The Koine Bible

King Ptolemy Philopator to the generals in Egypt and to all who are appointed over affairs, greetings and farewell to you.

And we ourselves and our children were strong, as the great God was directing our affairs for us, just as we choose.

Some of the friends, lying nearer to us out of malice, persuaded us to punish with strange penalties of apostates the Jews who had gathered together under the kingdom.

bringing forward that our affairs will never be settled, because of which these men have ill will toward all the nations, until this is accomplished

who also, having brought them down as prisoners with mockings, as slaves, rather as plotters, without any examination and inquiry, attempted to kill them, being inflamed with a cruelty more savage than the law of the Scythians

But we, after threatening more severely over these things, scarcely granting them to live because of the kindness which we have toward all men, and having surely known the heavenly God to be their defender, as a father for sons, continually fighting on behalf of the Jews,

and considering the goodwill of the friend, which they have as firm toward us and our ancestors, we have rightly released them in every way from any cause whatsoever

And we have ordered everyone to return them to their own places in every place, with nothing at all harming them, nor to reproach them concerning the things that have happened contrary to reason.

For you know that, against these, if we do anything wickedly by craft or grieve them at all, we shall have as our opponent for vengeance in every matter, without escape and forever, not a man but God Most High, who has dominion over all power. Be well.

But having received this letter, they did not hasten immediately to be about the return, but they honored the king, that those of the race of the Jews who had voluntarily transgressed the holy God and the law of God through them might obtain the due punishment.

bringing forward those who had transgressed the divine commands for the sake of the belly, that they would never show favor either to the affairs of the king

But he, having accepted that they were speaking the truth and having exhorted them, gave them permission for all things, so that they might utterly destroy those who had transgressed the law of God in every place under his kingdom, with boldness, without any royal authority and oversight at all

Then the priests of these things and all the multitude, having applauded him as was fitting, shouted the Hallelujah with joy and departed

Thus they were punishing along the way the fellow countryman of those who had fallen, one of the defiled, and they were killing him with public examples

And on that day they killed more than three hundred men, which they also brought about as rejoicing with joy, having subdued the profane.

And they themselves, who had held God even to death, having received complete enjoyment of salvation, broke camp out of the city, crowned with all kinds of most fragrant flowers, with gladness and shouting, in praises and all-sounding hymns, giving thanks to the God of their fathers, the eternal savior of Israel

And when they had come to Ptolemais, the one called Rhodophoros because of the peculiarity of the place, where the fleet awaited them, by their common counsel, for seven days

There they made a saving feast, the king having supplied them heartily with all things for the arrival, to each one, even as far as to his own house

And having been brought down with peace amid the fitting thanksgivings, likewise even there they stood and to spend these days joyfully during the time of their sojourning

which also, after dedicating them in a pillar, having established a place of prayer according to the place of the banquet, they departed unharmed, free, overjoyed, being brought safely back by land and sea and river, by the command of the king, each to his own

and having obtained far greater authority than before among their enemies, with glory and fear, the whole body, not shaken by any of the possessions of anyone

And all of their own things all received back by registration, so that those who had anything with the greatest fear gave back to them the mighty acts of the great God, who had acted perfectly for their salvation

Blessed be the deliverer of Israel unto the ages, amen