ARKCODEX
1 Maccabees
Ch. 13
Simon Leads the Jews
1Simon learned that Trypho had assembled a large army and that he had plans to invade Judea and devastate it.
2He realized that this news had brought panic and fear to the people, so he went to Jerusalem, called the people together,
3and tried to encourage them by saying, You know how much my father's family, my brothers, and I have done for the sake of the Law of Moses and the Temple. You also know about the wars we have fought and the troubles we have had.
4All my brothers have been killed fighting for our Law, our Temple, and our nation, and I am the only one left.
5But never let it be said that I tried to save my own life in a time of danger; I do not consider myself better than my brothers.
6Not in the least! It is true that in their hatred all the Gentile nations have gathered together to destroy us, but I will fight to defend my nation, the Temple, and your loved ones.
7These words immediately revived the morale of the people,
8and they answered with a loud shout, You are now our leader in place of your brothers Judas and Jonathan.
9Fight our wars, and we will do whatever you ask.
10So Simon gathered together all the soldiers and hurried to complete the walls of Jerusalem and to strengthen all its defenses.
11He sent Jonathan son of Absalom to Joppa with a large army. This Jonathan drove out the people who were there and occupied the town.
12Trypho left Ptolemais with a large army to invade Judea, taking Simon's brother Jonathan along with him as a prisoner.
13Simon set up camp at Adida at the edge of the plain.
14When Trypho learned that Simon had succeeded his brother Jonathan and that he was ready to meet him in battle, he sent this message to him:
15I am holding your brother Jonathan under arrest because while he was in office he did not pay his debts to the royal treasury.
16However, I will release him if you will pay me 6,000 pounds of silver and send two of his sons as hostages to guarantee that he will not revolt against us when he is released.
17Although Simon knew that they were deceiving him, he sent for the money and the two sons because he did not want to arouse the hostility of the Jews.
18He was afraid that they might later say that Jonathan was put to death because Simon would not send the money and the boys.
19So he did as Trypho had demanded, but Trypho broke his promise and did not release Jonathan.
20Then Trypho made his move to invade the land and destroy it, circling around by the road to Adora. But Simon and his army moved along facing him wherever he went.
21The enemy soldiers in the fort in Jerusalem kept sending messengers to Trypho urging him to come to them quickly by way of the desert and to send them supplies.
22Trypho got all his cavalry ready for the invasion, but that night there was a heavy snowstorm, and he was not able to move up into the hills. So he withdrew and went into Gilead.
23When he was near Baskama, he had Jonathan put to death and his body buried there.
24Then Trypho turned and went back to his own country.
25Simon had the body of his brother Jonathan brought to Modein, to be buried in the town of their ancestors.
26Everyone in Israel was in deep sorrow at the loss of Jonathan, and they mourned for him a long time.
27Over the tomb of his father and his brothers Simon built a high monument that could be seen from a great distance. It was covered front and back with polished stone.
28He constructed seven pyramids side by side for his father, his mother, and his four brothers.
29For the pyramids he created a setting of tall columns on which there were carvings. Some of these carvings were of suits of armor and some were of ships. It was a monument to their victories, which travelers from overseas could visit.
30The tomb which he built in Modein is still there today.
31Meanwhile, Trypho assassinated the young king, Antiochus the Sixth,
32and took over his kingdom in Syria. He brought that country great troubles.
33Simon rebuilt the fortresses of Judea with high towers, strong walls, and barred gates; then he placed stores of supplies there.
34He sent ambassadors to King Demetrius the Second to ask for tax relief for the land, since Trypho was doing nothing but robbing them.
35King Demetrius sent the following letter in reply:
36King Demetrius to the High Priest Simon, the friend of kings, to the Jewish nation, and to their leaders, greetings.
37I have received the gold crown and the gold palm branch which you sent, and I am prepared to make a peace treaty with you and to instruct our tax officials to grant you exemptions.
38Our previous agreements with you are confirmed, and the fortresses which you have built are to remain yours.
39I grant you pardon for treaty violations committed up to the present date, and I release you from payment of the special tax still due and any other taxes that have been collected up to this time in Jerusalem.
40All Jews who are qualified may enroll in the royal service. Let us have peace.
41So in the year 170 the yoke of the Gentile oppressors was removed from the Jews.
42People began to date their documents and contracts with these words: In the first year of Simon, the great High Priest, commander and leader of the Jews.
43At that time Simon laid siege to Gezer and surrounded it with his army. He built a movable siege platform, brought it up to the town wall, attacked one of the towers, and captured it.
44The men who had been on the siege platform then moved rapidly into the town, and this created great confusion.
45The men of the town, their wives, and their children tore their clothes in distress and climbed up on the top of the town wall. They pleaded loudly with Simon for a truce.
46Have mercy on us, they begged. Don't punish us as we deserve!
47So Simon came to terms with them and ended the fighting. He made the people leave the town; then he purified the houses in which there had been idols. When that was done, he and his men entered the town singing hymns and songs of praise.
48He eliminated everything that would make the town ritually unclean and settled it with people who would obey every command contained in the Law of Moses. He strengthened the defenses of the town and built himself a palace there.
49Those in the fort in Jerusalem were now prevented from leaving to buy or sell anything. They were suffering from severe hunger and many of them had died of starvation.
50Finally they appealed to Simon for a truce. He agreed, removed them from the fort, and purified it.
