1 Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation.
2 The Lord has wrought great glory, by his own magnificence, from ancient times.
3 There are those who rule with their authority, men of great virtue, who are gifted with prudence. There are those who announce among the prophets, with the dignity of prophets.
4 And there are those who rule over the present generation, by the virtue of prudence, with very holy words for the people.
5 There are those who, by their skill, compose musical themes, so as to set the verses of Scripture to music.
6 There are men rich in virtue, who make a study of beauty, who live in peacefulness in their houses.
7 All these obtained glory in their generations, and they had praise in their days.
8 They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described.
9 But for some of them, there is no memorial. They have passed away as if they had never existed; and they have become as if they had never been born, and their sons along with them.
10 But these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed.
11 Good things continue with their offspring.
12 Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants.
13 And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken.
14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation.
15 Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise.
16 Enoch pleased God, and he was transferred to Paradise, so that he might offer repentance to the nations.
17 Noah was found to be perfect and just, and so, in the time of wrath, he was made a reconciliation.
18 As a result, there was a remnant left for the earth, when the great flood was made.
19 The covenants of the world were placed with him, so that all flesh would not be wiped away by the great flood.
20 Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one was found to be like him in glory. He observed the law of the Most High, and he formed a covenant with him.
21 In his flesh, he caused the covenant to stand, and when tested, he was found to be faithful.
22 Therefore, by an oath, he gave glory to him among his people, so as to increase him like the dust of the earth,
23 and to exalt his offspring like the stars, and to give an inheritance to them from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
24 And he acted in like manner toward Isaac, because of his father Abraham.
25 The Lord gave the blessing of all the nations to him, and he confirmed his covenant upon the head of Jacob.
26 He acknowledged him in his blessings, and he gave an inheritance to him, and he distributed to him the portion of the twelve tribes.
27 And he preserved for him men of mercy, who were found to have grace before the eyes of all flesh.
1 Moses was beloved by God and men. The remembrance of him is a blessing.
2 He made him like the holy ones in glory, and he magnified him by the fear of his enemies, and he appeased great portents by his words.
3 He glorified him in the sight of kings, and he gave commandments to him in the sight of his people, and he revealed his glory to him.
4 He made him holy by his faith and meekness, and he chose him from among all flesh.
5 For he heard him and his voice, and he led him into a cloud.
6 And he gave him precepts in his presence, with a law of life and discipline, so as to teach Jacob his covenant and Israel his judgments.
7 He exalted his brother Aaron and those who were similar to him from the tribe of Levi.
8 He established an eternal covenant with him, and he gave him the priesthood of the people, and he caused him to be blessed in glory.
9 And he encircled him with a glorious belt, and he clothed him with a robe of glory, and he crowned him with virtuous attire.
10 He placed upon him a garment to the feet, and pants, and an ephod, and he wrapped him all around with many little bells of gold,
11 so that there would be a sound at his arrival, and so as to make a noise that would be heard in the temple, as a memorial for the sons of his people.
12 He provided him with a holy robe of gold and hyacinth and purple, a woven work for a wise man of judgment and truth,
13 a work of twisted scarlet, the work of an artist, with precious stones, cut and set in gold, and engraved by the work of a jeweler, as a memorial according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
14 He provided him with a crown of gold upon his headdress, on which was written a symbol of holiness, a mark of honor. This was a work of virtue and a delight to the eyes in its beauty.
15 Prior to him, there was no one of such beauty, even from the beginning.
16 No foreigner was ever clothed with these things, but only his sons and his descendents alone, for all time.
17 His sacrifices were consumed by fire daily.
18 Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.
19 An eternal covenant was made, with him and with his offspring, like the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to give praise and to glorify his people, in his name.
20 He chose him from among all living men to offer to God sacrifice, incense, and a pleasing fragrance, as a memorial of appeasement on behalf of his people.
21 And he gave him authority by his precepts, in the covenants of his judgments, to teach Jacob his testimonies, and to give light by his law to Israel.
22 Then strangers stood up against him, and, because of envy, the men who were with Dathan and Abiram surrounded him in the desert, along with the congregation of Korah, in their anger.
23 The Lord God saw this, and it did not please him, and so they were consumed by the force of his anger.
24 He wrought great portents among them, and he consumed them with a flame of fire.
25 And he added glory to Aaron, and he gave him an inheritance, and he allotted to him the first-fruits of the earth.
26 He prepared for them the finest bread unto fullness. And they shall also eat from the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring.
27 And yet he will not have an inheritance among the people of the land, and he has no portion among the people. For the Lord himself is his portion and his inheritance.
28 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, is third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord.
29 And he stood up against the shamefulness of the people. By the goodness and responsiveness of his soul, he appeased God on behalf of Israel.
30 For this reason, he made him a covenant of peace, a leader of the sanctuary and of his people, so that the dignity of the priesthood would remain with him and with his offspring unto eternity.
31 And he made a covenant with king David, the son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah, an inheritance for him and for his offspring, so that he might provide wisdom for our hearts, so as to judge his people in justice, lest their good things be abolished. And he caused their glory within their nation to be everlasting.
