copiosam in argento et auro, 2 templumque in ea locuples valde, et illic velamina aurea, et loricæ, et scuta, quæ reliquit Alexander Philippi rex Macedo, qui regnavit primus in Græcia. 3 Et venit, et quærebat capere civitatem, et deprædari eam: et non potuit, quoniam innotuit sermo his qui erant in civitate: 4 et insurrexerunt in prælium, et fugit inde, et abiit cum tristitia magna, et reversus est in Babyloniam. 5 Et venit qui nuntiaret ei in Perside, quia fugata sunt castra quæ erant in terra Juda: 6 et quia abiit Lysias cum virtute forti in primis, et fugatus est a facie Judæorum, et invaluerunt armis, et viribus, et spoliis multis, quæ ceperunt de castris, quæ exciderunt: 7 et quia diruerunt abominationem, quam ædificaverat super altare quod erat in Jerusalem: et sanctificationem, sicut prius, circumdederunt muris excelsis, sed et Bethsuram civitatem suam. 8 Et factum est ut audivit rex sermones istos, expavit, et commotus est valde: et decidit in lectum, et incidit in languorem præ tristitia, quia non factum est ei sicut cogitabat. 9 Et erat illic per dies multos, quia renovata est in eo tristitia magna, et arbitratus est se mori. 10 Et vocavit omnes amicos suos, et dixit illis: Recessit somnus ab oculis meis, et concidi, et corrui corde præ sollicitudine: 11 et dixi in corde meo: In quantam tribulationem deveni, et in quos fluctus tristitiæ, in qua nunc sum: qui jucundus eram, et dilectus in potestate mea! 12 Nunc vero reminiscor malorum quæ feci in Jerusalem, unde et abstuli omnia spolia aurea et argentea quæ erant in ea, et misi auferre habitantes Judæam sine causa. 13 Cognovi ergo quia propterea invenerunt me mala ista: et ecce pereo tristitia magna in terra aliena. 14 Et vocavit Philippum, unum de amicis suis, et præposuit eum super universum regnum suum: 15 et dedit ei diadema, et stolam suam, et annulum, ut adduceret Antiochum filium suum, et nutriret eum, et regnaret. 16 Et mortuus est illic Antiochus rex anno centesimo quadragesimo nono. 17 Et cognovit Lysias quoniam mortuus est rex, et constituit regnare Antiochum filium ejus, quem nutrivit adolescentem: et vocavit nomen ejus Eupator.
18 Et hi qui erant in arce, concluserant Israël in circuitu sanctorum: et quærebant eis mala semper, et firmamentum gentium. 19 Et cogitavit Judas disperdere eos: et convocavit universum populum, ut obsiderent eos. 20 Et convenerunt simul, et obsederunt eos anno centesimo quinquagesimo, et fecerunt ballistas et machinas. 21 Et exierunt quidam ex eis qui obsidebantur: et adjunxerunt se illis aliqui impii ex Israël, 22 et abierunt ad regem, et dixerunt: Quousque non facis judicium, et vindicas fratres nostros? 23 Nos decrevimus servire patri tuo, et ambulare in præceptis ejus, et obsequi edictis ejus: 24 et filii populi nostri propter hoc alienabant se a nobis, et quicumque inveniebantur ex nobis, interficiebantur, et hæreditates nostræ diripiebantur. 25 Et non ad nos tantum extenderunt manum, sed et in omnes fines nostros: 26 et ecce applicuerunt hodie ad arcem Jerusalem occupare eam, et munitionem Bethsuram munierunt: 27 et nisi præveneris eos velocius, majora quam hæc facient, et non poteris obtinere eos. 28 Et iratus est rex, ut hæc audivit: et convocavit omnes amicos suos, et principes exercitus sui, et eos qui super equites erant: 29 sed et de regnis aliis et de insulis maritimis venerunt ad eum exercitus conductitii. 30 Et erat numerus exercitus ejus, centum millia peditum, et viginti millia equitum, et elephanti triginta duo, docti ad prælium. 31 Et venerunt per Idumæam, et applicuerunt ad Bethsuram, et pugnaverunt dies multos: et fecerunt machinas, et exierunt, et succenderunt eas igni, et pugnaverunt viriliter.