51On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the year 171, there was a great celebration in the city because this terrible threat to the security of Israel had come to an end. Simon and his men entered the fort singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while carrying palm branches and playing harps, cymbals, and lyres.
52Simon issued a decree that the day should be joyfully celebrated every year. He strengthened the defenses of the Temple hill on the side facing the fort, and he and his men made their headquarters there.
53Simon's son John was now a grown man, so Simon made him commander of the whole army, and John set up headquarters at Gezer.
Sirach
Ch. 32–33
1If you are chosen to preside at a banquet, don't put on airs. Just be like everyone else. Look after the guests before you sit down.
2After you have performed your duties, you can sit down and enjoy yourself with the others. They will respect you for doing a good job.
3If you are older than most of the guests, you may talk; that is your right. But you should know what you are talking about and not interrupt the music.
4If entertainment is being provided, don't keep up a steady conversation; it's the wrong time to show off your wit.
5Music at a banquet where wine is served is like a ruby set in gold.
6Good music and good wine—an emerald set in gold.
7If you are young, don't speak unless you have to, but never more than twice, and only if someone speaks to you first.
8Come to the point and say it all in a few words. Show that you are well-informed, but stay quiet.
9Don't treat important people as if you were their equal and don't make a nuisance of yourself by asking them a lot of questions.
10The reputation of a modest person goes before him, as lightning before thunder.
11Leave the party at the right time and never be the last to go. Don't linger at the door; just go straight home.
12There you can enjoy yourself as you wish, but don't commit the sin of bragging.
13And don't forget to thank your Creator for letting you enjoy so many good things.
Interpreting the Law
14If you fear the Lord, you will accept his correction. He will bless those who get up early in the morning to pray.
15Study his Law, and you will master it, unless you are insincere about it, in which case you will fail.
16If you fear the Lord, you will know what is right, and you will be famous for your fairness.
17Sinners have no use for correction, and will interpret the Law to suit themselves.
18Sensible people will consider every opinion, but arrogant people will let nothing stand in their way.
19Never do anything without thinking it through, and once you have done something, don't look back and wish you had done something else.
20Don't take a course of action that is dangerous, and don't make the same mistake twice.
21Don't be too sure of yourself, even when the way looks easy.
22Always watch where you are going.
23Whatever you do be careful; this is keeping the Lord's commands.
24Believing in the Law means keeping the Lord's commands. If you trust the Lord, you cannot lose.
Sirach 33
1No evil will ever come to a person who fears the Lord; however often danger comes, the Lord will come to the rescue.
2A person who has no use for the Law doesn't have good sense, and anyone who is insincere about it is going to be tossed about like a boat in a storm.
3If you are wise, you will believe in the Law; you will find it as reliable as the sacred lots.
4Prepare what you are going to say and people will listen to you. Use what you have learned before you start talking.
5A foolish person's mind works like a cartwheel, going round and round in circles.
6A sarcastic friend is like a wild horse that neighs no matter who tries to ride him.
People Are Not Alike
7Why are some days holier than others, even though the same sun rises on every day of the year?
8It is because the Lord made them different by setting them apart as religious holidays and festivals.
9He made some days holy and important, and made other days ordinary.
10Every human being was made from the earth, just as Adam was.
11But the Lord, in his wisdom, made them all different and gave them different tasks.
12He blessed some, making them honored and holy, keeping them near him. Others he cursed, humbling them and removing them from their positions.
13Just as clay is in the potter's hands for him to shape as he pleases, so we are in the hands of our Creator for him to do with as he wishes.
14Good is the opposite of evil, life is the opposite of death, and sin is the opposite of devotion to the Lord.
15Think about it: the Most High has made everything in pairs, each thing the opposite of something else.
16As for me, I have been the last to come on duty, as if going through vineyards to gather whatever the grape-pickers had left behind. But the Lord blessed me, and I did well, like a grape-picker who has filled the wine press.
17But I want you to know that I have not done all this work for myself alone, but for everyone who wants to learn.
18Listen to me, all you great leaders! All you leaders of the assemblies, hear what I have to say!
Be Independent
19Never, as long as you live, give anyone power over you—whether son, wife, brother, or friend. Don't give your property to anyone; you might change your mind and have to ask for it back.
20As long as you have breath in your body, don't let anyone lead your life for you.
21It is better that your children be dependent on you than the other way around.
22Keep control over all that you do; don't let anything stain your reputation.
23Wait until the last moment of your life, when you are breathing your last, and then divide your property among your heirs.
Treatment of Slaves
24A donkey should be given its fodder and its burden, and it should be beaten. A slave should be given food and work, and should be disciplined.
25If you make your slave work, you can set your mind at ease. If you don't keep him busy, he will be looking for freedom.
26You can use a harness and yoke to tame an animal, and a slave can be tortured in the stocks.
27Keep him at work, and don't let him be idle; idleness can only teach him how to make trouble.
28Work is what he needs. If he won't obey you, put him in chains.
29But don't be too severe with anyone, and never be unfair.
30If you have a slave, treat him as you would want to be treated; you bought him with your hard-earned money.
31Treat him as a brother; you need him as you need yourself. If you mistreat him and he runs away, where are you going to look for him?
Proverbs
Ch. 23
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17Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.
18If it is, you have a bright future.
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19Listen, my child, be wise and give serious thought to the way you live.
20Don't associate with people who drink too much wine or stuff themselves with food.
21Drunkards and gluttons will be reduced to poverty. If all you do is eat and sleep, you will soon be wearing rags.