19 Now the things about Yehudah (Judas) Makabi (Maccabaeus) and his brothers, the purification of the greatest temple, the dedication of the altar, 20 and further the wars against Antiokos (Antiochus) Epifanes (Epiphanes) and Eupator his son, 21 and the manifestations that came from heaven to those who fought with one another in brave actions for the religion of the Yehudim (Jews); so that, being but a few, they seized the whole country, chased the barbarous multitudes, 22 recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, freed the city, and restored the laws which were about to be overthrown, seeing the master became gracious to them with all kindness. 23 These things which have been declared by Yason of Kurainai (Cyrene) in five books, we’ll attempt to abridge in one book. 24 Because having in view the confused mass of the numbers, and the[fn] difficulty which awaits those who’d enter into the narratives of the history, because of the abundance of the matter, 25 we were careful that those who choose to read may be attracted, and that those who wish us well may find it easy to recall, and that all readers may benefit. 26 Although to us, who’ve taken on ourselves the painful labour of the abridgement, the task isn’t easy, but a matter of sweat and sleeplessness, 27 even as it’s no light thing to him who prepares a banquet, and seeks the benefit of others. Nevertheless, for the sake of the gratitude of the many we’ll gladly endure the painful labour, 28 leaving to the historian the exact handling of every particular, and again having no strength to fill in the outlines of our abridgement. 29 Because as the master-builder of a new house must care for the whole structure, and again he who undertakes to decorate and paint it must seek out the things fit for its adorning; even so I think it’s also with us. 30 To occupy the ground, and to indulge in long discussions, and to be curious in particulars, is fitting for the first author of the history; 31 but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a laboured fullness in the treatment, is to be granted to him who’d bring a writing into a new form. 32 Here then let’s begin the narration, only adding this much to that which has already been said; for it’s a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself.