17
When they heard that Simon his brother had become high priest in his place, and that he was ruling over the country and the cities in it,
18
they wrote to him on bronze tablets to renew with him the friendship and alliance which they had established with Judas and Jonathan his brothers.
19
And these were read before the assembly in Jerusalem.
20
This is a copy of the letter which the Spartans sent: "The rulers and the city of the Spartans to Simon the high priest and to the elders and the priests and the rest of the Jewish people, our brethren, greeting.
21
The envoys who were sent to our people have told us about your glory and honor, and we rejoiced at their coming.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.