2 Maccabees 15:39 - King James Version with Apocrypha - American Edition

³⁹ For as it is hurtful to drink wine or water alone; and as wine mingled with water is pleasant, and delighteth the taste: even so speech finely framed delighteth the ears of them that read the story. And here shall be an end.

More versions

Common English Bible

³⁹ Just as it is harmful to drink wine or water alone while wine mixed with water is delightful and produces joy, so also may the writing of this story delight the ears of those who encounter this work. The end.

Catholic Public Domain Version

³⁹ And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

³⁹ Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.

Good News Translation (US Version)

³⁹ We know it is unhealthy to drink wine or water alone, whereas wine mixed with water makes a delightfully tasty drink. So also a good story skillfully written gives pleasure to those who read it. With this I conclude.

World English Bible - American English Edition - without Strong's Numbers

³⁹ For as it is distasteful to drink wine alone and likewise to drink water alone, while the mingling of wine with water at once gives full pleasantness to the flavor; so also the fashioning of the language delights the ears of those who read the story. Here is the end.

Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

³⁹ To drink wine by itself can be harmful to your health, and the same can be said of drinking water by itself. But if they are mixed together, they make an enjoyable drink. And so, I have mixed a variety of styles, to make my book interesting both for those who read it aloud and for those who hear it read. The end.

2 Maccabees 15:39 Cross References