1 Maccabees 15:2-4

New Catholic Bible

² It read as follows:

“King Antiochus sends greetings to Simon, the priest and ethnarch of the Jews, and to the Jewish nation. ³ Whereas certain scoundrels have seized control of the kingdom of my ancestors, I intend to assert my claim to it so that I may restore it to its former state. I have recruited a large force of mercenaries and have equipped warships. ⁴ My intention is to land in my country and take revenge on those who have ravaged my kingdom and laid waste many of its cities.