Nikanori di ǀgapiǂâixasib
1 Nikanori ge Judab tsî ǁîb khoegu tsîn Samariab ǀkharib ǃnâ hâ ǃkhaisab ge ǁnâu, o ǁîb di ûiba ǃaoraxasi-i ǃnâ mâi tamaseb Sabbattsēs ai ǁîga ǁnāǂam ǁkhā ti ge mîǁgui. 2 Jodeǁîn hîa ge ǁîb di toroǂnubisa nî saose ǁgarihen ge ǁîba ǁnāti ī ǁgaora tsî ora xū-eb dī tide, xaweb nî hoana ra mû Elob xa ǃgôahe hâ tsî tsēdi hoadi xa ǃanu tsēs ase dīhe hâ tsēsa nî ǃgôa ǃkhaisa ge ǀkhoma. 3 Ob ge Nikanori, ǃhūbaib di kurusaben hoan xa ǃnaka hâ kurusabeba, ǀhommi ǃnâ i ge ǁîn nî Sabbattsēsa ǃgôa ǃkhaisa ge mîmā ǂgaeǂgui-ao-e hâ i ǃkhaisa ge dî. 4 On ge Jodeǁîna “Î, ûitsama ǃKhūb, ǀhommi ǃnâ ra ǂgaeǂguib ge Sabbattsēsa da nî ǃgôa ǃkhaisa ge mîmā” ti ge ǃeream.
5 Ob ge Nikanora “Tita ge ǃhūbaib ai ǂgaeǂgui-ao tsî ra mîmā du, î du sadu ǁâtanina ūkhâi tsî gao-aob ra mî khami dī” ti ge ǃeream. Xaweb ge ǁîb di ora ǀapesa sîsenǂui ǁkhā tama ge i.
Judab ge ǁîb toroǃkhamaoga torob ǃaroma ra aiǂhomi
6 ǁÎb di ǀgapiǂâixasib ǃnâb ge Nikanora ǁîb di dans Judab ǃoagub nî hōs di ǃgôasib ǃaromab ǂâiǂâisensao-e nî kurumâi ti gere koasen. 7 Xawe Judab ge ǀoasa ǂgomǃgâsa ǃKhūb di huib ǃnâ ge ūhâ i 8 tsî ǁnā-amaga ǁîb khoega, khākhoega gu ǃao tidega ge ǁnama. ǁÎb ge mâtib ge Hoaǀgaixaba ǃkharu ge ǁaeb ǃnâ ǁîga hui ǃkhaisa gu nî ǂâihō ǃkhaisa ge hōhōǃnâ gu tsî gu nî nēsis tsîna dansa hō ǃkhaisa ge ǁapoǁapo. 9 ǁÎb ge ǁîgab ge ǂhanub tsî Kēbo-aoga xu khomaibas ǀkha ǁîgu di ǂgomsa ge ǀasaǀasa tsî ǁîga ǀnai gu ge dan hâ i torogu xa ge ǂâiǂâiǃnâ. 10 Toro-aogu âb ge torob ǃaroma ǂhomisa, ob ge ǁîga mîmāde mā tsî ǁkhā ǁaeb ǃnâ Jodeǁî taman ǁîn ǃgaeǀhaoden ǃkhōmâi tama xui-ao ǂgomǃgâhe ǁoa ǃkhaisa ge ǁgauǂui. 11 ǁÎb ge ǁîb hoaraga khoega, ǁkhaukhōdi tsî ǁhâigôagu ǀkhas ose, ǁîb di ǂgaoǂgaoǃnâ ra mîdi ǀkha ge ǁâtani. ǁÎb ge ǁkhāti ǁîga ǁîb ge ǁgamba gu ǁhapos, aiǃnôa-i ǁîgu nî ǂgom ǃnâ i dis ǀkha ge ǂkhîǂkhî.
12 ǁÎb ge ǁîga ai-i Oniab, ǀgapiprister ge ib, kai tsî buruxa khoeb, ǃgamǃgamsens tsî tsamtsiǃnâsib dib, mâǂoa hâ ǃhoa-aob tsî ǂkhamsisa xu mâtib nî îǂhôa ûiba ûi ǃkhaisa ge ǁkhāǁkhāheb di-i xa ge ǁgamba. 13 ǁKhā ǀgaub aib ge Judaba ǃuri ǀûna ūhâ ǃgôaǃgôasa khoeb, khoesi ǃgôasib tsî gao-aosi ǁkhāsiba ūhâba ge mû. 14 Ob ge Oniaba ǃhoatsoatsoa tsî “Nēb ge Elob di kēbo-aob Jeremiab, hîa ǁîb di ǃgâsanna ǀnam tsî ǁaes tsî ǃanu ǃās Jerusalems tsîra kaise ra ǀgorebaba” ti ge mî.
