2 Maccabees 2 - Revised Version with Apocrypha 1885, 1895(RV1895)

1It is also found in the records, that Jeremiah the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, when he went forth into the mountain a chamber in the rock, and there he brought in the tabernacle, and gather the people again together, and mercy come:

8And then shall the Lord disclose these things, and cloud.

AS also it was shewed with Moses; as also Solomon both in the public archives the records that concern Nehemiah; and how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings all the earth into great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20And further the wars against rescued the whole country, and chased the barbarous multitudes,

22And gracious unto them with all forbearance:

23These things, I say, which have been declared by Jason of difficulty which awaiteth them that would enter into the narratives of the history, by reason of the abundance of the matter,

25We were careful that they who choose to read may be attracted, and that they who wish well to our cause may find it easy to recall what we have written, and that all readers may have profit.

26And although to us, who have taken upon us the painful labour of the abridgement, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching

27(Even as it is no light thing unto him having no strength to fill in the outlines of our abridgement.

29structure, and again he that undertaketh to decorate and paint it must seek out the things fit for the adorning thereof; even so I think it is also with us.

30To occupy the ground, and to indulge in long discussions, and to be curious in particulars, becometh the first author of the history:

31But to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a laboured fulness in the treatment, is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.

32said; for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself.