1 Maccabees 15:2-4

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

² And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

³ Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore it to its former estate: and I have chosen a great army, and have built ships of war.

⁴ And I design to go through the country that I may take revenge of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities desolate in my realm.