1 Now about that time, Antiochus retreated
†in disorder from the region of Persia.

2 For he had entered into the city called
Persepolis, and he attempted to rob ‡a
temple and to control the city. Therefore the
multitudes rushed in and the people of
the country turned to defend themselves
with weapons; and it came to pass that
Antiochus was put to flight by the people
of the country and broke his camp with
disgrace.

3 While he was at Ecbatana, news was
brought to him about what had happened
to Nicanor and the forces of Timotheus.

4 Being overcome by his anger, he
planned to make the Jews suffer for the
evil deeds of those who had put him to
flight. Therefore, with judgment from
heaven even now accompanying him, he
ordered his charioteer to drive without
ceasing until he completed the journey;
for he arrogantly said this: “I will make
Jerusalem a common graveyard of Jews
when I come there.”

5 But the All-seeing Lord, the God of
Israel, struck him with a §fatal and invisible
stroke. As soon as he had finished speaking
this word, an incurable pain of the bowels
seized him, with bitter torments of the
inner parts

6 and that most justly, for he
had tormented other men’s bowels with many
and strange sufferings.

7 But he in no way ceased from his rude
insolence. No, he was filled with even
more arrogance, breathing fire in his
passion against the Jews, and giving orders to
hasten the journey. But it came to pass
moreover that he fell from his chariot as
it rushed along, and having a grievous fall
was tortured in all of the members of his body.

8 He who had just supposed himself to
have the waves of the sea at his bidding
because he was so superhumanly arrogant,
and who thoughtto weightheheights
of the mountains in a balance, was now
brought to the ground and carried in a
litter, †showing to all that the power was
obviously God’s,

9 so that worms swarmed out of the impious
man’s body, and while he was still
living in anguish and pains, his flesh fell
off, and by reason of the stench all the
army turned with loathing from his decay.

10 The man who a little before supposed
himself to touch the stars of heaven, no
one could endure to carry because of his
intolerable stench.

11 Therefore he began in great part to
cease from his arrogance, being broken in
spirit, and to come to knowledge under the
scourge of God, his pains increasing every
moment.

12 When he himself could not stand his
own smell, he said these words: “It is right
to be subject to God, and that one who is
mortal should not think they are equal to
God.”

13 The vile man vowed to the sovereign
Lord, who now no more would have pity
upon him, saying

14 that the holy city, to 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 Concerning the Jews, whom he had
decidednot evento count worthy of burial,
but to cast them out to the animals with
their infants for the birds to devour, he
would make them all equal to citizens of
Athens.