1 Now Judas had heard of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all that came unto them;
2 And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;
3 And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there;
4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the place, though it were very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year:
5 Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had overcome them:
6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited by them;
7 And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8 And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes:
9 Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them;
10 And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this day:
11 It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them;
12 But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them:
13 Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly exalted:
14 Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby:
15 Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well ordered:
16 And that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor emmulation among them.
17 In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them,
18 And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude.
19 They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spake and said.
20 Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends.
21 So that matter pleased the Romans well.
22 And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:
23 Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,
24 If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion,
25 The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart:
26 Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants without taking any thing therefore.
27 In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall be appointed them:
28 Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit.
29 According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.
30 Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.
31 And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews?
32 If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.
Vienošanās ar Romu
1 Tad Jūda dzirdēja par romiešiem, ka viņi ir slaveni ar savu vareno spēku un labprāt pieņem visus, kas viņiem piebiedrojas, un ka viņi slēdz draudzību ar visiem, kas vien pie viņiem nāk; un tādējādi arī tie kļuva stipri. 2 Jūdam pastāstīja par viņu kariem un drosmi, par to, ko viņi bija darījuši pie galliem, tos pakļaudami un piespiezdami maksāt nodevas; 3 arī par to, ko viņi darījuši Spānijas zemē, kā viņi bija pārņēmuši savā ziņā sudraba un zelta atradnes, kas tur bija; 4 ka viņi ar savu gudrību un neatlaidību ir pakļāvuši sev visu, kas tiem bija ļoti tālu visapkārt, un ka viņi bija satriekuši un smagi sakāvuši tos ķēniņus, kas pret tiem nāca no pašas zemes malas, un ka pārējie tiem maksāja ikgadējas nodevas; 5 ka viņi ir satriekuši un pakļāvuši sev arī Filipu un Perseju, maķedoniešu ķēniņu, un citus, kas cēlās pret viņiem. 6 Jūdam stāstīja arī par lielo Āzijas ķēniņu Antiohu, ko romieši sakāva, kad tas nāca karot pret viņiem ar simt divdesmit ziloņiem, ar jātnieku pulkiem, kararatiem un ļoti lielu karaspēku, 7 ka viņi to saņēmuši dzīvu un likuši maksāt lielas nodevas viņam un ķēniņiem, kas valdīja pēc viņa, un likuši atdot vai nodot ķīlā 8 arī Indijas, Mīdijas un Līdijas zemes, kas bija viņa labākie apgabali, tos viņi nodeva ķēniņam Einomijam; 9 arī par to, ka grieķi bija nodomājuši nākt un viņus iznīcināt, 10 bet viņiem šis nodoms tapis zināms un viņi sūtījuši pret tiem kādu karavadoni, kas karojis pret tiem, un daudzi no tiem ievainoti un krituši; viņi saņēmuši gūstā to sievas un bērnus, tos aplaupījuši un pakļāvuši viņu zemi, nopostījuši viņu cietokšņus un līdz pat šai dienai tur tos verdzībā; 11 tāpat arī pārējās valstis un salas, kas bija pret viņiem sacēlušās, viņi izpostījuši un paverdzinājuši, bet ar saviem draugiem un tiem, kas ar viņiem mierīgi sadzīvo, viņi tur draudzību; 12 tā viņi bija pakļāvuši tuvas un tālas valstis, un visi, kas vien par viņiem dzirdēja, no viņiem baidījās. 13 Ja viņi kādiem gribēja palīdzēt un ļaut valdīt, tad tie arī valdīja, bet tos, kuri valdīja, ja vien viņi gribēja, viņi atcēla; un viņi kļuva ļoti vareni. 14 Turklāt neviens no viņiem nelika sev galvā ķēniņa kroni un netērpās purpurā, lai tā dižotos. 15 Viņi bija arī izveidojuši sev padomi, kurā sanāca kopā ik dienas trīs simti divdesmit vīru, lai spriestu par to, kā uzlabot tautas labklājību; 16 viņi arī katru gadu uzticēja vienam vīram viņus vadīt un valdīt pār visu viņu zemi, un visi klausīja šim vienam, un viņu starpā nebija ne skaudības, ne sāncensības.
17 Tad Jūda izvēlējās Eipolemu, Jāņa, Akosa dēla, dēlu, un Jāsonu, Elāzāra dēlu, un aizsūtīja viņus uz Romu slēgt draudzību un kara savienību 18 un lai romieši noņemtu viņu jūgu, jo tie redzēja, ka grieķu valsts nežēlīgi paverdzina Israēlu. 19 Un viņi devās uz Romu; viņi veica garu ceļu un ienāca padomes sapulcē, vērsās pie padomes vīriem un sacīja tiem: 20 “Jūda Makabejs, viņa brāļi un jūdu tauta ir sūtījuši mūs pie jums, lai noslēgtu ar jums kara savienību un miera sadraudzību, lai jūs pierakstītu mūs par saviem draugiem un sabiedrotajiem.” 21 Tiem šis vārds patika. 22 Un šis ir uz vara plāksnītes uzrakstītās atbildes vēstules noraksts, ko romieši sūtīja uz Jeruzālemi, lai apliecinātu, ka tie slēguši mieru un kara savienību:
23 “Lai labi klājas romiešiem un jūdu tautai gan uz jūras, gan uz sauszemes mūžīgi, un lai zobens un ienaidnieks ir tālu no tām! 24 Ja vispirms izceļas karš jebkurā Romas vai tās sabiedroto pārvaldītajā apgabalā, 25 tad, ja apstākļi to prasa, līdzi no visas sirds karo arī jūdu tauta; 26 un tai ir jāliedz pretinieku karotāju pusei pārtika, ieroči, sudrabs un kuģi, kā Roma to ir noteikusi; un tai ir jāpilda šie pienākumi, neko nesaņemot par to pretī. 27 Un tieši tāpat, ja vispirms izceļas karš jūdu tautai, no visas sirds karo līdzi romieši tā, kā apstākļi to prasa, 28 un pretinieku karotāju pusei netiek dota pārtika, ieroči, sudrabs un kuģi, kā Roma to ir noteikusi, un tai šie pienākumi jāpilda bez viltus.” 29 Pēc šādiem noteikumiem romieši ir noslēguši līgumu ar jūdu tautu. 30 Ja pie šiem līguma noteikumiem viena vai otra puse gribēs ko pievienot vai no tiem ko atcelt, tās to var darīt pēc savas izvēles, un tam, ko tās pievienos vai atcels, būs likumīgs spēks. 31 Bet par ļaunumu, ko ķēniņš Dēmētrijs darījis jūdiem, mēs rakstām viņam: “Kādēļ tu mūsu draugiem un sabiedrotajiem esi uzkrāvis tik smagu jūgu? 32 Ja tie tagad vēl sūdzēsies par tevi, mēs spriedīsim viņu labā tiesu un karosim pret tevi gan uz jūras, gan uz sauszemes.”
