2
"God be gracious unto you and remember His covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, His faithful servants,
3
and give you all a heart to serve Him and to do His will with good courage and a willing mind,
4
and open your hearts to His law and commandments, and send you peace,
5
and hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
6
And now we are here praying for you.
7
"In that time when Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,
8
and burned the porch and shed innocent blood. Then we prayed unto the Lord and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
9
And now see that ye keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the month of Chislev."
10
In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people who were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council and Judas sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, King Ptolemy's master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews who were in Egypt:
11
"Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank Him highly, as having been in battle against a king.
12
For He cast them out who fought against the holy city.