1 Maccabees 2

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 About then, Mattathias son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the line of Joarib, left Jerusalem andsettled in Modein.	1 In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.
2 He had five sons, John known as Gaddi,	2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:
3 Simon cal ed Thassi,	3 Simon; called Thassi:
4 Judas cal ed Maccabaeus,	4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:
5 Eleazar, cal ed Avaran, and Jonathan cal ed Apphus.	5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.
6 When he saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,	6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,
7 he said, 'Alas that I should have been born to witness the ruin of my people and the ruin of the HolyCity, and to sit by while she is delivered over to her enemies, and the sanctuary into the hand of foreigners.	7 He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people, and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers?
8 'Her Temple has become like someone of no repute,	8 Her temple is become as a man without glory.
9 the vessels that were her glory have been carried off as booty, her babies have been slaughtered inher streets, her young men by the enemy's sword.	9 Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.
10 Is there a nation that has not claimed a share of her royal prerogatives, that has not taken some of herspoils?	10 What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils?
11 Al her ornaments have been snatched from her, her former freedom has become slavery.	11 All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bondslave.
12 See how the Holy Place, our beauty, our glory, is now laid waste, see how the gentiles have profanedit!	12 And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it.
13 What have we left to live for?'	13 To what end therefore shall we live any longer?
14 Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and observed deep mourning.	14 Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore.
15 The king's commissioners who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein for thesacrifices.	15 In the mean while the king's officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice.
16 Many Israelites gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew apart.	16 And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together.
17 The king's commissioners then addressed Mattathias as fol ows, 'You are a respected leader, a greatman in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you.	17 Then answered the king's officers, and said to Mattathias on this wise, Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren:
18 Be the first to step forward and conform to the king's decree, as all the nations have done, and theleaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shal be reckoned among the Friends of theKing, you and your sons wil be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.'	18 Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king's commandment, like as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the king's friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.
19 Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, 'Even if every nation living in the king's dominions obeys him,each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees,	19 Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments:
20 I, my sons and my brothers will stil fol ow the covenant of our ancestors.	20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21 May Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances.	21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.
22 As for the king's orders, we will not fol ow them: we shal not swerve from our own religion either toright or to left.'	22 We will not hearken to the king's words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.
23 As he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of al to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modeinas the royal edict required.	23 Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king's commandment.
24 When Mattathias saw this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent to hislegitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on the altar.	24 Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and his reins trembled, neither could he forbear to shew his anger according to judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.
25 At the same time he killed the king's commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and toredown the altar.	25 Also the king's commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.
26 In his zeal for the Law he acted as Phinehas had against Zimri son of Salu.	26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.
27 Then Mattathias went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, 'Let everyone who has anyzeal for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.'	27 And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me.
28 Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving al their possessions behind in the town.	28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.
29 Many people who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there,	29 Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there:
30 taking with them their sons, their wives and their cattle, so oppressive had their sufferings become.	30 Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them.
31 Word was brought to the royal officials and forces stationed in Jerusalem, in the City of David, thatthose who had repudiated the king's edict had gone down to the hiding places in the desert.	31 Now when it was told the king's servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,
32 A strong detachment went after them, and when it came up with them ranged itself against them inbattle formation, preparing to attack them on the Sabbath day,	32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.
33 and said, 'Enough of this! Come out and do as the king orders and you will be spared.'	33 And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live.
34 The others, however, replied, 'We refuse to come out, and we wil not obey the king's orders andprofane the Sabbath day.'	34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king's commandment, to profane the sabbath day.
35 The royal forces at once went into action,	35 So then they gave them the battle with all speed.
36 but the others offered no opposition; not a stone was thrown, there was no barricading of the hidingplaces.	36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;
37 They only said, 'Let us all die innocent; let heaven and earth bear witness that you are massacring uswith no pretence of justice.'	37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.
38 The attack was pressed home on the Sabbath itself, and they were slaughtered, with their wives andchildren and cattle, to the number of one thousand persons.	38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.
39 When the news reached Mattathias and his friends, they mourned them bitterly	39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.
40 and said to one another, 'If we al do as our brothers have done, and refuse to fight the gentiles for ourlives and institutions, they wil only destroy us the sooner from the earth.'	40 And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.
41 So then and there they came to this decision, 'If anyone attacks us on the Sabbath day, whoever hemay be, we shall resist him; we must not al be kil ed, as our brothers were in the hiding places.'	41 At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered im the secret places.
42 Soon they were joined by the Hasidaean party, stout fighting men of Israel, each one a volunteer onthe side of the Law.	42 Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.
43 Al the refugees from the persecution ral ied to them, giving them added support.	43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.
44 They organised themselves into an armed force, striking down the sinners in their anger, and therenegades in their fury, and those who escaped them fled to the gentiles for safety.	44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.
45 Mattathias and his friends made a tour, overthrowing the altars	45 Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:
46 and forcibly circumcising al the boys they found uncircumcised in the territories of Israel.	46 And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.
47 They hunted down the upstarts and managed their campaign to good effect.	47 They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.
48 They wrested the Law out of the control of the gentiles and the kings and reduced the sinners toimpotence.	48 So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.
49 As the days of Mattathias were drawing to a close, he said to his sons, 'Arrogance and outrage arenow in the ascendant; it is a period of turmoil and bitter hatred.	49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
50 This is the time, my children, for you to have a burning zeal for the Law and to give your lives for thecovenant of our ancestors.	50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
51 Remember the deeds performed by our ancestors, each in his generation, and you wil win greathonour and everlasting renown.	51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.
52 Was not Abraham tested and found faithful, was that not considered as justifying him?	52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?
53 Joseph in the time of his distress maintained the Law, and so became lord of Egypt.	53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt.
54 Phinehas, our father, in return for his burning zeal, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood.	54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
55 Joshua, for carrying out his task, became judge of Israel.	55 Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.
56 Caleb, for his testimony before the assembled people, received an inheritance in the land.	56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.
57 David for his generous heart inherited the throne of an everlasting kingdom.	57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58 Elijah for his consuming fervour for the Law was caught up to heaven itself.	58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.
59 Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their fidelity, were saved from the flame.	59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame.
60 Daniel for his singleness of heart was rescued from the lion's jaws.	60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.
61 Know then that, generation after generation, no one who hopes in him will be overcome.	61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome.
62 Do not fear the threats of the sinner, al his brave show must come to the dunghill and the worms.	62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms.
63 Exalted today, tomorrow he is nowhere to be found, for he has returned to the dust he came from andhis scheming is brought to nothing.	63 To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.
64 My children, be resolute and courageous for the Law, for it wil bring you glory.	64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory.
65 'Here is your brother Simeon, I know he is a man of sound judgement. Listen to him al your lives; lethim take your father's place.	65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.
66 Judas Maccabaeus, strong and brave from his youth, let him be your general and conduct the waragainst the gentiles.	66 As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
67 The rest of you are to enrol in your ranks al those who keep the Law, and to assure the vengeance ofyour people.	67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people.
68 Pay back the gentiles to the ful , and hold fast to the ordinance of the Law.'	68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law.
69 Then he blessed them and was joined to his ancestors.	69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
70 He died in the year 146 and was buried in his ancestral tomb at Modein, and al Israel mourned himdeeply.	70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.