1 Maccabees 12
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Alliances with Rome and Sparta
12 Now when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with them. 2 He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places. 3 So they went to Rome and entered the senate chamber and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former friendship and alliance with them.” 4 And the Romans[a] gave them letters to the people in every place, asking them to provide for the envoys[b] safe conduct to the land of Judah.
5 This is a copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 “Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren the Spartans, greeting. 7 Already in time past a letter was sent to Oni′as the high priest from Ari′us,[c] who was king among you, stating that you are our brethren, as the appended copy shows. 8 Oni′as welcomed the envoy with honor, and received the letter, which contained a clear declaration of alliance and friendship. 9 Therefore, though we have no need of these things, since we have as encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, 10 we have undertaken to send to renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, so that we may not become estranged from you, for considerable time has passed since you sent your letter to us. 11 We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both in our feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brethren. 12 And we rejoice in your glory. 13 But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encircled us; the kings round about us have waged war against us. 14 We were unwilling to annoy you and our other allies and friends with these wars, 15 for we have the help which comes from Heaven for our aid; and we were delivered from our enemies and our enemies were humbled. 16 We therefore have chosen Nume′nius the son of Anti′ochus and Antip′ater the son of Jason, and have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them. 17 We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our brotherhood. 18 And now please send us a reply to this.”
19 This is a copy of the letter which they sent to Oni′as: 20 “Ari′us, king of the Spartans, to Oni′as the high priest, greeting. 21 It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brethren and are of the family of Abraham. 22 And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare; 23 we on our part write to you that your cattle and your property belong to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys[d] report to you accordingly.”
Further Campaigns of Jonathan and Simon
24 Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Deme′trius had returned, with a larger force than before, to wage war against him. 25 So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country. 26 He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that the enemy[e] were being drawn up in formation to fall upon the Jews[f] by night. 27 So when the sun set, Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle, and he stationed outposts around the camp. 28 When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart; so they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew.[g] 29 But Jonathan and his men did not know it until morning, for they saw the fires burning. 30 Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleu′therus river. 31 So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs who are called Zabade′ans, and he crushed them and plundered them. 32 Then he broke camp and went to Damas′cus, and marched through all that region.
33 Simon also went forth and marched through the country as far as As′kalon and the neighboring strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and took it by surprise, 34 for he had heard that they were ready to hand over the stronghold to the men whom Deme′trius had sent. And he stationed a garrison there to guard it.
35 When Jonathan returned he convened the elders of the people and planned with them to build strongholds in Judea, 36 to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher, and to erect a high barrier between the citadel and the city to separate it from the city, in order to isolate it so that its garrison[h] could neither buy nor sell. 37 So they gathered together to build up the city; part of the wall on the valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Chaphena′tha. 38 And Simon built Ad′ida in the Shephe′lah; he fortified it and installed gates with bolts.
Trypho Captures Jonathan
39 Then Trypho attempted to become king of Asia and put on the crown, and to raise his hand against Anti′ochus the king. 40 He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do so, but might make war on him, so he kept seeking to seize and kill him, and he marched forth and came to Beth-shan. 41 Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand picked fighting men, and he came to Beth-shan. 42 When Trypho saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to raise his hand against him. 43 So he received him with honor and commended him to all his friends, and he gave him gifts and commanded his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself. 44 Then he said to Jonathan, “Why have you wearied all these people when we are not at war? 45 Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to stay with you, and come with me to Ptolema′is. I will hand it over to you as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and will turn round and go home. For that is why I am here.”
46 Jonathan[i] trusted him and did as he said; he sent away the troops, and they returned to the land of Judah. 47 He kept with himself three thousand men, two thousand of whom he left in Galilee, while a thousand accompanied him. 48 But when Jonathan entered Ptolema′is, the men of Ptolema′is closed the gates and seized him, and all who had entered with him they killed with the sword.
49 Then Trypho sent troops and cavalry into Galilee and the Great Plain to destroy all Jonathan’s soldiers. 50 But they realized that Jonathan[j] had been seized and had perished along with his men, and they encouraged one another and kept marching in close formation, ready for battle. 51 When their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back. 52 So they all reached the land of Judah safely, and they mourned for Jonathan and his companions and were in great fear; and all Israel mourned deeply. 53 And all the nations round about them tried to destroy them, for they said, “They have no leader or helper. Now therefore let us make war on them and blot out the memory of them from among men.”
Footnotes
- 1 Maccabees 12:4 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 12:4 Gk them
- 1 Maccabees 12:7 Vg Compare verse 20: Gk Dari′us
- 1 Maccabees 12:23 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 12:26 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 12:26 Gk them
- 1 Maccabees 12:28 Other ancient authorities omit and withdrew
- 1 Maccabees 12:36 Gk they
- 1 Maccabees 12:46 Gk he
- 1 Maccabees 12:50 Gk he
Sirach 30-31
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
30 He who loves his son will whip him often,
in order that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.
2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him,
and will boast of him among acquaintances.
3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious,
and will glory in him in the presence of friends.
4 The[a] father may die, and yet he is not dead,
for he has left behind him one like himself;
5 while alive he saw and rejoiced,
and when he died he was not grieved;
6 he has left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
and one to repay the kindness of his friends.
