1 Maccabees 9:7-9

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

⁷ And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged.

⁸ Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.

⁹ But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.