3 Maccabees 7:3 (Septuagint)

¹King Ptolemy Philopator to the commanders throughout Egypt, and to all who are set over affairs, joy and strength.

²We, too, and our children are well; and God has directed our affairs as we wish.

— 3 Maccabees 7:3 —

⁴They pretended that our affairs would never be in a good state till this took place. Such, they said, was the hatred borne by the Jews to all other people.

⁵They brought them fettered in grievous chains as slaves, nay, as traitors. Without inquiry or examination they endeavored to annihilate them. They buckled themselves with a savage cruelty, worse than Scythian custom.