32 Et recessit Judas ab arce, et movit castra ad Bethzacharam contra castra regis. 33 Et surrexit rex ante lucem, et concitavit exercitus in impetum contra viam Bethzacharam: et comparaverunt se exercitus in prælium, et tubis cecinerunt: 34 et elephantis ostenderunt sanguinem uvæ et mori, ad acuendos eos in prælium: 35 et diviserunt bestias per legiones, et astiterunt singulis elephantis mille viri in loricis concatenatis, et galeæ æreæ in capitibus eorum: et quingenti equites ordinati unicuique bestiæ electi erant. 36 Hi ante tempus, ubicumque erat bestia, ibi erant: et quocumque ibat, ibant, et non discedebant ab ea. 37 Sed et turres ligneæ super eos firmæ protegentes super singulas bestias: et super eas machinæ: et super singulas viri virtutis triginta duo, qui pugnabant desuper: et Indus magister bestiæ. 38 Et residuum equitatum hinc et inde statuit in duas partes, tubis exercitum commovere, et perurgere constipatos in legionibus ejus. 39 Et ut refulsit sol in clypeos aureos et æreos, resplenduerunt montes ab eis, et resplenduerunt sicut lampades ignis. 40 Et distincta est pars exercitus regis per montes excelsos, et alia per loca humilia: et ibant caute et ordinate. 41 Et commovebantur omnes inhabitantes terram a voce multitudinis, et incessu turbæ, et collisione armorum: erat enim exercitus magnus valde, et fortis. 42 Et appropiavit Judas et exercitus ejus in prælium, et ceciderunt de exercitu regis sexcenti viri. 43 Et vidit Eleazar filius Saura unam de bestiis loricatam loricis regis: et erat eminens super ceteras bestias, et visum est ei quod in ea esset rex: 44 et dedit se ut liberaret populum suum, et acquireret sibi nomen æternum. 45 Et cucurrit ad eam audacter in medio legionis, interficiens a dextris et a sinistris, et cadebant ab eo huc atque illuc. 46 Et ivit sub pedes elephantis, et supposuit se ei, et occidit eum: et cecidit in terram super ipsum, et mortuus est illic. 47 Et videntes virtutem regis, et impetum exercitus ejus, diverterunt se ab eis.
48 Castra autem regis ascenderunt contra eos in Jerusalem, et applicuerunt castra regis ad Judæam, et montem Sion. 49 Et fecit pacem cum his qui erant in Bethsura: et exierunt de civitate, quia non erant eis ibi alimenta conclusis, quia sabbata erant terræ. 50 Et comprehendit rex Bethsuram: et constituit illic custodiam servare eam. 51 Et convertit castra ad locum sanctificationis dies multos: et statuit illic ballistas, et machinas, et ignis jacula, et tormenta ad lapides jactandos, et spicula, et scorpios ad mittendas sagittas, et fundibula. 52 Fecerunt autem et ipsi machinas adversus machinas eorum, et pugnaverunt dies multos. 53 Escæ autem non erant in civitate, eo quod septimus annus esset: et qui remanserant in Judæa de gentibus, consumpserant reliquias eorum, quæ repositæ fuerant. 54 Et remanserunt in sanctis viri pauci, quoniam obtinuerat eos fames: et dispersi sunt unusquisque in locum suum.
55 Et audivit Lysias quod Philippus, quem constituerat rex Antiochus cum adhuc viveret, ut nutriret Antiochum filium suum, et regnaret, 56 reversus esset a Perside et Media, et exercitus qui abierat cum ipso, et quia quærebat suscipere regni negotia: 57 festinavit ire, et dicere ad regem, et duces exercitus: Deficimus quotidie, et esca nobis modica est; et locus, quem obsidemus, est munitus, et incumbit nobis ordinare de regno. 58 Nunc itaque demus dextras hominibus istis, et faciamus cum illis pacem, et cum omni gente eorum: 59 et constituamus illis ut ambulent in legitimis suis sicut prius: propter legitima enim ipsorum, quæ despeximus, irati sunt, et fecerunt omnia hæc. 60 Et placuit sermo in conspectu regis et principum: et misit ad eos pacem facere, et receperunt illam. 61 Et juravit illis rex et principes, et exierunt de munitione. 62 Et intravit rex montem Sion, et vidit munitionem loci: et rupit citius juramentum quod juravit, et mandavit destruere murum in gyro. 63 Et discessit festinanter, et reversus est Antiochiam, et invenit Philippum dominantem civitati: et pugnavit adversus eum, et occupavit civitatem.
Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition