12. In those days, there went forth from Israel sons of iniquity, and they persuaded many, saying: "Let us go and negotiate a covenant with the Gentiles that are all around us. For since we have withdrawn from them, many evils have found us."
13. And the word seemed good in their eyes.
14. And some of the people determined to do this, and they went to the king. And he gave them the power to act according to the justice of the Gentiles.
15. And they built a sports arena in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the Nations.
16. And they made themselves uncircumcised, and they withdrew from the holy covenant, and they were joined to the nations, and they were sold into evil-doing.
17. And the kingdom was ready in the sight of Antiochus, and he began to reign over the land of Egypt, so that he might reign over two kingdoms.
18. And he entered into Egypt with an oppressive multitude, with swift chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great abundance of ships.
19. And he appointed a war against Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, and Ptolemy was filled with dread before his face, and he fled, and many fell down wounded.
20. And he took hold of the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he received the spoils of the land of Egypt.
21. And Antiochus turned back, after he struck Egypt, in the one hundred and forty-third year, and he ascended against Israel.
22. And he ascended to Jerusalem, with an oppressive multitude.
23. And he entered into the sanctuary with arrogance, and he took the golden altar, and the lampstand of light, and all the vessels, and the table for the bread of the Presence, and the vessels of libation, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament, which was at the face of the temple. And he crushed them all.
24. And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels, and he took the hidden treasures, which he found. And having taken all these things away, he departed into his own land.
25. And he caused a massacre of men, and he was speaking with great arrogance.
26. And there was great wailing in Israel and in all of their places.
27. And the leaders and elders mourned, and the virgins and young men became weak, and the splendor of the women was changed.
28. Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and those who sat in the marriage bed mourned.
29. And the land shook on behalf of the inhabitants in it, and the entire house of Jacob was clothed with confusion.