1 A wise man will seek the wisdom of all the ancients, and he will be occupied in the prophets.
2 He will preserve the words of renowned men, and he will enter with them into the subtleties of parables.
3 He will search for the hidden meanings of proverbs, and he will become familiar with the mysteries of parables.
4 He will minister in the midst of great men, and he will appear in the sight of the foremost leader.
5 He will pass through the land of foreign nations. For he will test good and evil among men.
6 At first light, he will offer his heart with watchfulness to the Lord who made him, and he will pray in the sight of the Most High.
7 He will open his mouth in prayer, and he will make supplication for his offenses.
8 For if the great Lord is willing, he will fill him with the Spirit of understanding.
9 And he will send forth the eloquence of his wisdom like rain showers, and in his prayer, he will confess to the Lord.
10 And he will direct his counsel and his discipline, and he will meditate on his mysteries.
11 He will make the discipline of his doctrine clear, and he will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.
12 Many persons will together praise his wisdom, and it will never be abolished, for all ages.
13 The memory of him will not fade away, and his name will be sought from generation to generation.
14 The peoples will declare his wisdom, and the Church will announce his praise.
15 While he remains, he leaves behind a name greater than a thousand, and when he will rest, it will be to his benefit.
16 I will meditate further, so that I may explain. For I have been filled with a passion.
17 In a voice, he says: Listen to me, divine fruits. You shall bear fruit, like roses planted beside streams of waters.
18 You shall have a sweet fragrance, like the cedars of Lebanon.
19 Blossom with flowers, like the lily, and diffuse a fragrance, and sprout leaves in grace, and give praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
20 Give magnificence to his name, and confess to him with the voice of your lips and with the canticles of your mouth and with stringed instruments. And in so praising him, you will confess:
21 All the works of the Lord are very good.
22 At his word, the waters stood still, as if piled together. And at the words of his mouth, the waters were contained, as if in basins of water.
23 For it is made pleasing by his precept, and there is no decrease in his salvation.
24 The works of all flesh are in his sight, and there is nothing hidden from his eyes.
25 His gaze is from eternity to eternity, and nothing is a wonder in his sight.
26 Let it not be said: “What is this?” or, “What is that?” For all things will be sought in their time.
27 His blessing has overflowed like a river.
28 In the same way that a flood inundates the dry land, so also will his wrath inherit the peoples that have not sought him.
29 In the same way that he turned the waters into dry land, and made the earth dry, and just as his ways have been directed for their journey, so also will sinners stumble before his wrath.
30 From the beginning, good things were created for those who are good, and similarly, good and evil things are for those who are wicked.
31 The principal things necessary for the life of men are: water, fire, and iron, salt, milk, and flour for bread, and honey, and the grape cluster, and oil, and clothing.
32 All these things will be used for good by those who are holy, but they will be turned to evil use by the impious and by sinners.
33 There are spirits that have been created for vengeance, and they strengthen their torments by their fury.
34 In the time of the consummation, they will pour forth their strength. And they will appease the fury of the One who made them.
35 Fire, hail, famine, and death: all these were created for vengeance.
36 The teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the spear: all these take vengeance upon the impious, unto utter destruction.
37 At his command, they will feast. And they will be prepared upon the earth until they are needed. And in their time, they will not ignore his word.
38 For this reason, from the beginning, I was strengthened, and I have meditated, and I have considered, and I have put these things in writing.
39 All the works of the Lord are good, and he will provide for each work in its own hour.
40 Let it not be said: “This is worse than that.” For all things will be tested in their time.
41 And now, with the whole heart and mouth, give praise to him, and bless the name of the Lord.
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16 And, having captured the city through the will of the Lord, he made a slaughter without number, so much so that an adjoining pool, two stadia in width, was seen to flow with the blood of the slain.
17 From there, they withdrew seven hundred and fifty stadia, and they came to Charax, to those Jews who are called Tubianites.
18 And Timothy, indeed, they did not find in those places, for he withdrew before he completed any endeavor, having left behind a very strong garrison in a certain place.
19 But Dositheus and Sosipater, who were commanders with Maccabeus, destroyed those who were left behind by Timothy in the stronghold: ten thousand men.
20 And Maccabeus, having positioned six thousand men around him and having divided them into cohorts, went forth against Timothy, who had with him one hundred twenty thousand foot soldiers, and two thousand five hundred horsemen.
21 But when Timothy learned of the arrival of Judas, he sent ahead the women, and the children, and the remainder of the preparations, into a fortress, which is called Carnion. For it was impregnable and difficult to access because of the narrowness of the places.
22 And when the first cohort of Judas had appeared, the enemies were struck with fear by the presence of God, who beholds all things, and they were turned to flight, one over another, to such an extent that they were being knocked over by one another and were being wounded with the strokes of their own swords.
23 But Judas pursued them vehemently, punishing the profane and striking down thirty thousand of their men.
24 In truth, Timothy himself fell to the group under Dositheus and Sosipater. And with much begging, he pleaded with them to release him alive, because he held the parents and brothers of many of the Jews, who, at his death, might happen to be mistreated.
25 And when he had given his faith that he would restore them according to the agreement, they released him unharmed, for the sake of their brothers’ well-being.