15 Ob Jeremiaba ǁîb di amǀkhāb ǃomma ǀhōǂui tsî Judaba ǃhuniǀuri hoaǀkhāǀāgôaba ge mā tsî nēsa ra dīǃâ, 16 “Nē ǃanu hoaǀkhāǀāgôab ge Eloba xu hâ ǀkhaeba. Ū, î sa khākhoena hîkākā” ti ge mî.
17 Gā-ai mîdi Judab didi ge mâ-i hoa-e ge ǂgaoǂgaoǃnâ tsî ǂkham khoega kai khoegu khami gu nî ǃkham ǃkhaisa ge hōhōǃnâ. ǁÎn di ǃās, ǂgoms tsî Tempeli tsîn ge ǃaorosasib ǃnâ ge hâ i. Jodeǁîgu ge ǁae-e gu ǁore tide ti ǂâi tsî khākhoena ge ǁnāǂam tsî ǁkhoaǂgaose ǃomdi ǀkha gu nî ǁîgu ǀkha ǃkham ǃkhaisa ge mîǁgui. 18 ǁÎgu ge ǁîgu ǃgâsagu, ǃgâsadi tsî khoexakhoen ǃgâ-ai ǃanu Tempeli xa gere ǂâiǂhansen. 19 Tsî khoen Jerusalems ǃnâ ge hâ in ge mâtib torob hîa ǃgarob ǃnâ hâba nî dabasen ǃkhais xa gere ǂâiǂhansen.
Nikanori di danhes tsî ǁōb
20 Mâ khoe-i hoa-i ge tari-i nî toroba dan ǃkhaisa gere mû ǂgao. Khākhoegu di toroǃkhamaogu ge hātoroǃkhamaogu xa hâxōǀkhāhe tsî ǂkhoaga ǃgâi ǃkhaigu ai mâi hâse ge dāǁnâ. 21 Judab Makabaeub ge nē kai toroǂnubis, ǁîgu ge ūhâ i ǃkharagaǃnâgu ǁâtanin tsî ǁaixa ǂkhoagu tsîna ge kō. ǁNās khaoǃgâb ge Judaba ǀhommi ǃoa ǃomkha ǀhōǂui tsî ǃKhūb hîa buruxa dīna ra dīb, dansa ǁnān hîa ǀgaisa toroǂnubisa ūhân ose, ǁnā ǃkhaisa anu hâ-e ra mā ǃkhaisab ǂan xui-ao ǃKhūb ǃoa ge ǀgore. 22 Ob ge Judaba “ǃKhūtse, Hesekiab ge Judab di gao-ao i, ots ge ǀhomǃgāb hîa ge ǀguikaidisi tsî ǁkhaisadisikoroǀaǀoadisi khoegu Sanherib diga nî ǃgamba ge sî. 23 Nēsi ǁkhawa ǀhommi di ǃKhūtse, sa ǃgâi ǀhomǃgāba sî, îb sida khākhoena ǃhurib tsî ǃaob tsîn ǀkha ǀkhū kai. 24 Sa kai ǁkhāsib ǀkha nē ǂkhabadī-aon, hîa satsa ǃkhāǃkhā tsî sa ǃanu ǁaes sats ge ǁhûisa nî ǁnāǂamse go hāna hîkākā re” ti ge mî. ǁNātib ge Judaba ǁîb di ǀgoresa ge ǀamǀam.
25 Nikanori tsî ǁîb di toroǂnubis tsîn ge xâiǁnâdi tsî torotsanadi di ǀōb ǀkha ge dāǁnâ, 26 xawe Judab tsî ǁîb khoegu tsîn ge Eloba huib ǃaroma ra ǂgaiǀîse torob ǃnâ ge ǂgâ. 27 ǁÎgu ǃomgu ǀkha ra ǃkham tsî ǂgaogu ǃnâ ra ǀgorese gu ge Jodeǁîga ǃnonadisikoroǀaǀoadisis xa ǃnāsa khākhoega ge ǃgam. ǁÎgu ge nē huib hîa gu ge ǃkhōǃoab ǃaroma Eloba kaise ge gangan. 28 Torob ge toa, o gu dans ǃaroma kai ǃgâiaǂgaob ǀkha oagaru, hîa gu ge Nikanori ǀoasa torosarab ǃnâ ǁōǁgoe ǃkhaisa ge mû. 29 O gu ge ǃgari dommi ǀkha ǁîgu ǁgûsi gowab ǃnâ ǃKhūba ge koa.
