1 Pela voz da fama, soube Judas que os romanos eram extremamente poderosos, que se mostravam benevolentes para com seus aliados e que a todos os que recorriam a eles ofereciam sua amizade, porque eram verdadeiramente potentes.

2 Contaram-lhe também seus combates, suas façanhas junto aos gauleses, aos quais haviam vencido e subjugado;

3 como haviam chegado à Espanha para se apoderar das minas de prata e de ouro que ali existem e, como, por sua sabedoria e longanimidade, eles haviam conciliado todo o país,

4 por mais que ele fosse afastado deles; como haviam derrotado reis que haviam surgido contra eles das extremidades da terra, e os haviam aniquilado devidamente, enquanto outros lhes pagavam o tributo anual.

5 Filipe e Perseu, reis dos ceteus, e outros se haviam insurgido contra eles, mas tinham sido derrotados e subjugados.

6 Antíoco, o Grande, rei da Ásia, marchou para combatê-los com cento e vinte elefantes, cavalaria, carros e um poderoso exército, mas havia sido por eles aniquilado.

7 Eles o haviam tomado vivo e haviam imposto a ele e aos seus sucessores um grande tributo, a entrega de reféns e a cessão de um território,

8 arrebatando-lhe a Índia, a Média, a Lídia e suas melhores regiões que eles deram ao rei Eumenes.

9 Os gregos haviam decidido atacá-los para exterminá-los, mas eles o souberam

10 e enviaram um general que os atacou, levando a perecer um grande número, arrastou ao cativeiro suas mulheres e seus filhos, saqueou e tornou-se senhor do país, destruiu suas praças fortes e os reduziu à servidão, que ainda durava.

11 Haviam eles igualmente arruinado e subjugado ao seu domínio os outros reinos e as ilhas, que lhes haviam resistido.

12 Por outro lado, conservavam sua proteção a seus amigos e aliados, estendiam seu poder sobre os reinos vizinhos ou distantes e todos os que ouviam pronunciar seu nome, temiam-nos.

13 Aqueles que eles queriam auxiliar e ver reinar, reinavam com efeito, mas os que eles não queriam, eram exilados. Engrandeciam-nos muito.

14 Apesar de tudo isso, ninguém deles trazia diadema, nem se envolvia com púrpura, para se engrandecer.

15 Eles tinham estabelecido entre si um conselho supremo em que, cada dia, trezentos e vinte conselheiros discutiam assuntos do povo, para governá-lo bem.

16 Cada ano confiavam a autoridade suprema a um só homem, que comandava em todo o território e todos obedeciam a um só, sem haver ali entre eles nem inveja nem ciúme.

17 Escolheu Judas a Eupólemo, filho de João, filho de Acos, e Jasão, filho de Elea­zar, e enviou-os a Roma para estabelecer amizade e aliança com eles,

18 pedindo-lhes que os libertasse do jugo que os gregos, como estavam vendo, faziam pesar sobre Israel, reduzindo-o à escravidão.

19 Dirigiram-se eles a Roma, apesar da duração da viagem, e entraram no Senado, onde disseram:

20 "Judas, também chamado Macabeu, seus irmãos e todo o povo de Israel nos enviaram até vós, para firmar aliança e paz e para que nos conteis entre vossos amigos e aliados".

21 Essa linguagem agradou aos romanos.

22 Eis a cópia da carta que os romanos mandaram gravar sobre tabuletas de bronze e enviaram a Jerusalém, para ali ficar como memorial de paz e de amizade de sua parte:

23 "Prosperidade para sempre aos romanos e ao povo judeu, por terra e por mar! Longe deles a espada e o inimigo!

24 Se sobrevier uma guerra contra os romanos ou contra um de seus aliados, em todo o império,

25 o povo judeu tome as armas por sua vez, conforme o permitirem as circunstâncias, e isso de boa vontade.

26 Não fornecerão aos adversários nem trigo, nem armas, nem dinheiro, nem navios, segundo a decisão dos romanos. Os judeus observarão esses contratos sem receber nada em troca.

27 Por outro lado, se for o povo judeu o atacado, os romanos tomarão armas voluntariamente por eles, conforme as circunstâncias o indicarem.

28 E não será fornecido aos combatentes nem trigo, nem armas, nem dinheiro, nem navios, de acordo com a vontade de Roma, e esses contratos serão observados sem fraude.

29 Por essas palavras os romanos aliaram-se com os judeus.

30 Se uns ou outros contratantes quiserem ajuntar ou subtrair essas cláusulas, farão a proposta, e o que for acrescentado ou tirado será ratificado.

31 Pelo que toca aos danos causados pelo rei Demétrio, eis o que lhe escrevemos: ‘Por que fizestes pesar vosso jugo sobre os judeus, nossos amigos e aliados?

32 Se, pois, eles vierem a nós outra vez contra vós, nós lhes faremos justiça e vos combateremos, por terra e por mar!’."

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.