26 Then Judas departed to Carnion, where he slew twenty-five thousand.
27 After having put to flight or killed these, he moved his army to Ephron, a fortified city, in which there lived a multitude of diverse peoples. And hardy young men, standing upon the walls, put up a strong fight. Moreover, in this place, there were many machines of war, and equipment for casting darts.
28 But when they had called upon the Almighty, who with his power breaks the strength of enemies, they seized the city. And they struck down twenty-five thousand of those who were inside.
29 From there, they went to the city of Scythia, which was six hundred stadia away from Jerusalem.
30 But the Jews, those who were among the Scythians, testified that they were treated kindly by them, and that, even in the times of unhappiness, they had treated them mildly.
31 They gave thanks to them, exhorting them to be kind to their people, now and at other times. And they went to Jerusalem, as the solemn days of the seven weeks were underway.
32 And, after Pentecost, they marched against Gorgias, the foremost leader over Idumea.
33 And he went out with three thousand foot soldiers and four hundred horsemen.
34 And when they came together, it happened that a few of the Jews were overthrown.
35 In fact, a certain Dositheus, a horseman of Bacenor, a strong man, took hold of Gorgias. And when he would have captured him alive, a certain horseman of the Thracians rushed upon him and cut off his arm, and so, in this way, Gorgias escaped to Maresa.
36 But when those who were with Esdris had fought all day and were fatigued, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper and leader in the battle.
37 Beginning in the language of the fathers, and loudly extolling hymns, he inspired the soldiers of Gorgias to take flight.
38 Then Judas, having collected his army, went into the city Adullam. And, when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and they kept the Sabbath in the same place.
39 And the following day, Judas came with his own, in order to take away the bodies of the fallen, and to place them in the sepulchers of their fathers with their ancestors.
40 But they found, under the tunics of the slain, some of the treasures of the idols that were near Jamnia, which were prohibited to Jews by the law. Therefore, it became manifest that it was for this reason that they had been overthrown.
41 And so, they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had made hidden things manifest.
42 So then, turning themselves to prayers, they petitioned him that the offense which had been done would be delivered into oblivion. And truly, the very strong Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves without sin, since they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sins of those who were struck down.
43 And, calling an assembly, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem, to be offered for a sacrifice for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously about the resurrection,
44 (for if he had not hoped that those who had fallen would be resurrected, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
45 and because he considered that those who had fallen asleep with piety had great grace stored up for them.
46 Therefore, it is a holy and beneficial thought to pray on behalf of those who have passed away, so that they may be released from sins.
1 Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God be joyful and comely praise.
2 The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.
3 Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises.
4 Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom there is no number.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even to the ground.
7 Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp.
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wondrous: seven Angels, holding the seven last afflictions. For with them, the wrath of God is completed.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. And those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, were standing upon the sea of glass, holding the harps of God,
3 and singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: “Great and wondrous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of all ages.
4 Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and magnify your name? For you alone are blessed. For all nations shall approach and adore in your sight, because your judgments are manifest.”
5 And after these things, I saw, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
6 And the seven Angels went forth from the temple, holding the seven afflictions, clothed with clean white linen, and girded around the chest with wide golden belts.
7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven Angels seven golden bowls, filled with the wrath of God, of the One who lives forever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God and from his power. And no one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven afflictions of the seven Angels were completed.
1 And I heard a great voice from the temple, saying to the seven Angels: “Go forth and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth.”
2 And the first Angel went forth and poured out his bowl upon the earth. And a severe and most grievous wound occurred upon the men who had the character of the beast, and upon those who adored the beast or its image.
3 And the second Angel poured out his bowl upon the sea. And it became like the blood of the dead, and every living creature in the sea died.
4 And the third Angel poured out his bowl upon the rivers and the sources of water, and these became blood.
5 And I heard the Angel of the waters saying: “You are just, O Lord, who is and who was: the Holy One who has judged these things.
6 For they have shed the blood of the Saints and the Prophets, and so you have given them blood to drink. For they deserve this.”
7 And from the altar, I heard another one, saying, “Even now, O Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
8 And the fourth Angel poured out his bowl upon the sun. And it was given to him to afflict men with heat and fire.
9 And men were scorched by the great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who holds power over these afflictions, but they did not repent, so as to give him glory.
10 And the fifth Angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast. And his kingdom became darkened, and they gnawed at their tongues out of anguish.
11 And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their anguish and wounds, but they did not repent from their works.
12 And the sixth Angel poured out his bowl upon that great river Euphrates. And its water dried up, so that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.
13 And I saw, from the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophetess, three unclean spirits go out in the manner of frogs.
14 For these are the spirits of the demons that were causing the signs. And they advance to the kings of the entire earth, to gather them for battle on the great day of Almighty God.
15 Behold, I arrive like a thief. Blessed is he who is vigilant and who preserves his vestment, lest he walk naked and they see his disgrace.
16 And he shall gather them together at a place which is called, in Hebrew, Armageddon.
17 And the seventh Angel poured out his bowl upon the air. And a great voice went out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done.”
18 And there were lightnings and voices and thunders. And a great earthquake occurred, of a kind such as has never happened since men have been upon the earth, so great was this kind of earthquake.
19 And the Great City became divided into three parts. And the cities of the Gentiles fell. And Babylon the great came to mind before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And hail as heavy as a talent descended from the sky upon men. And men blasphemed God, because of the affliction of the hail, for it was exceedingly great.
