2macc 2:23
King James Version
“All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.”
Context
20And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,
21And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism: so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
22And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord being gracious unto them with all favour:
23All these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.
24For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,
25We have been careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit.
26Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;