1 Maccabees
Chapter 8
1 1 2 Judas had heard of the reputation of the Romans. They were valiant fighters and acted amiably to all who took their side. They established a friendly alliance with all who applied to them.
犹大听到罗马人的名声，听说他们势力强大，凡倾向他们的，都加以优待，无论谁来接近他们，就与他们友善；罗马人因之势力渐渐强大。
2 3 He was also told of their battles and the brave deeds that they had performed against the Gauls, conquering them and forcing them to pay tribute.
有人对他谈及罗马人在高庐作战和所有英勇的事，怎样征服高庐人，使他们进贡；
3 They had gotten possession of the silver and gold mines in Spain,
又在西班牙地方所行的一切，怎样占领那里的银矿金矿；
4 and by planning and persistence had conquered the whole country, although it was very remote from their own. They had crushed the kings who had come against them from the far corners of the earth and had inflicted on them severe defeat, and the rest paid tribute to them every year.
怎样用计谋和毅力，占领那离他们很远的全地；又怎样打败由地极来攻打他们的国王。怎样使他们遭受重创，又怎样使其余的国王，年年来进贡；
5 4 Philip and Perseus, king of the Macedonians, and the others who opposed them in battle had been overwhelmed and subjugated.
又怎样战败斐理伯和基廷人的国王培尔叟，怎样征服那些起来反抗他们的人。
6 5 Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who had fought against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very great army, had been defeated by them.
亚细亚王大安提约古，虽然带有一百二十只象、马队、战车、以及庞大的军队，来同他们交战，也被他们打败，
7 They had taken him alive and obliged him and the kings who succeeded him to pay a heavy tribute, to give hostages and a section of
甚至还被活捉了去，给他和将来继位的加了重税，还要交出人质，割让土地：
8 6 Lycia, Mysia, and Lydia from among their best provinces. The Romans took these from him and gave them to King Eumenes.
就是将印度、玛待、里狄雅及数处最好的地方割让给欧默乃王。
9 7 When the men of Greece had planned to come and destroy them,
又给犹大谈及希腊人怎样企图歼灭他们，
10 the Romans discovered it, and sent against the Greeks a single general who made war on them. Many were wounded and fell, and the Romans took their wives and children captive. They plundered them, took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds and reduced them to slavery even to this day.
罗马人一知道这事，就派一员大将去攻打；双方交锋，希腊人死亡甚众，罗马人就俘掳了他们的妻子儿女，抢掠了他们的财物，占领了他们的土地，毁坏了他们的堡垒，使他们成为奴隶，直至今日。
11 All the other kingdoms and islands that had ever opposed them they destroyed and enslaved;
其余各国和海岛，凡是反抗过他们的，都被消灭，成为他们的奴隶。
12 with their friends, however, and those who relied on them, they maintained friendship. They had conquered kings both far and near, and all who heard of their fame were afraid of them.
不过他们对于自己的盟国和附庸国，却保持友谊；他们征服了远近各国。凡听见他们名声的，没有不畏惧的。
13 In truth, those whom they desired to help to a kingdom became kings, and those whom they wished to depose they deposed; and they were greatly exalted.
他们愿意辅佐谁为王，谁就可以为王；愿意废弃谁，谁就被废弃。他们的势力实在强盛。
14 Yet with all this, none of them put on a crown or wore purple as a display of grandeur.
虽然如此，但是他们中，没又一个戴冠冕，穿紫袍，因而自高自大的。
15 They had made for themselves a senate house, and every day three hundred and twenty men took counsel, deliberating on all that concerned the people and their well-being.
他们设立了一个议院，天天有三百二十人，常在为人民议事，为人民谋福利。
16 8 They entrusted their government to one man every year, to rule over their entire country, and they all obeyed that one, and there was no envy or jealousy among them.
每年委托一人，作自己的首领管辖全国，众人都服从他，他们中没有嫉妒，也没有竞争。
17 So Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish an alliance of friendship with them.
犹大就选了阿科斯的孙子，若望的儿子欧颇肋摩和厄肋阿匝尔的儿子雅松，派遣他们到罗马去，与罗马人缔结盟约，
18 He did this to get rid of the yoke, for it was obvious that the kingdom of the Greeks was subjecting Israel to slavery.
希望罗马人看出希腊国要使以色列作奴隶，因而协助他们摆脱希腊国的压迫。
19 After making a very long journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate and spoke as follows:
于是他们起程，行了很遥远的路，才到达罗马。走进议院，就进言说：
20 ＂Judas, called Maccabeus, and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to make a peaceful alliance with you, and to enroll ourselves among your allies and friends.＂
＂犹大玛加伯同他的兄弟和犹太民众，打发我们到你们这里来，为同你们建立同盟，缔结和约，将我们列于你们的联盟和友邦之中。＂
21 The proposal pleased the Romans,
这种请求，大受议员的欢迎。
22 9 and this is a copy of the reply they inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem, to remain there with the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:
他们便将约文刻在铜版上，送到耶路撒冷，叫犹太人保存，作为和平联盟的记念。其文如下：
23 ＂May it be well with the Romans and the Jewish nation at sea and on land forever; may sword and enemy be far from them.
