3 Maccabees 3:13-15

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

¹³ ‘I myself and our government are faring well. ¹⁴ When our expedition took place in Asia, as you yourselves know, it was brought to conclusion, according to plan, by the gods’ deliberate alliance with us in battle, ¹⁵ and we considered that we should not rule the nations inhabiting Coelesyria and Phoenicia by the power of the spear, but should cherish them with clemency and great benevolence, gladly treating them well.