11. Hereupon therefore he began in great part to cease from his arrogancy, being broken in spirit, and to come to knowledge under the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.
12. And when he himself could not abide his own smell, he said these words: It is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not be minded arrogantly.
13. And the vile man vowed to the sovereign Lord, who now no more would have pity upon him, saying on this wise:
14. that the holy city, to the which he was going in haste, to lay it even with the ground and to make it a common graveyard, he would declare free;
15. and as touching the Jews, whom he had decided not even to count worthy of burial, but to cast them out to the beasts with their infants, for the birds to devour, he would make them all equal to citizens of Athens;
16. and the holy sanctuary, which before he had spoiled, he would adorn with goodliest offerings, and would restore all the sacred vessels many times multiplied, and out of his own revenues would defray the charges that were required for the sacrifices;
17. and, beside all this, that he would become a Jew, and would visit every inhabited place, publishing abroad the might of God.
18. But when his sufferings did in no wise cease, for the judgement of God had come upon him in righteousness, having given up all hope of himself, he wrote to the Jews the letter written below, having the nature of a supplication, to this effect:
19. To the worthy Jews, his fellow-citizens, Antiochus, king and general, wishes much joy and health and prosperity.
20. May you⌃ and your children fare well; and your affairs shall be to your mind. Having my hope in heaven,
21. I remembered with affection your honor and good will toward me. Returning out of the region of Persia, and being taken with a noisome sickness, I deemed it necessary to take thought for the common safety of all,