12
And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words, It is meet to be subject unto God, and that a man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself if he were God.
13
This wicked person vowed also unto the Lord, who now no more would have mercy upon him, saying thus,
14
That the holy city (to the which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common buryingplace,) he would set at liberty:
15
And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy so much as to be buried, but to be cast out with their children to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, he would make them all equals to the citizens of Athens:
16
And the holy temple, which before he had spoiled, he would garnish with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels with many more, and out of his own revenue defray the charges belonging to the sacrifices:
17
Yea, and that also he would become a Jew himself, and go through all the world that was inhabited, and declare the power of God.
18
But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:
19
Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews his citizens wisheth much joy, health, and prosperity:
20
If ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, I give very great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven.
21
As for me, I was weak, or else I would have remembered kindly your honour and good will returning out of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common safety of all:
22
Not distrusting mine health, but having great hope to escape this sickness.