2 Maccabees 11:13-24
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13 Who, as he was a man of understanding, casting with himself what loss he had had, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God helped them, he sent unto them,
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14 And persuaded them to agree to all reasonable conditions, and promised that he would persuade the king that he must needs be a friend unto them.
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15 Then Maccabeus consented to all that Lysias desired, being careful of the common good; and whatsoever Maccabeus wrote unto Lysias concerning the Jews, the king granted it.
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16 For there were letters written unto the Jews from Lysias to this effect: Lysias unto the people of the Jews sendeth greeting:
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17 John and Absolom, who were sent from you, delivered me the petition subscribed, and made request for the performance of the contents thereof.
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18 Therefore what things soever were meet to be reported to the king, I have declared them, and he hath granted as much as might be.
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19 And if then ye will keep yourselves loyal to the state, hereafter also will I endeavour to be a means of your good.
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20 But of the particulars I have given order both to these and the other that came from me, to commune with you.
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21 Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.
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22 Now the king's letter contained these words: King Antiochus unto his brother Lysias sendeth greeting:
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23 Since our father is translated unto the gods, our will is, that they that are in our realm live quietly, that every one may attend upon his own affairs.
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24 We understand also that the Jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but had rather keep their own manner of living: for the which cause they require of us, that we should suffer them to live after their own laws.