1 Fratribus qui sunt per Aegyptum Iudaeis salutem dicunt
fratres qui sunt in Hierosolymis Iudaei
et qui in regione Iudaeae et pacem bonam
2 benefaciat vobis Deus et meminerit testamenti sui
quod est ad Abraham et Isaac et Iacob servorum suorum fidelium
3 et det vobis cor omnibus ut colatis eum
et faciatis eius voluntatem corde magno et animo volente
4 adaperiat cor vestrum in lege sua et in praeceptis eius
et faciat pacem
5 exaudiat orationes vestras et reconcilietur vobis
nec vos deserat in tempore malo
6 et nunc hic sumus orantes pro vobis
7 regnante Demetrio anno centesimo sexagesimo
nono
nos Iudaei scripsimus vobis
in tribulatione et impetu qui supervenit nobis in istis annis
ex quo recessit Iason a sancta terra et a regno
8 portam succenderunt et effuderunt sanguinem innocentem
et oravimus ad Dominum et exauditi sumus
et obtulimus sacrificium et similaginem
et accendimus lucernas et proposuimus panes
9 et nunc frequentate dies scenophegiae mensis casleu
10 anno centesimo octogesimo octavo
populus qui est Hierosolymis et in Iudaea senatusque et
Iudas
Aristobolo magistro Ptolomei regis
qui est de genere christorum sacerdotum
et his qui in Aegypto sunt Iudaeis salutem et sanitatem
11 de magnis periculis a Deo liberati
magnifice gratias ipsi utpote qui adversus talem regem dimicavimus
12 ipse enim ebullire fecit de Perside eos
qui pugnaverunt contra nos
13 nam cum in Perside esset
dux ipse et cum ipso inmensus exercitus cecidit in templo Naneae
consilio deceptus sacerdotis Naneae
14 ut enim cum ea habitaturus venit ad locum
Antiochus et amici eius
et ut acciperet pecunias multas dotis nomine
15 cumque proposuissent eas sacerdotes Naneae
et ipse cum paucis ingressus esset intra ambitum fani
clauserunt templum
16 cum intrasset Antiochus
apertoque occulto aditu templi
mittentes lapides percusserunt ducem et qui cum eo erant
et diviserunt membratim et capitibus amputatis foras proiecerunt
17 per omnia benedictus Deus qui tradidit impios
18 facturi igitur quinta et vicesima mensis casleu
purificationem templi
necessarium duximus significare vobis
ut vos quoque agatis diem scenophegiae
et diem ignis qui datus est
quando Neemias aedificato templo et altari obtulit sacrificia
19 nam cum in Persidem ducerentur patres nostri
sacerdotes qui tunc Dei cultores erant
acceptum ignem de altario occulte absconderunt in valle
ubi erat puteus altus siccus
et in eo contutati sunt eum ita ut omnibus ignotus esset locus
20 cum praeterissent autem multi anni
et placuit Deo ut mitteretur Neemias a rege Persidis
nepotes sacerdotum illorum qui absconderant
misit ad requirendum ignem
et sicut narraverunt nobis
non invenerunt ignem sed aquam crassam
21 et iussit eos haurire et adferre sibi
et sacrificia quae inposita erant iussit sacerdos Neemias
aspargi aqua ipsa
et ligna et quae erant superposita
22 utque hoc factum est
et tempus adfuit quo sol refulsit qui prius erat in nubilo
accensus est ignis magnus ita ut omnes mirarentur
23 orationem autem faciebant omnes sacerdotes
dum consummaretur sacrificium
Ionatha inchoante ceteris autem respondentibus
24 et Neemiae erat oratio hunc habens modum
Domine Deus omnium creator
terribilis et fortis iustus et misericors
qui solus es rex bonus
25 solus praestans solus iustus et omnipotens et aeternus
qui liberas Israhel de omni malo
qui fecisti patres electos et sanctificasti eos
26 accipe sacrificium pro universo populo tuo Israhel
et custodi partem tuam et sanctifica
27 congrega dispersionem nostram libera eos qui serviunt gentibus
contemptos et abominatos respice
ut sciant gentes quod tu es Deus noster
28 adflige opprimentes
et contumeliam facientes in superbia
29 constitue populum tuum in loco sancto tuo sicut dixit Moses
30 sacerdotes autem psallebant hymnos
usquequo consumptum esset sacrificium
31 cum autem consummatum fuisset sacrificium
ex residua aqua Neemias iussit lapides maiores perfundi
32 quod ut factum est flamma ex eis accensa est
sed ex lumine quod refulsit ab altari consumpta est
33 ut vero manifestata essent haec
renuntiatum est regi Persarum
quod in loco in quo ignem absconderant hii qui translati erant sacerdotes
aqua apparuit de qua Neemias et qui cum eo erant purificaverunt
sacrificia
34 considerans autem rex et rem diligenter examinans
fecit ei templum
35 et si quibus donaverat rex multa bona
accipiebat ex hoc et tribuebat
36 appellavit autem Neemias hoc Nepthar
quod interpretatur purificatio
vocatur autem apud plures Nephi
1 The brethren, the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea, wish unto the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace:
2 God be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants;
3 And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, with a good courage and a willing mind;
4 And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send you peace,
5 And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
6 And now we be here praying for you.
7 What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,
8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
9 And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu.
10 In the hundred fourscore and eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea, and the council, and Judas, sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus, king Ptolemeus’ master, who was of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:
11 Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.
12 For he cast them out that fought within the holy city.
13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea’s priests.
14 For Antiochus, as though he would marry her, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive money in name of a dowry.
15 Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth, and he was entered with a small company into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in:
16 And opening a privy door of the roof, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the captain, hewed them in pieces, smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without.
17 Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the ungodly.
18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep it, as the feast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had builded the temple and the altar.
19 For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.
20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Neemias, being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of those priests that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water;
21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it; and when the sacrifices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.
22 When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marvelled.
23 And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming, I say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.
24 And the prayer was after this manner; O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
25 The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:
26 Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
27 Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art our God.
28 Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
29 Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
30 And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.
31 Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones.
32 When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
33 So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the place, where the priests that were led away had hid the fire, there appeared water, and that Neemias had purified the sacrifices therewith.
34 Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he had tried the matter.
35 And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify.
36 And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.