30 Judab Makabaeub hîa ǂgaob tsî ǂâis ǀkha ǁîb khoena gere ǁkhaubab tsî ǂkhamsisa xu ǁîb khoena ǀnam ib ge ǁîb khoega Nikanori di danas tsî amǀkhāb ǁôab tsîna gu ǃgaoǁnâ tsî Jerusalems ǃoa nî ǃgû-ū ǃkhaisa ge mîmā. 31 ǃĀs ǃnâ gu ge sī, ob ge hoaraga khoena ǂgaiǀhao, pristerga altars aiǃâ mâ kai tsî ǁkhui-ommi ǃnâ ge hâ i khoega ge ǂgai kai. 32 ǁÎb ge ǁîna ǂūǁoa Nikanori di danas tsî nē ǂkhaba khoeb di ǁôab, ǃanu Tempeli Hoaǀgaixa Elob dib ǃoagub gere ǀhōǂuib tsîna ge ǁgau. 33 ǁNās khaoǃgâb ge nē eloxoresa aob di namma ǃgaoǂui tsî ǃârodi ǃnâb nî ǀhomanina ǂûmā tsîb danasa Tempeli ǃoa-ai, ǁîb di gâsib ge tare-e ǃaromaba bi ǃkhaisa nî ǁgauǂuise ǂgāmâi ti ge mîmâi. 34 Mâ khoe-i hoa-i ge ǀhommi ǃoa kōǃapa tsî ǃKhūb ǁîb ǀgaiba ǂhaiǂhai tsî ge ǁîb Tempeli nî ǃanuoǃnâ kaihe ǃkhaisa ǁkhaeba ge koa. 35 Judab ge mâ-i hoa-i nî ǃgāsa ǁgauǁgaus ǃKhūb huib disa mûse, Nikanori danasa ǁkhui-ommi di ǂnubiǂgoab ai ge ǂgāmâi. 36 ǀGuiǂâixase i ge nētsēs tātsēs tsîna ǀuruhe tide tsî mâ kurib hoaba Mordekaib Tsēs aiǃâ nî ǁâudīhe ǃkhaisa ge mîǀguihe. Nēs ge disiǃnonaǀaǁî tsēs, disiǀgamǀaǁî ǁkhâb Aramiagowab ǃnâ Adar ti ra ǀonǂgaiheb disa.
ǀUni mîdi
37 Nēs ge hoa xūn ge Nikanori ǀkha hā ǀgausa. Jerusalems ge ǁnā ǁaeba xu Hebreǁîn di ǂgaeǂguis ǃnaka hâ tsî ta ge ti ǂhôasa nēpa nî ǀamǀam. 38 ǃGâise tsî ǂhanuses ga xoasa, o ta ge ra gangan. Tsî ǂkhabusases ga xoasa tsî khoena ǃgâiba tama i, xawe ta ge dī ǁkhā ta a-e ge dī. 39 ǂAuxûi-i tamas ka io ǁgam-i ǀgui-e ās a ǂuruoǃnâ ǃkhaisa da ge a ǂan, xawe ǂauxûi-i ǁgam-i ǀkha habahe hâ i ge ǃgâi ǁkhoaxa ā-e ra dī. ǁNā ǁkhās khami i ge ǁkhāsib ǀkha xoahe hâ ǂhôa-e, khomai rana ǁkhoaxaba. Nēs ǀkha ta ge ra ǀamǀam.
Nicanor's Cruel Plan
1 Nicanor learned that Judas and his men were in the region of Samaria, and so he decided to attack them on a Sabbath, when he could do so without any danger to himself. 2 The Jews who were forced to accompany his army begged him not to do such a cruel and savage thing, but to respect the day that the all-seeing God had honored and made the most holy of all days. 3 Then Nicanor, the lowest creature on earth, asked if there was some sovereign ruler in heaven who had commanded them to honor the Sabbath. 4 And the Jews replied, “Yes; the living Lord, who rules in heaven, commanded us to honor the Sabbath.”
