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Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.
1 To the brethren the Jews that are throughout Egypt, the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health, and good peace.
Fratribus qui sunt per Aegyptum, Judaeis, salutem dicunt fratres qui sunt in Jerosolymis, Judaei, et qui in regione Judaeae, et pacem bonam.
2 May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
Benefaciat vobis Deus, et meminerit testamenti sui, quod locutus est ad Abraham, et Isaac, et Jacob servorum suorum fidelium :
3 And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.
et det vobis cor omnibus ut colatis eum, et faciatis ejus voluntatem corde magno, et animo volenti.
4 May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.
Adaperiat cor vestrum in lege sua, et in praeceptis suis, et faciat pacem.
5 May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.
Exaudiat orationes vestras, et reconcilietur vobis, nec vos deserat in tempore malo.
6 And now here we are praying for you.
Et nunc hic sumus orantes pro vobis.
7 When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you, in the trouble, and violence, that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.
Regnante Demetrio, anno centesimo sexagesimo nono, nos Judaei scripsimus vobis in tribulatione, et impetu, qui supervenit nobis in istis annis, ex quo recessit Jason a sancta terra, et a regno.
8 They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
Portam succenderunt, et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem : et oravimus ad Dominum, et exauditi sumus, et obtulimus sacrificium, et similaginem, et accendimus lucernas, et proposuimus panes.
9 And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.
Et nunc frequentate dies scenopegiae mensis Casleu.
10 In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.
Anno centesimo octogesimo octavo, populus qui est Jerosolymis et in Judaea, senatusque et Judas, Aristobolo magistro Ptolemaei regis, qui est de genere christorum sacerdotum, et his qui in Aegypto sunt, Judaeis salutem et sanitatem.
11 Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.
De magnis periculis a Deo liberati, magnifice gratias agimus ipsi, utpote qui adversus talem regem dimicavimus.
12 For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia that have fought against us, and the holy city.
Ipse enim ebullire fecit de Perside eos qui pugnaverunt contra nos et sanctam civitatem.
13 For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.
Nam cum in Perside esset dux ipse, et cum ipso immensus exercitus, cecidit in templo Naneae, consilio deceptus sacerdotum Naneae.
14 For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the title of a dowry.
Etenim cum ea habitaturus venit ad locum Antiochus, et amici ejus, et ut acciperet pecunias multas dotis nomine.
15 And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,
Cumque proposuissent eas sacerdotes Naneae, et ipse cum paucis ingressus esset intra ambitum fani, clauserunt templum,
16 When Antiochus was come in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces, and cutting off their heads they threw them forth.
cum intrasset Antiochus : apertoque occulto aditu templi, mittentes lapides percusserunt ducem, et eos qui cum eo erant, et diviserunt membratim, et capitibus amputatis foras projecerunt.
17 Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.
Per omnia benedictus Deus, qui tradidit impios.
18 Therefore whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.
Facturi igitur quinta et vigesima die mensis Casleu purificationem templi, necessarium duximus significare vobis : ut et vos quoque agatis diem scenopegiae, et diem ignis, qui datus est quando Nehemias aedificato templo et altari obtulit sacrificia.
19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that then were worshippers of God took privately the fire from the altar, and hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men.
Nam cum in Persidem ducerentur patres nostri, sacerdotes, qui tunc cultores Dei erant, acceptum ignem de altari occulte absconderunt in valle, ubi erat puteus altus et siccus, et in eo contutati sunt eum, ita ut omnibus ignotus esset locus.
20 But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.
Cum autem praeterissent anni multi, et placuit Deo ut mitteretur Nehemias a rege Persidis : nepotes sacerdotum illorum, qui absconderant, misit ad requirendum ignem : et sicut narraverunt nobis, non invenerunt ignem, sed aquam crassam.
21 Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest Nehemias commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon it.
Et jussit eos haurire, et afferre sibi : et sacrificia, quae imposita erant, jussit sacerdos Nehemias aspergi ipsa aqua, et ligna, et quae erant superposita.
22 And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all wondered.
Utque hoc factum est, et tempus affuit, quo sol refulsit, qui prius erat in nubilo, accensus est ignis magnus, ita ut omnes mirarentur.
23 And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.
Orationem autem faciebant omnes sacerdotes, dum consummaretur sacrificium, Jonatha inchoante, ceteris autem respondentibus.
24 And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone art the good king,
Et Nehemiae erat oratio hunc habens modum : Domine Deus omnium creator, terribilis et fortis, justus et misericors, qui solus est bonus rex,
25 Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the fathers and didst sanctify them:
solus praestans, solus justus et omnipotens, et aeternus, qui liberas Israel de omni malo; qui fecisti patres electos, et sanctificasti eos :
26 Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy own portion, and sanctify it.
accipe sacrificium pro universo populo tuo Israel, et custodi partem tuam, et sanctifica.
27 Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.
Congrega dispersionem nostram, libera eos qui serviunt gentibus, et contemptos et abominatos respice, ut sciant gentes quia tu es Deus noster.
28 Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with pride.
Afflige opprimentes nos, et contumeliam facientes in superbia.
29 Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
Constitue populum tuum in loco sancto tuo, sicut dixit Moyses.
30 And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.
Sacerdotes autem psallebant hymnos, usquequo consumptum esset sacrificium.
31 And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.
Cum autem consumptum esset sacrificium, ex residua aqua Nehemias jussit lapides majores perfundi.
32 Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
Quod ut factum est, ex eis flamma accensa est : sed ex lumine, quod refulsit ab altari, consumpta est.
33 And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were with him had purified the sacrifices.
Ut vero manifestata est res, renuntiatum est regi Persarum quod in loco, in quo ignem absconderent hi qui translati fuerant, sacerdotes, aqua apparuit, de qua Nehemias, et qui cum eo erant, purificaverunt sacrificia.
34 And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.
Considerans autem rex, et rem diligenter examinans, fecit ei templum, ut probaret quod factum erat :
35 And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and divers presents, and he took and distributed them to them with his own hand.
et cum probasset, sacerdotibus donavit multa bona, et alia atque alia munera, et accipiens manu sua, tribuebat eis.
36 And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But many call it Nephi.
Appellavit autem Nehemias hunc locum Nephthar, quod interpretatur Purificatio : vocatur autem apud plures Nephi.
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