The Prayer of Simon the High Priest

1 Then the high priest Simon bowed his knees near the holy place, spread out his hands reverently, and offered the following prayer:

2 “Lord, Lord, King of the heavens, and Ruler of the whole creation, Holy among the holy, only Governor, Almighty, listen to us who are oppressed by a wicked and irreverent man who boasts of his confidence and strength. 3 You, the Creator of all and Lord of the universe, are a righteous Governor and judge everyone who act with pride and insolence.

4 “You destroyed those who did wrong in the past, among whom were the giants, who trusted in their strength and daring, by covering them with a boundless flood.⁠a 5 It was you who made the Sodomites, who committed great evil and were notorious for their wrongdoing, an example to later generations, when you covered them with fire and sulfur.⁠b 6 You made known your power when you put the defiant Pharaoh, who enslaved your holy people Israel, through the ordeal of many different punishments. 7 You rolled the depths of the sea over him when he pursued with chariots and with a large crowd of followers, and gave a safe passage to those who put their trust in you, the Lord of the whole creation. 8 They saw and experienced the works of your hands, and praised you, the Almighty.

9 “You, King, when you created the immeasurable and boundless earth, chose this city. You made this place sacred to your name, even though you need nothing.⁠c You glorified it with your glorious presence, after constructing it to the glory of your great and honorable name. 10 You promised, out of love for the people of Israel, that if we fall away from you, suffer hardship, and then come to this house and pray, you would hear our prayer.⁠d 11 Truly you are faithful and true.

12 “You often helped our ancestors when they were hard pressed and humiliated, and rescued them from great dangers. 13 Now see, holy King, how through our many and great sins we are crushed and brought under our enemies’ power, and have become weak and powerless. 14 In our helpless condition, this defiant and irreverent man seeks to dishonor your holy place, set apart from all the earth for your majestic name. 15 Your dwelling place, the heaven of heavens, is indeed beyond human reach. 16 But since it seemed good to you to display your glory among your people Israel, you made this place holy.

17 “Don’t punish us through the impurity of these men or discipline us through their irreverence. Otherwise the lawless may boast in their rage, delight in their arrogant speech, and say, 18 ‘We have trampled on the holy house, as idolatrous houses are trampled on.’

19 “Wipe away our sins, do away with our errors, and show your compassion in this hour. 20 Let your mercy quickly come to meet us.⁠e Grant us peace, so that the downcast and brokenhearted may praise you with their mouths.”

Ptolemy Is Struck Down and Leaves Jerusalem

21 At that time God, who sees all things, who is more Holy than all the holy, heard that fitting prayer and punished the man who was swollen with contempt and arrogance. 22 Shaking him back and forth as a reed shakes in the wind, he threw him down on the pavement, powerless, with limbs paralyzed, and by a righteous judgment deprived of the ability to speak.⁠f

23 His friends and bodyguards, seeing the swift punishment that had suddenly overtaken him, were struck with extreme terror, and fearing that he would die, quickly removed him. 24 When he eventually recovered, this severe punishment did not make him repent, but he left making bitter threats.

Restrictions on the Jewish Community in Egypt

25 He went to Egypt, grew worse in wickedness through his previously mentioned drinking companions, who had abandoned all goodness, 26 and not satisfied with countless irreverent acts, he became so brazen that he spread malicious reports there, and many of his friends, carefully watching his plans, helped carry out his wishes.

27 His purpose was to publicly disgrace our race. Therefore he erected a stone pillar in the courtyard, and had the following inscription engraved on it:

28 “Entrance to this temple is to be refused to everyone who refuses to sacrifice. All the Jews are to be registered among the slaves. Those who resisted are to be forcibly seized and put to death.

29 “Those registered in this way are to have their bodies marked by the ivy-leaf symbol of Dionysus, and to have their rights restricted in this way.”⁠g

30 To do away with the appearance of hating them all, he had it written underneath that if any of them chose to enter the community of those initiated in the rites, they would have equal rights with the Alexandrians.

31 Some of those in authority over the city therefore rejected any connection with the city of godliness, gave in to the king without hesitation, and expected to gain great honor from a future association with him.

32 However, a nobler spirit prompted the majority to hold to their religious practices. They paid money to live undisturbed and sought to escape the registration, 33 cheerfully looking forward to future help, they rejected those of their own people who had abandoned the faith, considering them enemies of the nation and refusing to share fellowship or mutual help with them.