- The Jews in Jerusalem and in the land of Judea send greetings
to their brethren, the Jews in Egypt, and wish them true peace!
- May God bless you and remember his covenant with his faithful
servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. - May he give to all of you
a heart to worship him and to do his will readily and
generously. - May he open your heart to his law and his
commandments and grant you peace. - May he hear your prayers,
and be reconciled to you, and never forsake you in time of
adversity. - Even now we are praying for you here. - 1 In the
reign of Demetrius, the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews
wrote to you during the trouble and violence that overtook us in
those years after Jason and his followers had revolted against
the holy land and the kingdom, - 2 setting fire to the gatehouse
and shedding innocent blood. But we prayed to the Lord, and our
prayer was heard; we offered sacrifices and fine flour; we
lighted the lamps and set out the loaves of bread. - 3 We are
now reminding you to celebrate t