1 Maccabees 12:8-10

Good News Translation

⁸ Onias received your ambassador with full honors and acknowledged receipt of your letter, which declared our alliance and friendship. ⁹ And now, although we are not in need of such alliances, since we find our source of strength in the holy books we possess, ¹⁰ we have written to renew our ties of brotherhood and friendship with you. We do not wish to become total strangers, and it has now been many years since your last communication.