7 He who spoils his son will bind up his wounds,
and his feelings will be troubled at every cry.
8 A horse that is untamed turns out to be stubborn,
and a son unrestrained turns out to be wilful.
9 Pamper a child, and he will frighten you;
play with him, and he will give you grief.
10 Do not laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him,
and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11 Give him no authority in his youth,
and do not ignore his errors.
12 Bow down his neck in his youth,[b]
and beat his sides while he is young,
lest he become stubborn and disobey you,
and you have sorrow of soul from him.[c]
13 Discipline your son and take pains with him,
that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.
14 Better off is a poor man who is well and strong in constitution
than a rich man who is severely afflicted in body.
15 Health and soundness are better than all gold,
and a robust body than countless riches.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body,
and there is no gladness above joy of heart.
17 Death is better than a miserable life,
and eternal rest[d] than chronic sickness.
18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.
19 Of what use to an idol is an offering of fruit?
For it can neither eat nor smell.
So is he who is afflicted by the Lord;
20 he sees with his eyes and groans,
like a eunuch who embraces a maiden and groans.
21 Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
and do not afflict yourself deliberately.
22 Gladness of heart is the life of man,
and the rejoicing of a man is length of days.
23 Delight your soul and comfort your heart,
and remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and there is no profit in it.
24 Jealousy and anger shorten life,
and anxiety brings on old age too soon.
25 A man of cheerful and good heart
will give heed to the food he eats.
Right Attitude toward Riches
31 Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one’s flesh,
and anxiety about it removes sleep.
2 Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber,
and a severe illness carries off sleep.[e]
3 The rich man toils as his wealth accumulates,
and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties.
4 The poor man toils as his livelihood diminishes,
and when he rests he becomes needy.
5 He who loves gold will not be justified,
and he who pursues money will be led astray[f] by it.
6 Many have come to ruin because of gold,
and their destruction has met them face to face.
7 It is a stumbling block to those who are devoted to it,
and every fool will be taken captive by it.
8 Blessed is the rich man who is found blameless,
and who does not go after gold.
9 Who is he? And we will call him blessed,
for he has done wonderful things among his people.
10 Who has been tested by it and been found perfect?
Let it be for him a ground for boasting.
Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress,
and to do evil and did not do it?
11 His prosperity will be established,
and the assembly will relate his acts of charity.
Table Etiquette
12 Are you seated at the table of a great man?[g]
Do not be greedy[h] at it,
and do not say, “There is certainly much upon it!”
13 Remember that a greedy[i] eye is a bad thing.
What has been created more greedy[j] than the eye?
Therefore it sheds tears from every face.
14 Do not reach out your hand for everything you see,
and do not crowd your neighbor[k] at the dish.
15 Judge your neighbor’s feelings by your own,
and in every matter be thoughtful.
16 Eat like a human being what is set before you,
and do not chew greedily, lest you be hated.
17 Be the first to stop eating, for the sake of good manners,
and do not be insatiable, lest you give offense.
18 If you are seated among many persons,
do not reach out your hand before they do.
19 How ample a little is for a well-disciplined man!
He does not breathe heavily upon his bed.
20 Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating;
he rises early, and feels fit.[l]
The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea
and colic are with the glutton.
21 If you are overstuffed with food,
get up in the middle of the meal, and you will have relief.
22 Listen to me, my son, and do not disregard me,
and in the end you will appreciate my words.
In all your work be industrious,
and no sickness will overtake you.
23 Men will praise the one who is liberal with food,
and their testimony to his excellence is trustworthy.
24 The city will complain of the one who is niggardly with food,
and their testimony to his niggardliness is accurate.
Temperance in Drinking Wine
25 Do not aim to be valiant over wine,
for wine has destroyed many.
26 Fire and water prove[m] the temper of steel,
so wine tests hearts in the strife of the proud.
27 Wine is like life to men,
if you drink it in moderation.
What is life to a man who is without wine?
It has been created to make men glad.
28 Wine drunk in season and temperately
is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul.
29 Wine drunk to excess is bitterness of soul,
with provocation and stumbling.
30 Drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his injury,
reducing his strength and adding wounds.
31 Do not reprove your neighbor at a banquet of wine,
and do not despise him in his merrymaking;
speak no word of reproach to him,
and do not afflict him by making demands of him.
Footnotes
- Sirach 30:4 Gk His
- Sirach 30:12 Other authorities omit this line and the preceding line
- Sirach 30:12 Other authorities omit this line
- Sirach 30:17 Some authorities omit eternal rest
- Sirach 31:2 Other authorities read sleep carries off a severe illness
- Sirach 31:5 Heb Syr: Gk will be filled
- Sirach 31:12 Heb Syr: Gk at a great table
- Sirach 31:12 Gk open your throat
- Sirach 31:13 Gk evil
- Sirach 31:13 Gk evil
- Sirach 31:14 Gk him
- Sirach 31:20 Gk his soul is with him
- Sirach 31:26 Gk The furnace by dipping proves
Proverbs 23:13-16
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you beat him with the rod
you will save his life from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad.
16 My soul will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
