2 Maccabees 12:42-44

Common English Bible

⁴² They appealed to God and prayed for the sin that had been committed to be completely wiped out. The honorable Judas called on the people to keep themselves free from sin, since everyone had seen what had happened because of the sin of those who fell. ⁴³ After taking a collection from each man, he sent the sum of two thousand silver drachmen^[a] to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. He was acting honorably and appropriately, thinking about the resurrection. ⁴⁴ If he hadn’t been looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, then it would have been unnecessary and frivolous to pray for them.