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1 But after a time of three years, Judas and those who were with him realized that Demetrius of Seleucus had gone up to strategic places with a very strong multitude and a navy at the port of Tripoli,
2 and had taken hold of the regions opposite Antiochus, and his commander, Lysias.
3 Now a certain Alcimus, who had been high priest, but who had willfully defiled himself in the time of the co-mingling, considering there to be no means for his safety, nor access to the altar,
4 went to king Demetrius in the one hundred and fiftieth year, offering to him a crown of gold, and a palm, and beyond these, some branches that seemed to belong to the temple. And, indeed, on that day, he was silent.
5 But, having met with an opportune time for his madness, he was called to a counsel by Demetrius and asked what things the Jews relied upon and what were their counsels.
6 He responded: “Those among the Jews who are called Hasideans, of whom Judas Maccabeus is foremost, nourish wars, and raise seditions, and will not permit the kingdom to be at peace.
7 For I also, being cheated out of the glory of my ancestors (but I speak of the high priesthood), have come here,
8 first, indeed, in faithful service to the king’s interests, but also as an advisor of the citizens. For our entire nation is no less afflicted by their depravity.
9 But I beg you, O king, knowing each of these things, look after both the region and our people, according to your humanity, which is publicly known to all.
10 For, as long as Judas survives, it is impossible for the matter to be at peace.”
11 Then, having spoken such things before them, the rest of the allies, who held themselves to be enemies against Judas, further inflamed Demetrius.
12 And immediately he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, into the first position against Judea,
13 giving him orders to be certain to capture Judas himself, and, truly, to scatter all those who were with him, and to appoint Alcimus as the high priest of the great temple.
14 Then the Gentiles, who had fled from Judas away from Judea, mingled themselves in flocks with Nicanor, thinking that the miseries and calamities of the Jews would become the cause of their prosperity.
15 And so, when the Jews heard of Nicanor’s arrival and that the nations were assembled, they, sprinkling dirt on their heads, petitioned him who established his people to preserve them in eternity, and who likewise protected his portion by clear signs.
16 Then, at the command of their leader, they moved promptly from there, and together assembled at the town of Dessau.
17 In truth, Simon, the brother of Judas, had joined battle with Nicanor, but he became frightened at the unexpected arrival of the adversaries.
18 Even so, Nicanor, hearing of the virtue of the companions of Judas, and the great courage with which they struggled on behalf of their country, was afraid to accomplish judgment by the sword.
19 For this reason, he sent ahead Posidonius, and Theodotus, and Matthias, so as to give and receive the pledge of right hands.
20 And when a council was held all day about this, and the commander had brought it before the multitude, they were all of one opinion to consent to an alliance.
21 And so, they appointed a day, on which they would act among themselves secretly, and seats were brought out and placed for each of them.
22 But Judas instructed armed men to be in strategic places, lest some kind of malice might unexpectedly spring up from the enemies. And they had an agreeable conference.
23 Then Nicanor stayed in Jerusalem, and he did no iniquity; he sent away the flocks of the crowds, which had been gathered together.
24 And Judas always held him dear to the heart, and was favorably inclined toward the man.
25 And he asked him to consider a wife, and to procreate sons. He got married; he lived quietly, and they all lived in common.
1 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens
5 Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps:
8 Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds which fulfill his word:
1 After these things, I heard something like the voice of many multitudes in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Praise and glory and power is for our God.
2 For true and just are his judgments, he who has judged the great harlot that corrupted the earth by her prostitution. And he has vindicated the blood of his servants from her hands.”
3 And again, they said: “Alleluia! For her smoke ascends forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, sitting upon the throne, saying: “Amen! Alleluia!”
5 And a voice went out from the throne, saying: “Express praise to our God, all you his servants, and you who fear him, small and great.”
6 And I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of great thunders, saying: “Alleluia! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, has reigned.
7 Let us be glad and exult. And let us give glory to him. For the marriage feast of the Lamb has arrived, and his wife has prepared herself.”
8 And it was granted to her that she should cover herself with fine linen, splendid and white. For the fine linen is the justifications of the Saints.
9 And he said to me: “Write: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words of God are true.”
10 And I fell down before his feet, to adore him. And he said to me: “Be careful not to do so. I am your fellow servant, and I am among your brothers, who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Adore God. For the testimony of Jesus is a spirit of prophecy.”
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he who was sitting upon it was called Faithful and True. And with justice does he judge and fight.
12 And his eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, having a name written, which no one knows except himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vestment sprinkled with blood. And his name is called: THE WORD OF GOD.
14 And the armies that are in heaven were following him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And from his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword, so that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with an iron rod. And he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 And he has on his garment and on his thigh written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw a certain Angel, standing in the sun. And he cried out with a great voice, saying to all the birds that were flying through the midst of the sky, “Come and gather together for the great supper of God,
18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of tribunes, and the flesh of the strong, and the flesh of horses and those sitting on them, and the flesh of all: free and servant, small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, having been gathered together to do battle against him who was sitting upon the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was apprehended, and with him the false prophetess, who in his presence caused the signs, by which she seduced those who accepted the character of the beast and who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire burning with sulphur.
21 And the others were slain by the sword that proceeds from the mouth of him who was sitting upon the horse. And all the birds were sated with their flesh.
