13 Lysias was a smart man, and he kept thinking about the defeat he had just suffered. Finally, he realized he could never destroy the Jewish people. After all, God All-Powerful fought on our side. So he wrote a letter
14 urging our people to sign a peace treaty that would be fair. Lysias also promised that he would persuade King Antiochus to be kind to our nation.
15 Judas wanted to do what was best for everyone, so he agreed to do what Lysias had asked, since the king had always agreed to every request that he had made in writing to Lysias.
16 This is a copy of the letter that Lysias wrote:Lysias sends greetings to the Jewish people.
17 You sent your messengers John and Absalom to me with your official list of demands, and we have gone over them in detail.
18 Some of the items on the list needed to be discussed with the king. So I did this, and he has agreed to do all he possibly can.
19 Meanwhile, remain faithful to our government, and from now on I'll do everything I can to make your nation prosper.