5 But Nicanor answered, “I am the ruler on earth, and I order you to take up your weapons and to do what the king commands.” However, he did not succeed in carrying out his cruel plan.
Judas Prepares His Troops for Battle
6 In his arrogance Nicanor had boasted that he would set up a monument in honor of his victory over Judas. 7 But Judas was fully confident that the Lord would help him, 8 so he urged his men not to be afraid of the enemy. He encouraged them to remember how the Almighty had helped them in times past and to rest assured that he would give them victory this time also. 9 He renewed their hope by reading to them from the Law and the Prophets and by reminding them of the battles they had already won. 10 When his men were ready for battle, he gave them their orders and at the same time pointed out how the Gentiles could not be trusted, because they never kept their treaties. 11 He armed all his men, not by encouraging them to trust in shields and spears, but by inspiring them with courageous words. He also lifted their morale by telling them about his dream, a kind of vision that they could trust in.
12 He told them that he had seen a vision of Onias, the former High Priest, that great and wonderful man of humble and gentle disposition, who was an outstanding orator and who had been taught from childhood how to live a virtuous life. With outstretched arms Onias was praying for the entire Jewish nation. 13 Judas then saw an impressive white-haired man of great dignity and authority. 14 Onias said: “This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves the Jewish people and offers many prayers for us and for Jerusalem, the holy city.”
15 Then Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave Judas a gold sword, saying as he did so, 16 “This holy sword is a gift from God. Take it and destroy your enemies.”
17 The eloquent words that Judas spoke encouraged everyone to be brave, and inspired boys to fight like men. Their city, their religion, and their Temple were in danger. So the Jews made up their minds not to waste any time, but to make a daring attack against the enemy and bravely decide their fate in hand-to-hand combat. 18 They were not so concerned about their own families and relatives as they were about their sacred Temple. 19 And the people who had to stay in Jerusalem were deeply concerned about how a battle on open ground would turn out.
The Defeat and Death of Nicanor
20 Everyone was waiting to see who would win the battle. The enemy troops were already moving forward, with their cavalry on each side of them, and their elephants placed in strategic positions. 21 Judas Maccabeus looked at the huge enemy force, the variety of their weapons, and their fierce elephants. Then he raised his hands toward heaven and prayed to the Lord, who works miracles, because he knew that the Lord gives victory to those who deserve it, not to those who have a strong army. 22 Judas said: “Lord, when Hezekiah was king of Judah, you sent your angel, who killed 185,000 of King Sennacherib's men. 23 Now once again, Lord of heaven, send your good angel to make our enemies shake and tremble with fear. 24 With your great power, destroy these people who have slandered you and have come out to attack your chosen people.” So Judas ended his prayer.
25 Nicanor and his army moved forward to the sound of trumpets and battle songs, 26 but Judas and his men went into battle calling on God for help. 27 So by fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, the Jews killed more than 35,000 of the enemy. How grateful they were for the help they had received from God! 28 When the battle was over and they were going home celebrating their victory, they noticed Nicanor in full armor lying dead on the battlefield. 29 Then with loud shouts they praised the Lord in their native language.
30 Judas Maccabeus, who had always fought with all his body and soul for his own people, never losing the patriotism of his youth, ordered his men to cut off Nicanor's head and right arm and to take them to Jerusalem. 31 When they arrived in the city, he called together all the people, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for the men in the fort. 32 He showed them the head of the evil Nicanor and the arm which that wicked man had arrogantly stretched out against the sacred Temple of the Almighty God. 33 Then he cut out the tongue of that godless man, promising to feed it bit by bit to the birds and to hang up his head opposite the Temple, as evidence of what his foolishness did for him. 34 Everyone there looked up to heaven and praised the Lord, who had revealed his power and had kept his Temple from being defiled. 35 Judas hung Nicanor's head from the wall of the fort, as a clear proof to everyone of the Lord's help. 36 By unanimous vote it was decided that this day would never be forgotten, but would be celebrated each year on the eve of Mordecai's Day, which is the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic.
Concluding Words
37 That is how things turned out for Nicanor. The city of Jerusalem remained in the possession of the Jewish people from that time on, so I will end my story here. 38 If it is well written and to the point, I am pleased; if it is poorly written and uninteresting, I have still done my best. 39 We know it is unhealthy to drink wine or water alone, whereas wine mixed with water makes a delightfully tasty drink. So also a good story skillfully written gives pleasure to those who read it. With this I conclude.
