⁴As for the land of Judea, that was quiet all the days of Simon; for he sought the good of his nation in such wise, as that evermore his authority and honour pleased them well. ⁵And as he was honourable in all his acts, so in this, that he took Joppa for an haven, and made an entrance to the isles of the sea, ⁶And enlarged the bounds of his nation, and recovered the country, ⁷And gathered together a great number of captives, and had the dominion of Gazera, and Bethsura, and the tower, out of the which he took all uncleaness, neither was there any that resisted him. ⁸Then did they till their ground in peace, and the earth gave her increase, and the trees of the field their fruit. ⁹The ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good things, and the young men put on glorious and warlike apparel. ¹⁰He provided victuals for the cities, and set in them all manner of munition, so that his honourable name was renowned unto the end of the world. ¹¹He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy: ¹²For every man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to fray them: ¹³Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days. ¹⁴Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away. ¹⁵He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the temple.