＂愿罗马人及犹太民族，在海陆上永远幸福，愿他们永无刀兵与敌对之事！
24 But if war is first made on Rome, or any of its allies in any of their dominions,
若罗马或其领土上的同盟国先遇到战事，
25 the Jewish nation will help them wholeheartedly, as the occasion shall demand;
犹太国应在可能环境内，尽心帮助同盟国作战；
26 and to those who wage war they shall not give nor provide grain, arms, money, or ships; this is Rome's decision. They shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense.
应按罗马人所决定的，不得给予或供应敌人食粮、武器、银钱和船只，且应尽自己的责任，毫无所求。
27 In the same way, if war is made first on the Jewish nation, the Romans will help them willingly, as the occasion shall demand,
同样，若犹太国先遇到战争，罗马人也应该在可能环境内，尽心帮助同盟国作战。
28 and to those who are attacking them there shall not be given grain, arms, money, or ships; this is Rome's decision. They shall fulfill their obligations without deception.
应按罗马人所决定的，不得给予或供应敌军食粮、武器、银钱和船只，且应尽自己的责任，不可诡诈。
29 On these terms the Romans have made an agreement with the Jewish people.
根据这些话，罗马人同犹太民族签定了盟约。
30 But if both parties hereafter decide to add or take away anything, they shall do as they choose, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be valid.
假使日后，双方愿意有何增删，经双方同意后，所有增删皆为有效。
31 ＂Moreover, concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius has done to them, we have written to him thus: 'Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?
关于德默特琉王对以色列人所行的恶事，我们已经向他写信说：你为什么压迫我们的友邦和同盟犹太人呢？
32 If they complain about you again, we will do them justice and make war on you by land and sea.'＂
若他们再控告你，我们必要为他们主持公道，而与你海陆交战。＂
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Footnotes（注解）
1 [1] This chapter contains the account of the embassy which Judas sent to Rome, probably before the death of Nicanor, to conclude a treaty of alliance between Rome and the Jewish nation. Without precise chronology, the pertinent data are gathered into a unified theme.
2 [1] The image of the Roman Republic greatly impressed the smaller Eastern peoples seeking support against their overlords (1 Macc 8:1-16), because of Roman success in war (1 Macc 8:2-11) and effective aid to their allies (1 Macc 8:12-13). Numerous interventions by Rome in the politics of the Near East bear witness to its power and prestige in the second century B.C. Cf 1 Macc 1:10; 7:2; 12:3; 15:15-24; 2 Macc 11:34. With the Roman control of Palestine in 63 B.C., the Republic and later the Empire became heartily detested. The eulogy of Rome in this chapter is one of the reasons why 1 Maccabees was not preserved by the Palestinian Jews of the century that followed.
3 [2] Gauls: probably the Celts of northern Italy and southern France, subdued by the Romans in 222 B.C., and again in 200-191 B.C.; but perhaps also those in Asia Minor (the Galatians), whom the Romans defeated in 189 B.C.
4 [5] Phillip: Phillip V of Macedonia, defeated by a Graeco-Roman alliance at Cynoscephalae in 197 B.C. Perseus, his son, was defeated at Pydna in 168 B.C., and died a prisoner. With this, the kingdom of Macedonia came to an end.
5 [6] Antiochus: Antiochus III, greatest of the Seleucid kings. He was defeated at Magnesia in 190 B.C. By the Treaty of Apamea in 189, he was obliged to pay Rome a crushing indemnity of 15, 000 talents. It was the weakening of Antiochene power and the growing military and economic influence of Rome that led Antiochus IV to adopt the policy of political, religious and cultural unification of Syria and Palestine.
6 [8] Lycia, Mysia: regions in western Asia Minor. These names are restored here by conjectural emendation; the Greek text has ＂India, Media,＂ most likely through scribal error. Eumenes: Eumenes II (197-158), king of Pergamum, an ally of Rome who benefited greatly from Antiochus' losses.
7 [9-10] The revolt of the Achaean League, inserted here, occurred in 146 B.C., after Judas' time. It was crushed by the Roman consul Lucius Mummius and marked the end of Greek independence. The author regards all Greeks as the enemies of God.
8 [16] They entrusted their government to one man: actually the Roman Republic always had two consuls as joint heads of the government. Presumably, a single one dealt with embassies and answered letters, hence the impression the Jews received; cf 1 Macc 8:15, 16.
9 [22] The reply . . . on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem: The decree of the Senate would be inscribed on bronze and kept in the Roman Capitol, with only a copy in letter form sent to Jerusalem. The translation of the decree into Hebrew and then into Greek, as found here in 1 Macc, may have occasioned this error.